How To Set Your Sprinkler System

Customize A Watering Schedule For Your Best Lawn

All besides often, homeowners invest in summit-notch sprinkler systems and timers – but never quite acquire how to program the irrigation controller effectively. As a result, wasted h2o and other issues can abound. A primary benefit of using a best-in-course sprinkler system controller is creating a watering schedule that keeps your plants and yard looking great. And practice information technology without wasting exorbitant amounts of water. In this mean solar day and age, water conservation is a legitimate concern; not to mention that over-watering plants are a surefire way to harm them.

Controller Programming Basics

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

Then, you ain a sprinkler system controller. That'due south a peachy beginning step, but in that location'due south even so plenty to larn. Nosotros'll begin by learning well-nigh the basic terms and features that are associated with mod sprinkler system timers.

The paradigm below shows the Hunter X-CORE 6 Station Indoor Controller which features Solar Sync compatibility. A Solar Sync add-on turns it into a smart controller which can use local atmospheric condition weather condition to alter 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 organization that receives signals from the timer. Those signals prompt the valve to open up, letting h2o flow. A sprinkler organisation timer works past 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 1. For the best results, yous should draw a map that outlines where each valve in your sprinkler system is located.

Station

The term "station" refers to the valves that are existence controlled. In most situations, one station will represent to one valve; however, for very large properties a station could control ii or more valves in a given zone. Since most properties accept one valve per zone you can call up of the station on a time as the aforementioned thing as a zone or valve in a certain area of their property. You can also add more zones to your irrigation system with a sprinkler organization expansion module. When programming a sprinkler system timer, y'all are ordinarily going to have to specify which stations to actuate. This is convenient, of class, since sure stations require more watering than others – and some require a lot less.

The image below shows the Irritrol Rain Dial vi 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 called a "station" on a timer, most landscaping guides will refer to the actual area that's receiving the water as the "zone." For instance, a flower bed might be one zone, a large area of lawn might be another. When mapping out your thou and pinpointing its valves it is smart to interruption things up into zones. This will simplify the process of programming your timer since you'll have a articulate visual idea about the zones that each valve waters.

Programme

About timers have three programs available. These programs hold the actual settings that command when and how long each station operates. You might set program A, for instance, to h2o only the flowerbed areas and have them watered twice a day. Program B might be used to water only the lawn areas ii or iii days a week. Program C could be used to h2o plants or shrubs with a drip organization if yous have one, a couple of times per calendar week.

Typical Timer/Controller Features

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

The image below shows a Hunter Pro-C 4 Station Indoor Modular Controller, bachelor on SprinklerWarehouse.com.

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

First Time

The start time feature on a sprinkler organization controller allows y'all to specify a time of day for a Plan (A, B, or C) to start. Once it starts, it will begin irrigating the stations or zones that are associated with information technology. One time it works its way through all the stations or zones in the program, the controller stops watering.

Run Time

This is sometimes called "Station Duration." It is the fourth dimension, in minutes, that a valve remains open. If yous set up a run fourth dimension for fifteen minutes, then, the valve that it controls will remain open up and water a zone for that length of time.

Run

When "run" is enabled, your scheduled programs will run every bit planned. As long as y'all take everything programmed to your liking, and then, yous're usually going to want to have "run" enabled.

Off/Stop

If yous need to prevent your programs from running, you're going to want to toggle over to "off" or "stop." At that place are many different reasons that you might want to do this; for instance, yous may want to finish programs while y'all are programming your sprinkler system timer. Many people go on their systems on "off" during the winter months, too.

Semi-Auto

From fourth dimension to time, a zone may require supplemental watering. In that case, the semi-auto function is very convenient. This office allows yous to run a specific program – A, B or C – whenever y'all want. For example, if your area has been having unusually dry or hot weather, you may want to utilize supplemental watering to go along everything healthy.

Manual

This push lets you run a specific valve for whatever length of time y'all want. Also, on controllers that practise 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 h2o an area of the property if it looks a footling dry. It is used to temporarily water the property at will without reprogramming the controller. Information technology tin likewise be used to spot-check an irrigation system while performing repairs or during a spring checkup (looking for cleaved heads, misaligned heads, or other issues) of the sprinkler system.

Getting Started

Earlier you lot begin programming your sprinkler system timer and set up various programs for different zones, yous're going to demand to make sure that your controller is set upwards properly. The about important office of doing that is ensuring that the current day and time are correct and authentic. Nothing can throw a kink in the works quite similar having the incorrect day, date and fourth dimension set on your timer, so take care to be as authentic as possible. It's never a bad idea to periodically check your controller to ensure that it's still ready to the correct fourth dimension, too.

Inbound A Programme

Now that you have the correct day and time configured, it's fourth dimension to enter a programme.

1. Select the Plan (A, B, or C) yous want to program. For each plan, y'all will demand to set up upwardly the H2o Schedule or "Days To Water", Start Fourth dimension, and Station Run Times.
2. Select the "schedule" role (Days To Water). Utilise information technology to select the specific days that yous want the irrigation to run. An instance would be Monday, Wednesday, Fri, and Saturday. In some cases, y'all'll need to specify the number of days between waterings.
3. Select "start-fourth dimension" and specify the time that you lot'd similar the irrigation to brainstorm. An example would exist 5:45 am. If you have newly planted flowers, yous may want to water a second fourth dimension on the same day since the root zone may get dry out by tardily afternoon. If yous want to schedule the second start time at say 4:00 pm. Simply recollect that the 2d start time is for the Program you are setting up and then all the zones you lot are watering on this Plan volition be watered a second time.
4. Select the "run time" or related function. Select the station of your choice and enter the run time for that valve. Continue selecting stations and inbound run times until you lot have entered a run time for all the stations yous will be watering on this Program. Important: do not set up a run time for the stations that will non be watered using this Program. A general rule to follow if you have no idea how many minutes to water per station, you can showtime with the following times and either increase the time if yous meet yous are not getting enough water or decrease the time if you run into you lot are applying as well much water:
   • 3 – 10 minutes for spray head zones
   • 20 – twoscore minutes for rotor head zones
5. Plan setup is complete once you have entered in the Water Schedule or "Days To Water", Start Time, and Station Run Times.

Additional Programs

To set boosted programs select a Program (A, B, or C) other than the ane y'all just gear up upwards using the steps to a higher place. Repeat the steps listed above for each Program you want to run. You will desire to set the Station Run Times to zippo for the stations yous already have running on some other Program (A, B, or C). Only add Station Run Times for the stations yous want to water using the Program you are setting up.

Please notation that different sprinkler organisation timers have unlike controls and features. Some utilize 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 Adapt Button?

Some late-model sprinkler arrangement timers take seasonal adjust buttons. These buttons offer a convenient solution to unseasonable weather patterns by allowing you to make across-the-board adjustments to watering programs on a percentage-based footing. During the summer, for example, most people keep their seasonal suit buttons set at 100% for fourscore-caste days. When the temperature shoots up to 90 degrees, the seasonal arrange button tin can exist switched to 120%. In plough, run times will exist diffuse by 20%. This saves you from the ho-hum hassle of having to reprogram everything – only to switch it all dorsum a few days after. If your system has this feature, be sure to learn it and put information technology to skilful employ when needed.

Understand What Dissimilar Sprinkler Heads Do

Different sprinkler heads are suitable for dissimilar purposes. When y'all understand what each type is all-time suited for, y'all'll be able to program your sprinkler system timer more efficiently.

Rotor Heads

When you need to water large expanses rotor heads are the best option. They have a much lower application rate than spray heads exercise. Rotors are used to save labor on installation since they cover a larger area than spray heads then you can space them out much further apart. They are also a meliorate pick for sloped areas or areas that are fabricated up of clay soils since they employ h2o at a slower rate and thus help prevent h2o runoff.

Spray Heads

These sprinkler heads dispense high volumes of water in short periods of time. They are all-time suited for flat, even areas; do not apply them on slopes. They are likewise suitable for small, hard-to-achieve areas of lawn, and they are practical to use in areas where y'all'd like to avoid spraying a firm, cars or the street.

Baste Systems

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

Programming a Sprinkler Organisation Timer for Efficiency

You may know the nuts about entering programs and setting up a sprinkler organisation controller, only that doesn't mean that yous know how to use one efficiently. The following tips, tricks, and communication can assistance y'all brand the virtually out of your sprinkler organization timer.

Grouping Programs For Maximum Efficiency

Once you lot've mapped out the locations of all of the valves in your yard, you'll exist able to devise a sensible programming scheme. You lot should use ane program to handle the needs of your backyard; information technology should control all of the valves that irrigate areas consisting primarily of grass. Another program should be to irrigate sections of flowerbeds or ground cover. Another program should be used for baste systems.

Invest In An Automatic Rain Close-Off Device

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

Water Early In The Morning

While yous have total control over the times of day that each program runs, it is about always best to perform irrigation during the early morning hours. During the middle of the day, the air current can behave off h2o droplets or the blazing sunday tin can evaporate a lot of the water that is produced past your sprinkler system; in turn, the plants that it's intended for don't receive nearly as much of information technology. Current of air tin too significantly disrupt the spray pattern of the sprinklers causing wet and dry spots.

If y'all water during the early on morn, y'all'll be able to utilise a lot less water, which is another smart mode to reduce your h2o bills and help the environment. Furthermore, watering at nighttime promotes found disease and fungus growth.

Avert Overwatering

If y'all think that it's impossible to over-water plants, retrieve again. Over-watering tin can be just every bit detrimental to plants every bit under-watering. By programming your sprinkler system controller the right way, you tin can provide the exact correct corporeality of moisture for the various plants on your property without inadvertently over-watering them. The key thing to avoid is creating water run-off; if you encounter it happening, yous know that you're overdoing it.

Go The Most Out Of Your Sprinkler System Timer

As you can see, programming a sprinkler organization controller doesn't have to be a mind-boggling experience. Past learning nigh the fashion that your system is set up, familiarizing yourself with its valves, learning about the different types of sprinkler heads that are involved, and agreement the needs of different types of plants, you tin achieve a suitable and sensible irrigation schedule with a minimal amount of hassle. You can also extend the capabilities of your irrigation controller with an expansion module.

The prototype beneath shows the Rain Bird ESP4Me six Station Expansion Module which can add together 6 additional zones to your irrigation system.

For more specific calculations yous tin can perform to make up one's mind the optimum watering frequency for your arrangement, visit the related links beneath.

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

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