Fimco Indexing Valve for Effluent

Overview The FIMCO Hydro Indexing Valve is the modern, no worry way to ensure smooth working, dependable service for all sprinkler, wastewater and aquaponics systems. The Hydro-Indexing Valve is activated by sufficient water supply being turned on and off therefore no electrical wiring is required to the valve. All that is needed for a totally automatic system is a controller to turn on and off the water supply (pump or solenoid). The Zone Indicator A new optional feature to the FIMCO Hydro Indexing Valves is the Zone Indicator. Now you no longer need to guess which zone will come on next. This simple little button on top of the cam has an arrow which points to the active zone. The zone indicator is great to use when testing or performing maintenance on your irrigation system. When the pump is turned off, just simply index the cam to your desired section by pushing down on the zone indicator. When the pump is turned back on the system will automatically start on that section. The Zone Indicator can be purchased as a separate item. How the hydro indexing valve works The Hydro Indexing Valve operates under most all water conditions and is available in three styles to enable the valve to index properly under normal, low, or high water conditions. FIMCO Hydro Indexing Valves are preassembled with a sequencing cam depending on how many zones are on a particular sprinkler system. The cam can be easily removed and replaced by a different cam if sections are added or eliminated. Troubleshooting The Hydro Indexing Valve must be cammed for the proper number of zones! A 3-zone valve MUST have a 3-zone cam. The active zones are the outlets directly below the numbers on the cam. Inactive zones (outlets that do not have a corresponding number) should be capped off. To change the cam, remove the four screws on the cam cover and lift off. Remove the cam by slightly lifting and rotating until stem lobe slides through slot in cam. Install the new cam with the numbers facing up. Slide the cam down down over the stem by lining the top lobe of the stem up with the slot which goes all the way through on the cam. Line the cam up with the locator pin on valve top. Replace the cam cover and screws. Important! The cam never goes inside of valve top. It is fastened on top of the valve under the cam cover. Water comes out of more than one zone at a time: There may be insufficient water supply to seal the valve. 10 gpm (gallons per minute) are required for indexing, and 10 psi (pressure per square inch) at the valve, is required to seal valve while each zone is running. A low flow stem & disc is available which only needs 6 gpm to operate system. All valves are sent from factory with a standard flow stem & disc assembly. You may purchase a low flow stem & disc assembly. Valve fails to index: Remove cam cover. Hold cam in place and press down on stem. If there isn’t free movement, remove valve top and take out stem & disc. Check for PVC glue on other debris such as sand or mineral build up. If build up is causing the rubber disc to rub walls of valve bottom, slightly sanding edge of rubber disc may relieve this problem. Check fins on stem. There are two fins on stem. One is on top of cam and one below cam. If either is broken off, replace stem & disc assembly. If fewer than the maximum number of outlets are being used, check that the proper cam is installed. EX: A 4-outlet valve using 3 zones must have a 3-zone cam. Make sure active zones are open and inactive zones are capped off. Active zones are outlets directly under numbers on the cam. Valve skips zones: The wrong number cam may have been installed or wrong outlets connected. Valve must be cammed for the number of outlets used. EX: a 4-outlet valve using 2 zones must have a 2-zone cam. Active zones are the outlets directly under numbers on the cam. Inactive outlets should be capped off. The pump may be losing its prime, causing water flow to surge. This action causes the valve to cycle quickly several times, skipping one or more zones. Check water flow by removing valve top and watching flow of water while the pump is on. It should be a steady flow and shoot out several feet past the valve. Problems could be the check valve letting water go back into the well. Clean check valve or install a new one. It’s best to install check valve near the suction line of the pump. Seal any pump suction leaks. Replace or install suction line. If pumping out of lakes or canals, check screen for debris. A zone may be higher than valve (causing back flow.) Plumb a check valve at lowest point of incline nearest to valve or raise the Indexing Valve higher than the rest of the system.