Rain Bird FD-101 Operating instructions

Troubleshooting
Decoders
Rain Bird®Decoders
Decoders are a cost-effective alternative to traditional in-field controllers.
Installed underground and featuring simple, low-cost wiring, decoders are
an aesthetically pleasing and economical option for reliable, in-field control.
Installation requires up to 80 percent less wire than conventional controller
systems. Electronic components are completely encapsulated to protect
against the elements. And system expansion is easy: simply splice into the
communication line to add additional decoders.
Learn more about this simple, reliable technology and how to service it in
the following topics:
• General Information
• No Control Over Field Decoders
• Shorted Wire Path
• Suspected Broken Wire Path
• Suspected Ground Fault
1

Troubleshooting
Decoders
General Information
Calculate expected “At Rest” current
draw on each wire path and each
LDI or SDI interface.
• FD-101 = 0.5 mA
• FD-102 = 0.5 mA
• FD-202 = 1.0 mA
• FD-401 = 1.0 mA
• FD-601 = 1.0 mA
Prior to troubleshooting when using
a clamp meter, make sure you know
the static current draw of the wire
path or sections of wire path you will
be troubleshooting. (1) To calculate
the static current draw at an individual
wire path section, add the number of
decoders that are downstream from the
test point, and multiply it by the current
draw of each decoder to determine
the total calculated current draw of
the wire section after the test point. (2)
To calculate the static current draw of
an entire wire path, add the number
of decoders on the entire wire path,
and multiply it by the current draw of
each decoder to determine the total
calculated current draw of the wire path.
(3) To calculate the static current draw of
an entire interface, add up all calculated
wire path current draws that are
connected to the interface.
NOTE: If the wire path has been looped,
you must break the loop in order to
properly troubleshoot current draw
using a clampmeter.
(see Locating A Bad Decoder on page 4).
Example:
BLUE WIRE
• 100 FD-101 x 0.5 mA = 50 mA
• 25 FD-202 x 1.0 mA = 25 mA
• 10 FD-401 and FD-601 = 10 mA
• Total Blue Wire current = 85 mA
RED WIRE
• 80 FD-102 x 0.5 mA = 40 mA
• 20 FD-202 x 1.0 mA = 20 mA
• 15 FD-401 and FD-601 = 15 mA
• Total Red Wire current = 75 mA
• Total Current for LDI or SDI = 85 +
75 = 160 mA
Tool List
• Spare Decoders
• Clamp Meter (current specifications are
available by calling 1-866-GSP-XPRT)
• Digital Multi-Meter
• Direct Bury Wire Splice Kits
• Maxi Wire Strippers
• Wire Strippers
• Linesman Pliers
• Extra Maxi Wire
• Updated “As-Built” drawing (“As Built”
should show wire path colors, decoder locations,
expected current draw per wire path and expected
current draw per LDI/SDI.)
2

START
Verify Power LED is on
Check switch and incoming
power at 120VAC.
Turn off wire path
slide switch and cycle power.
Check field LED for
alternating GREEN/RED colors
every 0.5 seconds.
Start 50/60Hz test in Decoder
Diagnostic section of central
control software.
Verify output voltage on each
wire path is 33± VAC.
Check incoming 24VAC.
Replace LDI/SDI
Confirm System Status is OK
in central control software.
Troubleshoot as
Necessary
Proceed to Field
Troubleshooting
Replace LDI/SDI
Replace LDI or SDI
Turn on one field
wire path at a
time to find wire
path with short
condition. LED
will be solid when
shorted wire path
is activated.
Disconnect
field wires and
recheck voltage.
Reconnect field wire. Compare
expected and actual “at rest” current
draw in Decoder Diagnostic section of
central control software.
Run ON/OFF Test in Decoder
Diagnostic Section of
Central Control Software
and Proceed to Field
Troubleshooting
Recommended Rain Bird®
Troubleshooting Procedure for
“No Control Over
Field Decoders”
OKAY
OKAY
OKAY
OKAY
OKAY
OKAY
Check Transformer Fuse
Replace Fuse Replace Transformer
BAD
BLOWN GOOD
OKAY
Symptoms: No control over field
decoders and zeros in course log.
OFF
SOLID LED
SOLID LED
OKAY
BAD
LOW
LOW
If replacing transformer,
connect 24VAC wires to
terminal screws before
plugging transformer in.
3

POWER/ERROR
PC -> DATA
DAT A->PC
24V-AC MAINS
@2AGND
SENS-1
SENS-2
EARTH
1A-1B2A-2B 3A-3B4A-4B
OFF
ON PC-COM
LINE
ON OFF
Troubleshooting
Decoders
Use one or two screws at the top and one at the
bottom, depending on support.
On when power is on. LED is controlled by
processor. Will not turn on if no firmware is
downloaded. Blinks when there is an error
condition (see below).
CAUTION
Mains- and system-ground are
not internally connected and must
be separated to provide the best
protection against surges.
Normally off. Blinks when data is received from PC.
Normally off. Blinks when data is sent to PC.
Line indicator, toggles between red and green with
line voltage polarity.
Switches for disconnection of line with problem.
Serial cable, 9 PIN-9 PIN for PC communication.
Field wires. Up to four two-wire paths may be
connected.
INSTALLATION DETAILS LARGE AND SMALL DECODER INTERFACE
LOCATING A BAD DECODER USING A CLAMP METER
SENSOR 1 (e.g. Rain Sensor)
SENSOR 2 (Not Shown) (e.g. Alarm Sensor)
To System Ground
Connect to 24 VAC
transformer
During power up, the LED’s will blink in sequence ending with POWER LED on for 5 seconds.
If the POWER LED blinks, it means that an error is detected by the unit. The reason for the error is indicated by the other LED’s:
• If DATA->PC is ON = line voltage has been switched off because connection to the PC is lost.
• If LINE is ON = line voltage is below 25 V (short).
• In the Decoder Diagnostics screen select 60Hz test mode to allow the clamp meter to measure current. When done with
troubleshooting remember to cancel the 60Hz test mode to resume irrigation.
VOLT METER
33 VOLTS ± WHEN IN 60Hz TEST MODE
33v±
0.5±
1.0±
0.5±
BAD
DECODER
CAM
CLAMP METER
HIGHER THAN CALCULATED VALUE HIGHER THAN CALCULATED VALUE
HIGHER THAN
CALCULATED VALUE
HIGHER THAN CALCULATED VALUE
LESS THAN CALCULATED VALUE
LESS THAN CALCULATED VALUE
HIGHER THAN
CALCULATED
VALUE
4

Go To Troubleshooting Card:
“No Control Over
Field Decoders”
Short could be caused
by contact between
RED and BLACK
conductors or internal
to a decoder or LSP-1.
Single Address
Decoder = 0.5mA
Multi-Address
Decoder = 1.0 mA
LSP-1 = 0.0 mA
START
Turn off all LDI field wire path
slide switches and confirm
normal LDI operation.
Open Decoder Diagnostics
window in central
control software.
Use clampmeter to check RED
and BLACK wires on upstream
or “EQUIP” end of MSP-1.
Replace MSP-1
Choose point halfway back
to central control and
measure current draw.
Confirm by using
clampmeter on single BLUE
communication wire.
Repair or replace components
as necessary.
Compare “at rest” current to
expected “at rest” current.
Run ON/OFF Test in Decoder
Diagnostics to Validate
System Operation
Repeat to narrow down
location of wire path short.
Choose point halfway
between measurement point
and end of wire path.
Break critical path wire loop
(if present). Choose point
halfway out on wire path.
Using clamp meter, check RED
and BLACK wires individually.
Compare each value to
expected current draw.
Turn Off Field Wire Path
Slide Switch — Repeat
for Each Additional
Wire Path
Turn on wire path slide switches
one at a time. Monitor current to
verify it reaches expected
“at rest” draw for wire path.
Recommended Rain Bird®
Troubleshooting Procedure for
“ShortedWire Path”
OKAY
OKAY
SHORT
FOUND
CONFIRMED
COMPLETE
EQUAL
HIGH
LOW/ZERO
NOT EQUAL
No Further Action
Symptoms: No Decoder
Operation on Wire Path or LDI.
Field LED may be solid or faint.
NOT NORMAL
HIGH “AT REST”
CURRENT DRAW
MEASURED
DOWNSTREAM
LESS THAN
UPSTREAM
UPSTREAM
EQUAL TO
DOWNSTREAM
5

NORMAL
START
Open Decoder Diagnostics
in central control software.
Compare actual “at rest” current
draw to expected current draw.
Turn off all LDI field output wire
path slide switches.
Run ON/OFF test in Decoder
Diagnostic window of central
control software to locate
last passing decoder and first
failing decoder.
Activate 50/60Hz mode.
Use clampmeter to find
broken wire.
Break critical path wire loop (if
present). Choose point halfway out
on wire path. Using clampmeter,
check RED and BLACK wires
individually. Compare each value
to expected current draw.
Repeat to determine exact
location of broken wire or partial
connection (Bad Splice).
Turn on first wire path. Compare
expected actual “at rest” current
draw to expected current draw
in Decoder Diagnostic window in
central control software.
Compare stations and areas that
pass with stations and areas that
do not pass ON/OFF test.
Problem Unlikely a
Broken Wire Path
Problem Unlikely a
Broken Wire Path
Recommended Rain Bird®
Troubleshooting Procedure for
“Suspected Broken
Wire Path”
LOW
No “As Built”
LOW
GO TO FIELD
LOW
Good “As Built”
CURRENT= 0
NORMAL
NORMAL
LOW
Symptoms: Zeros in course log.
No response on parts of wire path
or partial connection (Bad Splice).
Repeat for each
wire path
Break is between
measurement point
and end of wire path.
Break is between
central control and
measurement point.
6

Turn off LDI wire path slide
switches. Cycle LDI Power Switch
from OFF to ON.
Turn on each wire path one at a
time. After 10 seconds, verify no
“Flicker” on Field LED.
If visible on Field LED, open
Decoder Diagnostics window in
central control software.
Activate 50/60Hz mode test.
The wire with the higher
draw will have leakage.
Choose point halfway
between measurement point
and end of wire path. Retest.
Repeat this method to narrow
down location of damaged
insulation and leakage to
ground. Repair as necessary.
Verify “at rest” current draw.
Using a clampmeter, at the
downstream (field) side of the
MSP-1, compare the mA draw
of RED and BLACK wires.
Choose point halfway
between measurement point
and central control. Retest.
When repairs are complete,
verify “at rest” current draw
matches expected current draw.
Run ON/OFF test to validate
system operation.
At LDI, disconnect wire with lower
draw and choose point halfway
to end of wire path. Measure
draw in connected (active) wire.
Disconnect any critical path loops
before testing.
Severity of Ground Fault
can vary based on soil
moisture content.
START
Visually check Field LED on
LDI/SDI for clean alteration
from RED to GREEN at
0.5 second intervals.
Recommended Rain Bird®
Troubleshooting Procedure for
“Suspected Ground Fault”
(Leakage to Ground)
Symptoms: Lower run times or zeros
in the course log. Fluctuating current
reported in Decoder Diagnostics. No
clean alternating color in
Field LED on LDI/SDI.
NOT CLEAN
CLEAN
FLICKER
HIGH
Replace LDI
If Wire Path is
Activated, Consider
Possibility of Ground
Fault on Path
No Further Action.
NOT CLEAN
DRAW CLOSE
TO ZERO
VALIDATED
DRAWGREATER
THAN ZERO
Normal systems should
expect “at rest” current
draw to fluctuate
between 2 mA – 5 mA.
7

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responsibility to develop products and
technologies that use water efficiently.
Our commitment also extends to
education, training and services for our
industry and our communities.
The need to conserve water has never
been greater. We want to do even
more, and with your help, we can. Visit
www.rainbird.com for more information
about The Intelligent Use of Water.™
Rain Bird Corporation
6991 East Southpoint Road
Tucson, AZ 85756, U.S.A.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Technical Service and Support
(800) RAINBIRD (U.S. and Canada only)
Rain Bird International, Inc.
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Azusa, CA 91702 U.S.A.
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
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© 2012 Rain Bird Corporation 2/12
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