How To Set A Sprinkler System Timer

All also often, homeowners invest in top-notch sprinkler systems and timers – but never quite learn how to program the irrigation controller effectively. As a event, wasted h2o and other issues tin can abound. A chief benefit of using a all-time-in-grade sprinkler system controller is creating a watering schedule that keeps your plants and yard looking keen. And do information technology without wasting exorbitant amounts of water. In this day and age, water conservation is a legitimate concern; not to mention that over-watering plants are a surefire way to damage them.

Controller Programming Basics

Before delving into the intricacies of programming a sprinkler arrangement timer, familiarize yourself with controller nuts. Whether you've owned your timer for a while, or if you've just purchased one, it never hurts to acquire everything from the beginning. That way, you create a sound foundation from which to base the balance of your sprinkler system programming. Acquire the basic components and earlier tackling involved issues to keep confusion at bay.

And so, y'all own a sprinkler organisation controller. That's a not bad kickoff step, but at that place'south all the same plenty to learn. We'll begin by learning most the basic terms and features that are associated with modernistic sprinkler system timers.

The image below shows the Hunter X-Cadre six Station Indoor Controller which features Solar Sync compatibility. A Solar Sync improver turns it into a smart controller which can use local weather weather to change irrigation schedules as needed automatically.

Important Terminology To Know

Valve

This is probably the simplest matter to learn. A valve is the part of the sprinkler arrangement that receives signals from the timer. Those signals prompt the valve to open up, letting water period. A sprinkler system timer works by telling these valves when to open and operate. Information technology is important to familiarize yourself with the location of each valve on your property. And map out the types of plants and foliage that exist around each i. For the best results, you should depict a map that outlines where each valve in your sprinkler organization is located.

Station

The term "station" refers to the valves that are beingness controlled. In most situations, one station will correspond to one valve; however, for very large properties a station could control 2 or more valves in a given zone. Since most properties accept one valve per zone you can think of the station on a time as the aforementioned thing as a zone or valve in a certain area of their holding. You can also add more zones to your irrigation arrangement with a sprinkler system expansion module. When programming a sprinkler system timer, you lot are usually going to have to specify which stations to actuate. This is convenient, of course, since certain stations require more watering than others – and some require a lot less.

The epitome below shows the Irritrol Rain Punch 6 Station Indoor/Outdoor Controller. This irrigation station can automatically reschedule watering schedules based on your local conditions.

Zone

While the region that gets watered is typically chosen a "station" on a timer, most landscaping guides will refer to the actual area that's receiving the water as the "zone." For case, a flower bed might be one zone, a big expanse of backyard might be another. When mapping out your thousand and pinpointing its valves it is smart to intermission things up into zones. This will simplify the process of programming your timer since you'll have a clear visual idea about the zones that each valve waters.

Program

Nearly timers have three programs available. These programs hold the actual settings that control when and how long each station operates. You lot might set program A, for instance, to water only the flowerbed areas and take them watered twice a solar day. Plan B might be used to water only the lawn areas two or 3 days a week. Programme C could be used to water plants or shrubs with a drip system if you have one, a couple of times per week.

Typical Timer/Controller Features

The next step in programming a sprinkler system timer is learning all about its basic features. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the post-obit terms earlier attempting to program your sprinkler system timer. Don't forget to refer to your sprinkler organization controller manual to make sure that in that location aren't any unusual features.

The image below shows a Hunter Pro-C iv Station Indoor Modular Controller, available on SprinklerWarehouse.com.

The Hunter PC-300 Controllers are some of the most popular models for their ease of use and dependability. They piece of work and then well that some parts may vesture out over time. This is why Hunter makes a replacement front panel so yous don't need to supercede the entire unit when the elements accept deteriorated the forepart panel.

Start Time

The start time characteristic on a sprinkler system controller allows you to specify a time of day for a Program (A, B, or C) to start. Once information technology starts, it volition brainstorm irrigating the stations or zones that are associated with information technology. Once it works its way through all the stations or zones in the programme, the controller stops watering.

Run Time

This is sometimes called "Station Duration." It is the time, in minutes, that a valve remains open. If you prepare a run time for fifteen minutes, and so, the valve that it controls volition remain open and water a zone for that length of fourth dimension.

Run

When "run" is enabled, your scheduled programs will run as planned. As long every bit you lot have everything programmed to your liking, then, you're normally going to want to take "run" enabled.

Off/Stop

If you lot need to forbid your programs from running, you're going to want to toggle over to "off" or "stop." There are many different reasons that you might desire to practise this; for instance, you may want to stop programs while you are programming your sprinkler system timer. Many people keep their systems on "off" during the winter months, too.

Semi-Machine

From time to fourth dimension, a zone may require supplemental watering. In that example, the semi-auto function is very user-friendly. This office allows you to run a specific program – A, B or C – whenever yous want. For example, if your area has been having unusually dry or hot weather, you lot may desire to apply supplemental watering to continue everything healthy.

Manual

This button lets you run a specific valve for whatever length of time you want. Too, on controllers that exercise not have a Semi-Auto button, this is used to manually plough on a zone or run a program (depending on the model controller) to water an area of the belongings if it looks a piddling dry. It is used to temporarily water the property at will without reprogramming the controller. It can also be used to spot-check an irrigation system while performing repairs or during a jump checkup (looking for broken heads, misaligned heads, or other problems) of the sprinkler organisation.

Getting Started

Before you begin programming your sprinkler system timer and fix various programs for different zones, you're going to need to make sure that your controller is set up properly. The most of import office of doing that is ensuring that the current day and time are right and accurate. Nothing can throw a kink in the works quite like having the incorrect day, engagement and time set on your timer, so take care to be as accurate as possible. It'due south never a bad idea to periodically check your controller to ensure that it's still prepare to the right time, too.

Inbound A Program

At present that you have the right 24-hour interval and fourth dimension configured, information technology's fourth dimension to enter a plan.

1. Select the Programme (A, B, or C) yous want to program. For each plan, y'all volition demand to fix upwards the Water Schedule or "Days To H2o", Get-go Fourth dimension, and Station Run Times.
2. Select the "schedule" office (Days To Water). Use it to select the specific days that you want the irrigation to run. An example would be Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. In some cases, you lot'll demand to specify the number of days between waterings.
3. Select "first-fourth dimension" and specify the fourth dimension that y'all'd like the irrigation to brainstorm. An example would exist five:45 am. If you accept newly planted flowers, you may want to water a second time on the same day since the root zone may get dry by late afternoon. If you want to schedule the second start time at say 4:00 pm. Only remember that the 2d beginning time is for the Program you are setting up so all the zones you are watering on this Programme will be watered a second fourth dimension.
4. Select the "run time" or related function. Select the station of your option and enter the run fourth dimension for that valve. Continue selecting stations and entering run times until yous have entered a run time for all the stations you will be watering on this Program. Important: do not ready a run time for the stations that will not be watered using this Program. A general rule to follow if yous have no idea how many minutes to water per station, you can start with the following times and either increase the time if you run across y'all are non getting enough water or decrease the time if you see yous are applying too much h2o:
   • three – 10 minutes for spray caput zones
   • twenty – 40 minutes for rotor caput zones
5. Plan setup is consummate one time you lot take entered in the Water Schedule or "Days To Water", Beginning Fourth dimension, and Station Run Times.

Additional Programs

To gear up additional programs select a Program (A, B, or C) other than the one you just prepare using the steps above. Echo the steps listed above for each Program yous want to run. You will want to set the Station Run Times to nil for the stations you already take running on some other Program (A, B, or C). Only add together Station Run Times for the stations y'all desire to water using the Programme yous are setting up.

Delight annotation that unlike sprinkler system timers have different controls and features. Some use dials, while others are 100% digital. Make sure to read through the specific instructions that have been outlined by the manufacturer.

What Is A Seasonal Accommodate Button?

Some late-model sprinkler system timers have seasonal conform buttons. These buttons offer a convenient solution to unseasonable weather patterns by allowing you to brand across-the-board adjustments to watering programs on a percentage-based footing. During the summer, for instance, well-nigh people keep their seasonal suit buttons fix at 100% for fourscore-degree days. When the temperature shoots upward to 90 degrees, the seasonal adjust button tin can be switched to 120%. In turn, run times volition be lengthened by 20%. This saves you from the tedious hassle of having to reprogram everything – merely to switch it all back a few days after. If your system has this characteristic, exist sure to larn information technology and put it to skilful utilise when needed.

Understand What Unlike Sprinkler Heads Practise

Different sprinkler heads are suitable for different purposes. When you lot sympathise what each blazon is best suited for, y'all'll be able to plan your sprinkler organization timer more efficiently.

Rotor Heads

When y'all demand to water large expanses rotor heads are the best option. They take a much lower application rate than spray heads do. Rotors are used to save labor on installation since they cover a larger area than spray heads so you can infinite them out much farther apart. They are also a better pick for sloped areas or areas that are made up of clay soils since they apply water at a slower rate and thus assistance forbid water runoff.

Spray Heads

These sprinkler heads dispense high volumes of water in brusk periods of fourth dimension. They are best suited for flat, even areas; do not use them on slopes. They are also suitable for small, hard-to-accomplish areas of lawn, and they are practical to utilize in areas where you'd like to avoid spraying a firm, cars or the street.

Drip Systems

A baste system consists of a series of tubes that have small holes in them. These holes dispense small amounts of water to specific areas. This helps promote water conservation. Baste systems are best suited for flowerbeds, shrubs, and groups of cacti since individual root systems can be targeted with ease.

Programming a Sprinkler System Timer for Efficiency

You may know the nuts virtually entering programs and setting up a sprinkler organisation controller, but that doesn't mean that you lot know how to use i efficiently. The following tips, tricks, and advice can aid you make the most out of your sprinkler system timer.

Group Programs For Maximum Efficiency

Once you've mapped out the locations of all of the valves in your yard, yous'll exist able to devise a sensible programming scheme. You should utilise one program to handle the needs of your backyard; it should control all of the valves that gargle areas consisting primarily of grass. Another program should be to irrigate sections of flowerbeds or ground cover. Some other programme should be used for drip systems.

Invest In An Automated Rain Close-Off Device

Some sprinkler systems come with automatic pelting close-off sensors included. If yours doesn't, be sure to invest in one right away. These handy devices can be programmed to turn off your regularly scheduled programs whenever a specific amount of rain has fallen. Most people set these devices to kick in whenever half an inch or more of rain has fallen. Later all, it hardly makes sense to water your property when plenty of pelting has recently fallen. This is a great way to avoid wasting valuable h2o and to reduce your h2o bill.

Water Early In The Morning

While you have total command over the times of solar day that each programme runs, information technology is almost always best to perform irrigation during the early on morning hours. During the middle of the day, the wind can carry off water droplets or the blazing sun can evaporate a lot of the water that is produced by your sprinkler system; in plow, the plants that it'southward intended for don't receive virtually as much of it. Wind can also significantly disrupt the spray pattern of the sprinklers causing wet and dry spots.

If you water during the early morning time, you lot'll be able to use a lot less water, which is some other smart way to reduce your water bills and help the environs. Furthermore, watering at night promotes plant affliction and fungus growth.

Avoid Overwatering

If you remember that it's incommunicable to over-water plants, think again. Over-watering tin can be merely equally detrimental to plants as under-watering. By programming your sprinkler organisation controller the right way, you can provide the exact right amount of moisture for the various plants on your property without inadvertently over-watering them. The central thing to avoid is creating water run-off; if you come across information technology happening, y'all know that you're overdoing it.

Go The Most Out Of Your Sprinkler System Timer

Equally yous can run across, programming a sprinkler system controller doesn't accept to be a mind-extraordinary experience. Past learning well-nigh the way that your system is ready, familiarizing yourself with its valves, learning about the different types of sprinkler heads that are involved, and understanding the needs of unlike types of plants, you lot can achieve a suitable and sensible irrigation schedule with a minimal amount of hassle. Yous can also extend the capabilities of your irrigation controller with an expansion module.

The image below shows the Pelting Bird ESP4Me 6 Station Expansion Module which can add 6 additional zones to your irrigation system.

For more specific calculations yous can perform to decide the optimum watering frequency for your system, visit the related links below.

Source: https://school.sprinklerwarehouse.com/parts-repair/how-to-program-an-irrigation-controller-timer/

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