Guide to Using Your Checkmate III

Getting Started:

The unit comes with its own internal rechargeable power source and is equipped with its own position sensitive power switch that turns the unit on and off automatically.

NOTE:  You must recharge the unit every 90 days.

Use only the charger supplied with the unit. The LED on the charger will blink when the unit is fully charged.

Automatic Self Test of Power Supply:

• Plug in the alligator clip test leads
• Position the Checkmate III so the yellow light remains flashing
• Touch the alligator clips together.  If you hear a tone, the unit has at least 15 volts.  If there is no tone, or tone is intermittent, recharge Checkmate III.

Power Test Valve at Valve Location:

Unit’s kick start feature will power-activate a working valve. To perform this test:

• Disconnect wires coming from controller from valve solenoid.
• Connect Checkmate III test leads to valve solenoid wires.  Make sure the controller is in the off position (no zones activated) for this test.
• Yellow and green lights on = valve good, valve should open.  If valve does not open, give it a “kick start” by pressing button on side.
• Yellow and red lights, plus tone on = solenoid drawing too much current (hot) or shorted.
• To activate a hot solenoid, you can bypass the internal diagnosics by:  1)  Rotate the Checkmate III until all lights are off (diagnostics off)  2) push in and hold the kick-start button.  3)  Rotate so the lights are facing up (standby) 4)  Release the kick-start button.  Yellow light only on = solenoid is damaged and needs to be replaced.

Power Test Valve and Field Wires from Controller:

This test is performed at the controller. If the valve passes the field test but fails this test, a wiring problem is indicated. To test:

• Make sure the controller is in the “off” position and no valves are activated.
• Disconnect the common wire going to the valves from the controller and connect one of the test leads to it.
• Connect the other test lead to a station wire or terminal.
• Results:
• Yellow and Green Lights On = wiring and solenoid are good, valve should open.  If valve does not open, try kick-start
• Yellow and Red Lights On plus Tone = solenoid is pulling too much current or is shorted. Perform the “Power Test at Valve Location” to determine solenoid condition to verify if problem is solenoid or wiring.
• Yellow Light Only  = field wire or solenoid coil is damaged and insufficient current is flowing. Perform the “Power Test at Valve Location” to determine solenoid condition.

If solenoid operates correctly in the “Power Test at Valve Location” after a “failed” test at the controller, a wiring problem is indicated.

Power Test from Controller to Valve (Wiring Test)

Allows you to verify that a particular valve is receiving power from the controller through the field wiring. To perform this test:

• Disconnect the wires at the valve solenoid.
• Connect the Checkmate III test leads to the wires coming from the controller.
• Go to the controller and manually cycle through all stations.
• Observe Checkmate III’s status: Yellow and red lights plus tone on = power received from controller, field wires are in operating order. Yellow light flashing = no power received by Checkmate III

Power Test at Controller

Checks for appropriate power output at controller. To perform this test:

• Connect test leads to the common and hot terminal of the particular zone.
• Manually activate the particular zone on the controller.
• View Checkmate III status:  Yellow light on = no power received. This indicates there is a problem with the controller. Check the controller’s circuit breaker or fuse and transformer.

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