Table of Contents Class 3 - Controller Programming

Transcription

1 California Friendly Landscape Training Irrigation Course Controller Programming Course originally developed by California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Irrigation Training & Research Center (ITRC) i

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3 Table of Contents I. Class 3 - Controller Programming Course Description...1 Presentation...2 MC Plus Quick Reference Programming Guide...26 Kid's Park Planting Plan...27 Kid's Park Irrigation Plan...28 Irritrol Kid's Park Watering Times (July)...29 MC Plus Sample Watering Plan...30 MC Plus Summary Sheet - Features...31 iii

4 Course Description California Friendly Landscape Training Program Course Description The course consists of six (4) consecutive classes in landscape water management, each building upon principles presented in the preceding class. The California Friendly Landscape Training Program begins with basic irrigation principles of soil-plant-water relationships, and concludes with irrigation scheduling. Every participant will receive a course handbook. The following is a synopsis of each class. 1. Irrigation Principles, System Adjustment & Repair: A comprehensive workshop addressing the principle factors in landscape irrigation. Concepts presented here are the foundation to sound landscape water management. Topics include plant water needs, soil characteristics, and types of irrigation. Demonstrations illustrate how to determine plant water needs, how to manage irrigation in various types of soil, and also provide a graphic understanding of precipitation rates and how they affect irrigation system uniformity. Participants will learn the importance of regularly adjusting irrigation systems and the value of the early detection and repair of irrigation system problems. Principles shared also emphasize the negative impact of poorly adjusted irrigation systems on water use, plant health, irrigation uniformity, and damage to surrounding property. Hands-on demonstrations enable participants to practice these principles by making adjustments and repairs to a portable irrigation system. 2. Irrigation System Troubleshooting: This session focuses on the analytical approach to solving irrigation system failures. Three areas of potential problems are examined: mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical. Workshop participants will receive practical training in the use of electrical troubleshooting equipment, as well as an opportunity to demonstrate these skills during the hands-on portion of the session. 3. Controller Programming: A fully hands-on workshop in which an Irritrol MC Plus irrigation controller will be provided per two class participants. They will learn basic controller features while programming sample cases in the class. Also, participants will be exposed to advanced controller features as they implement schedules which take into consideration temperature/seasonal changes, rain, and landscape activities or demands which limit irrigation times. 4. Irrigation Scheduling: This session focuses on two critical questions: When to irrigate? and How much water to apply? A variety of field techniques and methods are presented as well as technical aspects to be considered while scheduling irrigation. Each class participant will be furnished with tools to use while scheduling landscapes for which they may be responsible. Participants will receive a certificate denoting the classes they attended upon completion of the course. The California Friendly Landscape Training Program course was developed by the Irrigation Training and Research Center at California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo, and is funded and presented by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. 1

5 California Friendly Landscape Training Controller Programming California Friendly Landscape Training Workshop 1: Irrigation Principles & System Adjustment and Repair Workshop 2: Irrigation System Troubleshooting Workshop 3: Controller Programming Workshop 4: Irrigation Scheduling Today s Workshop Controller Programming Concepts Irritrol MC Plus Controller Programming Basic Controller Programming Concepts Sample Programming Exercises Controller Programming Concepts 2

6 Local (Groundwater, Conservation, & Recycling) Where Southern California Gets Water State Water Project LA Aqueduct (City of Los Angeles) Colorado River Aqueduct (MWD) Growing Population Increased Demand Population Development Use Water Efficiently Water is a finite resource Obligation to use it wisely 3

7 Watershed Hydrological Cycle Upstream Beginning Runoff Downstream End Landscape Areas Photos courtesy of Tree people Bermed lawns capture & infiltrate runoff 4

8 Types of Controllers Weather Based Irrigation Controllers WBIC Automatic Adjustment Conventional Controllers: Electromechanical Solid State Hybrid Water Efficient Devices Rotating Nozzles Smart Sprinkler Controllers Synthetic Turf WBIC Controllers Automatically adjust watering times based on weather Uses Real Time or Historical Data Water Savings Potential - 42 gallons per day (gpd) for homeowners gpd for commercial landscapes 5

9 Irrigation Use Irrigation Use Irrigation Requirement Irrigation Requirement Efficient Irrigation Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Proper Controller Programming Proper Irrigation Scheduling What is a Controller Program? A set of instructions stored in the controller Different irrigation schedules Irrigation days how often? Start times at what time? Water times how long? Irrigation Days Everyday Start Times 2:00 am and 6:00 am Water Times Station 1: 10 min. Station 2: 0 min. Program Example #1 The oval represents where Program #1 would apply 6

10 Program Example #2 Irrigation Days Mondays and Thursdays Start Times 4:00 am Water Times Station 1: 0 min. Station 2: 45 minutes The oval represents where Program #2 would apply Why Use Multiple Programs? Type of plant material irrigated Program 1 Lawn (high water need) Water days: everyday! Start times: 2 start times per day Program 2 Planter (low water need) Water days: 2 days per week Start times: 1 start time per day Irritrol MC Plus Controller 4 Programs Programs 1, 2, 3 3 Cycle Start Program 4 2 Cycles Start Looping 7

11 Irritrol MC Plus (cont.) Controller Calendar Pre-set 7 days Adjustable from 1 to 16 days Station Placement Each station can be in two programs Controller Calendar Keep track of the current day Adjustable 1 to 16 days Pre-set at 7 days Corresponds to work week Current Time and Day They apply to all programs (Set once at the beginning) No need to change except Power failure and No battery 8

12 Irrigation Days What days of the watering calendar? Monday, Wednesday, Friday, etc. Or Day Number (if not set at 7) Example: calendar set at 14 days watering on day 14 only) Minutes of Irrigation Watering time for each station For each watering cycle or start time Irrigate at What Time? On irrigation days: Time each water cycle starts 9

13 Watering Cycle All stations run in order (1,2,3,etc.) For the assigned duration (water time) Zero runtime prevents a station from running Irritrol Basic Programming MC Plus Set or Change Current Time Select any program Key in current time Press PM if appropriate PM indicated by ( ) Basic 10

14 Set or Change Current Day Select any program Press no. of current day Press SET TODAY Basic Remember Time and Day Apply to all programs No need to change except Power failure and No battery Basic Erase Prior Programs This function clears all programs and all instructions. Except current time and day Basic 11

15 Erase Prior Programs (cont.) Select CALENDAR/ PROGRAM ERASE Enter 1, 3, 7, 9 Press ENTER Once enter is pressed, all program instructions are gone! Basic Steps for Basic Programming Basic Programming (all controllers): 1. Select days to water 2. Set watering duration 3. Set start time/s Basic Days to Water Select program (1 through 4) Press number of day to irrigate 1: Sun, 2: Mon, etc. Press DAY ON Or if you need it off Press number of day Press DAY OFF Basic 12

16 Watering Duration Select program (1 through 4) Key station number Press WATER TIME Key in runtime Press ENTER All stations must be checked Zero time is used to prevent a station from operating Basic Set Start Times Select program (1 through 4) Press number of cycle start (1,2,3) Press CYCLE START Key in start time Press ENTER Basic PM - Programming Needed To set a PM time, press PM PM indicated by ( ) Basic 13

17 Review Schedule Programmed Current Time and Day Watering Days Cycle Start Start Time Watering Time Basic Review Days of Irrigation Select Program Press DAY ON or Press DAY OFF Displays days ON or OFF Basic Review Station Runtimes Select Program Press WATER TIME once for total cycle duration Press WATER TIME again for single station durations (in sequence) Basic 14

18 Manual Operation (one station) Select MANUAL Press station number Press MANUAL ON/OFF to activate Press MANUAL ON/OFF to turn off Basic Manual Operation (one program) Select Program desired Press first Station in Program Press MANUAL ON/OFF All stations in program will run for pre-set time. Basic Example Problem MC Plus Basic 15

19 Kid s Park Planting Plan Kid s Park Irrigation Plan Statio n Program 1 Program 2 Irrigation Schedule Program 3 Program Drip Station (Hopseed( Hopseed) Watering Times for July 2 21 Stream Rotor (Cool Season Turf) 3 28 Bubbler (Honey Locust) 4 35 Spray (Mixed Plantings) 5 50 Microspray (Firethorn) 6 36 Geared Rotor (Cool Season Turf) 7 34 Geared Rotor (Cool Season Turf) 8 28 Geared Rotor (Cool Season Turf) 9 Site Kids Park 4 Watering Starts Station Zone Description Watering Days pm X X 2 3am Program 1 12am Date X 2am X X X 16

20 Sample Irritrol Programming Exercises MC Plus Irritrol Controller Features MC Plus Features Water budget Delay between stations Loop irrigation Loop irrigation with delay 17

21 Features (cont.) Programmable rain off Test station Quick programming Water Budget Quick adjustment of Runtime Per program From 0% to 255% Water Budget Example Program 1 July Base 100% July (hotter) 150 % Aug (less hot) 90% Sept (less ETo) 80% Sta min 15 min 9 min 8 min Sta Sta

22 Water Budget Turn dial to desired program Press the % PM key Key in new percent value Press the ENTER key Controller displays if budget is other than 100% Water Budget Considerations Adjusting water budget seasonally Max. Run time Avoid run off Min. Run time Pressurize the system Start time overlap protection Alternatives to Water Budget Schedule Another Start Time Increase Irrigation Frequency 19

23 Programming Delay Delay between stations: 1 second to 4 minutes All stations, all programs Programming Delay Turn dial to any program Press 0 Press WATER TIME Key in desired delay time Press ENTER Removing Delay Time Turn dial to any program Press 0 Press WATER TIME Press 0 Press ENTER 20

24 Loop Watering Repetition of watering cycle (Program 4) Loop watering for: Preventing runoff Seed germination Plant propagation Set Loop Start Time Turn dial to program 4 Press 2 and CYCLE START Key in desired beginning time Press ENTER Set Loop End Time Press 0 and CYCLE START Key in the desired end time Press ENTER 21

25 Loop Watering Delay Allows you to program a pause time Station 88 is used to program delay time Delay time from 1 min. to 24 hrs. Loop Watering Delay (cont.) After programming a loop watering, press 88 Press WATER TIME Key in the delay time Press ENTER Programmable Rain Off Turns off the irrigation for a specific number of days From 1 to 7 days The selector dial MUST be returned to the Auto Run position 22

26 Programmable Rain Off Turn dial to Rain Off position Press # of days to stop watering Press ENTER Return dial to Auto Run position Controller displays OFF and the # of off days Cancel Programmable Rain Off Turn dial to Rain Off position Press 0 Press ENTER Return dial to Auto Run position Testing All Stations Each station will turn on for the desired time From 1 to 9 minutes Simultaneous fuse circuit test 23

27 Testing All Stations Turn dial to Station Test position Key in a number from 1 to 9 minutes Press Manual On 2 minutes default time Cancellation of current automatic irrigation Fuse circuit test Water Time, All Stations Quick programming method All stations will have the same water time Water Time, All Stations Turn dial to any program Key in 99 Press WATER TIME Key in the watering time Press ENTER 24

28 Review Controller Programming Concepts Irritrol MC Plus Controller Programming Basic Controller Programming Concepts Sample Programming Exercises Controller Programming Concepts?Questions? California Friendly Landscape Training Your hosting water agency would like to thank you for being water conscious and attending this Workshop 25

29 MC Plus Quick Reference Programming Guide 26

30 Kid s Park Planting Plan 27

31 Kid s Park Irrigation Plan 28

32 Irritrol Watering Times - July 29

33 MC Plus Sample Watering Plan 30

34 MC Plus Summary Sheet Features 31