Electric Valves
Electric irrigation valves connect to a controller and open automatically when a zone's scheduled cycle starts, which is what makes automated watering possible across multiple zones without manual intervention. A solenoid triggers the valve open and closed on command, and valve body material - commonly glass-filled nylon for durability against UV and ground moisture - determines how well it holds up buried underground for years. Shop heavy-duty electric valves sized for residential and commercial zones from Rain Bird, Hunter, and Irritrol.
Electric Valves
An electric valve is what actually connects a controller's schedule to water moving through a zone. When a controller sends a signal at the programmed time, a solenoid — an electromagnetic coil wrapped around a small plunger — activates and lifts a diaphragm inside the valve, allowing water to flow through. When the cycle ends, the signal stops, the solenoid releases, and the diaphragm closes the valve again. This solenoid-and-diaphragm mechanism is what makes a fully automated, hands-off irrigation schedule possible.
Solenoid reliability matters more than almost any other spec on an electric valve, since a solenoid that fails to activate means a zone simply doesn't water on schedule — often not noticed until turf starts showing stress. Valve body material matters nearly as much: glass-filled nylon resists UV degradation and cracking better than standard plastic, which matters given that most valves sit buried or in a valve box exposed to ground moisture and temperature swings for years at a time.
Sizing an electric valve involves matching it to both the flow rate and pressure of the zone it's controlling — an undersized valve restricts flow and can cause pressure loss at the sprinkler heads downstream, while an oversized valve doesn't cause harm but adds unnecessary cost. Each valve also needs to be wired to a compatible station on the Residential or Commercial controller running the system, so confirming voltage compatibility before buying is worth the extra minute.
For a system with several electric valves, grouping them at a single Manifolds location simplifies both installation and future troubleshooting. And because electric valves sit downstream of the main water supply, pairing the system with the appropriate Backflow Prevention assembly is what actually protects potable water from siphoning backward through an open valve.
The Learn HUB has wiring diagrams and troubleshooting guides for electric valves that won't open or won't fully close.
