Hydreon RG-11 Supplement

19.16
.75
10.40
.41
6.40
.25
19.05
.75
9.53
.38
70.71
2.78
120.23
4.73
55.20
2.17
OPTICAL RAIN GAGE
MODEL RG-11
INSTALLING THE RAIN SENSOR
Mount the rain gage where it gets a clear measurement
of precipitation– away from overhangs, etc.
The mounting arm is designed to fit over a strap 0.75”
(19 mm) wide. Two 0.25” (holes 6.35 mm) are placed
0.75” (19 mm) part.
The gland style connector goes in the bottom hole. Be
sure to use wire rated for outdoor (high-UV) use.
For conduit applications, the mounting arm may be
removed, and the wiring hole drilled out using a step drill
to accommodate a ½” EMT compression connector or
similar style of conduit connector.
Assemble the device as shown. Stretch and release the
silicone o-ring (size -036) a few times, so it fits easily in
the groove. Optionally, you may coat the O-ring and
screws with silicone grease.
For Irrigation Mode, set DIP switch 7 ON and set the
other switches to the desired watering amount. See
the switch table on page 4 for the other Irrigation
settings.
The Rain Gage must be assembled when dry. Any
water trapped inside can condense and cause corrosion.
You may optionally add extra desiccant packets (not
supplied.) If the Rain Gage is not subject to splashing or
sprayed water, you may optionally vent the enclosure by
drilling a 1/8” (3 mm) hole in the bottom of the case.
IRRIGATION APPLICATION NOTES

NC
NO
PWR2
COM
RG-11
PWR1
SWITCH ON
RELAY
CONTACTS
POWER IN
(AC OR DC)
PROGRAM /
COMMUNICATIONS
CONNECTOR
(NOT USED IN MOST
APPLICATION)
INTERFACE
TERMINAL
BLOCK
PROGRAMMING
DIP SWITCH
RAIN GAGE CONNECTIONS
NC
NO
COM
RAIN
SENSING
CIRCUITS
DC OR
AC IN
PWR1
PWR2
EQUIVALENT SCHEMATIC
RELAY CONTACTS
MAX 1 A,
24V DC OR AC
12345678
NC
NO
PWR2
COM
RG-11
PWR1
SWITCH ON
12345678
IRRIGATION SYSTEM
CONTROLLER
24 VAC COM 1 2 34
ZONE
24 VAC
Valves
NC
NO
PWR2
COM
RG-11
PWR1
SWITCH ON
12345678
IRRIGATION SYSTEM
CONTROLLER
24 VAC COM 1234
ZONE
24 VAC
Valves
SENSOR
Typical Connection - Rain Sensor
Interrupts Valves
In this irrigation setup, the RG-11 interrupts
the flow of current to the zone valves when it
needs to inhibit watering. When the rain
amount hits the threshold, the relay opens the
normally closed (NC) connection. When the
rain has evaporated, the NC connection
closes again, and the irrigation cycle resumes
normal operation.
The RG-11 requires a power source and may
be powered from the transformer that powers
the irrigation controller
DIP Switch 7 is ON for all Irrigation Mode
applications.
Using Sensor Connection
If the irrigation controller is equipped with
a Sensor Connection, you may connect
the RG-11 directly to the sensor input.
The irrigation controller will interpret the
data from the RG-11 and properly inhibit
watering based on this data.
The RG-11 requires a power source and
may be powered from the transformer
that powers the irrigation controller.
DIP Switch 7 is ON for all Irrigation Mode
applications.

Specifications
Parameter Value
Input Voltage 9 – 30VDC or
9 – 26 VAC
50V surge
Reverse polarity protecte to 50V
Current Drain 15 mA nominal. (No outputs on, not
raining, no heater)
about 1.5 mA in micro-power sleep
mo e.
50 mA with output on.
55 mA - With heater on, 24V c
input.
Output Relay closure, Normally Open an
Normally Close contacts.
Max loa 1A, 24 VDC.
Operating
Temperature range
-40 C to +60C
DIP Switches
Set the DIP switches for the application accor ing to the
table below. DIP Switch settings below correspon to
software part number: 45-005-006 (SW 006)
OUT LED-- The LED in the center of the circuit boar turns
on when NO is on, as an ai to ebugging.
Condensation-- Generally, the RG-11 will sense
con ensation as if it were rainfall, but this sel om amounts
to a significant accumulation of water.
Ambient Light Interference-- The RG-11 is almost
completely immune to the effects of ambient light, an may
freely be mounte in irect sunlight.
Heater Notes-- A built-in low power (0.25W) heater exten s
operation of the evice to freezing (32 F or 0C). Note that
this is a very mo est amount of power; it will ten to rive
off a mo est amount of frost, but will not melt ice.
ode 4: Irrigation Control
Rain Gage output on means inhibit watering.
Switch
Behavior
7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1 0 X X 0 0 0 Typical Water Control. Inhibit watering for
up to 5 ays.
0 0 1 Water More
0 1 0 Water a lot more
1 0 0 Water Less
1 0 1 Water a lot less
0 X X X Inhibit irrigation uring a storm
1 Allow irrigation uring a storm
0 X X X X Inhibit irrigation uring freeze
1 Allow irrigation uring freeze
In the table above, 1 = Switch on, 0 = Switch off, X =
switch in either position.
The RG-11 may be set to provi e precise control of an
irrigation system. Typically, the installation will connect to
the COM an NC relay contacts to interrupt the valves when
watering shoul be inhibite . Note that the RG-11 also
requires 24 VAC (or other suitable supply.)
The nominal irrigation profile is set so that the groun
receives an inch of water per week. It will inhibit watering
upon the accumulation of 0.2 inches of water, an re-enable
the system after that water has evaporate . This can be as
short as less than a ay, or as long as six ays, epen ing
on rainfall. A itional DIP switch settings are provi e for
allowing more or less watering, as shown in the table.
Nominally (Switch 4 off), the RG-11 will inhibit watering
uring a storm, even if not much water has accumulate .
The reasoning is that if it is raining har now, the rainfall is
likely to eliver enough accumulation to justify inhibiting at
least the current cycle of watering. This prevents the “it's
pouring, but my sprinklers are still running” objection from
the customer, an the accompanying excessive runoff an
mu y groun . The feature may be efeate by turning
switch 4 on.
Normally, the RG-11 will inhibit irrigation if the temperature
rops below freezing, or nominally about 34 egrees. If
SW 5 is on, the RG-11 will allow irrigation below 34
egrees. Micro-power mo e is isable in irrigation control.

SAFETY, LI ITS OF RAIN GAGE LIABILITY, AND WARANTY
Only the rain sensor is covered-- absolutely no consequential damages
It is the responsibility of the systems integrator an
purchaser of the Rain Gage to insure a safe installation.
Any mechanical system, inclu ing one that incorporates a
Rain Gage, requires appropriate safety interlocks. Hy reon
Corporation (Hy reon) warrants only the actual cost of the
sensor, an only that it is free from efects in workmanship.
The Rain Gage is warrante to be free from efects for a
perio of one year from ate of purchase. Un er no
circumstances will Hy reon be liable for any consequential
amages ue to failure or any other mishap involving a Rain
Gage. Hy reon's liability in the event of a failure, or inability
to sense a con ition, is limite to the actual cost of the
particular sensor. Explicitly, if other objects are estroye ue
to water amage, or if any object is estroye because of a
false in ication of water, Hy reon is in no way whatsoever
liable for anything other than the cost of the Rain Gage, an
then only if the Rain Gage is shown to have some efect in
materials or workmanship. Limitations an imperfections of
the Rain Gage o not constitute a efect. Further, if some
valuable ata is not gathere because an erroneous
in ication of any sort ue to the Rain Gage, Hy reon is liable
only for the cost of the Rain Gage.
It is the responsibility of the system esigner an purchasers
of the Rain Gage to insure that a failure of the Rain Gage
will not cause consequential amages. If a failure in Rain
Gage woul cause isaster, we recommen against
eployment of the Rain Gage, or against the system in
which the Rain Gage is eploye . If a failure of a Rain
Gage woul cause great expense, Hy reon recommen s
re un ant Rain Gages, an even in that case o not
assume any liability for consequential amages. It is the
responsibility of the system esigner an purchasers of the
Rain Gage to be aware of performance limitations of the
evice. If a Rain Gage fails for any reason Hy reon will
not be responsible for the labor of servicing an /or
installing an /or removing the Rain Gage. Labor is NOT
COVERED. Hy reon recommen s that the system
esigner perform a Failure-Mo e Effects Analysis that
inclu es the possibility of Rain Gage failure. If a potential
purchaser of the Rain Gage oes not agree with these
terms, we ask that the potential purchaser not buy the
Rain Gage. Deployment of the Rain Gage implies
un erstan ing an agreeing to these limits of liability.
Apply engineering ju gment: Hy reon oes not claim the
RG-11 is a perfect rain sensor. It is what it is, an senses
what it senses.
CASE an COSMETIC POLICY
Some amount of yellowing or iscoloration of the case is
consi ere normal cosmetic aging of the evice, an
sensors so affect will not be replace un er warranty. Tiny
cracks or crazing within the lens is also consi ere
cosmetic, an units so affecte will be replace only if they
are eeme by Hy reon corporation to be consi ere to
be of a functional nature.
TROUBLESHOOTING
NOT WATERING ENOUGH
If the the RG-11 is inhibiting the watering cycle too much, meaning the soil is too ry before the irrigation system activates,
change the DIP switch setting appropriately. Water more-- DIP switch 1 ON-- an Water a lot more-- DIP Switch 2 ON.
WATERING TOO UCH
If the soil is too wet when the irrigation system activates, you can change the DIP switch settings to Water Less-- DIP
switch 3 ON-- an Water a lot less-- DIP switches 3 an 1 ON. These settings will lower the inhibit an enable threshol .
DIP SWITCH SETTINGS
For all irrigation mo es, DIP switch 7 must be on. Note that the table above contains 7 DIP switch settings, but the RG-11
has 8 DIP switches. DIP switch 8 is for Micro-power sleep mo e which is completely isable in irrigation mo e. Also note
the position of each numbere switch as compare to the switch setting table. For example, in the DIP switch settings
table above, switch 7 is locate on the left han si e of the table. Comparing that to the actual DIP switche on the RG-11
boar , DIP switch 7 is locate on the right si e. Be sure the number in the table correspon s to the actual number on the
RG-11 boar .
NO SIGNAL
Check that the LED is on when the output shoul switch between NO an NC. If the LED oes not light, check the power
to the RG-11. Test by pouring water over the sensor. If the LED turns on, check to make sure that the output is wire
proplerly. A common mistake is switching NO an NC or not using the COM an just wiring to the NO an NC.
INHIBIT DURING STOR
By efault, the RG-11 is set to the inhibit the irrigation system uring a storm. This will occur even if not enough water has
accumulate . The reasoning is that if it is raining har now, it is most likely that enough water will accumulate, an we o
not want to waste water. The "inhibit uring storm" feature may be efeate by turning on DIP switch 4.

1
Rain
Intensity
2
Rain
Barrel
(Simulated
in RG-11)
3
RG-11
Inhibit
Rain
4
Irrigation On
(Set by
Irrigation
Controller)
6:00 6:30
Inhibit Threshold Enable Threshold
SLOWER TIME SCALE
MONDAY
SAT SUNTUE WED THU FRI7:00 8:00 9:00
IRRIGATION CONTROL STRATEGY
- At 6:00 AM on Monday, the irrigation controller calls for water, shown in the section 4 on the above graph. The zone
valves dutifully open and the sprinkler heads start watering the lawn. The sky is dark with heavy rainclouds, but it has not
yet started raining.
- At 6:30, it starts raining and it quickly becomes a downpour. The RG-11 detects the downpour and inhibits irrigation,
shown in section 3 on the graph. The RG-11 interrupts the current to the zone valves, and the irrigation water stops. The
irrigation controller is still calling for more water, but this is ignored, shown by the dashed lines in section 4.
- The neighbors have a disk-style rain sensor, but this has not yet accumulated enough water to shut off their system,
and their sprinklers continue during the downpour.
- By about 6:45, the Rain Barrel accumulation, section 2, in the RG-11 reaches the inhibit threshold. That is, enough
water has accumulated that the RG-11 would inhibit the system even if the "inhibit during rainstorm" feature were
disabled.
- It continues to rain hard and steady, and the RG-11 continues to record the amount of water accumulated in the
simulated Rain Barrel.
- By 8:00, so much water has accumulated that the soil is saturated. The pouring rain that continues now runs off the
soil and into the storm sewers. The RG-11 stops recording additional accumulation in Rain Barrel.
- At about 9:15 the storm stops.
- Over the next several days, Tuesday through Friday, the RG-11 slowly decreases the amount of water recorded in the
Rain Barrel, shown in section 2 where the line slowly decreases. Each morning, the irrigation control calls for more water,
but this is properly inhibited by the RG-11. The lawn received more than enough water for this time period on Monday.
- On Friday afternoon a short summer shower rolls through. This is enough to add a bit more moisture to the soil,
which has not yet fully dried out. The RG-11 records this in Rain Barrel, extending the time it inhibits irrigation.
- In mid-afternoon on Saturday, the accumulated water in Rain Barrel has decreased to below the turn on threshold.
The lawn has used up most of the water stored in the soil. The RG-11 stops inhibiting irrigation.
- On Sunday morning, the irrigation controller calls for irrigation. By this time the soil is dry enough to need it, and
sprinkler heads deliver the proper amount of water.
TIME LINE EXPLANATION FOR GRAPH
FOR REFERENCE– You do not need to consult for installation.
Barrel Limit
Inhibit During Storm
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