Rain Bird ET Manager Series Installation And Operation Manual
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Rain Bird ET Manager Series Installation And Operation Manual

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ET Manager Series
Installation and Operation Manual

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  • Page 1 ET Manager Series Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Control Mode ......... . .27 Getting to Know your Rain Bird ET Manager .....5 Weather Signal Test .

  • Page 3: Introduction

    ET Manager uses current weather conditions to auto- weather has a direct affect on evaporation, changing matically control watering. weather conditions have an effect on how often land- scape watering is needed. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 4: The Weather Reach Water Management System

    The ET Manager uses this data to compute water loss and control how often your sprinkler controller waters your landscape. * Weather Reach is a trademark of Irrisoft, Inc. Figure 3. Weather Reach Water Management System Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 5: Getting To Know Your Rain Bird Et Manager

    Note: The LCD display will refresh once a minute. Note: If you are using an advanced Output Method, as described in chapter 8, the Home screen may dis- play different information. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 6: Valve Group A & B Indicator Lights

    Once in the desired menu or posi- the Irrigation Status screen. Œ Õ tion, use to change a value or select an option. à is used to go back, or to exit the screen. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 7: Override Button

    • ETMi-ANT: ET Manager Remote Antenna Note: The ET Manager contains a paging radio receiver with a built-in antenna. Locations with a weak paging signal may require an external antenna. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 8: Resource Cd Included With Your Et Manager

    • ET Manager Simulation and Animations • Printable versions of worksheets used and referred to in this manual • Rain Bird ET Manager Scheduler • Printable versions of application notes Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 9: Installation

    • A ground wire, 10-18 AWG, MUST be connect- ers or other high current electric equipment. ed for electrical surge, equipment and personal protection. • Mount near eye level for easy viewing. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 10: Mounting

    When choosing a mounting location, avoid locations that may cause radio signal interference. Close proximity to radio transmit- Figure 5. Mounting your ET Manager Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 11: Wire Connections

    • Jumper: Connected for Enable Output Method ET Manager Programming Software (ETM-PS) • Rain Tip In: On-site tipping bucket rain gauge (sold separately) input • BNC: External antenna connection Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 12: Grounding

    ET Manager ground connection using a thin blade screwdriver. Give Use a Rain Bird ETMi 120-volt AC Plug-in Transformer the wire a gentle tug to verify it is secure. 635640 (Model ETMi-TRAN). Using a thin blade screw-...

  • Page 13: Wiring Diagrams

    Methods are included in chapter 8. The Tipping Rain Gauge (Model ETM-RG) is an option- al rain gauge available from Rain Bird for use with the ET Manager. The rain gauge contacts can be either normally open or normally closed.
  • Page 14 ET Manager. d. Not collect sprinkler water. 2. Prepare mounting surface. There is an optional rain gauge available from Rain Bird approved for use with the ET Manager. The rain gauge 3. Remove mounting plate and secure to mount- contacts can be either normally open or normally ing surface.

  • Page 15: Optional External Antenna

    Allow antenna to be mounted vertically. may be connected and mounted in a different location for better reception. Use the Rain Bird ET Manager b. Improve radio reception. Remote Antenna Kit (ETMi–ANT) to improve radio 2.

  • Page 16: Install Battery

    It takes several button Bird for additional options. pushes to “wakeup” the processor to allow menu navi- gation. Note: If cable length is inadequate contact Rain Bird for custom cable lengths. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 17: Programming

    • Weather Region The ETM-PS software is sold separately. For ET • Rain Source Manager Programming Software information, contact • Elevation your Rain Bird Distributor. • Signal Provider Code Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 18 Õ and À tomers, allowing for a more accurate represen- buttons to set the codes for A through J. tation of local rain. Your WRSP broadcasts rain region data. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 19: Output Method

    Output Method, use à to exit is applied to the calculated ET, and effects the current the screen. Moisture Levels for Valve Groups A and B. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 20: Water Window

    Note: The display changes from the closing time to a controlled by the ET Manager. length of time when programming the Water Window settings. For example, if the Automatic Window is set Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 21: Available Watering Days

    Ã to toggle between “On” or “Off.” Use • Historical ET go back. Repeat for all days, advance to the next screen and continue until all days are programmed. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 22 ET curve to determine historic included in the weather signal. In most cases this is set ET values for each day of the month (see Figure 10). to “Use.” Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 23 30.5° F. In this case, once interrupts. the temperature drops below 30° F, the Weather Interrupt will occur. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 24: Additional Settings And Options

    • Available Watering Days found by scrolling one down from the numeric value 1. • All, Odd, Odd with 31st Off, Even, Custom Days • Advanced Setting • Effective Rain Settings Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 25: Programming The Sprinkler Controller

    À. Õ You will then need to push so the cursor is on watering the next available day. À “Yes.” Push to confirm your decision. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 26: Cycle Start Times

    Note: The total station run time may need to be split into several cycles to allow the water to soak between cycles. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 27: System Check

    If the cursor is not in front of Note: If your ET Manager is set back to Automatic Œ Õ “Control Mode”, use to move the location of Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 28: Weather Signal Test

    Test Counter. The Test Counter registers every tion on optional external antennas. signal received increasing from 1 to 255 counts. Note: The Reset command also clears the test counter. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 29: Valve Control Test

    5. Reverse the Moisture Level settings for A and B, so that the Valve Group B Indicator Light is red and that the Valve Group A Indicator Light is green. Then repeat step 4 for to verify that Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 30: Routine Operation

    Peak wind velocity is not displayed. • Wind The following detail is displayed: • Humidity • Current: Hourly average wind speed from the latest recorded broadcast. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 31: Irrigation Status

    • ET = ET measurements adjusted by the Landscape Adjustment percentage • Effective Rain = Limited due to programmed Max Hourly Rain and Saturation Allowance • Irrigation = Irrigation Amount setting once watering is detected Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 32 - ET = 0.05” evaporation and manages your sprinkler system allow- 0.18” ing watering only when needed. + Effective Rain = 0.20” (Rain delays watering) 6/2/2004 Soil Moisture Level = 0.38” Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 33: Information Log

    • Last 7 Days: Total measured rainfall in the last 7 days. • B Irrigation Log • Graph: Press À to view the rain graph for • Last Interrupt the last two weeks. • Weather Signal Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 34: Status Messages

    • No Water Day weather signal. • Hour Manual Override • Accuracy: The ET Manager looks at the last • No Power two weeks of weather signals and reports the Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 35: Attention Messages

    Each time the Override is pressed one more hour is added to the • Set Signal Provider Code Override mode. The status display indicates when an • Window Overlaps Off Day Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 36 • Radio frequency issues are preventing your ET Manager from receiving weather signals Action to take: Once the rainfall recorded in the next hour(s) drops below the 1 Hour Rain Interrupt setting, Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 37 WRSP, the Rain Bird Distributor, your installa- matically uses the pre-programmed Historical ET val- tion contractor, or go to www.rainbird.com/etmanager. Refer to chapter 3, ues. Programming, for more information on the Signal Provider Code setting. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 38 The proper action to take when the signal accuracy is less than 65% depends on duration. If your ET Manager has missed data for a few days and the signal Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 39 Level(s) will reach a maximum dryness. Action to Take: 1. Verify your sprinkler controller is turned on to allow watering. 2. Verify that the current time is set correctly on the sprinkler controller. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 40 Note: If this situation occurs, and your Water Window is “open” and the sprinkler system is watering on an “on” day and the next day is an “off” day, watering will cease at midnight. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 41: Determining Programmable Settings

    ET Manager and sprinkler controller. Rain Bird Technical Service: 1-877-351-6588 Figure 12. Site Assessment Worksheet Example Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 42: Sprinkler Controller And Station Information

    Exposure areas that the site assessment. would increase the rate of evaporation may need longer Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 43: Landscape Conditions

    Group B is typically assigned to shrub stations. These different plant types use water at different rates requir- ing different Irrigation Amounts and Landscape Adjustment Percentages. Figure 13. Deep Roots vs. Shallow Roots Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 44: Manager Settings

    Group A and another for valves in Valve Group B. Percentage is used to fine-tune how much irrigation water a landscape should receive. There are three fac- tors that should be considered when estimating the Landscape Adjustment Percentage: Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 45 ET. Group B Indicator Lights will turn green. Watering is enabled during this period. • Daily Window: An optional period when watering can occur as programmed in the Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 46: Advanced Settings

    (essentially no Sand 0.60 drainage) Information from Soil Conservation Service Nation Engineering Handbook, September 1997. Table 4. Guide to Determine Figure 14. Soil Moisture Holding Capacities Maximum Hourly Rain Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 47: Manager Scheduler

    When conducting the site assessment, your ET Manager System Settings may have been previously programmed. By documenting these settings, you will be able to verify the settings have been programmed correctly. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 48: Troubleshooting

    Override button again or press soon enough. Œ for each additional hour of Override. Once the over- • It was raining and the sprinklers were running. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 49: Water Management Troubleshooting

    2. Manually water the station if it is too dry to get ed, please fix the problems or call sprinkler it the water it needs. professionals to assist you. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 50 You want to increase your Irrigation Amount if you are experiencing a wet Valve Group and you want to decrease your Irrigation Amount if you have a dry Valve Group. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 51 System gauge. Data Source Rain Source 2. Check the Rain Source to verify the ET Manager is programmed to the correct source, specifically when using an optional rain gauge. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 52 Moisture Levels for Valve Group A and an optional rain gauge, see chapter 2, Installation. Rain Bird Note: New models of the Rain Bird ESP It was raining and the sprinklers controller family offer a “RASTER” test, which is were running.

  • Page 53: Advanced Output Methods

    Weather Interrupt conditions occurs; rain, freezing conditions or high wind. A dry contact switch closure signal represents 0.01” of ET. This chapter focuses on all Output Methods except Enable. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 54 Adjustment settings can be different to accom- modate specific site needs. In this instance, the resulting frequency may be different caus- ing the sequence to change. For example, if Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 55: Rain Pulse

    5. Note the earliest start time for both programs and the ending time for the last program. This will be needed to program the Automatic Window in your ET Manager. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 56 3. Connect two wires from the rain pulse sensor Main Menu Settings System input from the sprinkler controller to the NOB Output Method ET & Rain Pulse and B terminals on the ET Manager. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 57: Pulse With Weather Interrupt

    ET pulse input and Weather i. Data Source Interrupt control. 1. Weather Region 2. Rain Source 3. Elevation 4. Signal Provider Code ii. Options 1. Units 2. Password Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 58 3. Route the sprinkler controller valve common with Interrupt. through the “Com” and “B” terminals on the ET Manager. Main Menu Settings System Output Method ET Pulse with Interrupt Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 59: Using More Than One Sprinkler Controller

    Output Method, the Valve Group B Indicator light will turn green. If a Weather Interrupt condition occurs, the Valve Group B Indicator Light will turn red to notify you of the interrupt. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 60: Appendices

    • Graph ■ B Moisture Level • Irrigation Amount • Current Level • Graph ■ Rain • Last Hour • Last 24 hours • Last 7 Days • Graph Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 61 • Control Mode • Daily ■ Automatic • Available Watering Days ■ Historical ET • All, Odd, Odd with 31st Off, Even, ■ Disabled Custom Days ■ Override • Advanced Setting Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 62: Appendix Ii: Default Et Manager Settings

    Rain 1 Hour Interrupt: 0.15" Start Time Window Length End Time Automatic Window 2:00 AM 6 hours 8:00 AM Daily Window 0 hours Rain Bird Technical Service: 1-877-351-6588 P-500-20 Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 63: Appendix Iii. Et Manager Site Assessment Worksheet

    9. Appendices Appendix III. ET Manager Site Assessment Worksheet Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 64: Appendix Iv. Soil Texture By Feel Diagram

    Appendix IV. Soil Texture by Feel Diagram Source: “A Flow Diagram for Teaching Texture-by-Feel Analysis” published in the Journal of Agronomic Education by Steve J. Thien, Vol. 8, 1979. pp. 54-55. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 65: Appendix V. Calculating Precipitation Rates And Station Run Times

    You can calculate the station run time using the precipitation rate and the Irrigation Amount: Irrigation Amount x 60 Run Time = ——————————————— Precipitation Rate Note: The station run time may need to be adjusted based on the sprinkler distribution uniformity. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 66: Appendix Vi. Et Manager Settings Worksheet

    9. Appendices Appendix VI. ET Manager Settings Worksheet Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 67: Appendix Vii. Sprinkler Controller Programming Worksheet

    9. Appendices Appendix VII. Sprinkler Controller Programming Worksheet Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 68: Appendix Viii: Et Manager Installation Checklist

    9. Appendices Appendix VIII: ET Manager Installation Checklist Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 69: Appendix Ix. Et Manager Status Report Worksheet

    9. Appendices Appendix IX. ET Manager Status Report Worksheet Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 70: Appendix X. Master Valve And Pump Control Installation With Et Manager

    See Figures 18, 19, and 20 for the wiring diagrams dis- mon. This is the safest scheme to use the playing Options 1 through 3. sprinkler master valve. Figure 18. ET Manager Master Valve Wiring Diagram using Isolation Relays Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 71 9. Appendices Figure 19. ET Manager Master Valve Wiring Diagram using Separate Common Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 72 Pump control can be utilized, but it is limited to work- group is used. The result will be that the pump turns on ing with one Valve Group only. without a valve being on. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 73: Glossary

    Enable: The ET Manager uses this Output Method to control the days a sprinkler controller is allowed to water. It will enable watering when it is needed. This mode bypasses the common output of the controller. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 74 The ET Manager Scheduler can also be used to help in deter- mining initial settings for your ET Manager. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 75 Group B. The Landscape Adjustment Percentage is water. applied to the calculated ET, and effects the current Moisture Levels for Valve Groups A and B. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 76 Pump Control: Pump control can be utilized with your the Home screen and the Attention Indicator Light ET Manager using one Valve Group only, refer to turns on when this condition occurs. Appendix X. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 77 Use a shovel programmable settings in ET Manager and sprinkler or soil probe to determine root depth. controller. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...
  • Page 78 Manager via your local Weather Reach Signal Provider received, increasing from 1 to 255 counts. If 255 signals (WRSP). are received and counted, the Test Counter will reset to 0. Rain Bird ® ET Manager Series - Installation and Operation Manual...

  • Page 79: Rain Bird's Professional Customer Satisfaction Policy

    Rain Bird’s Professional Customer Satisfaction Policy Rain Bird will repair or replace at no charge any Rain Bird professional product that fails in normal use within the warranty period stated in the Rain Bird Landscape Irrigation Products Catalog. You must return said product to the dealer or distributor where you bought it.
  • Page 80 (800) RAINBIRD (U.S. & Canada only) (800) 458-3005 (U.S. & Canada only) The Intelligent Use of Water ™ -- Visit www.rainbird.com to learn about our efforts ® Registered trademark of Rain Bird Corporation. © 2007 Rain Bird Corporation 4/07 D37377C...

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