LESSON SUMMARY: This lesson is designed to assist the user in troubleshooting which component failures within the satellite could cause the display on a PAR+ or PAR+ES Timing Mechanism to read “Breaker Tripped.”
Special Tools Needed: Digital Multimeter, Phillips Screwdriver
⚠ CAUTION: THIS LESSON MAY INCLUDE INSTRUCTIONS TO TEST HAZARDOUS VOLTAGES (120V-240V) THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT A LICENSED ELECTRICIAN BE CONTRACTED TO PERFORM SUCH TESTS.
🛑 STOP: ALWAYS TURN OFF THE POWER TO THE SATELLITE BEFORE REMOVING OR INSTALLING COMPONENTS.
If a PAR+ or PAR+ES Timing Mechanism is displaying a message of “Breaker Tripped” there could be an issue with the Power Interconnect Board, Power Transformer, or the incoming utility voltage. Follow the guided steps below to determine which component(s) require replacement.
Rain Bird® Power Interconnect Board:
The Power Interconnect Board is located in the satellite enclosure at the top, directly above the Output Station Module located in the first position.
Start by visually inspecting the Power Interconnect Board to confirm that the circuit breaker is tripped.
When looking at the Power Interconnect Board, there will be a small hole to the right of the 4-pin power connector where the circuit breaker is located.
A Rain Bird® Power Interconnect Board will have a circuit breaker with a push plunger that will need to be pressed to manually reset.
Additionally, a Rain Bird® Power Interconnect Board also has a red 24VAC LED that will illuminate if 24VAC is detected past the circuit breaker. The red 24VAC LED is the LED located on the right side of the Power Interconnect Board. If the red 24VAC LED is not illuminated, 24VAC is not being detected past the circuit breaker.
Next, manually press the push plunger on the circuit breaker to reset.
If manually resetting the breaker does not illuminate the 24VAC red LED, the circuit breaker or Power Interconnect Board are damaged or there is an issue with the incoming 24VAC from the Power Transformer.
Proceed to test the incoming 24VAC from the transformer using the following steps:
Start by powering off the satellite using the On/Off rocker switch located on the front of the Power Supply Assembly.
Next, unplug the 4-pin power connector from the Power Interconnect Board. The 4-pin power connector will have two orange wires and two blue wires.
*Note: If a strain relief is present protecting the wires on the back of the connector, remove the strain relief to gain access to the connector pins.
Using a digital multimeter or voltmeter set to the AC Voltage setting, measure the voltage where the wires enter the back of the 4-pin connector by placing the probes of your digital multimeter or voltmeter on each of the orange wires.
Your digital multimeter or voltmeter should display a reading of 24VAC; up to 30VAC is acceptable.
If your digital multimeter or voltmeter displays a reading of less than 24VAC, there may be an issue with the Power Transformer or the incoming utility voltage.
If your digital multimeter or voltmeter displays a reading of 24VAC-30VAC, the Power Interconnect Board will need to be removed and taken to a known-working satellite location to test.
Proceed to test the Power Interconnect Board in a known-working satellite location using the following steps:
Start by powering off the satellite using the On/Off rocker switch located on the front of the Power Supply Assembly.
Next, unplug all cables and connectors from the Power Interconnect Board.
Using a Phillips screwdriver, unscrew the mounting screws used to hold the Power Interconnect Board in place.
Remove the Power Interconnect Board from the satellite and take it to a known-working satellite location to test.
*Note: Prior to installing the Power Interconnect Board at a known-working satellite location, be sure to power off the satellite at the known-working satellite location. Power to the satellite should always be off before installing or removing components.
Once installed in a known-working satellite location, if the red 24VAC LED is not illuminated and the display on the Timing Mechanism reads “Breaker Tripped”, the Power Interconnect Board is damaged and should be replaced.
SuperParts Power Interconnect Board:
The Power Interconnect Board is located in the satellite enclosure at the top, directly above the Output Station Module located in the first position.
SuperParts™ Power Interconnect Boards do not have a circuit breaker with a push plunger, as the circuit breaker on a SuperParts™ Power Interconnect Board is built-in and automatically resetting.
SuperParts™ Power Interconnect Boards have a red 24VAC LED that will illuminate if 24VAC is detected past the circuit breaker. The red 24VAC LED is the LED located on the right side of the Power Interconnect Board.
If the red 24VAC LED is not illuminated, 24VAC is not being detected past the circuit breaker. On a SuperParts™ Power Interconnect Board this indicates that the Power Interconnect Board is damaged or there is an issue with the incoming 24VAC from the Power Transformer.
Proceed to test the incoming 24VAC from the transformer using the following steps:
Start by powering off the satellite using the On/Off rocker switch located on the front of the Power Supply Assembly.
Next, unplug the 4-pin power connector from the Power Interconnect Board. The 4-pin power connector will have two orange wires and two blue wires.
*Note: If a strain relief is present protecting the wires on the back of the connector, remove the strain relief to gain access to the connector pins.
Using a digital multimeter or voltmeter set to the AC Voltage setting, measure the voltage where the wires enter the back of the 4-pin connector by placing the probes of your digital multimeter or voltmeter on each of the orange wires.
Your digital multimeter or voltmeter should display a reading of 24VAC; up to 30VAC is acceptable.
If your digital multimeter or voltmeter displays a reading of less than 24VAC, there may be an issue with the Power Transformer or the incoming utility voltage.
If your digital multimeter or voltmeter displays a reading of 24VAC-30VAC, the Power Interconnect Board will need to be removed and taken to a known-working satellite location to test.
Proceed to test the Power Interconnect Board in a known-working satellite location using the following steps:
Start by powering off the satellite using the On/Off rocker switch located on the front of the Power Supply Assembly.
Next, unplug all cables and connectors from the Power Interconnect Board.
Using a Phillips screwdriver, unscrew the mounting screws used to hold the Power Interconnect Board in place.
Remove the Power Interconnect Board from the satellite and take it to a known-working satellite location to test.
*Note: Prior to installing the Power Interconnect Board at a known-working satellite location, be sure to power off the satellite at the known-working satellite location. Power to the satellite should always be off before installing or removing components.
Once installed in a known-working satellite location, if the red 24VAC LED is not illuminated and the display on the Timing Mechanism reads “Breaker Tripped”, the Power Interconnect Board is damaged and should be replaced.
Replacement Power Interconnect Boards (PIBs) can be purchased here.
Lesson tags: rain bird, rainbird, par+, par+ es, par plus, par plus es, repair, help, troubleshooting, exchange, motherboard, timing mechanism, faceplate, pib, power interconnect board, osm, output station module, boardtronics
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