Sprinkler control wiring

[phatfoto]

I need to move my sprinkler controller, and don't have enough wire to move it. But I DO have some solid strand Cat 5 cable, can I use that instead? Moving it about 30 feet.

 

[frieed]

Sprinkler wire is typically about 16ga while cat 5 is usually 24ga
It "may" work, but you may also get too much voltage drop to actuate the solenoid.

 

[phatfoto]

Darned good point. I've complained since I bought this house, the PO put in the front and rear sprinkler stations in the basement. Very difficult to run them and check the yard when running in and out of the house. So I'm moving the front station to the garage. And there is plenty of wire to move the rear station up into the kitchen cabinets. Reckon I'll go and get what I need later today.

 

[jackjoh]

Sprinkler wire is typically about 16ga while cat 5 is usually 24ga
It "may" work, but you may also get too much voltage drop to actuate the solenoid.

I would not use cat 5. You can buy sprinkler wire for about $2.00/foot.

 

[phatfoto]

I bought a 50' chunk at Cal Ranch for $22... Turned out the easy setup for the back yard wasn't so easy. STILL haven't figured where I want to run the station from. Ugh!!!