What makes a fuse burn out in a sprinkler system control panel?

Answer 1

John A is right. but an easier way is to replace the fuse, then try the zones manually without disconnecting them. See which one blows the fuse, and that solenoid is bad, or the wire for that zone is bad. When you find out which zone is bad, disconnect the wire from the solenoid. Put another fuse in the controller. If it blows, the wire is bad. If it doesn't, the solenoid is bad.

Answer 2

Fuses burn out becasue of too much current. It could be possible that the water is getting into the solenids and partially shorting out the wires for that zone. It is also possible that somehow the wires were nicked and the insulation is bare and again the wire is partially shorting out.

There could be a defect in one or more solenoids, it the coil gets current and the solenoid doesn't open then the current draw does shoot up and could blow the fuse.

Answer 3

a number of things.
more than likely a bad solenoid at a vale.

unplug all the common, and zone wires, and see if it still blows fuses. if so, the timer is bad.

if not, than there is aproblem in your yard.

take a box of fuses,
bypass the timer by doing this:
hook up one transformer wire to the common, then touch lead wires and hold them to a fuse and touch the other end of the fuse to other transformer wire.

do this for all the zones , and where ever a fuse blows, you have a problem. if just one blows a fuse, then find its valve, check for power, it power but wont work , replace the solenoid, and/or valve.

the connections may be bad at the valves, but its probably a solenoid.

hope this helps

Answer 4

Is it the right size for the circuit? Is it an older house? Other wise could be a short circuit. If keeps blowing there is definitely a short somewhere. DO NOT OVERLOAD the circuit to make it work, that can start a fire!