If your 2-wire  displays an Over-Current message, all watering stops and you cannot use the controller until you resolve the problem that is causing the over-current.

Over-current (also known as excess current) is a situation where a greater-than-intended electric current is supplied to a valve. This can be caused by a short in either a circuit or a decoder. It can also be caused by excessive leakage to ground by either a fault along the 2-wire path or by leakage to ground through a decoder. The controller can also display an Over-Current message when there is an issue with the circuit board.

Getting Started

1.  Isolate and verify the problem

• Before you spend time troubleshooting the 2-wire and the attached devices, you should always eliminate the possibility of a circuit board issue. If you identify an issue in one part of your system, we recommend that you continue testing to determine whether any other issues exist. By identifying all issues upfront, you will be prepared to request the appropriate repair parts from WeatherTRAK Support, which will help get your system back in service in the shortest amount of time.  

2.  Be methodical

•  Start troubleshooting from the controller and work out along the two-wire path from there.
  
  

Diagnosing a Circuit Board Issue

1.  Disconnect the 2-wire from the controller.

2.  Check the controller to determine whether the Over Current message redisplays. Depending on where the controller is in its self-check cycle, you might need to wait up to 5 minutes for the Over Current message to redisplay.

3.  If the message redisplays, you have confirmed a circuit board issue. Contact WeatherTRAK Support at 866-294-5847.

Troubleshooting with a Milliamp Clamp Meter

1.  Disconnect any loops in your wire field.

2.  Wire a solenoid in line with the red wire of the 2-wire path right after the controller as illustrated. The solenoid drains the excess power and allows current to flow through the 2-wire.

3.  In the controller, either set the 2-wire to be always on or to manually operate a valve to send power to the 2-wire.

4.  Set the milliamp clamp meter to measure AC Amps.

5.  Use the milliamp clamp meter to take a milliamps ac reading on the red wire (2-wire) that is connected to the controller. Write down this reading, which will be referred to as the “base number.”

6.  Go to the first wire splice and use the milliamp clamp meter to take a reading on all red wires (2-wire). As you take the readings, look for a number that is close to the base number. The reading does not have to be identical. 

7.  Continue testing all red wires on the 2-wire path, looking for the base number until you isolate a wire segment, a connection, or device that is generating that number. If the reading on a wire segment or at a device is a fraction of the initial reading (such as ½), it indicates that there may be multiple sources of the over current.

8.  Remove the suspected device from the 2-wire path, and then check the controller again.

9.  Perform one of the following actions:

• If the Over Current message persists, check the 2-wire in that stretch for damage.
  
  
• If the Over Current message goes away, remove the 2-wire path, and then connect the device directly to the controller. If the Over Current message returns, the device is faulty and needs to be replaced.

Troubleshooting Manually

If you do not have a millamp clamp meter, you can manually break the 2-wire connections in a systematic manner to isolate a wire segment or device that is generating the Over Current message.

1.   Determine the approximate halfway point of the 2-wire path, and then break the connection at that valve box.

2.  Check the controller again. Perform one of the following actions:

•  If the Over Current message persists, the problem is in the half of the 2-wire that is still connected to the controller. Find the halfway point of that segment and start at step 1 again.
  
  
• If the Over Current message goes away, the problem is in the disconnected half of the 2-wire path. Reconnect the 2-wire path, and then disconnect at the halfway point of the problem section. Start at step 1 again.

3.  When you have isolated the device or the stretch of 2-wire where the problem seems to be originating, remove the 2-wire path, and then connect the device directly to the controller. If the Over Current message returns, the device is faulty and will need to be replaced.