Summary

An overcurrent message occurs when the current drawn by the 2-wire exceeds the 1.5 amp threshold set by the controller. An overcurrent can be caused by overloading the circuit, a circuit short, ground fault, or arc fault (Wire jacket is damaged and positive and negative wires are touching).

Tools Required

#2 Phillips head screwdriver

AC solenoid

Approved mA clamp meter such as: Armada Pro 95i, or a Tempo 360B

Not all mA clamp meters have the required resolution to find the mA load discrepancy on the wire path. Approved mA clamp meters have low pass filter settings that provide a stable mA reading while devices are communicating over the two-wire, microamp resolution and a true RMS measurement.

Use this to help you navigate: 2-wire Quick Reference Card

To check power and current readings:

To get a more precise idea of what your current reading should be, you should add the standby usage plus 
the running usage using the following guidelines: 
Standby Usage:

• All connected stations will consume around 0.6 mA when no valves are running. It is normal to see idle 
  consumption in the 0.6 mA range per station decoder.
• For example, 20 connected stations will consume around 12-14mA, and 100 units will consume 60-70 mA. 
  
  • Note: that this will be true even if there is nothing connected to the output wires of the decoder. 
• Each decoder all by itself draws 0.6 mA. 

Process Steps

Check the Messages

• Step 1:  Press the ALERTS button once. You will be directed to the Alerts menu. 
  • If an ER (error) is present directly below the VL (valve) section, this indicates that there are 1 or more valve errors present on the system. 
  •  A _ (dash) this will indicate that no errors (ER) are present for that section. 

    • Note:

      We are only focused on VL, valve errors.

       

• Step 2: Press the → button until you reach View Valve Status or sub menu Alerts: 03.
• Step 3: Press the SELECT button to View valve Status.
  • An SH (SHORT) will be present directly below any station number and or a Master valve(s) listed at the end of the station numbers (M1, M2, M3, and M4 all represent master valve 1,2,3, or 4 this will depend on how may master valves are being used or not) indicating a solenoid is drawing less than 75 MA.
  • Several stations with a SH will indicate a 2-wire path issue. Such as overloading the circuit, a circuit short, ground fault, or arc fault (Wire jacket is damaged and positive and negative wires are touching).

• Note: 

  You will see the word ALERT flash periodically on the lower right-hand side of the screen if any alert error conditions have been detected by the system. If this is not flashing this means that no alert has been registered by the system. This is just a way of reminding the user.

   

Check the 2-Wire Path

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. 
• If you have several 2-wire paths connected test one at a time by only having one installed at one time to test. 

2.  Be methodical

•  Start troubleshooting from the controller and work out along the two-wire path from there.
• log your findings and mark your wire path:
   

• Use the mobile app to track you valves and add nots an images. Using Site Mapping 

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.  Set the milliamp clamp meter to measure mA ∼ AC (milliamps AC).

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.” As an example, 212.00 mA.

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.

Finding an Over Current Without a Clamp Meter (Not Recommended)

Note: While this works, Hydropoint DOES NOT recommend this process. This is due to a large increase in time, cost and increased risk of future site issues if re-splicing is not done correctly. If the overcurrent remains connected to the controller terminals, over time it can potentially damage components in the controller. 

1. Start by isolating the over current to a single two-wire path, if multiple exist at the controller. 
2. After isolating the over current to a two-wire path, begin halving that two-wire path and connecting the half to the controller.. 
3. Check the controller for an over current message. (split half method: ruling out half of the wire path at a time.)

• In the below example, if the over current message goes away after half of the wire is disconnected, we know the problem is in the disconnected half of the two-wire.

4. Reconnect the other half of the two-wire path, then find the midpoint of the section that contains the problem and disconnect it.
5. Check the controller for the over-current message again.
6. Continue this process until you find the trouble device or wire section. 

If you check all of the preceding steps and fail to resolve the issue, consider contacting Hydropoint Support. Hydropoint Support can be reached at support@baselinesystems.com, support@hydropoint.com or 866-294-5847.