Yard sprinkler system

[ArchietheDragon]

Is there anything that looks like this anywhere?  The controls may be inside it.

[billisonboard]

In your back yard, just of the corner to your left facing the house, four and 1/2 ft out, there is a black lid in the lawn half buried.  The controls are under it.

You're welcome. 

[msventoux]

Awesome.  Any idea where Jimmy Hoffa is buried?

[ArchietheDragon]

Apr 4, 2015 18:28:22 GMT -5 Ratchets said:

I can't see the picture, Archie. but I did find a bigger hose in the front yard that the small ones hook into it looks like. So maybe it's on a different water system and the timer is set by the homeowners association or something?

I didn't find it there Bills. Just a lizard sunning himself .

Don't know why the pic didn't post but it was basically what bills described but it had s green top

[mroped]

If it is running on a timer that means is connected to an outside plug somewhere. That clock/timer needs to run on something!
So, the solution would be that when the water turns on, start flipping breakers in the panel and figure out which is which. The breakers should be labeled(?)

[Bonny]

Sounds like the yard is on a drip irrigation system. Are there any closets in your garage? The timer may be in there.

[billisonboard]

Apr 4, 2015 19:00:09 GMT -5 mroped said:

If it is running on a timer that means is connected to an outside plug somewhere. That clock/timer needs to run on something!
So, the solution would be that when the water turns on, start flipping breakers in the panel and figure out which is which. The breakers should be labeled(?)

Might be a sun dial though.

[ken a.k.a OMK]

Do your neighbors have the same system? My SIL in Florida lived in a community that had a system of non-potable water that watered every lawn automatically like you mentioned,

[Deleted]

Apr 4, 2015 18:28:22 GMT -5 Ratchets said:

I can't see the picture, Archie. but I did find a bigger hose in the front yard that the small ones hook into it looks like. So maybe it's on a different water system and the timer is set by the homeowners association or something?

I didn't find it there Bills. Just a lizard sunning himself .

turn off your water at the meter at 5:50 and see if anything happens at 6:00.  That will tell you if it is on your water system, wouldn't it?

[Peace Of Mind]

Ratchets, if you can't find it outside -  your house is new so it might be in the garage.  Do you have a rain gauge?  It's usually just inside of that wall.

Ours looks like this:

Rain gauge: 

Irrigation controller/timer: 

[tskeeter]

Apr 4, 2015 19:00:09 GMT -5 mroped said:

If it is running on a timer that means is connected to an outside plug somewhere. That clock/timer needs to run on something!
So, the solution would be that when the water turns on, start flipping breakers in the panel and figure out which is which. The breakers should be labeled(?)

Yes and no.  Not all timers are connected to the power supply of a building.  Many of the valves in our HOA irrigation system are operated by 9 volt batteries and the valves are located in below ground valve boxes.  In this area, valve boxes have green plastic covers, not black, and are usually rectangular.  But, I would take battery operated valves as a signal that the irrigation system might be a large, central system rather than an irrigation system dedicated to only a single house and yard.

One of the things for Rachets to be looking for is a vacuum break.  The vacuum break is usually installed on a piece of PVC pipe that comes out of the ground about a foot or so, then there is a kind of mushroom shaped valvie looking thing (often these are brass and have additional shut offs on them), and then a second leg of the PVC pipe that goes back into the ground.  Often, there is a valve box located close to the vacuum break.  And timers are usually located fairly close to the vacuum break, too.