Green Electronics RainMachine Mini 8 User Manual

The forecast sprinkler

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RainMachine Mini User Manual

RainMachine Mini

The Forecast Sprinkler

USER MANUAL v. 1.0

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Page 1 RainMachine Mini User Manual RainMachine Mini The Forecast Sprinkler USER MANUAL v. 1.0 ...
Page 2 RainMachine Mini User Manual 1. INSTALLATION 1.1. Fastening unit 1.2. Electrical 1.3. Power up 1.4. Setup 2. HOW IT WORKS 2.1. Base Watering Duration 2.2. Protecting your plants – Hi and Low temperatures 2.3. Missing Internet weather data 3. MANUAL USER INTERFACE 4. MOBILE USER INTERFACE 4.1. Installing mobile app 4.3. Connecting to the RainMachine Mini 4.4.
Page 3: Installation
RainMachine Mini User Manual INSTALLATION 1.1. Fastening unit ● Place the RainMachine controller close to an electrical outlet. We recommend placing it indoors (i.e. garage). ● The quick install guide is also a fastening template. Place the provided template on the wall. Mark and drill through the holes labeled “DRILL HERE”. ● Using provided screws fasten the unit to the wall. ● Indoor operating temperature range*: 32F to 122F / 0° to 50° C 1.2. Electrical ● Remove the white plastic terminals lid by pressing on the 2 edge dimples white pulling up the tabs below them. ● Connect your valve wires to the green terminals labeled 1 through 8. ● You can control up to 8 valves with one RainMachine unit. ● C is Common terminal – all valves share 2 common terminals labeled “C”. The common terminals are electrically connected together. One or both Commons can be used. Note: OK to use only one Common terminal (either one) for all 8 valves as the two Common terminals are internally and electrically connected together. 1.3. Power up ● Replace terminal white terminal lid. ● Connect the 24VAC power cables to the terminals marked “24VAC”. ●...
Page 4 RainMachine Mini User Manual ● Launch iOS / Android RainMachine mobile app on your smartphone to continue setup process of the device. Connect it to your home WiFi network (choose your WiFi SSID name and then enter its password, if any, in the smartphone app screen). After successfully WiFi setup, choose a name, location and timezone for your RainMachine Mini device. Note: In order to complete the setup, you need a working Internet connection and WiFi After you completed the setup wizard you need to add watering Programs and edit Zones using the RainMachine smartphone application (see chapter 4 ) . Congratulations! Your unit is up and running. ...
Page 5: How It Works
RainMachine Mini User Manual HOW IT WORKS An irrigation controller is a device to operate automatic irrigation systems such as lawn sprinkler. Controllers have means of setting the frequency of irrigation, the start time, and the duration of watering. While most sprinklers have a fixed duration of watering (e.g. 1 minutes per zone, as defined by the user), the RainMachine automatically adjusts your base watering duration by lowering it on rainy or colder days and increasing it on hot summer days. Because the system dynamically adjust the watering duration the RainMachine not only saves water but it also protects your plants. 2.1. Base Watering Duration The Base Watering Duration is the duration of watering required for each zone, during a normal, summer day, as defined by the enduser. Initial calibration efforts using complex formulas that take in consideration soil type, inclination and hypothetical solar irradiation amounts are possible, but they are not practical. Variable city water pressure as well as uneven water distribution among all sprinkler heads, coupled with local shading conditions create an impractical and inaccurate model in gauging what’s best for your garden. Note: Our device guarantees seasonally and daily water savings based on calculations that take in consideration vegetation type, variability of the weather and time of year, but it cannot prevent water waste, should you set the Base Watering Duration to something much higher than normal. Given a Base Watering duration per each zone, as decided by you, the RainMachine will then dynamically adjust the watering duration, up and down, as needed. These adjustments are the result of Evapotranspiration calculations based on your vegetation type (Lawn, Bushes, Flowers, Vegetables, Citrus, etc) and feedback from meteorological data such as: ...
Page 6 RainMachine Mini User Manual ● Forecasted Temperature from National Weather Service. ● Quantitative Precipitation Forecast from NOAA’s National Weather Service. ● Solar Radial Levels adjusted to Earth’s rotation and inclination during the year. Note: See Appendix 1 for a detailed explanation of the Evapotranspiration (ET), Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) algorithms. 2.2. Protecting your plants – Hi and Low temperatures While saving water is one of the RainMachine’s main goals, growing a healthy lawn or garden is equally important. RainMachine protects your plants against extreme weather conditions, like freezing temperatures or unusually hot days. Using the RainMachine mobile application navigate to Setting > Restrictions and you can instruct the RainMachine to avoid watering when the minimum temperature drops below a certain level, or to add more water in extreme hot conditions. In addition, you can select individual months of the year when the controller prevents starting of any watering cycle. Note: By setting up freeze protect you instruct RainMachine to not start watering cycles under a specified temperature or on specific months. That does not protect your pipes or other parts of the system against freezing. If you live in a zone where freezing occurs, please winterize your system. 2.3. Missing Internet weather data The RainMachine can properly work even when your Internet connection temporarily goes down. The controller downloads forecast data for up to 7 days; therefore, it can continue normal operation several days with intermittent Internet failures. ...
Page 7: Manual User Interface
RainMachine Mini User Manual Note: Using Forecast data and/or Historical averages can be disabled for any specific zone. If both Forecast data and Historical averages are disabled for a specific zone, the RainMachine will act as a regular sprinkler controller, watering the amount you programmed (the Base Watering Duration) for each zone, without any adjustment. MANUAL USER INTERFACE On the RainMachine Mini’s glass capacitive touch screen there are: WiFi & DELAY backlit icons Digit display 3 backlit illuminated circle touch buttons. IMPORTANT: Available touch actions to navigate and make changes on the RainMachine device are: one finger touch and long finger touch on the circle buttons. When the screen enters into sleep mode (only the WiFi icon is ON), one finger tap the circle touch buttons will restore the active state of the device. Using the 3 backlit illuminated circle touch buttons the RainMachine Mini can be manually controlled. To select a watering zone tap UP and DOWN buttons the digit display will show the number of the zone and a short audio beep will sound. Note: If the Master Valve is set as Zone 1, the digit display will start counting the watering zones from 2 up to 8. To manually start watering the desirable zone tap the last circle touch button: WATER. This button will start flashing meaning that the watering process has started. To stop pe watering process on that zone tap the WATER button once again. On both action two short audio ...
Page 8 RainMachine Mini User Manual beeps will sound. The default amount of watering time per zone is 1 minute. If the zone was previously set up, that last amount of time will be used, when the zone is started manually again. Only one zone at a time will be active. To start another zone the active zone has to finish or has to be stopped. ...
Page 9: Mobile User Interface
RainMachine Mini User Manual MOBILE USER INTERFACE This section will show you how to connect your RainMachine to your Apple/Android smartphone/tablets and how the application works. Note: The following steps are the same on each mobile platform. 4.1. Installing mobile app Step 1: On your device open the App Store/Google Play app. Search for the “rainmachine” word. You should find the RainMachine mobile application. Step 2: Download and Install the application. 4.2 Discovered devices ● A list with local network RainMachine devices will be displayed. ● RainMachine81a175 is the name and 192.168.13.1:8080 is the Local Network IP Address and port of the RainMachine Mini device. 4.2.1. Add a new device ● Press the “Add new device +” button. ● Enter the RainMachine device: Name (optional): i.e. MyRainMachine and URL or IP address: i.e. 201.68.0.102 and then tap Save button. ...
Page 10 RainMachine Mini User Manual 4.2.3. Port Forwarding (optional) To make your home RainMachine accessible through the Internet you must configure your router using port forwarding . Quick note for tech savvy users: all you need is to forward public port 443 (default) or 18443 to your Rainmachine’s local_address:443 or local_address:18443 (eg: 192.168.12.142:443) You can find more info and port forwarding tutorials on portforward.com . 1) Find your external public IP address (also called WAN IP address) by connecting to your WIFI router, and navigate to Internet or WAN section, depending on your router model. You can doublecheck that by opening a browser and your computer and navigate to http://www.whatismyip.com Note: In our example the public IP address (WAN IP address) would be: 201.68.0.102 2). Find the RainMachine’s local IP address by going to the RainMachine Settings > Advanced > WIFI. The first line in this screen contains the IP address of your device. Note: In our example local IP address is: 192.168.12.142 3) Login into your WIFI router and configure TCP port forwarding: Protocol = TCP Source Port = 443 (or 18443) Destination port = 443 (or 18443) Destination IP = RainMachine’s IP address (example: 192.168.12.142) 4) Go to your SmartPhone App and add a new device by clicking on “Add new device +” ...
Page 11 RainMachine Mini User Manual 4.3. Connecting to the RainMachine Mini ● First make sure the device is in AP Mode (wireless access point mode) letter A will show on the digit display. It means that the RainMachine Mini has started to broadcast its own WiFi network. oin the "RainMachine" WiFi network using your smartphone: ● J Go to Settings Choose WiFi In the discovered WiFi networks list you will find the "RainMachineXXXXXX" (eg: RainMachine81a175) WiFi network Tap it and will automatically connect ● Launch Android (same for iOS app) RainMachine mobile app on your smartphone to continue setup process. On the main app screen Devices the RainMachine Mini will be listed with “setup” label attached, it means you can now start the setup process. ● Tap on it and you’ll be asked to connect it to your home WiFi network. Choose your home WiFi SSID from the discovered WiFi networks list, type the home WiFi network password and tap Connect. The RainMachine Mini will be connected to your WiFi network. ...
Page 12 RainMachine Mini User Manual ● Back on Devices list now the RainMachine Mini device is successfully connected to your home WiFi network and has a local IP (eg: 192.168.12.170:8080). ● Tap on it and you’ll be asked to rename it and to change its default login password. ● Tap Save to save this settings and go to the next screen where you can setup the location of the RainMachine Mini device. ● The mobile application discover your location, but you can also change it by typing the Edit button next to the discovered location and start typing your RainMachine Mini location, up to street level. Note: It’s very important to setup the location of the RainMachine Mini device for future accuracy of the forecast weather data ● Then choose date & time and the timezone based on location ...
Page 13 RainMachine Mini User Manual 4.4. Login After connecting a RainMachine device to your mobile, the login screen will be displayed. Enter the password and click on Login. Check the Remember me checkbox if you want your login password to be remembered by the mobile application. 4.5. How the application works ● Upon successfully login the application will open the Stats screen. In this section you can see the information about the presumed water consumption percent, icon for weather condition and the textual Low/High temperatures for the next 5 days, including Today. ● On the bottom of the screen there are info about the weather parser (NOAA’s weather servers) latest data update on the RainMachine device, followed by a green checkbox for “success download”. For “no data” or “no connection” the green checkbox will be replaced with an yellow triangle with black exclamation sign. ● The user can manage maximum 8 zones that the device can be programmed to water and all active zones can be seen in Zones section. By default, the watering time is set to 1 minutes and 0 seconds. This can be changed by tapping a zone and then change the amount of time using + and circle buttons for minutes and seconds. ...
Page 14 RainMachine Mini User Manual ● The Zone 1 can be set as Master Valve ● Only one zone can water at one time. If more zones were scheduled for watering they will receive the status “Pending” until the first one finishes. ● The watering will start in the order the zones were scheduled. ...
Page 15 RainMachine Mini User Manual 4.6. Zones Manual watering In Zones section you can manage the zones you want to be watered at one time. In this section, the list with all available zones is displayed. To begin the watering, choose a zone, set the number of minutes and seconds the sprinkler will water using + and circle buttons and then click on Start or if there is no need to change the amount of watering time, just tap the ON (start/pending watering) / OFF (stop watering) switch in front of the zone name and the action is instant. If you want all the remaining zones to be watered, you can put them in pending by tapping the switches. To stop the watering select the zone and click on Stop, or tap the ON/OFF switch. To stop all watering tap the upper left side Stop All text button. 4.7. Programs The application allows you to organize your zones into programs or to delay watering activities. Go to Settings section and click on Programs to create, start, edit or discard programs. To add a new program: ○ Go to Settings > Programs and click on Add New Program + ■ To set the same number of minutes for all zones to be watered or select a different value for each zone. ■ To delay the watering of the zones inside a program with “n” minutes choose Delay between zones option. ■ From Cycle & Soak option you can set the number of minutes for water cycles and soak. This option divides each zone into a number of parts equal to water cycles and delays every part with the number of minutes equal to soak. ...
Page 16 RainMachine Mini User Manual from Programs list. You can edit a program by simply taping it in Programs list. Modify the options and tap on Save red text button. Programs can also be activated or deactivated from Programs list. Tap on a program and choose Active ON/OFF switch option. 4.8. Zones ● You can edit a zone by selecting Settings > Zones section. For each zone you can ...
Page 17: Rain Delay
RainMachine Mini User Manual 4.9. Rain Delay ● The application allows you to delay all your watering activities. From Settings > Rain Delay section, select the number of days and tap on Delay button. ...
Page 18: Specification
RainMachine Mini User Manual 4.10. Security ● Change device password: Access Password section, enter old and new password and click on Save button. 4.11. Date/Time ● Date and time settings can be changed from Settings > Date/Time section. 4.12. Units ● You can also select the units for the temperature values displayed in Stats screen. You can do this by accessing Settings > Units section. 5. Specification 5.1. Controller features ● Weather aware, ET controller * ● WiFi, web based controller ● 8 zones, master valve ● Location based weather data (NOAA) ● Glass capacitive touch screen ● iPhone and Android apps ●...
Page 19: Mechanical Specs
RainMachine Mini User Manual 5.3. Zones features ● Master valve pre and post delay ● Editable zone names ● Zone vegetation type ● Weather data parameters per zone 5.4. Mechanical specs ● Dimensions: 5.9x5.9x1 in ● Weight: 7 oz ● Package contains: smart sprinkler controller, AC adapter, wall screws, quick setup guide ● Shipping weight: 34 oz 5.5. Electrical specs ● Wire range: AWG 1422, 0.75 1.5mm ● AC Input: 24VAC, 60Hz, 750mA (adapter included) ● Valve output: 24VAC, max 8VA ● Master valve: 24VAC, 60HZ, 8VA ● WIFI: 802.11N, 2.4Ghz, US/Japan/EU 5.6. Warranty ● 1 Year std hardware warranty ° ° ● Indoor operating temperature range : 32F to 122F / 0 to 50 C ...
Page 20: Evapotranspiration (Et)
RainMachine Mini User Manual 6. Appendix 1 6.1. Evapotranspiration (ET) Evapotranspiration accounts for the amount of water lost to the atmosphere as a result of evaporation (both from soil and plant leaves) and transpiration from the plant tissues. Using ET, the RainMachine estimates how much water your lawn, garden and trees need to grow healthy. To learn more about evapotranspiration, please consult: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evapotranspiration RainMachine downloads weather forecast data from NOAA* and using a complex algorithm, it calculates ET and estimates the water needs for the next days. NOAA provides forecast data for the entire US with a 5 km (approx. 3 miles) spatial resolution, allowing RainMachine to predict the watering adjustments. * National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration http://www.noaa.gov Note: Unlike other smart sprinkler controllers, RainMachine uses free weather data from NOAA’s National Weather Service, a governmental agency paid from your tax dollars. You will never pay fees for accessing weather data. 6.2. Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF) After estimating the water loss, RainMachine takes into account the estimated amount of rain, with spatial resolution of 5 km. QPF is the expected amount of melted precipitation accumulated over a specified time period over a certain area.To learn more about QPF, please refer to: http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/qpf2.shtml Note: QPF becomes better as we approach the event (e.g.: the rainfall). Better results on saving water can be obtained if your program frequency is less than 3 days. ...
Page 21 RainMachine Mini User Manual 6.3. Crop Coefficient Kc Each zone has its own water requirements. Depending on vegetation type, RainMachine adjust the ET values using a crop coefficient abbreviated “Kc”. Navigate to Settings/Zones to set the vegetation type for each zone. That will improve both the health of your plants,and the amount of water saved. 6.4. The RainMachine Algorithm The user is required to set the Base Watering Duration for each zone as required in a normal summer day, and RainMachine takes it from there, adjusting watering time based on estimated ET, QPF and Kc. The RainMachine has an internal database with average ET on your area (ETavg), and compares that with current ET, deriving a percent of water need (WN). WN = (Kc x ET – QPF) / (Kc x ETavg) For instance, if you programmed to water for 5 minutes during the summer, and if the above formula returns WN=80%, RainMachine is going to water only 4 minutes (80% from 5 minutes). If QPF becomes bigger than ET (e.g. lots of rain), the RainMachine will not start watering at all. (WN is zero or less). If WN becomes negative, that means we have a surplus of water, and the RainMachine stores that surplus in a nonvolatile memory, delaying watering cycles for up to 3 days of ETavg. That accounts for even more water savings. Note: The adjusting algorithm (Internet Weather check box) can be disabled per individual zone, allowing you to have different watering behavior on different zones . Do not set Internet Weather = Yes for greenhouses, covered patios, flower pots. ...
Page 22 FCC Certification Requirements Caution: Any changes or modifications in construction of this device which are not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. This device complies with part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) This device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.