Good value as this valve is hard to find in stores at the moment

Disappointed how fast the original unit started leaking but bought this hoping for better workmanship. Also wanted to avoid having to respace the PVC pipes for a different brand

This is a good product. Being 3/4 thread the manifold sold online or in stores are usually 1" threaded. If you buy those you will have to get 3/4 mnpt to 1" just to connect to manifold and buy risers and others fittings. If you get this in 3/4 don't get the stuff from the diagram or kit just build your own connections from hardware store from pvc. If you do get the manifold system get the connectors with the 1" slip fit so you can use 3/4 mnpt to 3/4 pvc and connect that to the manifold with the slip for adapters not the threaded ones. And that bypasses the need for the risers. Just use standard pvc or pay the premium for all the recommended fittings and find a way to up and down size for the 3/4 npt solenoid.

I live in the desert southwest and the sun is hard on these valves so I end up replacing them quite often. They changed the solenoid valve from metal to plastic. When I replaced several valves, none of them would work, only buzz. After about an hour on the phone with a tech support person from Orbit, I determined the old solenoid valve would work on the new valve. They had me take off one of the new ones and then put it back on and it worked! They just weren't screwed in tight enough to make contact. So, nothing wrong with the valve, just make sure solenoid is screwed in finger tight.

So as not to have to cut the pvc pipes when replacing one of these in the future, I used a flange type union to connect to the sprinkler side of the valve. That way, I can unscrew the union nut, then unscrew the entire valve from the supply side. I like the manual actuation built into the solenoid mount. That makes it easier to test the sprinklers.