Using section control to divide your liquid or NH3 application into sections can help save on crop inputs by turning off sections as you cross into headlands or into already-applied areas. Troubleshooting an electric valve that is not working is not difficult. With a voltmeter and a few minutes, you should be able to diagnose the problem and come up with a solution to get your rig going.
As you test the section valves on SurePoint Ag products, occasionally you’ll run across one that will not turn or move. If this happens, follow this guide for steps to help you determine the problem and troubleshoot to get you back up and running.
Go to Diagnostics, Section Test to investigate this issue on a Deere Rate Controller. On other controllers go to a place where you can turn the valves on. See Section F of your SurePoint manual for more information. Be sure that Auto Swath or other automatic control is OFF.
In Section Test, check and uncheck the boxes. With the box checked, the valve should turn on. The valve should be off when the box is not checked.
If the valve does not appear to be functioning properly during your test, check the harness connection to that valve. It is a 3-pin Weather Pack connector, see Section D of the PumpRight JDRC 2000 Manual or the SureFire manual for your system for wiring diagrams.
Check voltage between pin A and pin B on the connector that plugs into the valve. This should be a constant 12 volts, if not, go back to the next harness connection and check the voltage there. On the 14-pin section connector on the harnesses for the JDRC 2000, check voltage (pins 1 and 2 are +12V, pins 3 and 4 are ground). On a SureFire 16-pin section connector, there should be a constant 12 v between pins 1(GND) and 16 (+12V).
If voltage is present on pins A and B of the 3-pin connection to valve, then check pin C to pin B. This should be 12 volts when the valve is commanded on or open. This should be zero volts when valve is off or closed.
If signal voltage is not present to open the valve, use the diagrams for your system to check the voltage between ground and your boom signal at each connection back to the control module.
If constant voltage (pins A and B) and switched voltage (pins C and B) are present, inspect, repair, or replace the valve.
If you isolate the problem to a specific harness, put your voltmeter in continuity-check mode and test the power, ground, or signal wire in question. Look for a loose pin, corroded connection, pin that is pushed back, or a harness that looks like it may have been pinched.
Other considerations: If a valve is not working, plug that valve into a different boom connector that is working. Or plug the connector on the valve that is not working into a valve that is working.
Sometimes, a valve will be physically stuck. It may be necessary to remove the electric actuator and turn the valve by hand (or with a wrench) to loosen it.
If none of the valves are working, be sure the display is set up correctly. On the JDRC 2000 be sure you have the section drivers assigned the same as the connections that you plugged in.
The functions of each pin are as follows:
For further information, click here to see the full PumpRight Fertilizer System for JDRC 2000 Manual. Find the complete manual for your SurePoint system on our support site.
Stay tuned! We’ll have more helpful pre-season prep tips and ideas from the SurePoint Ag team on the blog and the SurePoint Ag Facebook page. As always, do not hesitate to contact us if lingering issues persist or if we can be of any help.