3 valves work, 3 valves don't...help!

[Travis Carlson]

I have a 6 zone system controlled in (2) different valve boxes. In box 1, which houses zones 1, 2 and 3, I have red, blue, and green. In box 2, which houses zones 4, 5 and 6, I have orange, yellow, and brown. I set the system to run automatically and zones 1,2 and 3 work just like they should, come on, run for 30 minutes, and switch to the next. When it comes to switching from zone 3 to 4, i get nothing, and from 4 to 5, and 5 to 6, nada. SO, I did some troubleshooting and the valves for zones 4, 5 and 6 will work just fine if I turn them on manually by hand in the control box. I put (3) 9v batteries together and touched the solenoids to the batteries and the zones came on, so I figured it was the electrical line coming from the control panel that was bad. I wasn't getting any voltage from the control panel at that valve box so I ran a new line, switched all the wires but I'm still not getting any voltage from the lines for 4,5, and 6. So I switched the line for Zone 1 and put it in the slot for zone 4 to test the zone I know works, and wouldn't you know it, it works. So there goes my theory that half my control panel is bad. So, if its not the control panels, its not the solenoids, not the diaphragms, and not the brand new wire I replaced, what is it? I spent 5 hours today messing with this thing and I'm about ready to throw an old time sprinkler out in the yard and call it a day. Help!

 

[Gary Swart]

I would check the ground wire. Usually the valves are linked to a single ground wire and if the link is broken the valves prior to the breakage will work, but the rest will not. Might just have a bad connection

 

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[WorthFlorida]

A sure fire way is use a volt meter. It be about 24v AC. As said above it could be an open ground wire. But check at the controller/timer for voltage first. If no voltage then a bad timer or plug in module.