WYJ Suitable for Chat-r-box - Lawn Irrigation Valve Locator Easily Locates

Using Chat-R-Box

I used this to find the valves that were covered with dirt and grass. At first, I was having quite a bit of a problem finding the valves. My first find was a "hum" and not a chatter. This was not a problem with the device, rather the amount of dirt inside the box and on top. It muffled the sound.

What the installer did was placing all the valves in close proximity of each other. This gave me the impression that the chatter box was falsely firing. I opened the first box, and touched it. Did not feel any vibration, although the chatter persisted. Got my ear right down to the ground and found that the chatter originated from a different spot. Got my second box.

After "reading" how the installer's tendency to place the valves in separate adjacent box; instead of using a large rectangular box, I found the rest of the valves easily.

Also appreciate the Seller offerring me some help during my difficulty in finding the first one.

A sidenote, wait for quiet time of the day. Even after the first two valves, cars, trucks and overhead aircraft really obliterated the chattering.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: valvemapper

Doesn't work with my sprinkler valves.

It did not work to locate my sprinkler valves, even for known locations. The unit was either defective, or not compatible with my valves in some way. I gave up trying to make it work.

You can actually make one for yourself by rigging up an electrical circuit through coarse teeth saw blade. Hook up the circuit and rub a stripped wire along the teeth of the saw blade to make/break the electrical circuit. But this technique requires a second person to listen for the sound. It worked for me to locate all my unknown valve locations.Read full review

Better Have Good Hearing

If an irrigation vlave has a fairly loud sound, the locator is very effective. However, if it doesn't, you need to have both perseverance and really good hearing along with a pvc pipe that can centralize the emitting sound of the irrigation solenoid. It was very effective but the user should not think finding the various irrigation valves will be as easy as you might like it to be. The locator works but the user must be patient.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: valvemapper

I could not make it work.

I simply could not make this work. Pretty sure it was hooked up correctly but dirt and grass covering the valve boxes made this locator completely useless as a stand alone locator. I finally had an irrigation company locate the valve boxes with their instruments and it only too a few minutes. I am not say this doesn't work but it simply did not work for me. It has been in my tool box for months and I guess that is where it will stay.Read full review

simply doesn't serve the intended purpose

i tried using this in the evening, early morning, on weekend, when there is not much ambient noise, but still the sound is so faint. i tried it with an existing valve, i couldn't hear it standing over it, only after i opened the valve box cover i could here the faint clicking, there is no way you could locate a lost valve box with thisRead full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: valvemapper

Valve locator

I have been installing and repairing irrigation for many years. Most valve locators have been expensive & difficult to master, but the Chat-R-Box is awesome. I tried it for the first time on a site with multiple hidden valves and I found them all. Best little tool I have in my tool box now. Only wish it came with a small carrying case though. I'd recommend it to anyone.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: valvemapper

Does not seem to work with rainbird valves

I tried to locate my sprinkler valves with this product and was not able to locate a single valve. The product does oscillate the actuator on the valve, however my rainbird valves are so quite that you cannot hear them switching. I even tried it on valves where I knew their location.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: valvemapper

Great little product

It arrived in a timely manner. After hooking it up, I found the valve a few minutes later. It was loud and not in a place I expected. Would never have found it without the device. I don't have the best hearing and I thought I would have to enlist my wife to locate. But I didn't have to. Great little product.Read full review

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: valvemapper

Not loud at all barely hear it

I put it on one that wasn't even hooked up and I could barely hear it had to put my ear right up on it to hear it clattering

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: valvemapper

Does exactly what it supposed to do

The product works flawlessly finds the valve under 6 inches of soil without fail.
Great product and the price can't be beat.

Verified purchase:  Yes • Condition: pre-owned • Sold by: valvemapper