Hunter X-Core

My X-Core was new in 2020 and it has been unpredictable from day one. It loops and keeps running or it does not start or it will delay start to random run. It has made it very difficult to establish my St Augustine grass. It is in no way reliable. I kept working with it because I thought I was the problem. It will be swapped out with a reliable brand this weekend. See ya Hunter. Show details

Hunter X-Core Irrigation System – I bought my home 3 years ago with this unit installed. It died 11 months ago and I have been unable to have it repaired. I don't know what went wrong, but I paid a licensed plumber and a qualified landscape gardener to check it, but they were both unable to find or fix the problem. My neighbour had one installed but his also stopped working and he… Read more

threw it out in frustration. I tried to contact Hunter but the USA website contact email was faulty and there is no Australian contact info, so my message was undelivered 3 times. Hunter do not provide a phone or chat service. I am just stuck with a useless system. Not impressed. Will not buy again - I do not recommend this company due to poor service and plain lack of caring.

Another unit and faulty dial – Another unit with a faulty dial. I have the green button unit and just a week ago the dial stopped working. Poor quality device. Edit: updated to excellent experience since a new unit was provided free of charge. Show 3 replies

Could not get better service – Problem with Green X Core controller. Simple solution is to phone Shane at Hunter Industries. He returned the call within 1 hour & I explained the problem. Less than 1 week later a new Blue controller arrived . Problem solved. Credit to your company for knowing the problem & resolving the issue so efficiently. Thanks again. Peter Darwin NT. Show reply

Poor product quality & flawed design – The product quality is abysmal, as per other reviews the components are flimsy & prone to breaking specially the knob. In addition, the electronic componentry is of subpar quality. The knob requires considerable fiddling in order to select a function. I had to constantly send email reminders to Hunter Industries in order to get a response which was to go buy another unit. Would strongly recommend for others to buy a different brand.

Poor life span and non-existent spare parts service – Hunter, I thought, were a reputable and reliable irrigation brand. It seems their residential solutions, like the X-Core range, have a factory-determined life span. Flimsy, poorly designed components like the knob and the selector rotor are prone to breaking, and there is no way to purchase spares in Australia! For the sake of one or two… Read more

easily-replaced parts, the whole unit becomes unusable.

This cynical, sales-driven attitude has turned me away from Hunter for consumer irrigation solutions.

2 out of 4 failed in 2.5 years – I thought X Core was a reputable brand. I purchased 4 controllers in 5 year period. 2 failed in 2.5 years,. Just out of warranty period. The most recent was my elderly sisters. I called the local agent and he told me it’s out warranty. I guess that was an easy fix answer from him. Now I need to buy a new one for my sisters place because I feel it… Read more

was my fault for choosing Hunter in the first place. This time I will need to find a more reliable brand. With my line of work I see many hunters controllers that have failed. Who’s was to know?

Excellent customer service – Retic controller x core dialling unit broken after few years of working. I called them and they sent a new dialling unit the same day. Now it is working well. Show reply

A flawed design – Encountered the same dial failure as countless other posts have described. The unit worked fine for a few years, then the dial required considerable fiddling to make a selection but I survived with this for another could of years. Now it's finally stopped working altogether and upon trying to investigate and fix, I discovered the same fatal flaw… Read more

in the design of the dial switch - disappointing that a tiny piece of plastic and metal has made the whole board redundant. I had no such luck with customer support as others detailed, as the units are only warrantied for 2 years.

Perhaps the newer model is better built, but it seems some online retailers are (?) still selling the old (green button) model, which I would advise against purchasing.

Unit failed but 5 stars for service – My x-core unit was running on the automatic setting but when I went to use the manual mode to check my sprinklers for summer, the screen gave error messages. Even on the off mode the sprinklers would come on at midnight. I rang Shane at Hunter 03 9562 9918, sent some photos of the unit and a replacement panel was posted out quickly at no charge… Read more ·  1

to me. The panel was easily replaced by my husband and the unit is working well. I have also been given a two year warranty. Thank you, Shane.

Control knob broken – Retic was working perfectly. Went to test sprinklers and control knob will not change mode/station etc. Very frustrating. Rang a retic specialist who guessed the brand and model before I had the chance to tell him as apparently it is a know issue with the xcore. Won’t be buying again.

Great Customer Support! – We have two of these units, after a number of years on one of them the knob was starting to fail - a common problem it seems. I rang Shane from Hunter (contact details on a lot of posts in here) and he immediately sent out a whole replacement board. Hence considering the excellent customer support to deal with this issue, they deserve credit and… Read more ·  1

I would buy Hunter again, knowing that if their product had an issue they will send me free main assemblies to replace and resolve.

2nd X-Core Controller, where station 7 and 8 does not have power – This is the 2nd X-Core 8 station controller that has failed in exactly the same way. Station 7 was the first to go about 1 years ago and then recently station 8 has failed. I borrowed a voltage meter from an electrician friend and 24 volts registered for station 1 to 6 and no volts on station 7 and less than 4 volts on station 8.

X-Core inherent problem – I have owned two Hunter X-Core controllers and both experienced the same problem. After about three years of operation the "minus" adjustment won't work. So you can't reduce the number of minutes of operation on a circuit, cancel a day of watering, etc. I should have done my home work before buying - my bad.

Control Knob broke - but it does control the reticulation as expected – I was fixing up my retic this morning and doing test runs of stations and was about 2 minutes from completing said task, however, one sprinkler required a replacement part as it wasn't spraying correctly and it's easier to change when the unit is on to prevent dirt getting in, but the test time on the station only just ran out. So, I went back to… Read more

the Hunter X-Core to turn the station back on for a couple of minutes to do a simple change. Well, guess what? The control knob broke and I couldn't fix the sprinkler. I can't even get the unit back to the normal run cycle, so, until it's fixed my lawn will probably die...

Not thrilled with the company – Known issue with this product. When I contacted them, first they wanted me to call the USA, then said someone local would call me. Clearly zero support for the product.

5 Years Beachside and Still Going Strong – I have had this controller for nearly 5 years located in a harsh beachside location and it has not missed a beat. In the same time I have replaced my pool controller twice. Show reply

very poor quality – I have had three Hunter X Core controllers over 5 years and all three have failed between 18 months an two years. They are simply made to be disposable after the warranty expires.

Absolute Rubbish Quality From Such A Large Company – With your 6 station X core unit that you have been making for years, with the same shocking design flaw in the plastic control knob, that always breaks, as the plastic cross section area that supports the copper slider contact is so small it cant take the forces involved. Just read all the internet reviews. You might be able to sell these poorly… Read more

made controllers around the world, but in Australia there are laws; it is illegal to sell a product if it cannot be used in the manner in which is was intended and is not of a durable quality. The way this poor quality plastic control knob/assembly and electric wiper action in made, and the way the electric wiper arm is attached to the knob is so badly designed it could never result in an assembly of durable quality. In fact, one could even suspect it was designed this way to deliberately fail in a short time, making it necessary for the consumer to buy a new controller. Why don't you sell this part as a spare part----or why don't you redesign that plastic section, make it larger cross section and stronger. Humans can put men on the moon and return safely----aannndd you cant even build a robust, durable plastic control knob. I am never going to buy another hunter product or controller.

A really peeved retired Electrical Engineer.

Worst rubbish ever – Unlike other people, I had no issue with the control knob but. Since day one, this unit is always running very hot. Not only in use but permanently hot, 24/7. The seller (Pipeco) said my sparky did not wire it properly which is physically impossible. Either the wiring is correct or it wont work. Worst of all, it will switch to a safe mode in… Read more

warmer weather. The unit is protected from the elements in my car port. After going away for a week at 40 degrees, 200 dry trees. All dead. Lawn is burned. Screw you Hunter. I have a gardening business and I swear to god I will stay away from you for ever. Sell rubbish, lose your business.

Cheap and nasty – Same report as everyone else. The dial mechanism is made of cheap plastic and snaps. No spares to buy to repair. So expect to throw it away after about 1 year.

Avoid. Rubbish component. Won’t repair – Avoid! Hunter control dial not working. Behind dial there is a plastic disc with two copper circuit connectors that rotates against the board. This plastic disc is coated with grease and so degrades over time. Rubbish component and Hunter refuse to provide or sell replacement plastic component. Require that entire new system is purchased. Wasteful! Will no longer purchase anything from Hunter!

Rubbish – I have replaced this unit 4 times in the last 10 years never again the control knob usually fails then your unable to adjust the settings its happened every time

Broken Dial - cheap Chinese junk – 1) Made in China it will be junk, we send our rubbish to China they fiddle with it and send it back. Most shops are now filled with our rubbish that has been recirculated by the Chinese. 2) The hunter xcore no doubt used to be a good product when made in USA. Now the manufacturing of the product has been farmed out to China for the Aussie… Read more

market and Mexico for the USA market.

3) The dial is a cheap soft plastic with a cheap copper slither inserted to make the connections when turned. If this copper slither catches on a contact on the mother board it will break the dial. As I found with mine after I stripped it.

4) Mine was a 2013 model. Installed Sep 2014.

5) if your dial starts getting sticky or stiff then open the unit up get the dial contactors and sand down rough edges and or lubricate. Will take average Joe like me about 1hour to sort. If you leave it it will break. Take photos as you go so you can reasemble.

Be gentle with it – Re , review on Hunter X-Core Residential Irrigation Controller. I agree the control knob is the problem. My neighbour broke his trying to force it one way. I have found if it wont move without force one way, try the other way. Doing this mine, has worked fine for 5 plus years.Spoke to a reticulation shop today and they advised me that they had a… Read more

problem with all of those they installed and had to replace. This was about 2012. Apparently Hunter have now fixed the problem and to the best of the person I spoke to's knowledge no more problems.

Hunter X-core good features, poor quality – Moved in our brand new home in October, stopped working during Christmas holidays two months later. Seemed to have good features but was of apparent poor build quality. Stopped working one day for no reason and kept saying error on everything i did. Called up to get told to test it with multimeters to make sure it is not my solenoid wires… Read more

shorting.

Even with no wires plugged in it was still showing error.

Transformer was putting out perfect voltage that it should of been.

I got told it must of been damaged due to a storm and i had to buy a new one as it was not covered by warranty.

Now i simply have my solenoids connected to the transformer outlet inside of the unit, & simply have it on a powerpoint timer to turn on when i want to water lawn.

Weird how power source from the transformer still is perfect even with apparent storm damage.

Will replace in future when i have some spare money, but i don't think i will be getting the same brand if it cannot last 3 months on a brand new home.

Great Product But Has Ongoing Issues – I'm a reticulation contractor and have been for 20 years and over the years have experienced many issues with many of the controllers that are out in the market place. I'm a great believer that because it's cheap doesn't necessary mean that it's a great product as in most cases what you pay is what you get. A particular product that we install… Read more

or used too is the Hunter X Core reticulation controller but there are ongoing issues with the knobs.

On many occasions l have had the units replaced under warranty but nine times out of ten l have had to replace the unit at no charge to the customer so have had to absorb the cost myself l have mentioned this issue to various suppliers and in the long term have decided not to install anymore Hunter units.

Why doesn't the company that produces such a product either take the unit of the market or be prepared a lot more flexible with giving some after sales service.

Hunter claim the product isn't faulty but l have approximately 10 units that are in my workshop that all have faulty knobs that are obviously out of warranty but if the knob is faulty surely all units should be recalled or replaced at no charge and some sort of compensation be paid to the installer.

l hate having to go to this way of lodging a complaint but feel l have every reason to be unhappy with the product.

I really think the product is inferior and shouldn't be on the market as you can well imagine we fit and install and replace many controllers that are old and have served there time and normally anything from 7 to 15 years of service but these Hunter controllers do not last anytime and in a lot of cases it's the knob that has failed and because the unit is out of warranty there is no comeback.

I think this isn't good enough.

Hopefully something will become of my concern.