"Debug" my lawn water system, repairs sprinkler valve

[zhoufang1]

It has been a few weeks since the first section of the watering system did not work. The first section grass slowly withered. It seems the sprinkler valve did not work. I was told that the metal based sprinkler valve normally is not easy getting damaged. unlike plastical material made sprinkler valve. As I use digital multimeter to measure the resistance value for each section from water controller on the wall, the resistance R in the section one is almost zero. I realized the solenoid kit may get short circuit. I bought a new one in about 13$ and replaced the old one. Finally it works. Instead of replace whole sprinkler valve I just replace the solenoid kit.

see following chart:
1. removed "bug", the old solenoid kit

2. sprinkler valve with new solenoid kit

3. digital multimeter and lever-nut, wire connector

4.controller

The tools and components I used are as following:
1. Digital multimeter which was bought at Home Depot (https://www.homedepot.com/

search digital multimeter)
2. small vise bought from Amazon

3.3. Lever-nut, wire connectors from amazon
https://www.amazon.com/Lever-Nut-Co...=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1544378443&sr=1-1


The root cause for the short circuit of old solenoid kit may be that the solenoid kit gets wet when it is raining...??What else could possibly cause the problem?

 

[Silentrunning]

My guess is that you are right about moisture being the culprit. Was there moisture present when you removed the solenoid? Is there a way to waterproof these components?

 

[zhoufang1]

My guess is that you are right about moisture being the culprit. Was there moisture present when you removed the solenoid? Is there a way to waterproof these components?

It might be during rain day.