2/4 sprinkler irrigation control wires show open circuit - next steps and options

[Brian P]

Solving an irrigation problem at an old house I have moved into. 4x valves at the backyard, 1x in the frontyard. (Hunter) controller shows 5x wires arranged in two strands. Strand1 is a single sheathed wire and goes to the front. Strand2 has 7x wires (white, black, brown, red, orange, green, blue).
On the valve end, I see a buried cable (labeled sprinker system - 30v) with 5x wires (white, green, blue, red, yellow). When I started debugging the issue, the Strand2 wires that were connected to the controller were white (gnd), black, red, green blue.

I cut the old, exposed section of the buried cable, stripped out a new section and started with continuity checks. white = common ground. I see green (@ controller) = green (@ valve) and black (@ controller) = yellow (@ valve) as the only two wires that are passing checks. The other two wires are showing open.

I am not sure how 2x wires can be damaged and 2x are working? also surprised to see the 7x wires at the controller split into 5x. don't know where the other 2x from the controller went. To be sure, I did a continuity check of every pair at the controller (white + colored wire) with a pair at the valve (white + colored wire)

What should I be checking for next? and if the 2x wires are indeed broken, what are my options? Let's say I do want to have independent control of the 4x valves as my first choice.

thanks in advance
-Brian

 

[WorthFlorida]

A varmint could have chewed on the wires. The wires you're assuming are bad may not be used. There are no standard color code for irrigation systems. This usually needs a toner to trace out the wires. If you know where the zone valves are, start there and check the wiring.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Fitter30]

Might have run the 7 wire cable to all valves. Use 4 colors and white for neutral. A 24volt valve only pulls 5w/ .208 amp. 24v/ 25 ohms= 1 amp