Step-by-Step Guide
Wiring Options for PFS-200 Flow Sensors
When installing a PFS-200 (plastic flow sensor, two-inch) on a conventional wire controller, the wiring requirements differ from standard irrigation wiring. The PFS-200 and all baseline flow sensors are two-wire devices designed to connect to a two-wire path with a flow encoder.
Can You Use Existing Number 14 Wire?
The short answer is no—do not use existing number 14 gauge wire to connect to the flow sensor. While you might be able to make it work temporarily, it will cause problems long-term.
Number 14 wire and other direct burial wire consists of a copper conductor with an outer jacket of either PVC or high-density polyethylene. This is a power cable. Two-wire cable, by contrast, contains the same copper jacketed wire inside two conductors, but includes an outer jacket of high-density polyethylene that makes it a data cable. This outer jacket and data transmission capability is what the flow sensor requires.
Running Two-Wire on a Conventional Wire Controller
Even though the PFS-200 is designed to wire into a two-wire system, you can still use it with a conventional wire controller. Conventional wire boards include terminal strips for conventional wire connections, plus two additional terminals—a red terminal and a black terminal—where you can connect two wires.
- Run a dedicated two-wire path from these two-wire terminals on the controller out to the flow sensor.
- Ensure the two-wire cable meets baseline specifications.
- Connect all other irrigation zones using conventional wire as normal.
This configuration allows you to operate a flow sensor on a two-wire path while maintaining conventional wire for the rest of your system.
Troubleshooting "Flow Contacts Triggered" Error Messages
If you receive the message "Flow contacts triggered, all watering has stopped, value equals open," this indicates the controller recognized a flow condition (whether it existed or not) and stopped watering as a safety measure. This error message specifically indicates you're running a two-wire system rather than conventional wire.
The error message appears as a bright orange alert on the controller screen.
Identifying the Cause: Loose Flow Contact Jumpers
The most common cause of this error is loose jumper wires at the flow contact terminals. On the controller where the two-wire path connects, you'll find jumper wires connecting several contact points.
Behind the terminal connections, you'll see labeling for three contacts:
- Pause
- Rain
- Flow
- Common
Normally, the pause contact connects to common, the rain contact connects to common, and the flow contact connects to common.
Fixing Loose Flow Contact Terminals
- Locate the flow screw terminals on the controller board.
- Check both the first flow terminal and the common terminal—one of these two screw terminals is likely loose, preventing the wire from making full contact.
- Use a screwdriver to tighten both terminals, ensuring they're snug.
This should resolve the error message.
Rain Contact Switch Errors
A similar error can occur with the rain contact switch. If you don't have a rain switch installed but the rain jumper terminal is loose, you'll receive a comparable error message.
Rain jumper terminals are present on both two-wire and conventional wire boards. If the rain jumper becomes loosened, check and tighten it using the same procedure as the flow contact terminals.
Important Note About Jumper Wires
Flow contact jumpers and rain contact jumpers aren't used very often anymore, but they're critical to system operation. Anytime someone disconnects, removes, or loosens these jumpers without properly tightening them back down, error messages will occur. Always leave jumper wires in place and ensure they're snugged down securely.
Video Walkthrough
Video originally published April 2021.
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