Gardena A 1020 Sensor 1835 - Automatic Irrigation Set Manual

Welcome to the Garden of GARDENA

Please read these operating instructions carefully and observe the information they contain. Use these operating instructions to familiarise yourself with the GARDENA Automatic Irrigation Set, its proper use and the notes on safety.
For safety reasons, children under the age of 16 as people, who are not familiar with the operating instructions should not use the Automatic Irrigation Set.
→ Please keep these instructions in a safe place.

Where to use Your GARDENA Automatic Irrigation Set

Intended use:
The GARDENA Automatic Irrigation Set includes a Water Timer and a Soil Moisture Sensor. It is designed to be used solely outdoors in domestic and private gardens and in greenhouses to control sprinklers and watering systems taking into account the soil moisture level.

Please note:
It is not permitted to use the Automatic Irrigation Set for industrial or commercial applications and in conjunction with chemicals, foodstuffs, highly combustible or explosive substances.

Function

Control panel of the Soil Moisture Sensor:

The Soil Moisture Sensor measures the soil moisture at the root level of the plants. With the GARDENA Soil Moisture Sensor the soil moisture level is taken into consideration for watering. The Soil Moisture Sensor measures the soil moisture automatically approximately every 10 minutes and sends the measured results to the Water Timer.

1	Indicator button:	Activates display of moisture level last measured.
2	"Dry" LED	Indicates that the Soil Moisture Sensor is measuring dry in relation to the switching controller .
3	"Damp" LED:	Indicates that the Soil Moisture Sensor is measuring damp in relation to the switching controller .
4	Switching controller:	Sets the soil moisture level at which watering is to take place.
5	Battery LED:	If the battery LED flashes, the batteries have to be replaced.

If the batteries are flat and are not replaced, the connected Water Timer will function with the watering programme selected.
→ Replace batteries (see Maintenance "Replace batteries of Soil Moisture Sensor ").

Control panel of the Water Timer:

With the GARDENA Automatic Irrigation Set you can take soil moisture into account for controlled watering. The watering time and the watering duration can be set individually.

6	Run Time button:	Used to set the watering duration.
7	Frequency button:	Used to set the watering cycle.
8	Light Sensor:	day / night recognition (dependent on the lighting conditions).
9	Error LED:	Indicates that the battery is almost empty or that the Soil Moisture Sensor is not connected or not properly connected.

If the battery is almost empty the programme is not activated any more. The valve cannot be opened manually any more.
→ Replace battery (see Maintenance "Replace battery of the Water Timer" ).

Initial Operation

Insert battery into Water Timer:
Water Timer:
→ For inserting the battery, please see Maintenance "Replace battery of the Water Timer" ).

Connect adapter cable of the Soil Moisture Sensor:

1. Press unlock button and remove control panel from the Water Timer.
2. Insert short adapter cable in sensor connection .
3. Plug control panel onto the Water Timer again.

Connecting your Water Timer to tap:

The Water Timer is fitted with a sleeve nut for taps with a 33.3 mm (G1") thread. The adapter supplied allows the Water Timer to be connected to taps with a 26.5 mm (G 3 /4 ") thread.

1. Only for taps with a 26.5 mm (G 3 /4 ") thread: Screw the adapter onto the tap by hand (do not use pliers).
2. Screw the sleeve nut of the Water Timer onto the thread of the tap by hand (do not use pliers).
3. Screw the threaded tap connector onto the Water Timer.

Fit anti-theft device (optional):

To secure your Water Timer against theft, you can obtain the GARDENA anti-theft device Art. 1815-00.791.00 from GARDENA Service.
→ Screw clamp with screw firmly to the back of the Water Computer.
Use clamp e.g. for fixing a chain. It is no longer possible to remove the screw after it has been screwed in.

Insert batteries into Soil Moisture Sensor:
Soil Moisture Sensor:
→ For inserting the batteries, please see Maintenance "Replace batteries of Soil Moisture Sensor" ).

Select correct location for Soil Moisture Sensor:
Correct location: The Soil Moisture Sensor must be positioned at a location in the watering area which is exposed to the same climatic conditions as the plants (sun, wind, rain, etc.).
Incorrect location: The Soil Moisture Sensor should not be covered by neighbouring plants. Areas of shade should be avoided. To rule out erroneous reaction results caused by waterlogging, the Soil Moisture Sensor should not be positioned in dips in the ground.

"Plant" Soil Moisture Sensor:


The tip of the sensor will only measure the soil moisture correctly if the sensor tip is in full contact with the ground on all sides! No air should be trapped at the sensor tip in the ground.

1. Dig a funnel-shaped hole in the ground at least 12 cm deep.
2. Break up the soil removed and take out any stones.
3. If the soil is dry, moisten.
4. Replace the damp broken-up soil in the funnel-shaped hole without packing tight.
5. Immerse entire sensor tip in water (felt must be wet).
6. Insert sensor cable (long) in the sensor socket of the Soil Moisture Sensor (on purchase this is already inserted).
7. Insert the Soil Moisture Sensor to the upper edge of the sensor in the broken-up soil . Here the sensor tip must be in full contact with the damp soil on all sides.
8. Press down the soil around the sensor lightly.
   The Soil Moisture Sensor should not stand loose in the ground.
9. Water the area around the Soil Moisture Sensor with approx. 1 litre of water.
   Depending on the ground it may take several hours until the Soil Moisture Sensor measures the actual soil moisture.

Connect GARDENA Micro-Drip-System:
To ensure that the quantity of water delivered is registered by the sensor tip when using the GARDENA Micro-Drip-System, a drip head must be installed directly above the sensor.
→ Fit a Supply Pipe 4.6 mm (3 /16 ") with drip head to the drip head holder of the Soil Moisture Sensor.

Connect adapter cable:

1. Lay the sensor cable in / on the ground so that it cannot be damaged or trip people up. The cable should be laid in the ground in a bed of sand to prevent any damage being caused by stones.
2. Fit adapter cable (short) to sensor cable (on purchase this is already fitted).
   If the sensor cable is not long enough, it can be extended with the GARDENA Extension Cable Art. 1186 (up to 105 m).

Operation

Set watering programme:
Water Timer:
To create the watering programme, the control panel can be removed from the casing by pressing the unlock button so that mobile programming is possible (see 4. Initial operation " Connect adapter cable of the Soil Moisture Sensor " ).
The watering programme is run only if the Soil Moisture Sensor reports "dry" to the Water Timer and the control panel has been properly plugged in. If the Soil Moisture Sensor reports "damp" while the programme is running, watering is stopped.

Watering controlled by Soil Moisture Sensor:

1. Turn Frequency button to the desired watering cycle (e.g. day).

   day	Watering by day when the Soil Moisture Sensor reports "dry".
   night	Watering by night when the Soil Moisture Sensor reports "dry".
   day & night	Watering whenever the Soil Moisture Sensor Sensor reports "dry".

   2. Turn Run Time button to the desired watering duration (e.g. 30 minutes). Watering starts within the set watering cycle.

If watering is controlled by the Soil Moisture Sensor a watering break of 2 hours is activated every time water has been delivered (so, the soil moisture level can be balanced).
Example:
Watering cycle = (day),
Watering duration = 30 minutes.
Watering is activated when the Soil Moisture Sensor reports "dry" during the day, and stops depending on the soil moisture level, but for no longer than the the set duration (in this example 30 minutes).

Time-controlled watering:

1. Turn Frequency button to the desired watering cycle (e.g. 12 hours).

   12h	watering every 12 hours
   24h	watering every day
   48h	watering every 2 days

2. Turn Run Time button to Reset to enter the watering start time (time of programming).
3. Turn Run Time buttonto the desired watering duration (e.g. 15 minutes).

Watering is activated depending on the time of programming.

Example:
Watering cycle = 12 hours,
Watering duration = 15 minutes.

Watering is activated every 12 hours (starting from the current time) if the Soil Moisture Sensor reports "dry" and stops depending on the soil moisture, but for no longer than the set duration (in this example 15 minutes).

The Run Time button can be used also to change the watering duration of a running programme. If the new watering duration is shorter than the watering duration already passed, watering is stopped in the next minute of run time.

Manual watering:

The valve can be opened or closed manually at any time. Even a programme-controlled open valve can be closed prematurely.

Open valve manually:
→ Turn Run Time button to ON.
The valve opens and closes automatically after 30 minutes.

Close valve manually:
→ Turn Run Time button to OFF.
The valve closes.

Reset:
If the Run-Time button is turned to Reset the internal time control of the Water Timer restarts and the 2 hour watering break is reset.

Soil Moisture Sensor:
The water requirement of plants depends on many factors, e.g. type of plant, soil, sunshine, wind. To find the suitable switching point of the Soil Moisture Sensor, it has to be observed during irrigation over a period of approx. 1 – 2 weeks and re-adjusted if necessary. If the soil moisture has exceeded the switching point selected, the watering programme of the Water Timer is terminated prematurely or an outstanding irrigation process blocked.

Select presetting of switching controller:
On delivery, the switching controller is set to the centre position, which is suitable for normal non-forest soils (loamy humus).
For sandy soils the switching controller should be set slightly to the right (damper).
For potting soil the switching controller should be set slightly to the left (drier).

Set switching point of Soil Moisture Sensor:

Increase soil moisture level:
→ If the soil seems too dry for an application (type of soil or plant species), turn the switching controller to the right towards "Damp" (e.g. with a coin).

Reduce soil moisture level:
→ If the soil seems too damp for an application (type of soil or plant species), turn the switching controller to the left towards "Dry" (e.g. with a coin).

Display soil moisture:

The soil moisture can be displayed at any time with the Soil Moisture Sensor. When the Soil Moisture Sensor shows "Damp" , watering is not carried out.
→ Press indicator button .
The soil moisture value last measured is indicated for 1 minute with the relevant LED ( "Dry" or "Damp" ).

During the minute in which the measured result is displayed, the switching controller can be used to find the relevant switching point by turning the switching controller until the display changes from "Dry" to "Damp" or vice versa. If the display does not change, the ground is either very dry or very damp.

Usage:
To keep the soil moisture level as constant as possible, irrigation should be carried out with short watering cycles and short watering times. This especially applies to flower boxes on balconies, which have a watering time of < 5 min.

Storage / Overwintering:

The storage location must not be accessible to children.

1. Remove batteries from the Soil Moisture Sensor and Water Timer.
2. Store Water Timer and Soil Moisture Sensor in a dry place protected from frost.

Disposal:
(in accordance with RL 2002 / 96 / EC)


Return spent batteries to one of the sales outlets or dispose of batteries via your municipal recycling collection centre. Only dispose of battery once discharged.

The product must not be added to normal household waste. It must be disposed of in line with local environmental regulations.
→
Make sure that the unit is disposed of via your municipal recycling collection centre.

Maintenance

Replace battery of the Water Timer:


The Water Timer may be operated only with a 9 V alkaline battery type IEC 6LR61.

1. Press unlock button and remove control panel from the Water Timer.
2. Insert batteryin the battery compartment.
   When doing so ensure correct polarity (+ /-).
3. Plug control panelonto the Water Timer again.

Test new battery:

1. Open the tap.
2. Turn Run-Time button to ON.
   Valve opens.
3. Turn Run-Time button to OFF.
   Valve closes.

To prevent damage caused by water flowing out, ensure proper draining at the Water Timer (connect hose, place a bucket below, etc.).

Replace batteries of the Soil Moisture Sensor:

1. Unlock battery cover with a coin (or large screwdriver) by turning clockwise.
2. Remove battery cover (using a screwdriver if necessary).
3. Remove battery holder and insert 2 batteries (round cells 1.5 V alkaline type IEC LR14). When doing so, ensure correct polarity (+ / -).
4. Insert battery holder in Soil Moisture Sensor. When doing so, make sure that cables are not trapped.
5. Insert catch lug of battery cover in housing slot and press down battery cover . When doing so, make sure that O-ring is positioned correctly.
6. Relock battery cover with a coin (or large screwdriver) by turning anticlockwise.

Clean control panels:
The control panels should be cleaned when soiled (particularly the Light Sensor).
No caustic / abrasive cleaning agents should be used.
→ Clean control panel with a damp cloth (do not use solvent).

Clean / replace sensor tip:

Whenever the Soil Moisture Sensor is relocated, the sensor tip should be cleaned / replaced. The felt on the tip should not come into contact with grease.
→ Clean sensor tip with clear water.
If the felt becomes damaged, the sensor tip can be re-ordered from GARDENA Service.
→ Unscrew sensor tip and screw on new tip.

Clean dirt filter:

The dirt filter should be controlled regularly and cleaned if necessary.

1. Unscrew sleeve nut of the Water Timer manually from the thread of the tap (do not use pliers).
2. Remove dirt filter of the sleeve nut and clean it.
3. Screw sleeve nut of the Water Timer onto thread of the tap again manually (do not use pliers).

Troubleshooting

In the event of other faults please contact GARDENA Service. A Repairs should only be carried out by GARDENA service centres or dealers authorised by GARDENA.

Accessories

Technical Data

• The unit must have been handled properly and in keeping with the requirements of the operating instructions.
• Neither the purchaser or a non-authorised third party have attempted to repair the unit.

As a wear part the sensor tip with felt is not covered by the guarantee. This manufacturer's guarantee does not affect the user's existing warranty claims against the dealer / seller. If a fault occurs with your Automatic Irrigation Set, please return the faulty unit together with a copy of the receipt and a description of the fault, with postage paid to one of the GARDENA Service Centres listed on the back of these operating instructions.