Rachio VAC terminals

Hi All,

Apologies for the question but couldn’t find an answer to my question and thought I would ask here. I’m switching from a Hunter SRC to the Rachio 3.

Since my sprinkler system set up is far from an outlet, the Hunter had been powered from a long wire that was wired into the 24VAC terminals as shown below.

I am hoping I can use the same wires to power the Rachio 3. That said, the Hunter didn’t label the terminals (positive or negative) as the Rachio 3 does. Not being an electrician and really understanding the wiring configuration, I wonder if I can put the existing red and green wires into the Rachio (see below)? If so, which wire goes into which terminal? Thanks in advance?


Apologies, here is the picture of the wires for the Hunter.

Those terminals on Rachio are for output only, not input. The only input is the barrel connector. First, I would find out the amperage of your transformer to make sure it at please matches if not surprises what is the Rachio supplied power adapter. Next, you certainly could cut off the connector from the supplied, but personally would prefer to buy a connector to use. As to which way to solder, I would have to do some checking when I am at home.

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The Rachio has its own 24VDC power supply brick, to an 110 ordinary outlet. Those yellow power connections in the Hunter come from its 110/24VAC internal transformer. You won’t use them in the Rachio. Put a TRIPP-LITE surge protector between power and the Rachio and you’re good to go (except for possibly running that 110 to where you need it).

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Thank you both! So I guess I shouldn’t be feeding the previous wires that were used to power the Hunter to the 24 VAC terminals in the Rachio.

Given that the power outlet is farther away from the sprinkler system than the current Rachio power adapter reaches (it’s actually on the garage ceiling), I’m pondering my options. Should I just run a lengthy surge protector and then plug the Rachio power adapter to that?

And as a follow up: if the Hunter Power Supply Brick, which powered the previous Hunter system (and whose red green wires as shown in the pictures were connected to the Hunters 24V terminals) has the same voltage and amperage as the Rachio brick, then shouldn’t I theoretically be able to reuse the existing Hunter power brick (with spliced wiring) to hardwire directly into the Rachio?

I ask because I plugged in the red and green wires into the Rachio’s 24V terminals today and it actually powered on and stayed powered on for 10+ minutes before I disconnected power to research more. If this works (and is safe), it would greatly reduce messy solutions (eg, paying an electrician to install a power outlet near the Rachio or running an extension cable around the garage).

Since they are the same voltage and amperage, I personally would adapt purple power cable to a new barrel adapter. Just need to make sure you get the wires to the right connection on the barrel adapter. Maybe if you looked at what it shows on both adapters, it might give you a clue. They frequently show how they are wired.

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