How to Troubleshoot Orbit

Taking care of your lawn can almost be a full-time job once you factor in the time it takes to cut the grass, pull weeds, fertilize and water. The Orbit company makes products that can help cut down on this time, including a line of programmable sprinkler timers that you can connect to your sprinkler system to turn it on and off without your assistance. These devices can have issues, however, which you can solve by following a few troubleshooting steps.

Test the outlet that the Orbit is plugged into if the device will not turn on. If the outlet still works, check the power cable to make sure it is not frayed or worn through. Check the connection to the docking port to ensure the timer is plugged in properly. Try removing the timer and reinserting it into the docking port, pushing down until you hear a click. If you are still not getting power, the timer may be defective.

Turn the flow-control stem located at the connection from the Orbit to the main water line in a counterclockwise direction if one or more of the sprinklers is not responding to programming. If the problem persists, check the wired connections of the device to make sure they are correct.

Recheck the programming of the Orbit to ensure it is correct. One way to check the programming is to turn the programming switch to the "Auto" mode, which will turn on all of the sprinklers at once. If one or more of the sprinklers is still not working, contact the installer of the system, as you may have an issue with the hardware.

Remove any dirt or debris from the valve of a sprinkler that will not shut off once turned on, as foreign items in the sprinkler may cause it to stick. If the valve is clear, check the connections to the water line to make sure it is correct. If the sprinkler still does not turn off, you may have to replace the diaphragm, which should be done by the installer of the system.