manual_raindialplus
manual_raindialplus
User’s Guide
Rain Dial Plus 6, 9 and 12 Station
Indoor and Outdoor Models
2
Contents & Specifications
Congratulations. You have purchased the easiest-to-use landscape control system
available today. Please read through this guide before you begin installing or
programming your Rain Dial Plus controller.
Your Rain Dial Plus package includes:
Outdoor models Indoor models
• Controller • Controller
• 2 keys • Plug-in transformer (domestic models only)
• 3 mounting screws • 3 mounting screws
• Installation & Programming Guide • Installation & Programming Guide
• Mounting template • Mounting template
• One 9-volt alkaline battery • One 9-volt alkaline battery
(domestic models only) (domestic models only)
Specifications
Outdoor Models (Internal Transformer):
• Input: 120 V a.c., 60 Hz, 30 VA (domestic), 230 V a.c., 50 Hz, 30 VA (export)
240 V a.c., 50 Hz, 30VA (Australia)
Indoor Models (External Transformer):
• Input: 24 V a.c., 60 Hz, 30 VA (domestic) or 24 V a.c., 50 Hz, 30 VA (export and
Australian) Note: Plug-in transformer supplied with domestic models only.
All Models:
• Output: 24 V a.c. at 1.0A total maximum output; 0.5A maximum per station
• Master Valve/Pump Start Relay Output: 24 V a.c. at 0.375A (maximum)
• Operating temperature range: 32˚F to 140˚F (0˚C to 60˚C)
• Battery back-up: One 9-volt alkaline
4
Getting the Most Out of Your Rain Dial Plus
Here is a Sample Watering Plan
Program Start Time Valve # Location Run Time Schedule
A (#1) 5:00 a.m. 1 Front Lawn 15 min. Odd
2 Back yard 15 min. Odd
3 Side Yard 10 min. Odd
B (#1) 3:00 p.m. 4 Trees drip 2 hrs. Mon
C (#1) 4:00 a.m. 5 Garden 5 min. Skip Days, 1
(#2) 7:30 a.m. 5 Garden 5 min. Skip Days, 1
4
4
1
2
5
Installations
Installing the Battery Figure 1
9V
CAUTION: To avoid hazards from improper
battery usage, always replace the battery with the
same or equivalent alkaline battery type. Properly
dispose of used batteries as recommended by the
battery manufacturer.
Open the controller door. Carefully swing the control module open by pulling it from the
right edge. Locate the battery compartment at the top of the module. Press down on
top of the the cover while pulling it outward to remove. Attach the battery wire clip to a
standard 9-volt alkaline battery. Position the battery in the compartment and reinstall
the cover. A flashing “12:00 AM” should show on the display. See Figure 1.
Note: The battery will power the clock, but it will not operate the valves.
Mounting the Controller
Locate your Rain Dial Plus indoor model in an area protected from weather, such as a
garage, within 5' (1.5m) of a grounded electrical outlet. The outdoor model can be
installed almost anywhere, but try avoiding exposure to direct sprinkler spray. The
controller must be powered by a grounded AC circuit which is not shared with
motorized equipment.
Use the mounting template (provided) to locate the mounting holes. Drive the top #10
screw into a wall stud, leaving about 1/4" (6.5 mm) exposed. Open the door to your
controller and pull forward on the right edge of the control module. Hang the controller
on the screw using the keyhole slot provided. To secure the controller, drive screws
through the lower mounting holes provided.
Note: The lower mounting hole locations on the outdoor cabinet have thin webbing
which can be easily removed with a 5/32" (4 mm) drill. Also, be sure to use screw
anchors if installing the controller on drywall or masonry.
Figure 2
CAUTION: The outdoor controller cover
must be closed and locked to protect the
electronic components from moisture damage.
1. For the power wire connection, install a 1/2" NPT threaded conduit body to the
transformer assembly nipple. From the conduit body, install electrical conduit to the
AC power source circuit breaker panel. Note: Does not apply to Australian models.
CAUTION: Do not connect the Figure 4
controller to one phase of a 3-phase
Neutral or Line 2 to Conduit Body
power system used by a pump or
White or Blue
other electrical equipment.
2. Ensure the power source is off.
Verify that power has been turned off
at the power source by using an Ground to Green
appropriate AC voltage meter. Hot or Line 1 to or Green/Yellow
3. Route the Hot (or Line 1), Neutral (or Black or Brown
Line 2) and Equipment Ground wires
through the conduit into the conduit
body.
4. Using the properly size insulated wire connectors, splice the mating wires as shown
in Figure 4.
5. Close and secure the conduit body cover.
6. Apply power to the controller and check controller operation. If the
controller is not operating, disconnect the power at the source and
have a qualified electrician check for possible short circuit.
9
“Anywhere Programming”
The Rain Dial Plus control module is designed to be easily removed for complete
programming in a more convenient setting, or for servicing. The battery keeps the
current time and allows changes to settings until the module is connected to AC power.
To remove the module, pull forward
Figure 5
on the right edge of the module as if
you were going to replace the battery.
Unplug the ribbon cable connector
from the printed circuit board, as
shown in Figure 5, then unsnap the
module from it’s hinges. To reinstall
the module, simply reverse the order
of the removal steps.
Memory Protection
Program settings are stored in a unique electronic device called “non-volatile” memory
and retained for up to 10 years even without battery power. The battery maintains the
current date and time.
+ and –
Buttons
Dial
Function
Switch
Manual Next
Start Button Button
Semi-Auto/Manual Button
• Manually starts an automatic program (semi-auto) or an individual valve.
Next Button
• Advances to the next option for setting time/date and special features.
Dial
• Sets changes or checks program information.
Display
• Shows the value of the selected information.
Time
• Sets the correct time of day on the controller. Note the AM/PM display.
Date
• Sets the correct year, month and day on the controller.
12
How the Dial Works
Schedule
• Determines the days watering occurs by selecting:
• Specific days of the week (e.g. watering every MON and THU),
• Skip Days intervals, e.g., watering every 4 days, or
• ODD-numbered or EVN-(even) numbered days of the month.
Start Times
• Selects up to 3 different start times for each program.
13
Getting Started
Set the Time
• Turn the Dial to Time .
• Press the +/- Buttons to set the current time (note AM or PM).
Set the Date
• Turn the Dial to Date.
• Press the +/- Buttons to change the year shown on the display.
• Press the Next Button; then press the +/- Buttons to change the month
(JAN, FEB, etc.) shown on the display.
• Press the Next Button; then press the +/- Buttons to change the date.
• Press the Next Button to display the day of the week that automatically
corresponds to the date you have set.
Daily Schedule
Turn the Dial to Sun (Sunday). Press the +/- Buttons for ON or OFF.
Repeat for each day of the week.
Note: If a Skip Days or Odd/Evn schedule is in use, it must be set to “OFF” before a
Daily schedule can be set. (See page 19, “What the Display Means.”)
14 water every day, set 01. To water every third day, set 03, etc.
Automatic Operation, Step by Step continued...
Press the Next Button to select the current DAY (1–15) of the Skip Days
schedule. This determines when the watering interval will begin. At the day change
(midnight), the DAY number automatically increases by one. When the SKIP and
DAY numbers are equal, watering will occur at the first scheduled start time.
Note: If an Odd/Evn schedule is in use, it must be set to “OFF” before a Skip Days
schedule can be set. (See page 19, “What the Display Means.”)
SELECT LANGUAGE
1. Set the Function Switch to Set Program .
2. Turn the Dial to Spl Func.
3. Press the Next Button.
4. Press the +/- Buttons until the desired language appears. The display shows the
abbreviation of either the default or selected language, ENG = English,
ESP = Spanish, FRA = French, DEU = German, ITA = Italian. English is default.
Water Budget
WATER BUDGET adjusts all watering times in a selected program by a fixed
percentage, from 0 - 200% in 10% increments. Each program can have a different
Water Budget.
1.Set the Function Switch to Set Program .
2.Set the Program Selector to the program you wish to budget, A, B, or C.
18
What the Display Means continued...
Daily Schedule
Each day of the week dial position displays either “ON” or
“OFF”. If “SKIP DAYS” has been selected, the word
“SKIP” followed by three dashes is displayed for each of
the 7 watering day settings. If an odd or even schedule is
in effect, “ODD” or “EVN” is displayed.
Skip Days Schedule
“Skip” is displayed along with a number from 01 to 15
which establishes the watering day interval. When NEXT
is pressed, the current DAY within the selected interval is
displayed with “:DA”. This number automatically
increases by one each day. A watering day occurs when
the DAY and SKIP numbers are equal. If a DAILY
schedule has been selected, “OFF” is displayed.
Odd/Even Schedule
“ODD” or “EVN” is displayed. If a DAILY or a SKIP
DAYS schedule has been selected, “OFF” is displayed.
% Water Budget
The current water budget percentage is displayed for the
selected program. If water budget has been set to 0%,
“OFF” flashes to alert you that no watering will occur.
Special Features: Clear a Program
“CLR” is displayed. When the clear process is started, as
a safeguard, “OK?” is displayed. Pressing the + or -
button clears the program and “CLR” is displayed again.
Special Features: Language
The available languages are displayed in order. English,
Spanish, French, German and Italian, are displayed as
“ENG”, “ESP”, “FRA”, “DEU” and “ITA”.
19
What the Display Means continued...
Information Displayed When Operating
With the Function Switch set to RUN, each Dial setting shows:
No Program Running – Automatic Mode
The current time with a flashing colon (:) is displayed. If
the entire display is flashing, the controller has just been
plugged in or there has been a power outage and no
battery power was available during the outage. To stop
the flashing, press the + or - Buttons. If the colon is steady
and not flashing, the controller is using battery power.
Program Running – Automatic Mode or Manual Program
Start shows the current time and all active valves running.
Turn the Dial to an active valve to display the Program
which activated the valve, and the remaining run time. If
you turn the Dial to a valve that is not running, it will show
“OFF” even though time may be scheduled on a program.
Manual Valve Running
With the Dial pointing to the appropriate valve, the display
shows “M” for MANUAL, the valve number, and the time
remaining for the valve to run.
Short Circuit – Your Rain Dial Plus controller will detect a
short or an excessive total electrical load, automatically
advancing to the next valve with scheduled run time.
When the cycle is over, the display flashes “FUS” and
shows the valve number.
Rain Sensor – If automatic operation is suspended by the
rain sensor, “SEN” will flash on the display in all dial
positions. The “SEN” display can be disabled for two
minutes by pressing the + or - Button, however this will not
allow automatic watering operation. Manual operation is
not inhibited by the rain sensor. When the sensor
21
Troubleshooting the System
PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION
Some valves don’t Solenoid defective Test & replace as required.
operate Loose wire connection. Secure wire connections.
Check for continuity.
No valves operate Function Switch Off . Set switch to Run .
Solenoid defective. Test & replace as required.
Loose wire connection. Secure wire connections.
Day set to “OFF.” Check current day in display.
Set dial to correct day and
check setting.
“SKIP DAYS” Check and reprogram.
incorrectly set. See pages 14 & 15.
“Start Times” set to “OFF.” Reprogram “Start Times”.
Watering at wrong times “Current Time” of day Check and reset “Current
incorrectly set. Time”, note AM or PM.
“Start Times” Check & reset all “Start
incorrectly set. Times”. See page 14.
Program values won’t Wrong function setting. Function Switch must be in
display Run position.
Controller is in watering Check or change program
cycle. with Function Switch in
Set Program position.
Incorrect display Battery is weak or missing. Remove AC power and
following a power outage battery for 1 minute. Replace
after being plugged in. battery, restore power and
repeat steps on page 14.
Display blank No power. Check circuit breaker panel.
Transformer unplugged. Plug in transformer.
2-amp fuse blown. Replace fuse.
22
Troubleshooting the System continued...
PROBLEM POSSIBLE CAUSE CORRECTION
Waters on wrong days Weekly or “SKIP DAYS” See pages 14 & 15.
schedule incorrectly set.
“Current Time” is Power outage occurred Replace battery and
wrong and flashing with no battery or weak reset “Current Time.”
battery in controller.
Display is flashing Excessive load. Check max. ratings, see pg. 7.
“FUS” Shorted solenoid or field Check solenoids and wiring.
wires. See page 21.
Display is flashing Rain Sensor operation Check wiring and connections
“SEN” with no rainfall on rain sensor. If a sensor
is not connected, place
sensor switch to BYPASS.
See page 20.
Valve won’t turn off Valve malfunction. Check valve for leaks and/or
(Function Switch Off ) internal debris.
Display is flashing This is a reminder the Use Dial to review
“OFF” Function Switch is in the settings or switch to Run
Off position. to begin watering.
Technical Assistance
U.S A. Australia
Irritrol Systems Irritrol Systems PTY Ltd.
P.O. Box 489 53 Howards Road
Riverside, CA 92502 Beverley, SA 5009 Australia
Phone: (800) 634-8873 or (909) 785-3623 Phone: (08) 8300 3633
Europe
Irritrol Systems Europe, s.p.a.
Via dell’Artigianato 1/3-Loc Prato della Corte
00065 Fiano Romano (Roma) Italy
Phone: (39) 0765 455201