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See my YouTube video on how to program a Virtual Rain controller.
The Virtual Rain Model 27686 (VRC-6) is available in 4,6,9 & 12 Station indoor and outdoor models. Choose the watering schedule that best suits your landscape: day of week, odd/even, second day or 1-21 day intervals. With twelve different start times available, you can program the timer to give your landscape just the right amount of precipitation and meet most city scheduling codes.
- Dial programming.
- Available in 4, 6, 9, and 12 stations.
- Indoor and outdoor models.
- Choose from 3 programs (A, B, or C)
- Water budgeting 50-150%
- Non volatile memory
Pros – I can’t really think of any. There are much better timers on the market than this one.
Cons – Difficult to program, not intuitive at all. Blinking cursor that shows where in the programming cycle you are is difficult to see. Multiple steps are required just to run a manual cycle.
How do you run a manual cycle?
I have a Virtual rain system modal #27684(VRC-4) system, the system works but it is getting hard to see the time setting on the console, do I need to change the little glass fuse in it? Or maybe you can tell me what I can do? Thank you.
Unfortunately Virtual Rain has gone out of business and I don’t know of a solution for your dimming display. You may be looking at upgrading your timer. I would recommend a Rain Bird ESP-Me3. You can program it from your smartphone.
How do you make it run program a and b? I’ve got them both programmed to run but when I turn the dial to run it shows that only program a will run not b as well
Program B will water as well as long as you don’t have overlapping start times.
I have had this timer since 2003 and now all of the sudden this Spring it is showing Power off all the time, even when it is in run. It will show the stations are running on the timer but the sprinkler head are not coming on. Can someone please help?
There could be a number of things wrong.
1. Check that outlet supplying power has 120 volts.
2. Transformer is producing 24-29 volts.
3. If 1 & 2 check out there could be a problem with the timer.
4. Timer is 17 years old, might be time for a new timer. My favorite is the Rain Bird ESP-Me. It’s wifi compatible and you can run it from your smartphone.
I have loved mine.
I wrote to the company and even though they no longer deal with sprinklers, they managed to send me the owner’s manual from their files, so you might try writing to them too.
I will
Thank you
What does 50% water budgeting mean?
It means that the timer/controller will water the zones/stations 1/2 the time you have set in “Station Run Times”. So if station 1 is set to water for 20 minutes on the “Station Run Time”, with 50% water budgeting it will now water for 10 minutes.
My LED screen isn’t coming on I changed the batteries and it’s still not coming on what do I need to do
Take a multi-tester and check that the timer is getting power from the transformer. Your multi-tester should read 24-29 volts.
Anyone have a manual for Virtualrain model #27666 sprinkler system? I just moved into this house and there is no manual for it.
I too am searching for VirtualRain model #27666. Did you you ever locate one? If so, would you please let me know me where I can acquire one as well?
Thank you
gonzales.johnc@gmail.com
I think Virtual Rain is out of business. Their timer is awful anyway. I would upgrade to a Rain Bird ESP series. If you buy the ESP-Me or ESP-Mi you can run your sprinkler system from your smartphone. They’re Wifi compatible. Awesome timers.
I love it and would buy another if I could find a 9 zone
I think Virtual Rain went out of business. My favorite timer is the Rainbird ESP-Me3. You can program and run it from your smartphone.
any idea why this timer would only run on Sunday but is set to run Thursday and Sunday? The video was helpful but the timer indicates programming for Thursday and Sunday.
Did you ever receive a reply? I have them same problem.
Try unplugging the transformer and batteries. Then reprogram the zones
trying to get this going with the spring, but there seems to be a disconnect between the box in the basement and the actual valves. All heads run great when manually turned on from the outside, not from the box. Any suggestions? Do you have the manual electronically? Thanks!
Sounds like a cut in the timer wire somewhere. I’ve looked all over online for this manual but can’t find it anywhere.
I have this model with 6 stations.Can you tell me how I may get a new set of keys for this unit?they have been misplaced.Thank you…………………..
If you have a key to a different lock that is similar in size you could try that, or even a small flat blade screwdriver. I had a Rain Bird timer box key that worked on a Hunter timer. I tried to find a support link for the Virtual Rain timer online but haven’t found one yet.
Can you tell me how to run the test cycle on this?
I don’t think this particular timer has a test cycle function.