Sprinkler Timer Installation

Timer Installation

• The timer can be installed inside the home in an area such as the garage. The area should be close to an electrical outlet and about 15 feet away from other electrical home appliances. Insert a screw into the wall and mount the unit onto the screw. If the timer features an extra hole beneath an access panel to further secure the timer to the wall, insert another screw. An irrigation controller can be mounted inside or outside the home, depending on which model you select.

Ground Installation

• Cut a length of direct burial irrigation wire that will run from the timer to the water valve manifold, which is where the irrigation system water valves are located. Allow enough extra length so the wire can be secured against a wall and installed underground. If the timer is being installed at the same time as the irrigation system, lay the wire down into the ground alongside the main irrigation line. Tape the wire to the line to keep it secure.

Valve Connection

• Use wire strippers to strip the outer insulation from the end of the irrigation wire about 5 to 6 inches from the tip. Several smaller color-coded wires are revealed, including the white common wire. Select the common wire and one color-coded wire for each valve and bend the rest back for future expansion. Strip the exposed tips about a half-inch. Pull the two wires from each of the installed water valves out. Gather the white common wire and one wire from each valve together and twist a watertight splice connector onto the tips of the grouping. Pair a color-coded wire with each of the remaining valve wires. Next screw a watertight splice connector over each pairing.

Wire Connection

• Strip the other end of the irrigation wire about six inches in. Remove the access panel or locate the wire-connection area of the timer. Strip the common wire and the color-coded wires used to connect to the valves about a half-inch. Insert each color-coded wire into its respective valve controller terminal. Insert the white wire into the "Common" terminal. There might be two common terminals, which accommodates a second water valve manifold, if you have more than one. After the wires are connected, plug the timer into the nearby AC outlet and test the timer.