Sprinkler timers?

Question

I have 3 timers with 6 stations each. Can I tie the common wire together on all 3 timers, then put the other wire on any timer or will there be a problem if two timers try to trurn at the same time?

Answer 1

No, you can't do that.  You will have to use the common wire from each timer.  Each timer sends out the electric current and needs to close the electric loop with itself, just like a car battery.  Yes, there is a possibility that you can short out the other timers, plus the valves probably wouldn't work.

Answer 2

if the timers are mechanical ,not digital ,the answer is no because when the first timer comes on it will activate the advance motor in the others ,and they will all start running .if the timer is digital ,the answer is yes ,as long as the common wire loops into each timer the commons will be as one.  it sounds like you are trying to avoid buying a timer that has enough stations available to run a per say,a ten zone system if the timers are digital you will have to set the start times on each timer to coordinate with the stop times of each. as for having two timers to run at the same time would depend on your water pressure ,and if you can run two zones at the same time ,then you might as well just hook two valve wires together on as many stations as you can in one timer  and avoid the hassle of setting different start time on three timers. however electrically speaking you can only run two valves on zone #1 ,zone #2 zone#3  ect...  if you do this you will have to count the heads on each zone ,and wire the smallest ones together.