Ask your questions here – (They will appear shortly)

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To add a question, go to the bottom of the page, fill in the comment and click Post Comment.  

Please look at the DIY Troubleshooting section before posting; answers to most questions can be found there. 

You can also reply to other people’s questions if you like. (Thanks for helping)

Please try to include the following with your question, list:
1) the date code (located under the battery),
2) the model number shown on the face of the controller (usually below and to the left of the dial, e.g., RD-600 or RD-600-R).
3) Color (mostly Gray or Blue) based on the example rainDials shown at the top of the page.

1,205 thoughts on “Ask your questions here – (They will appear shortly)

  1. Hi,
    I have a RD-900 and when it starts it’s cycle it suddenly shuts off and then the display is blinking. I can reset the time for a test run no problem, but then it does the same thing.
    Thanks for your help,
    Lesley

    • Hi Lesley,
      That sounds like a problem we typically see, I am confident we can repair it. I will send you a separate email with the repair instructions.

      Thanks for commenting,
      Meghan – RainDial Doctor in Training

  2. We have a Rain Dial – R 6 stations
    This was my father-in-laws. The system has been working pretty well, and but just this last Friday the second start time did not go. According to the controller it showed the stations started but the water was not triggered. The controller indicated that station 1 and station 2 were running but nothing was happening. As of today the morning start time worked and everything was fine. What should I look for to make sure the water starts every time?

    • Hi Caroline,
      Thanks for the comment. It sounds like the timer is starting to fail. This is a symptom we see very often – if you send it in, we can repair it. I will send you an email with detailed repair instructions.

      Meghan – RainDial Doctor in Training

  3. Hello.

    My controller is set to run every other day (skip 2). When I turn the dial to Today it says 01 so I would expect the controller to not be running. But the small valve number is being displaying which I thought indicated that the valve is actually running which it shouldn’t be today. Am I misinterpreting that or something wrong with the system?

    Thanks,
    Lisa

    • Hi Lisa,
      You seem to have a very good grasp on how the skip days function works. Is it possible you pressed the semiauto button by accident? If not, then it’s likely you have another program running that you don’t expect to be there. Be sure to check all three programs (A,B,C). Let me know what you find.

      Brian – The RainDial Doctor

  4. My display panel says 7 small1. Can’t get anything to work can’t set time etc. Changed battery but that did no’t work. What does that code mean?

    • Hi Anne,
      I would recommend doing a full factory reset (see the DIY page on my website). If that doesn’t work, then it’s likely a problem with the LCD display (there is not 7, small 1 message). If the reset doesn’t work, use the contact-us page and we’ll send you repair information.

      Let me know if it works,
      Brian – aka the RD600, RD900, RD1200 repair doc

  5. I have a rd900 and the display is stuck on 46. Nothing seems to reset it and moving all switches does nothing.

      • Hi Dustin,
        Thanks for the comment. That sounds like a problem we typically see, go ahead and send it in for repair. I will send you an email with details.

        Thanks,
        Meghan – RainDial Doctor in Training

  6. Hello!
    My system is an RD-900, mostly gray. The date code is Oct-03-2000.

    I think the best way to describe my problem is to run you through what I’ve done to chase a solution. It started with me not being able to get my zone #3 to stop flowing, no matter what zone I tried to run. I interpreted this to be a solenoid (closing) issue and have experience replacing them in the past. I did have trouble getting this particular solenoid to stop leaking after replacement and during the course of manually attempting to run zones, the screen kept displaying a blinking M03, regardless of what zone I was trying to run. No zones would run. I did eventually get the new solenoid seated and sealed properly, but the system still would not run…sometimes displaying the blinking M03 and sometimes just going back to a blinking clock. I checked the wiring in the boxes, swapped out some rusted nuts, stripped additional insulation off wires to get cleaner contacts…nothing has changed.

    In the course of gathering the information for this post, I unplugged the control box, eventually plugging it back in, and thought nothing of it. The next evening, I heard a “thumping” from the plumbing and found the system to be attempting to run the last program stored. Solenoid(s) were clicking as if being triggered and clicking again (shutting?) causing the pressure in the pipes to change, resulting in the thumping I was hearing. However, no water came out of any of the zones. I had left the system on the Run setting, so shut if off and unplugged it. I’m not sure what to do next and any insight you have would be greatly appreciated!

    Thank you,
    Jeff

    • Hi Jeff,

      Thanks for the very detailed description; you’ve done a great job troubleshooting.
      The problem you’re having is what I’d describe as ‘chattering valves’. Yours are just chattering very slowly. It’s a problem with the timer that I repair often. I’d appreciate your business if you’re willing. The repair is solid and I warranty it for as long as a new one.

      I’ll follow up with a separate email with all the repair info, but most of it is on my site in the ‘how to get it repaired’ menu.

      Thanks for posting,
      Brian – aka the rd600 rd900 rd1200 repair doc

    • Hi Jack,
      I just responded to your email which had the same comment. If that doesn’t answer your question, let me know.

      Regards,
      Brian – aka the RD600, RD1200, RD900 Irritrol Repair ‘doc’

  7. Hi Paul,
    Thank you for the great website.
    Had 4 new Lawn Genie sprinkler valves installed to replace old ones. Valves now chatter loudly. Root cause seems to be insufficient voltage. Should be around 24VAC but is 7VAC at the valves and from the RD900. Confirmed transformer is at 27VAC. However, when I operate a valve in manual mode from the RD900, the output at the RD900 board is around 7VAC. Also, when manually setting up the valve for testing, after setting the time to run the valve and after I push the Manual button the LCD number flash for a second, but it will run in manual mode (does not go “OFF” which seems to be a common fault)
    Model: RD900-EXT, Gray
    SN: 136754
    Terminal Board: 2000-2008
    Six digits in battery compartment; 050603. Made in 2003?
    Thanks in advance,
    Tommy

    • Hi Tommy Boy,

      What you’ve described is a classic symptom of a failing timer. I wish we had talked before you replaced all your valves. The good news is I can repair it so you won’t have any problems any more. I’ll drop you a separate email with repair information.

      Thanks for posting,
      Brian

  8. Follow-up: The fuse was blown. I’ve replaced it and things seem to be working fine. I’m still burning through batteries so it sounds like I’m going to have to make additional decisions. Thanks for your site!

    • Hi Wendy,

      If you’re still burning through batteries it means that the timer is starting to fail. Just send it in for repair and we’ll take care of it so you won’t have any more problems.
      The fresh battery will likely keep it limping along for a while (weeks, months maybe but it’s hard to know for sure), but eventually the battery won’t be enough to keep it going. If you have any other questions, just let me know. See the other menu for how to get it repaired.

      Regards,
      Brian

  9. We’ve had a 900 – installed in 2002 – new since we’ve lived here. Lately, I’ve wondered if the power is actually connected. The only way the controller actually works is if the battery is installed. You mention that if you’re burning through batteries, the unit is failing but possibly can be fixed. But is absolutely no power without batteries a sign of something else?

  10. Hi my rain dial is beeping and won’t stop it just started beeping every second so I unplug it and took the battery out and it still beeping finally it stop after about ten minutes then it beep every few seconds the it has stop now . What’s wrong with this thing

    • Hi Kenny,
      Thanks for the inquiry, that is a strange problem. The RainDials do not generally beep, although sometimes the valves will chatter. Are you hearing a chattering or a beeping? What model number timer do you have? Let me know and we can figure out whats going on.

      Meghan – RainDial Doctor in Training

  11. Hi, I have a RD-600. It has worked fine for years. Recently one section stopped working and now a second one has stopped. I can turn them both on at the outside valve but when I run a manual check using the timer they do not work. Any suggestions would be very much appreciated. Thanks, Paul

    • Hi Paul,
      That sounds like a problem we see often. I am going to send you an email with repair details – make sure to send both the controller and back connector board. Thanks!

      Meghan – Irritrol Rain Dial Doctor in Training

  12. Hello Rain Doctor:

    I have what I think is a RD-1200. It is mounted inside my garage on the wall.
    The face is mostly gray and there is no RD number at all on the front plate.
    The date under the battery holder on the back says 093092. It will except either a 9 volt Alkaline or NiCad battery.

    The problem I have is when rotating the center dial to set the valve times the display seems to stay on the previous valve time setting. If I wiggle the dial back and forth just a little, then I can get the new value timing value to come up on the display. This is annoying when trying the set the valve times. I never know if I am on the previous value or the new value I just rotated the dial to. Eventually I can get all the valve times set to the values I want my rotating the dial back and forth enough times. The systems will then water according to the set times.

    Seems like the contacts on my rotary dial switch may be dirty or may the rotary dial switch is just worn out.

    Any suggestions on how to fix this?

    Thanks,

    Bill

    • Hi Bill, I just sent you an email. Try contacting Irritrol directly about getting a new dial. Past customers have been able to get one for free. I hope that helps,

      Meghan – RainDial Doctor in Training

  13. Hello, Thanks for this great resource.
    I have a Rain Dial Plus 6 that has been working great for 20 years. I had it switched off with the slider at the bottom during our weeks of rain when one night, during a heavy rain, the lawn sprinklers, valve 6, come on at a time when I would never have set it to. I run to the controller and it is switched off. I slide it to run and back to off again and it does not go off. While I re-set every timer setting to off, the sprinklers go off, whew, yay, …oops! back on again, same valve. Finally I turn the water supply off at the source.
    Now I am trying to get the system going again, turned the water supply back on, changed the battery and plugged and unplugged black ribbon, all connections look fine and the controller display shows which valve I have turned on, the clock is counting the minutes down, but no sprinklers will come on from any valve.
    I hear a click when the valve should open and I can hear a hum and feel a vibration at the connection to the valve but it is not opening. There is no display error flashing, FUS or OPN, and the display looks totally normal with correct time.
    If I flip a valve on manually they all work and my sprinklers look normal.
    I don’t know if replacing or repairing the controller is the issue but It seems unlikely that all the valves or Solenoids would fail at once. Transformer?
    Any ideas would be greatly appreciated

    • If you are hearing the solenoid humming, it seems like the timer is doing what it should and the transformer is working. Is it possible that you have tightened the valves too much such that the solenoid isn’t able to turn it on?
      You can also bypass the timer to see if it’s the problem or not. This is how I have people test the transformer. There is a list item on my DIY page for testing the transformer that will walk you through how to test the transformer, try that to see if the valve operates when bypass the timer. Take a look and let me know what you find and I’ll give you more suggestions.

      Brian

  14. I have a RD-900
    the display shows me current time & flashes FUS. I cannot change the time.changed the fuse , no change .

    • Hi Lisa,
      We have some information about the FUS error code here. I hope that helps,

      Meghan – Rain Dial Doctor in Training

  15. I have a RD-900 EXT,installed in 1997.No power light. No fuse.Because of it’s age, is it time for a new one?

    • Hi Charles,
      On my DIY Page I have a link with information on how to test if the transformer is working. Follow those steps – if you determine the transformer is good and that the timer is not working, send in both the controller and back connector board and we can fix it. If you send it in and it seems like it is not worth fixing, I have refurbished units available and we can work something out.

      Hope that helps,

      Brian – The RainDial Doctor

  16. Hi there,

    After a power outage caused by a malfunctioning clothes dryer my Raindial RD-900 has defaulted to the 7am/10 minute cycle of all stations 🙁

    I’ve re-programmed to the standard times of two days commencing at 6:30am however when switched to “on”, the 7am everyday cycle starts not just on the assigned days but every day.

    I understand that all settings need to be reprogrammed and I’m fairly sure I’ve done this however maybe there is one I’m missing so was hoping to get an understanding of what “all” programs means. Assuming every setting needs to be touched or adjusted?

    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks,

    Rob

    • Hi Rob, I thought I had responded, but maybe not.

      I agree that the timer seems to be stuck in the default settings. I would try doing the factory reset if you haven’t done so already. If that doesn’t work, I suspect that the timer is not detecting the program setting properly. The good news is that I can repair it. Everything you need to know is on the page about how to get it repaired, or you can use the contact form.

      Thanks,
      Brian – aka the Irritrol RD600 RD900 RD1200 Repair ‘doctor’

      • Thanks Brian, I’ve been having issues with my browsers and internet connection so apologies if it posted a few times. Unfortunately I’m in Australia so repairs may be a bit cost prohibitive given postage etc.
        Thanks again for the response.
        Rob

  17. My RD600-EXT-R has a clocking problem. The time displayed is the correct time; however the cycle begins four hours after the programmed start time. This offset seems to have started when I had my landscaper add a new program. Originally I only had watering programs on the A and B circuits, and the equipment functioned properly. When the circuit C was added and the program was entered, it seems to have disrupted the clock. Every program starts four hours late now. Can you help?

    • Hi Mark,

      I would recommend following the reset procedures (for the blue -R model) shown on my diy troubleshooting page to clear out the programming. Then program one schedule at a time and test each time. That should get it going again, if not, let me know.

      Regards,
      Brian

  18. Hi I have a Rain Dial Irritrol that is about 10 years old or more (purchased by previous homeowner). It seems to work fine when on timer but when I try to run manually by opening the control unit, the display goes blank. I can see it go from having a display to not having a display. When the display goes blank it also stops watering (if I had been lucky enough to get the manual watering started before the screen goes blank). Due to the behavior and the connection with the door being opened or closed, I suspect the fuse is at fault since the fuse is right behind the door. Any other ideas?

    • Hi Elissa, You’ve done a good job trying to narrow it down. That symptom is very common so I don’t believe it’s Fuse related. I’d suggest sending in the timer and the back terminal board for repair. I’m not too busy right now so I can have it in the mail the day after I receive it.
      See the ‘how to get it repaired’ tab along with the removal instructions and videos that show you how to easily remove them.

      If you have other questions about the RD600 series timers, just let me know.
      Regards,
      Brian – aka the Irritrol RainDial Doctor

  19. We have RD-900. Out of 9 stations 5 are being used for sprinklers and others for watering the plants. Two sprinkler stations stopped working, but when connected to other stations, they come on. Does it mean that the board needs to be fixed or is there any other DIY troubleshooting you would recommend?

    • Hi Dalal,

      Thanks for posting.

      If you move the station wires to a different screw terminal on the back board and that station now works, it does sound like the board needs to be fixed. It probably means that the other stations that are currently working may also fail soon.

      It’s a standard repair for us to do, and we will also replace other parts in the timer that typically need repairing so please send both the board and the dial/timer, but not the transformer/case… This way you’ll get both parts back and know you won’t have any problems.

      The two videos on my removal instructions page will show you how to easily remove them.

      If you have other questions, just let me know.
      Regards,
      Brian – aka the RD600-ext series repair doc.

    • Hi Bob,

      Thanks for contacting me with the contact-us site. You definitely had done a good job of going through the troubleshooting etc… I’m glad we got it figured out.

      Here’a link to the information that helped us figure it out, so others will be able to.

      Regards,
      Brian – aka the RD-600 series RainDialDoctor for Irritrol irrigation timers

  20. RD-900 blue model. I’m getting an FUS error for station 6. Some of the stations will manually turn on but 6 will not. When I try to manually turn on I see “M30” for a second then it just goes to “OFF” after. Any ideas?

    • Hi Trevor,

      M30 is probably because you set the timer to manually water for 30minutes. I have a good writeup on the FUS error on the DIY page. Take a look, let me know if that doesn’t answer your questions.

      Regards,
      Brian – RD600 RainDial Doctor for Irritrol timers.

    • Hi Laura,

      The answer to your question can be found on my DIY Troubleshooting web page. Look there for line item #2, or the one that says FUS in the title.

      Thanks for posting,
      Brian

  21. RD 600 The control knob disintegrated, using a screwdriver to change stations. Can this control knob and connector be replaced or is a new unit in order ?

    • Hi Peter,

      I’ve put the answer to your question in this link. If you have any other questions, just post them back here.

      Regards,
      Brian – aka the Irritrol Rain Dial RD-600 repair doc.

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