Valve Slamming. Turn next zone on before turning prior zone off AND Program in a Program
Good day!
I sent a similar suggestion to tech support before finding the forums and searching here. A new user of the RainMachine and so far I am pretty pleased.
Prior to the RainMachine, I ran my sprinkler system with an ISY controller and a RAIN-8 valve controller. As we all know, when a solenoid releases, turns off, it shuts the water off very quickly and cause hydraulic slamming in our pipes. Sometimes it is noticeable and sometimes not so much. In my house, it will wake me up! And can cause damage to pipes
So in my ISY watering programs, I always had the next zone turn on before the previous zone turned off to eliminate most of the slamming. Of course when the final zone shut off it would slam, but the majority of the slams would be finished. I'm awake by now!
It would be great to add a "switch" under the programs to add a delay in turning off the running zone until after the next zone is on. OR add a negative time delay under Delay Between Zones which would in effect turn on the next zone before turning off the previous zone.
Last request would be linking of programs within a program. I.E. I have Front Lawn, Rear Lawn and Garden as programs. Why not have or allow another program called, for instance, Everything, that just lists the already created programs that would run in order?
Thanks
John
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The slamming you are referring to is called water hammer, and YES it CAN rupture plumbing! Very destructive!
Water hammer arresteos are available and look like a short piece of pipe that is capped off, usually about 12" long. They have a bladder or piston inside and the upper part above the piston is pressurized with nitrogen or air and provides a compressible "cushion" to absorb the hammer.
All the home improvement stores carry them. It would require a plumber to install if you aren't plumbing savey, or install a T near the sprinkler valves and install the arrestor.
Really should install one as the water hammer is destructive.
Hope this helps!
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@Bill,
Thanks and I do have several of those devices installed. They help but not completely. Without them it shuddered the house... well not quite that bad but very noticeable bang. With them it is like a silencer on a pistol. You hear it but a lot less. Helps a lot.
And they can be expensive, from $10-$12 for the mini ones to over $100 for the domed types.
Even with Hammer Arresters, turning on the next valve before turning off the previous would help a whole bunch. Hope they will add such!
John
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hmmm... still have the hammer? What is your water pressure like at the valves? Not being a plumbing expert, I am out of ideas... sorry!
Looks like you have done a lot to try and solve the problem with a little success.
Your idea of overlapping the valve turn on/off would certainly help though.
I can only imagine what it was like before the arrestors! Do I hear earthquake???? hehe
Good luck and I hope you find the problem!
Bill
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I also need to have more than one zone of the Rainmachine turned on at a time or at least a negative delay (-15 to -30 seconds) for the next zone turn on. Referencing https://support.rainmachine.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/218813588-Allow-more-than-one-zone-to-operate-at-the-same-time-?page=1#community_comment_115004590728 does anyone know if the RainMachine Mini-8 Gen 2 is the new dual fuse unit? Will the HD's be changed to dual fuses? When will firmware / software follow that will allow more than one zone at a time, and will it only be the MasterValve plus one zone, or any two zones? Thanks.
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