Frequently Asked Questions
Please find summarized below several frequently asked questions. If your particular question is not answered, please contact our technical team at RainPerfect@xyleminc.com.
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What do I do if my battery won't take a charge?
If your battery will not take a charge try some of these troubleshooting actions:
- Check the alignment of your solar panel
- Check the wire connections from the control box to the solar panel
- Check the solar panel wire for any cuts or damages
- The battery may not charge during long durations of cloudiness
- Check the alignment of your solar panel
- Check the wire connections from the control box to the solar panel
- Check the solar panel wire for any cuts or damages
- The battery may not charge during long durations of cloudiness
Will my RainPerfect™ still work if there is no sun?
Your RainPerfect™ should still work on a cloudy day if it has been sunny enough before to charge the battery. The battery may not charge during long durations of cloudiness though.
Why won't my RainPerfect™ turn on?
Check the battery charge by tapping the yellow button on the control box once. If the indicator light shows red you need to charge your battery. If the indicator does not show a color, your battery is fully drained of its charge and should be allowed to fully charge in approximately 8 hours of sunlight before attempting to use it again.
Is RainPerfect™ safe for my children?
RainPerfect™ is not designed to be used by children and therefore should
not be.
Does RainPerfect™ offer a warranty?
RainPerfect™ is covered by a one year limited warranty in the United States and a two year limited warranty in Europe.
Do I need a special hose for the RainPerfect™ Pump?
No. Your RainPerfect™ pump will work with any standard garden hose.
What type of rain barrels will the RainPerfect™ fit on?
RainPerfect™ is designed for use with most standard rain barrel designs. As long as there is a location to mount the control box on top of the barrel then the pump will work.
Can I use the RainPerfect™ with my sprinkler?
The RainPerfect™ pump provides enough pressure to run most low-pressure sprinkler systems. A good rule of thumb is if you would normally connect your sprinkler to your garden hose and the spout on the side of your house, then RainPerfect™ should work. Not all sprinkler systems are low-pressure systems though so RainPerfect will not work will all sprinklers.
Will the pump turn off by itself?
No. If you leave the pump on it will remain running until the battery is completely drained of power. To avoid this, remember to shut your RainPerfect™ off when not in use.
Does the pump provide enough pressure to use standard hose fittings?
Yes, the RainPerfect™ pump provides enough pressure to use standard hose fittings.
Do I need to take my RainPerfect™ pump inside if I won't be using it for a long time?
Yes. It is important that you remove the battery from the pump during long periods of storage. Then, store both the pump and the battery in a dry place.
Do I need to take my RainPerfect™ pump inside during the winter?
RainPerfect™ should be stored indoors during times when temperature drops below freezing on a regular basis. Remember to disconnect the battery during storage.
Can my RainPerfect™ pump anything other than water?
No. The RainPerfect™ pump is designed for use with fresh and salt water only.
Where should I place the solar panel?
Place the solar panel where it will best receive sunlight. For help determining
this, set the panel up at noontime and using the cardboard X that came
with the pump, align the panel to the sun directly overhead so that there
are no shadows around the X. Once the alignment is set, turn the knob on
the side of the panel clockwise to set it in place.
What do I do if my pump is not pumping?
Check the following:
- Battery charge
- Wire connections
- That your rain barrel has water in it
- That the hose doesn't have any kinks in it
- The connection between the intake hose and the control box
- The pump filter is clean
- Battery charge
- Wire connections
- That your rain barrel has water in it
- That the hose doesn't have any kinks in it
- The connection between the intake hose and the control box
- The pump filter is clean
Is it normal for a small amount of water to drip from underneath the control box?
Check the following:
There is an anti-siphon discharge that is built into the bottom of the control box. This valve will prevent water from inside the rain barrel siphoning out through the garden hose after you switch the pump unit off. Occasionally you will see some water drip from the control box while the pump is running. The location of the siphon valve will allow the water to drip back into the barrel.
There is an anti-siphon discharge that is built into the bottom of the control box. This valve will prevent water from inside the rain barrel siphoning out through the garden hose after you switch the pump unit off. Occasionally you will see some water drip from the control box while the pump is running. The location of the siphon valve will allow the water to drip back into the barrel.
Is my pump still covered under the one year warranty?
To determine if your pump is covered under the warranty, check the date code on the bottom of the control box and the back of the solar panel. The code is a 4 digit format DDDY (day day day year). Jan 1 = 001, Dec 31 = 365, 2011 = 1. For example, code 0201 is day 20 of 2011 (Jan. 20). If your date code shows a date within a year from today, your pump is still covered.
What does the indicator light on the control box mean?
The indicator light is used in both testing and to tell you if your solar
panel is charging the battery. Press the button on the control box once
for testing. If the light shows green it's good, yellow it's ok, red it
needs charging. Note, the indicator light will only blink for the first
60 seconds indicating that your solar panel is currently charging the
battery.
