Question
I am from Southern California and my question is:
I currently have sprinklers set up but the wiring for the valves are in pretty bad shape.  The back yard has 4 valves and the front yard has 2 valves but the wiring has gone bad in both areas.  The back is running off of two of the needed four wires and the front is using one instead of two.  I want to replace the wiring but am not sure how it works.  Is there main wire with a splice in it - one for the back and one for the front?  Or is it one wire for both areas?  Also, if you can suggest to me any books or periodicals on the subject, that would be great.  Thanks.  

Answer
Eddie, look in the controller and see if you have two commons or look to see if you have two bundles of multi-strand going out. If you see two,then you have a wire to the front and another to the back. If you just see one bundle or common, then they came out and did a splice at some point and from there sent one to the front and one to the back. That splice may very well be the problem. It mat just be buried in the ground instead of in a bucket or valve pit. Find that splice. Look for a point from the clock and between the front and the back that makes sense. If you have a multimeter check for 24 volts on some spare wires after you hook them up at the clock. How big is your yard. They make wire tracers but I don't know if you can rent one. They cost about 150.00. Let me know if you have any luck or any more questions  Thanks Jim