Rain Bird ESP-LXIVM User manual

ESP-LXIVM Controller
Troubleshooting Guide

2ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
Contents
For product manuals, instructional videos and FAQs,
please visit: www.rainbird.com/esplxivm
For free professional support for programming and
troubleshooting, please call: 1-866-544-1406
Local Rain Bird Contact Information
Distributor Mgr:
Email:
Phone:
Area Specification Mgr
Public Agency Manager:
Email:
Phone:
Contractor Account Mgr:
Email:
Phone:
Water Conservation Mgr:
Email:
Phone:

3ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
Contents
Contents
Local Rain Bird Contact Information.....................................2
Tools..................................................................... 4
Recommended.............................................................................4
Useful...............................................................................................5
LX-IVM Compatible Valves ................................. 5
Controller Features............................................. 6
Front Panel ..................................................................................... 6
2-Wire Settings .............................................................................7
Diagnostics ....................................................................................7
Cabinet Components.................................................................8
Basic Programming ............................................ 9
Troubleshooting Flow Charts .............................10
Getting Started...........................................................................10
2-Wire Mapping .........................................................................11
No Water Days, No Run Times, … ........................................13
Shorted Paths..............................................................................14
Shorted Path (Manual Method) .........................................15
Duplicate Address .....................................................................19
Flow Alarm...................................................................................20
Ping Valve / Sensor (Ping Test) ..............................................22
Field Wiring Diagnostics................................... 23
Tools and Equipment...............................................................23
Total System Milliamp Draw ..................................................23

4ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
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Field Wiring Issues.....................................................................23
Broken Wire (Open Circuit) List Not Responding.........24
Short Circuit ..............................................................................25
Ground Fault.............................................................................26
Relay Wiring.................................................................................27
VFD Filter Connection..............................................................28
Controller Diagnostics......................................29
IVM Interface Module .......................................36
LED Indicators.............................................................................36
LED Status ....................................................................................37
Module Status ..........................................................................37
2-Wire Path Status...................................................................37
Individual Path Status............................................................37
Tools
Recommended
• MAXI Cable 2-Wire communications cable.
• Rain Bird WC20 splice kits for ALL electrical wiring connections.
• Rain Bird genuine Wire Stripper
For video showing proper wire splice instructions and other
installation tips, please visit:
www.rainbird.com/esplxivm
NOTE: If installing or repairing
communications wiring for
IQ Software, do not install
the communications
cables in the same conduit
as the 2-Wire path wiring.
Rain Bird
Wire Stripper

5ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
Contents
Milliamp
Meter
Useful
• Milliamp Meter
Recommended Model: Armada Pro 93
• As-Built Drawing
If you don’t have it, make it using a cable locator
• LX-IVM Troubleshooting Tools
A list of ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Videos
can be found here:
https://www.rainbird.com/esplxivm
LX-IVM Compatible
Valves
Videos for ESP-LXIVM compatible valves ,connecting and troubleshooting
can be found here:
• PGA Series
https://www.rainbird.com/products/pga-series
• PEB Series
https://www.rainbird.com/products/pebpesb-series
• EFB-CP Series
https://www.rainbird.com/products/efb-cp-series
• BPE Series
https://www.rainbird.com/products/300-bpes
NOTE: Rain Bird HV, DV, and JTV Series residential valves are not
compatible with IVM-SOL. Use only Rain Bird commercial series
valves for ESP-LXIVM installations:
NOTE: Physical intereference on any valves can be addressed
through“clocking”to avoid being“in-line”with IVM-SOL or
removing the component (e.g. Flow Control).

6ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
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Controller Features
Front Panel
PROGRAMMING
DIAL
BACK BUTTON
PROGRAM
SELECT BUTTON
DISPLAY
PROGRAMMING
KEYS
ALARM
LIGHT
INFORMATION
BUTTON
LANGUAGE
SELECT BUTTON

7ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
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2-Wire Settings
Diagnostics

8ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
Contents
Cabinet Components
TRANSFORMER
JUNCTION
BOX
IVM 2WIRE INTERFACE MODULE
CONNECTOR

9ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
Contents
Basic Programming
The ESP-LXIVM Controller has 2-Wire Settings to help get you started
and guide you through each step of the installation and hardware
setup process.
It’s most effective to use the 2-Wire Settings in the order they appear in the
2-Wire Settings menu, as follows:
1. Master Valves
2. Weather Sensors (if present)
3. Station Setup
4. Flow Sensors (if present)
Installation, Programming & Operation Guide
For more information see the LX-IVM Field Device Installation Guide that
came with the LX-IVM Controller.
Or download the LX-IVM User Manual at:
www.rainbird.com/esplxivm

10 ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
Contents
Troubleshooting Flow Charts
Turn the dial to AUTO and
press the Alarm button
Call the ESP-LX
SeriesHOTLINE at
+1-866-544-
1406
No Water Days
No Run Times
No Start Times
No PGM will...
More Exit
Shorted
Paths
Duplicate
Address
Device Not
Responding
Flow
Alarm
END - Job
Well Done!
What does
the screen
display?
Is the LX-IVM
front panel
Alarm Light on?
Is the LX-IVM
front panel
Alarm Light
still on?
Go to
page
23
Go to
page
22
Go to
page
20
Go to
page
19
Go to
page
14
Go to
page
13
YES NO
YES NO
Getting Started

11 ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
Contents
2-Wire Mapping
2-Wire Mapping“maps”or records information on the wire-path of any
connected IVM devices. A total of 4 wire paths are available in a LX-IVM
Controller.
NOTE: While this information is helpful for diagnostics, not doing
2-wire mapping WILL NOT affect irrigation functions. But if 2-wire
mapping is NOT done, it will raise an alarm at the controller.
To initiate 2-wire mapping, follow the steps below:
Turn the Dial to 2-Wire Settings
1. At the Advanced Station Settings screen, press the Down Arrow
key to select 2-Wire Mapping, then press Next.
2. At the 2-Wire Device Mapping screen, press the + and – keys to
set the desired hour (from 0 to 23), then press the Right Arrow
key.
Cycle & Soak
Next
Inter-Station Delay
SimulStations
2-Wire Mapping
Station Sequencing
Advanced Station Settings 2-Wire Device Mapping
HH:MM
Start Device Mapping In
Next
00 00:
3. Press the + and – keys to set the desired minute (from 1 to 59),
then press Next.
4. At the confirmation screen, press Start to begin Device
Mapping.
NOTE: All irrigation is disrupted during the mapping process.
2-Wire Device Mapping
Start Device Mapping In
Next
HH:MM
01 05:
Start
and could take several
interrupt all irrigation
Device Mapping will
Attention
minutes

12 ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
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5. A confirmation screen shows the process is set to run.
Mapping
Mins.
In 1 Hrs and 5
Mapping will begin
Done Cancel
The following pictures show the List Not responding screen without
and with 2-wire mapping done.
Without 2-wire mapping With 2-wire mapping
LIST NOT RESPONDING
AT 01/01/18
Type
STA
STA
002
004
#
---
---
Path
12 : 00 PM
Ping
STA008 ---
STA010 ---
LIST NOT RESPONDING
AT 01/01/18
Type
STA
STA
002
004
#
2
2
Path
12 : 00 PM
Ping
STA008 2
STA010 2

13 ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
Contents
No Water Days, No Run Times, …
Turn the dial to Date/Time and
ensure time and date are correct
Is the
LX-IVM system
working?
Check the display
for Alarms, see
page 10
Troubleshooting
END - Job
Well Done!
NO YES
Test LX-IVM system using
Manual Watering or Auto
Turn the dial to Start Times,
Run Times and Water Days
and follow programming
directions in the User Manual

14 ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
Contents
Shorted Paths
The controller has automatically entered Short Finding
Mode to protect itself against a short on the 2-wire path
Press the Down Arrow button to select
Test Shorted Paths, then press Next
Turn the dial to Diagnostics and select
Diagnostics from the menu, then press Next
Press the Down Arrow button to select
the Path (1-4) to test, then press Next
Next Page
Press and hold the Yes button
to energize the selected path
Note: Irrigation will be disabled
Trouble Shoot in the Field using a milliamp meter.
A sharp increase in current should be observed
right before the Short Condition in 2-wire Path.
If issue cannot be resolved using the Shorted Paths Test, refer
to the Shorted Path (Manual Method) on the next page.
NOTE: Shorted Path will
display “Fault”.

15 ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
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Shorted Path (Manual Method)
Open the front panel and check
the two indicator lights on the
IVM 2-Wire Interface Module.
The top indicator light should
be green and the bottom
indicator light should be
dark. This indicates that the
controller put the module in
Short Finding Mode
If there are more than one 2-wire paths
connected, disconnect the first 2-wire path
Did the
controller exit Short
Finding Mode and are
both Indicator Lights
illuminated?
NO YES
Reconnect the Maxi-Cable to verify the
controller goes back into Short Finding Mode
Disconnect the second/
third/fourth 2-wire path
Next Page
NOTE: In “looped”
systems, cut the loop in
the middle to create two
independent paths.

16 ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
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Reconnect the
Maxi-Cable to verify
the controller goes
back into Short
Finding Mode
NO
YES
Connect all
2-wire paths at
the controller
and observe
screen
Walk the length of
the 2-wire path and
look for signs of recent
constructions (trenching,
new fence, sign, tree, etc.)
Wires
damaged, or found
repairs of the
Maxi-Cable?
Repair damaged
Maxi-Cable
using Maxi
Cable and DRB/Y
connectors
What does
the display
show?
Go back to
Troubleshooting,
page 10
NO
Next Page
Go to an IVM device approx.
50% the length of the 2-wire
path. Disconnect the IVM device
2-wire splice to disconnect the
second half of the 2-wire path.
NOTE: Instead of
physically disconnecting
the 2-wire path, you
could instead use
a clamp meter. See
page 18.
Shorted Path (Manual Method) cont.

17 ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
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Check the
controller display to
see if it has exited
Short Finding
Mode
Shorted Path (Manual Method) cont.
YES NO
The problem is
upstream between this
point and the controller
Re-connect the 2-wire path
and go to an IVM device
approx. 50% between this
point and the controller.
Disconnect the 2-wire splice
to disconnect the second
half of the 2-wire path.
The problem is downstream
between this point and the
end of the 2-wire path
Re-connect the 2-wire path
and go to an IVM device
approx. 50% between this
point and the end of the
2-wire path. Disconnect the
2-wire splice to disconnect the
second half of the 2-wire path.
Next Page
For video instructions on Automatic Short
Finding Mode, please visit:
www.rainbird.com/esplxivm
NOTE: Once a small section 2-wire path is identified as having an
issue, use“Energize Path for Testing” and Milliamp Meter to track
for a sharp increase in test current before the location of the short.

18 ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
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Shorted Path (Manual Method) cont.
Alternatively you can measure current draw in your system using
Diagnostics/ Diagnostics/Controller Output:
NOTE: Before measuring the amperage, calculate the approximate
current that the 2-wire path is consuming.
System Amperage Calculation
Quantity of IVM-SOL X0.67 mA
+Quantity of IVM-OUT X0.67 mA
+Quantity of other IVM-SEN X6 mA
=Approximate total system amperage in mA
If there is a mismatch, follow a process similar to page 10 to disconnect
50% of devices and redo calculation above. Continue todisconnect 50% of
devices until you identify section of 2-wire Path with issues.
NOTE: Self-healing: Note that IVM Controller tracks the health
of the 2-wire Path to see if shorts are resolved and then
automatically resumes irrigation. You do not need go back to the
Controller to reset or restart.
For video instructions on Locating a Short
on the Two-Wire Path, please visit:
www.rainbird.com/esplxivm

19 ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
Contents
Duplicate Address
The controller will Alarm if duplicate
device addresses are entered for one or
more of IVM-SOL, IVM-SEN and IVM-OUT.
NOTE: Only the first two
duplicates will be shown,
so you may need to repeat
this process until all of
the duplicates have been
addressed.
Test LX-IVM system using
Manual Run or Auto Run
Check the display
for Alarms,
see page 10
Trouble-
shooting
END - Job
Well Done!
NO YES
Is the
LX-IVM system
working?
Press the Down Arrow button to
select Station Setup, then press Next
Turn the dial to 2-Wire Settings
Use the +and - buttons to cycle through all
the stations. Verify that all 2-wire addresses
are correct and there are no duplicates.

20 ESP-LXIVM Controller Troubleshooting Guide Table of
Contents
CONTINUED
FROM NEXT
PAGE (21)
Flow Alarm
Next Page
Alarms are issued when flow conditions
exceed your High or Low Flow settings.
Press the Down Arrow button to
select Flow Alarms, then press Next
Turn the dial to Alarms/History
Press the Down Arrow button to select
Station Flow Alarms, then press Next
Troubleshoot and fix any
station that shows an alarm
Go Back and select FloZone Flow Alarms
Troubleshoot and fix any
FloZone that shows an alarm