Scarecrow Troubleshooting
Guide
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If the information below does not help solve your problem,
contact the manufacture by email support@scatmat.com
or phone at: 1-800-767-8658.
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| Symptom: |
Cause
and/or
Corrective Actions |
|
Sensitivity
has
reduced noticeably. |
Auto
'dampening' circuit reduces sensitivity automatically every
5 minutes if activity is 'seen'. |
| |
- RESET
by turning Sensitivity knob to 0FF position (0) for 2 seconds.
Water
or dirt may be on external white lens. |
| |
Water
or condensation may have formed a droplet on the internal
sensor (not visible). |
| |
Condensation
may have developed inside the unit.(most likely noticed in
the morning, after a dew-laden night) |
| |
Low
battery |
| |
Unit
may be defective. |
| |
- Contact
Contech for assistance via email to: support@scatmat.com
or by phone at 1-800-767-8658.
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| |
|
Poor
Sensitivity |
Sensor
not turned high enough. |
| |
- Adjust
Sensitivity knob on the back of the unit to a higher setting.
Dirty
lens. |
| |
- Clean
with a warm damp cloth.
Fresnel
Lens (white plastic lens) upside down. Identifiable if more
narrow bands are on bottom than on top (visible upon close
inspection with good light). |
| |
- Open
housing and turn lens over.
Defective
unit. |
| |
|
| |
| [Trouble
Shooting Index]
|
| |
| Symptom
location: |
Cause
and/or
Corrective Actions |
|
Leaks
from top
of Sprinkler |
Dirt
in valve |
| |
- Remove
sprinkler and using hose force water backwards through unit
to dislodge debris.
Mineral
or other build-up inside valve. |
| |
- Open
housing, open valve, clean diaphragm and re-assemble. (call
for assistance)
Valve
diaphragm damaged. |
| |
- Return
to location purchased or contact Contech for assistance
with repair or exchange.
|
| |
| Leaks
between Stake and
Sensor Housing |
Loose
hand tightened seal. |
| |
Missing
or damaged washer. |
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- Ensure
there is a washer.
Frost
damage to valve. |
| |
- Contact
factory for repair/ replacement quotation.
|
| |
| Leaks
between
Hose and Stake |
Loose
hand tightened seal. |
| |
Missing
or damaged washer. |
| |
- Ensure
there is a washer.
|
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| Leaks
from
a crack in stake |
Frost
damage. |
| |
|
| |
| Leaks
from inside sensor housing |
Loose
solenoid seal. |
| |
- Open
housing, hand tighten solenoid on valve.
Frost
damage cracked valve body. |
| |
- Contact
factory for repair/ replacement quotation.
|
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| [Trouble
Shooting Index]
|
| |
| Symptom: |
Cause
and/or
Corrective Actions |
|
| Sprays
all the time |
Dirt
in pilot hole inside valve |
| |
- Remove
sprinkler and using hose force water backwards through
unit to dislodge debris.
- Open
housing, open valve, clean rubber diaphragm and re-assemble.
(call for assistance 1-800-767-8658)
Valve
diaphragm damaged. |
| |
- Return
to location purchased or contact Contech for assistance
with repair or exchange.
Missing
or damaged filter washer.
|
| |
- Ensure
there is a filter washer with a mesh screen in the bottom
of the stake, or if using a mounting bracket move the filter
washer from the Stake to the Sensor housing female hose
connection.
False
Triggering. |
| |
- See
False Triggering below
|
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| False
triggering (sprays every 8 to 10 seconds regularly). |
Electronics
'hung'. |
| |
- HARD
RESET by taking battery off for ten seconds and putting
back on.
Defective
unit. |
| |
- Confirm
by securing a black or opaque plastic bag over the sensor
head to block the 'eye'(white lens). If triggering
continues, replace defective unit by returning to location
purchased or contacting Contech for assistance
|
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|
| Doesn't
spray at all |
Battery
not installed. |
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- Install
one 9 volt battery.
Battery
dead. |
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- Install
one 9 volt battery.
Sensitivity
knob in OFF position |
| |
Hose
not attached. |
| |
Water
not turned ON. |
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- Turn
water on 1/2 to 1 turn.
Water
Pressure too high. Recommended range 30 to 80 psi /
6 bar. |
| |
- Install
a hosebib pressure reducing valve (under $10 from DIY
retailers or RV accessory dealers). This part screws between
the hosebib and hose.
- Re-check
pressure regulator is set correctly to between 30 and
80 psi.
Water
Pressure too low (under 30 psi performance will be limited
and possibly non existent.) |
| |
- Improve
available water pressure.
|
| |
Sprays
too often
or randomly |
Sensitivity
too high |
| |
Aimed
at moving water fall, moving branches, traffic etc. |
| |
- Re-aim/re-position
to avoid moving objects.
- Apply
tape (masking) onto lens to limit viewing area.
Aimed
at moving water |
| |
- Adjust
upwards or apply masking tape across portion of lens (bottom
usually) to block sensor from seeing that movement.
Possible low battery. |
| |
|
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| Sprays
very short 1/2 second bursts. |
Low
battery indicator. Not a malfunction. |
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OR
Blocked
mesh screen |
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Blocked
stake (molded plastic defect, doesn't allow more than a
trickle through) |
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- Replace
stake (contact Contech)
|
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| Sprays
too far |
Sprinkler
needs to be adjusted. |
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- Adjust
Dial on top of unit to deflect water downwards
|
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| Spray
doesn't go far enough (ie: less than 30-35 feet) |
Water
pressure too low |
| |
- Confirm
your pressure range is 30-80 psi (2-6 bar)
Sprinkler
needs to be adjusted. |
| |
- Adjust
Dial on top of unit to move water deflector upwards out
of water stream.
- Remove
plastic screw if one is presentinterruptingnterupting
the stream. (optional item, not required.)
|
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| Sprinkler
Head won't turn |
Spray
travel arc limiting tabs adjusted incorrectly. |
| |
- Expand
tab opening to allow metal tab (paper clip like in appearance)
room to freely move back and forth.
Hard
water causing build-up of calcium on surfaces |
| |
|
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- Improve
the water pressure.
|
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| Sprinkler
head spins 360° |
'Stop'
tab either missing or pushed up to enable 360° spraying |
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- Adjust
metal (paper clip like in appearance) to point downwards
between the constraining plastic tabs.
|
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| [Trouble
Shooting Index]
|
| |
| Symptom: |
Cause
and/or
Corrective Actions |
|
| Stake
falls over |
A
leak may be making soil soft |
| |
- Identify
leak and solve (see above)
Soil
not suitable (too hard, too soft) |
| |
- Order
Universal Mounting Bracket and mount unit elsewhere.CRO-200
|
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| See's
too
wide an area |
Vision
is preset to 105 degrees. |
| |
- Install
a set of blinders using tape and some solid plastic
|
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| Batteries
die too quickly - ie. weeks instead of months |
Not
using alkaline battery |
| |
- Install
quality alkaline battery.
Continuous
false triggering. |
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Aimed
at moving water fall, moving branches, traffic etc. |
| |
- Re-aim/re-position
to avoid moving objects.
Defective
unit |
| |
- Return
to location of purchase or contact Contech for repair or
replacement assistance.
|
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| Doesn't
work when a new 9 volt battery is installed. |
Dead
battery |
| |
- Install
new (from store) alkaline battery
Possible
software 'bug" |
| |
- Leave
battery unconnected for 2 minutes and attempt again.
|
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| Broken
plastic part |
Plastic
components are replaceable. |
| |
|
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| Water
lines "chatter" when sprinkler activates |
Short
or stiff hose |
| |
Scarecrow
is hard plumbed (rigid piping) |
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- Install
"shock stop device" onto tap to absorb the shock.
|
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| Water
lines "hiss" loudly when sprinkler activates |
Restriction
in house piping |
| |
- Check
for valves not fully opening, or a small check-valve or
non-return valve
|
| |
| [Trouble
Shooting Index]
|
| |
| Symptom: |
Cause
and/or
Corrective Actions |
|
| Doesn't
appear to see animal(s) |
Low
sensitivity |
| |
- Turn
up sensitivity knob.
Aimed
incorrectly |
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-
Adjust
position and viewing angle considering the sensor beams
or alleyways.
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Animal
is approaching towards the unit, 'up' the 'alleyways'.
|
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- Position
another unit looking at same area from a different angle,
ideally 90 degrees off current angle.
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