My sprinkler system here in SW Florida is two years old. There are 5 programmable zones. However, lately whenever zones 1, 2, 3 or 4 are programmed ON, Zone 5 comes on (sympathetically?). An irrigation company has come 3 times to make repairs, but has been unsuccessful each time. They gave up and left me with the problem! The solenoid controlling Zone 5 has been replaced. There is no stray voltages from the programmable master controller that might be actuating the solenoid. Zone 5 has been programmed for 0 minutes and still it comes on when any of the other zones are engaged. My question is, WHY? How can I control Zone 5 properly?

Today, I replaced three of the sprinkler heads on Zone 5 with caps in which I drilled five tiny holes each. Purpose was to reduce the flood I get in my back yard from the 3 hours watering I get from Zone 5 (Zones 1 through 4 are programmed for 45 minutes each, and as each comes on, so does Zone 5, totaling 3 hrs). Now I discover that Zone 5 is cycling on and off. Before I had replaced the heads with limiting caps, Zone 5 would be ON for the full time the other zones became engaged sequentially. Zone 5 did not cycle on and off before.

Now with the caps on, when I turn on another zone, Zone 5 comes ON until pressure reaches approx 40 psi, then regulator clicks and Zone 5 is OFF for 31 seconds until pressure drops to approx 24 psi. Then regulator clicks once again and Zone 5 comes ON again for approx 59 seconds (cycles between approx 1 minute ON and half minute OFF). This happens while another zone is operating correctly (not cycling) and Zone 5 is not programmed.

The regulator is a Pumptrol by Square D Class 9013, Type FSG2, Ser.B, "on 30, off 50" The Pump Controller seems to be operating properly but I was wondering if this might be the culprit. Should I make any pressure adjustments? Thanks

I had a similar problem. My sprinkler system would go through its cycle and then it would in about an hour, start over again. I e-mailed the company and they told me that I had it programmed wrong. Well, it had been working for a year or so without any problems. This problem drove me crazy. Finally what I did was take the cover off the control box. There you will find a small battery about the size of a dime or nickel. I removed that and left it out for several minutes. That cleared out all the memory that was held in RAM. I put the battery back in, reprogrammed the control unit and I have not had any problems since. Don't know if this your problem but it might be worth a try.
Ken in Pensacola

"The regulator is a Pumptrol by Square D Class 9013, Type FSG2, Ser.B, "on 30, off 50" The Pump Controller seems to be operating properly but I was wondering if this might be the culprit. Should I make any pressure adjustments? Thanks"

No, the pressure control should have no effect on the zone operation.
Tom in Sarasota

I agree with Tom that pressure control should have nothing to do with it.

I would try Ken's fix next. If that doesn't work, I would go back to the installer if it was still in warranty when you first complained. Tell them to fix it, or refund your money. If they don't, let the manfacturer know you are very upset. From there, it is small claims court.

If it is out of warranty, you may need to cough up for a new controller yourself.