Non opening zone valves - updated pics

ebrady07

Hi I'm back...wanted to thank everyone for all their help in my previous posts. They caused me to move from the zones and look at the Aquastat relay and the transformer itself. So I followed the wires that goes from the aquastat (tape marked in green at the zone) and the line that goes from the bottom of the transformer (tape marked blue). I was like oh they are mixed up according to the wiring chart but when I checked the voltage from the transformer as you can see in the pic below there is basically no power unless im doing something wrong. I had to switch the aquastat line back from the end switch to the top screws to get the circulator to turn back on (the aquastat line sparks when touched to the screws). So now i'm wondering if its the bottom part of the transformer. If anyone that has more knowledge of electricity can let me know if I'm crazy or on the right track that would be super helpful. The aquastat has gone faulty a couple times and I already replaced it once so thats another option since its not turning off the circulator ever...this feels like a multi tier problem but I just reallly want to fix it on my own. Thank you again!

EdTheHeaterMan

The Green tape wire should be from the transformer, The brown on the left from the Aquastat T T Terminals and the brown on the right from the thermostat.

Your description above reads differently.

EdTheHeaterMan

The wires under the TH/TR screw terminal could be fastened a little better.

And the rest of the wires could be dressed better around those screw terminals.

ebrady07

Green is definitely from aquastat...i traced it like three times to be sure. Had to move it to the back side to get the circulator to turn on. Complete no power if its wired the right way

ebrady07

I was down there screaming at my cat that it didnt make any sense

EdTheHeaterMan

The red and white lines I added is the way your valve(s) should be connected according the the manufacturers wiring diagram. Since your wires are not as shown, you may experience problems.
I might submit for your consideration, that you are experiencing problems and that incorrect wiring may be the cause of problem.
Now you say that the wires are NOT the way I have outlined, and you also say there are some problems.

I say that if your wires were changed to the way I have outlined, that you will not have problems.

I can not be more clear than that.

Here is the way to connect more than one zone valve

EdTheHeaterMan

I understand your frustration. I have walked in to situations like yours more that I can remember. When this happens, I start from scratch by removing every thermostat wire from all the valves, transformer(s) aquastat relay, and thermostats.

By the way, what is the extra aquastat there for?

Once all the low voltage wires are gone, the first wire I connect is a fuse on the R of the transformer like this

Then I would connect the R from the transformer thru the fuse to the TR of all the zone valvesThen I would connect the C from the transformer to the TH/TR terminals on all the zone valvesNext I would connect all the thermostat R to the zone valves TH on each matching valveFollowing that I would connect all the W of the thermostats to the TH/TR of each matching zone valve.

Now the rest is easy. Connect the end switch to the aquastat as follows all the white wires are connected in a daisy chain or parallel circuit design ending at the aquastat T terminal. do the same with the other end switch terminals to the other T terminal on the aquastat.

I still dont know why the additional smaller aquastat is there.