How to fix Gardena Water Computer with distribution unit problem?

[Waddy]

Hello,

My Water Computer stopped passing water so I received a new one via warranty, I set it up without issue BUT the Water Computer and Distributor are not lined up/Sncyd which means its watering the wrong area.. Its not switching to the correct port.

The problem is if Schedule One is watering the distributor port may be watering 5, when schedule one should be port one.

If I press the Water now button, then stop it, then do it again it does switch ports meaning it does cycle but not to correct port when automatic using the Computer. 

I am using the 6 ports and all are enabled.

I have read the manuals multiple times it says press button on bottom to cycle through not work.

How do I get these back to sync, ie. Schedule 5 - waters on port 5.

Thanks.

[EricL]

Hello @Waddy 

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community. It's sensational to have you join us and thanks for sharing your question about your Gardena water computer.

It sounds like your Water Computer and Distributor are out of sync, so the ports aren’t aligning correctly with the programmed schedule. Since the distributor does cycle manually when you press "Water Now" twice, it confirms that it's switching but not matching up properly when running automatically. To get them back in sync, try resetting the Water Distributor by pressing the manual cycle button until it reaches port one. Some models require holding the button for a few seconds to fully reset.

You can also manually trigger a full cycle by pressing "Water Now," letting it run briefly, stopping it, and then pressing it again. Repeating this process a few times can sometimes realign the system. If that doesn’t work, try power cycling both the Water Computer and the Distributor by removing the batteries for a few minutes before reinstalling them and setting everything up again. It’s also worth checking the manual for a factory reset option, as that might restore the correct synchronization.

Since you’re using all six ports, double-check that none have been accidentally disabled in the settings, as this could be causing unexpected skipping. A good way to test if everything is working correctly is to set up a short schedule where each port runs for a minute and watch to see if the distributor cycles properly. Hopefully, this helps get everything back on track.

If you have any other questions we can help with, please let us know.

Eric

[Waddy]

Thanks Eric, that information is a great help. I will try as suggested and report back.

I mustn't have been pressing that cycle button for long enough I will give this a try when I get home. If I get it back to port one I should be ok?

Should it always return to port One after running a cycle, if it waters port 5 it should return to One when finished?

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Waddy,

This is how I would go about it. Use the orange button on the distributor to ensure it is at port one. Run your computer for the cycle. If the distributor is starting off on port five when it should be on one, it will always be out of whack. Check to see if it gets stuck on a port and goes out of whack. If so, there might be an issue on that line, like too much flow or a broken pipe that causes the distributor not to switch.

I understand everything was working before, but ensure that there are at least 10 minutes between stations. For example, you have station one watering from 9-9:15 am, have station two set to start at 9:25 am. If there are not 10 minutes between stations, it can cause issues, such as not switching ports correctly.

The most important thing to check is that the distributor is set to port one at the beginning of the cycle. This could be that your old computer died on port 4, and then you've plugged the new computer in, which will start on station one. The distributor needs to be manually reset back to one to align it with the new computer.

Please let me know how you go.

Mitchell

[Waddy]

Thanks @MitchellMc  To use the red button on the bottom of the distributor do I need to Hit the water now button, then hold that down until it gets to port 1? Ill double check the schedules also.

@MitchellMc   & @EricL - I will do as you suggest, much appreciated. Garden is suffering as it is 40c + . It going to be very hot in the next days so may have to try this later at night or weekend when cool change arrives. 

I will update the post with my results.

[MitchellMc]

Hi @Waddy,

The Gardena team instructed me that it was an orange button on the distributor that, each time you press it, it shifts to the next port. If that doesn't work, it would be worth contacting the Gardena team on Ph: 1300 804 213. They're fantastic and can walk you through the steps and troubleshoot with you whilst on the phone.

Mitchell