Having control over your irrigation, whether it’s for commercial or residential use, is an important step for any gardener.
We’ve put together a step-by-step guide showing you how to wire a K-Rain Solenoid Valve and Master Valve to our new WX8 Wi-Fi Irrigation Controller.
Watch our new “Three Minute Thursdays” video guide, or read through the steps below.
What is a Master Valve?
A Master Valve works like a back-up valve. When your controller signals a solenoid to open, it also opens the master valve at the same time. When no valves are operating, the master valve will shut off the water to your irrigation system. By shutting off the master valve the systems’ pipework is not under pressure.
1. Attaching the Master Valve
Screw your Master Valve to the top end of the manifold making sure you have the valve facing the right direction. K-Rain Solenoid Valves have an arrow to indicate which way the water should flow through.
2. Attaching the Solenoid Valve
Do the same with the Solenoid Valve, in this demonstration we needed 25mm nipple to connect the solenoid to the manifold.
3. Connecting the Active Wire
Once your two valves are secure, separate the two cables on your Master Valve. Choose one wire to be the ‘active’ wire. Open the bottom of the WX8 Controller by removing the bottom panel.
Take your ‘active’ wire and thread it under the terminal marked ‘M’ (you may need to loosen the screw beforehand). On some other brands of controllers this terminal may be label as P or P/S. Hand tighten with a screwdriver to secure the wire.
4. Connecting the Common Wire
Now take the other wire on your Master Valve and connect it to a wire on your Solenoid Valve, secure by twisting the ends together, this is your ‘common’ wire. Then thread both wires under the terminal marked ‘C’. Secure by hand tightening with a screwdriver.
5. Connecting the right Zone
Take the remaining wire on the Solenoid Valve, this cable will determine which station (or zone) you want to designate to you Solenoid. For this video we chose station one. Thread the wire under the terminal marked ‘1’, if you wanted it to be station 2 you would thread the wire under terminal ‘2’, etc. Hand tighten with a screwdriver to secure.
4. Testing the Connection
To test that everything is working correctly, turn on the power to your controller. Turn the dial to Station One and then press START. The solenoids should both start to hum if they are connected correctly.
Do you manufacture a 20mm master solenoid valve? If not, then is is better to have a standard 20mm solenoid valve or just leave it out?
Hi Ross, we always recommend using a master valve when installing. We don’t have a master valve available, however, we can recommend the K Rain Master Valve. They’re available at Bunnings Warehouse. You can use adaptors to go up to 25mm to install, then back to 20mm to correct size to the pipe being used. Please let us know if you have any further questions. Thank you!
https://www.k-rain.com.au/product/pro-series-100-valve-25mm/
Is the wx8 powered by 240v or just by the 9v battery
Hi Peter, the WX8 runs off a 240V 50/60Hz single phase outlet, drawing 30VA at 240V AC. The battery is there as a backup to remember your settings in case of a power outage. Thanks!
Hi, i got EasyOne mini 6 station controller installed and working well. Somehow one of the zone stops working. I checked controller’s output is 12V and solenoid end also 12V, seems no breakpoint of the wire? but solenoid needs 24V to get working, correct? I also reconnected the wire to other working zones at the controller, but still shows 12V and the solenoid is not working, could you please advise possible problems, thanks
Hi Terry, the controller voltage should be 24v AC.Can you please double check the test was done on a AC and not DC? Thank you!
Hi, I am going to buy solenoid valve and rain bird controller. can any one answer to my questions.1- the solenoid valve i am going to purchase would be operate with AC or DC power?2-what is the maximum distance between controller and solenoid valve to operate?
Hi Rahimullah, 99% of ‘retail’ controllers will be 24v AC – a very small amount will be DC or 12V. The distance depends on the size of the cable, normal cable (sold via BBS) will have a range of 80-100M. We do not sell Rainbird Controllers, however, we do have a new Wi-Fi enabled controller if you’re interested? 🙂 https://www.holmanindustries.com.au/product/wx8-wifi-irrigation-controller/
Hope this helps!
How do I join the solenoid cable to a 20mm micro valve. The size of wire is very small compared to the valve or is a different wire I should be using
Greg
Hi Greg, joining the 20mm micro valve should be the same as any other valve – you can use wire connector or gel connectors or even use insulation tape. Please let us know if you have any further questions!
https://www.bunnings.com.au/holman-wire-cable-irrigation-connectors-10-pack_p3119565
https://www.bunnings.com.au/k-rain-idc-gel-cable-connectors-5-pack_p0242399
hi. I have installed three manifolds with Holman solenoid valves. One controller is a power rainbird and another is a 9V DC rainbird, both work fine. However I have installed a Toro 9V DC controller which is communicating with the solenoid but is not opening it. I hear a click and a thud but no water flows. I have tried a 9V battery across the solenoid wires and the manual control which both works fine. Any ideas on a troubleshooting? thanks in advance.
Hi Mark, you’ll hear a click with a battery but it’s not powerful enough to open to the solenoid coil. A 9-volt system is a DC system, all of the Holman solenoid valves are AC (24volts). You’ll need to swap the coils to a 9volt DC coil. Please let us know if you have any further questions. Thank you!
A solenoid valve has two wires, which one connects the common end of the Holman controller? Maybe it doesn’t matter?Whichever can connect the C end?
Hi Adam, you can connect either cable to the Common on the terminal block and the other one is used for the Active Station. Which cable you chose to connect from the solenoid does not make a difference. Please let me know if we can help further.
Can i use a normal solenoid valve as the master valve
Hi Robert, technically speaking you can, but we do not recommend it. It’s more beneficial to use a mater valve, like the K Rain 25mm Solenoid Valve. It is WaterMark Approved and has an angled body for better flow. I have included a link below if you would like to check it out. Thank you.
https://www.k-rain.com.au/product/pro-series-100-valve-25mm/
This is an explosive idea; this is most probably the best and most successful thing about how to wire a solenoid valve to an irrigation controller. I love this blog and really happy to come across this exceptionally well written content. Thanks for sharing!!
Hello, thank you for the feedback! We’re glad it could help. Thanks, Your Holman Team.
I have 3 solenoids connected to 3 different stations and for some reason they all come on at the same time. All stations are set for different times. I have checked all wiring to ur fittment guide. They are Holman solenoids also
Hi Luke, thank you for reaching out. Are you using a WX8 Irrigation Controller? Check the wiring between the Irrigation Controller and your solenoid valves, as there may be a fault. If this doesn’t solve the problem, please contact our customer service team on support@holmanindustries.com.au. They will be able to walk through some troubleshooting with you, thank you.
Hi, is it possible to run a solenoid just with a 24v power supply and a power point timer? If so what output should my 24v supply be to run the solenoid successfully
Hi Nick, yes possible but not recommended as it won’t be fused. The power supply should be around 1000mAmps.Thanks!
Hi there
Do you have to run a master valve?
Hi Jason,
there is no need to run a master valve if you use reliable solenoid valves. We do encourage to use a master valve though where possible. The controller and irrigation will run without.