Thanks @DLane and @Thomas_Lermann!
The lower set NM cable has black, white, and copper wires. The upper set NM cable has an additional red hot wire beside black, white and copper.
I guess I need to turn off the power to the rainbird at the circuit breaker panel and then use a voltage meter to test for the presence of voltage on the black wire of each cable. The cable that does not show voltage when tested is likely the one that comes from the circuit breaker. Does that make sense?
@leilobound - The last picture helps, I couldn’t see the all the wires in there. It’s now a toss up as to which wire bundle is hot. When you have all the parts you need and are ready to install the Rachio - yes, turn off the power at the breaker box, uncap the wires, test for voltage potential between them before removing the Rainbird box, remove the Rainbird box and hopefully there will only be one set of wires left. I’m thinking one set of wires goes to the transformer. If needed, then the circuit breaker can be turned on and the wires checked for voltage potential to identify the wire bundle coming from the panel.
Thanks @DLane !
I’ll try it out later in the week or next and see. Will update here also. Thanks!
Your black in this pictire is hot, white is neutral, bare copper is ground, and red is probably there because you said your garage outlets are switched. Chances are the red is a swtiched hot lead. So, I would purchase the Rachio enclosure and hook thr black, white, and bare copper to thr new outlet inside thr Rachio enclosire. Leave the red capped, just like it is currently.
You DO NOT want to use these 24v wires. They will stay with the old enclosure when you remove it, as they are supplyong power from the old transformer, to the old timers brain.
Also, it looks as tbough the zone wires come through that pipe. Just tag each zone in the old controller, and put it the same slots as Rachio. If thr electrical side is a bit deep for you, and handyman or electrician should be able to handle with ease.
Thanks @tmcgahey !
Just to make sure - you are referring to the wires in the NM cable circled in purple in below picture - correct?
Yes my garage wall outlets have switch controlled, but not sure the switch controls all the outlets, or just some of them. And I’ve no idea if this NM cable is tied to the switch as well.
To be safe, I would prefer to test that black wires with meter to make sure it’s coming from the circuit breaker as discussed earlier in the thread.
And yes I bought the Rachio enclosure also 
Thanks!
Yes, those are the wires, all of them that have the beige wire nuts. The black wire is what is currently providing the 120v power to the Rainbird transformer, which is converting it to 24VAC for the current controller. White is neutral. While not used in this Rainbird transformer, I’m sure the Rachio enclosure is going to have a ground connection (bare wire back left top), so I’d recommend that connection as well.
I’m fairly certain that the red wire is going to be a switch hot. I’d put money that if you pulled the other outlets, they probably all have a red wire either attached to the outlet (1 of 2 outlets is switched) or is capped in the box like this one (outlet is not switched).
It really is going to be fairly straight forward, but electrical can be intimidating, so no worries if you need to bring someone in for the electrical side!
Hi @tmcgahey @DLane @Thomas_Lerman
I took out the Rainbird and all the wires are shown in the picture below.
The UPPER NM cable is connect back behind the wall to the input of the Rainbird transformer.
The circuit break panel control the LOWER NM cable. I tested the black wire of the lower NM cable with voltage meter (see the 2nd picture after I turn on circuit breaker). There is no voltage after I turn off the circuit breaker.
But for the black wire on the upper NM cable, I tested the same way and there is NO voltage on the black wire at all.
So I should use the lower NM cable for the Rachio enclosure - correct?
Also, should I just cut the wires (black, green, white) that are connecting to the Rainbird transformer and protect them with wire nuts and tapes? And same for the upper NM cable just put wire nuts and tapes?
Thanks very much!
I guess maybe I don’t even need the lower NM cable. I already plug my Rainbird to my other wall outlet (switched control also). So I just connect the white Com and Station 1 - 5 or 6 wires to the Rachio C and 1 - 6 terminals.
I just need some way to secure those NM cable wires.
@leilobound - for any wire I abandon in place I cap them with a wire nut and maybe wrap it with electrical tape - belt and suspenders approach. No need to cap or tape the bare copper wire. If you want to use the Rachio outdoor enclosure, then you can attach the lower NM wires to it and plug the Rachio transformer into its outlet, otherwise keep using the switched outlet.
Does the upper NM cable go to an electrical box in the wall and that is why the wires can’t just be pulled out? I looks like the bare copper wire transitions to a covered green wire.
Thanks @DLane for your prompt response! Appreciated!
I tried to pull either from the upper NM cable or from the wires connecting to the transformer, but got stuck somewhere and can’t pull out any further. Not sure what is connected inside unless I cut the hole large to be able to see inside.
Not sure why there are bunch of black tapes on those wires connecting to the Rainbird transformer.
Should I just cut that wires and protect them as well?
@leilobound - yes, I would cut, cap and tape the wires going to the transformer. The tape is probably a joint where the built in wires from the transformer were connected to the wires going to the upper NM.
I may be behind on all this and maybe confused. The upper cable was connected to the Rainbird and never has power? But the lower one was not connected and has power? Is either of them switched?
The lines with no power most likely travel onto another outlet in the garage. You will want to connect those, otherwise you probably hsve a dead outlet somewhere.
Oh right. The two black wires were capped together in the Rainbird setup. I should connect them back. Thanks! FYI @Thomas_Lerman
I have hard time how to handle those two NM cables and the wires cut from the transformer. Should I stick them back behind the walls after I cap and tape them? Thanks!
Oh, I see, I think. The upper & lower were both connected with the Rainbird. I would connect them as already suggested. If they are too short to connect and go to the Rachio enclosure, you might have to connect a third wire going to the Rachio or eliminate the other connection ending up with a dead outlet or something. I would find out where it goes.
Thanks @Thomas_Lerman for your suggestions.
I’m thinking I don’t even need the NM cables. I already plug my Rainbird to my other wall outlet (switched control also). So I just connect the white Com and Station 1 - 5 or 6 wires to the Rachio C and 1 - 6 terminals. Then cap and wrap all other wires and stick them back behind the wall.
Or use Rachio enclosure, but just more work to wire the cables and zone wires into the two holes at the bottom of the enclosure.
Thanks!
Then just leave the switch on. That will work unless someone accidentally or out of habit turns it off. Curious about switched outlets inn a garage. Just stuffing the capped wires inside the wall just might not be within code.
@Thomas_Lerman, I was wrong. The switch is not for the garage outlets. It’s for the outdoor lights. Sorry about the confusion.
All the outlets in the garage looks fine without the two black wires connected. So perhaps it’s safe not to hook them up together.
But either I use the enclosure or not, I’ll still end up having some open wires hanging without anything connected - e.g. the wires that were going into the Rainbird transformer. What is the proper building code to handle that?
Thanks!
It might depend on the area, would I was taught all high voltage wires must terminate in a box. There might be exceptions. That makes more sense about the switch.
100% is not code. Any electrical connections need to terminate within a juncrion box. You could cut in an “old work” box behind the controller, tie each of the black, white, and ground wires together, along with a pigtail from each to power the Rachio enclosure.
