Sporadic Watering: Timer Shows Run but Heads Don't Pop

Symptom: Timer Displays Active, No Water

Timer set for every other day, but only runs sometimes. Replaced timer, same issue. Rain Bird system.

With timer running a zone, measure voltage at controller: Common (black) to Station terminal (red). Should be 22–26 VAC.
If good, measure at valve solenoid wires. Same reading?
Voltage at valve: Valve needs rebuild (diaphragm) or new solenoid.
No voltage at valve: Field wire broken or shorted.

If multiple zones fail together, the common wire is likely cut or corroded at a valve box.

Irrigation: K-Rain Timer to Rain Bird ESP: Single Black Wire Mystery Solved; Pump Runs But No Water: Green Wire Mystery in Valve Box; Sprinkler Zone Won't Run Automatically – Valve Port or Diaphragm Issue; Sprinkler Head Works Manually but Not Electrically – Bad Solenoid; Nelson EZ Jr Controller: All Valves Pulse On Then One Stays On – Wiring Error; Toro Controller Blows Fuse Intermittently – Locate Valves with Wire Tracer; Multiple Valve Problems After Contractor Relocated Three Valves; How to Wire a Richdel 446PR50HZ Sprinkler System: Identifying Zone Wires; Diagnosing a Dead Zone in a 6-Zone In-Ground Sprinkler System; Stuck Main Shutoff Valve 2-3 Ft Deep: Use a T-Tool, Not Oil

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