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US-20260123588-A1 - IRRIGATION WIRING AND TEST BOARD

US20260123588A1US 20260123588 A1US20260123588 A1US 20260123588A1US-20260123588-A1

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for an irrigation control, wiring, and testing apparatus. The irrigation control apparatus includes a wiring device that improves the organization of irrigation system wiring of a valve box. The wiring device also enables improved zone or watering valve identification. The apparatus enables testing of irrigation solenoids to verify operation of the irrigation system.

Inventors

  • Randy Holliday

Assignees

  • Randy Holliday

Dates

Publication Date
20260507
Application Date
20250709

Claims (20)

  1. 1 . An irrigation control apparatus positionable within a subterranean space, the subterranean space having a bottom surface, the irrigation control apparatus comprising: a platform; at least one zone valve port electrically connected to the platform; at least one ground port electrically connected to the platform; and an attachment mechanism for positioning the platform above the bottom surface of the subterranean space, wherein the at least one zone valve port and the at least one ground port are configured to electrically connect to a solenoid associated with a valve.
  2. 2 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the platform is semi-circular in shape.
  3. 3 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a stake.
  4. 4 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the platform is rotatably connectable to the stake.
  5. 5 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a bracket.
  6. 6 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the bracket is rotatably connectable to the platform.
  7. 7 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the bracket comprises an aperture on an upper portion thereof.
  8. 8 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 6 , wherein an upper portion of the bracket is configured to mount to a surface of a valve box to position the platform at a first distance above the bottom surface of the subterranean space.
  9. 9 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one zone valve port comprises a toolless connector configured to receive a first wire from the solenoid and a second wire from a sprinkler clock.
  10. 10 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the first wire is a stranded wire, and wherein the second wire is a solid wire.
  11. 11 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a power source is connected to the at least one zone valve port.
  12. 12 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the power source is connected to a sprinkler clock.
  13. 13 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: a computer chip mounted on a printed circuit board (PCB) of the platform, comprising: a processor; and a memory coupled with the processor and storing data thereon that, when processed by the processor, enable the processor to: determine at least one of a voltage value across the solenoid and a current value conducted by the solenoid; and cause, via a communication module, the at least one of the voltage value and the current value to be displayed.
  14. 14 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one of the voltage value and the current value is displayed on at least one of a mobile device and a display connected to the PCB.
  15. 15 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising: an illumination device, wherein the illumination device emits light when the at least one of the voltage value and the current value meets or exceeds a threshold value, and does not emit light when the at least one of the voltage value and the current value does not meet the threshold value.
  16. 16 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the at least one zone valve port comprises a first zone valve port connectable to the solenoid and a second zone valve port connectable to a second solenoid, and wherein a second illumination device emits light when at least one of a voltage value across the second solenoid and a current value conducted by the second solenoid meets or exceeds a threshold value.
  17. 17 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising: a moisture sensor, wherein the processor further disables at least one of a printed circuit board (PCB) within the platform and the solenoid when a measurement from the moisture sensor meets or exceeds a threshold value.
  18. 18 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one zone valve port is configured to electrically connect to a power source, and wherein the at least one ground port is configured to electrically connect to a ground source.
  19. 19 . An irrigation control apparatus positionable within a subterranean space, the subterranean space having a lower surface, the irrigation control apparatus comprising: a platform containing a processor; a first illumination device and a second illumination device each coupled with the processor; a first zone valve port and a second zone valve port each electrically coupled with the processor; a first ground port and a second ground port each electrically coupled with the processor; and an attachment mechanism for positioning the platform above the lower surface of the subterranean space, wherein the first zone valve port and the first ground port are connectable to a first solenoid, wherein the second zone valve port and the second ground port are connectable to a second solenoid, wherein the first zone valve port and the second zone valve port are connectable to a power source, wherein the first ground port and the second ground port are connectable to a ground, wherein the first illumination device illuminates when the first solenoid receives power, and wherein the second illumination device illuminates when the second solenoid receives power.
  20. 20 . The irrigation control apparatus of claim 19 , wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a stake rotatably connected to the platform.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION The present application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/716,576, filed Nov. 5, 2024. The entire disclosure of the application listed is hereby incorporated by reference, in its entirety, for all that the disclosure teaches and for all purposes. FIELD The present disclosure is generally directed to irrigation systems and, in particular, devices, systems, and methods for connecting and testing sprinkler system wiring. BACKGROUND Current irrigation system practice includes setting one or multiple water zone valves in a pit 8 to 12 inches below ground or at whatever level the valves need to be placed to function properly in the landscaping scheme. This has been the practice for many years and creates many problems with the installation, as well as many problems in maintenance and testing. The sprinkler pipes are set below ground level and sprinkler risers (or “heads”) are installed with the top of the head at or slightly below ground level. Once installed, a multi-sided box (e.g., a “valve box”) with an open bottom and a removable lid is placed over the valves to create an accessible enclosure for the valves. The zone valves are operated by a solenoid, usually 24-volt alternating current (AC) solenoid, but other voltages are available. Each valve location is fed by a plurality of conductor wires ranging from two to over 16 color-coded wires. These wires can be from 20 gauge to up to 14 gauge depending on the distance between the clock timer and the valves. The gauge is paired as to the size of the solenoid and current draw. Each solenoid valve has two multi-strand wires that are non-polarity sensitive. The current methodology is to use one of the solenoid valve wires as a neutral or ground wire (e.g., a black wires). The other colored wires are connected to each individual solenoid valve as a “hot” (e.g., power) wire from the sprinkler clock. The second solenoid wire is combined with all other neutral wires from the solenoid valves and the neutral wire coming into the box. This results in a large bundle of multistrand neutral wires that must be connected to a single 18-gauge solid strand wire. Typically, the connection is accomplished with a single wire connector nut. Many problems arise from grounding issues and mismatched wires being poorly grounded. Another issue is that the wire-nutted connections end up located in the bottom of the pit within the enclosure in the dirt, mud, or even submerged in water which may create corrosion and shorted connections. Often most residential and small commercial sprinkler systems are installed by the homeowner or a landscaping company. Landscapers are good at installing the piping for the water but may lack a good understanding of potential electrical issues. Most systems are poorly documented and the homeowner or an irrigation or sprinkler company that maintains the system may be at a loss as to where the zone valves are located and may have to undertake searching to find the specific zones. In addition, the homeowners and sprinkler maintenance people are often poorly equipped and/or lack the education required to diagnose issues that arise over time. For example, identifying a specific non-preforming or broken valve in a zone box with multiple valves, identifying a specific valve associated with a specific zone in a valve box of multiple valves that is part of an irrigation system with multiple zones, identifying within a valve box the specific wiring associated with a specific zone or valve, understanding the wiring connections between the timer and the valves, and determining the cause of a specific performance issue after identifying the correct valve and zone are all potential issues. In addition, as noted above, zone valves tend to be located below ground in cramped and lightless pits further complicating problem solving and necessary repairs. SUMMARY There is a need in irrigation systems for a device that improves the reliability of the wiring, the separate identification of each zone or watering valve in a valve pit with multiple valves, and electrical testing of water valves. Embodiments according to aspects of the present disclosure comprise a hard-wired board or a printed circuit board (PCB) to provide discrete and secure connections for each of the zone valves, grounds, and specific stations. In some cases, the discrete and secure connections may be in communication with a processor on the PCB, or may alternatively be in communication with one or more external processors (e.g., such as when the device omits use of the PCB or processor). In some examples, the PCB may omit the use of vias, traces, combinations thereof, and/or the like. Devices according to embodiments of the present disclosure are configured to elevate the wiring connections (e.g., hard wired boards or PCBs) off the ground at the bottom of the pit or box. According to embodiments of the present disclosure, in at leas