HydroPoint WeaterTRAK ET plus User manual

9 & 12 station models

Table of Contents
Table of Contents
I
Introduction ..................................................................1
Welcome to the World of WeatherTRAK®....................................1
Chapter 1: Getting to Know Your
WeatherTRAK ET plus ................................................5
Overview of the Controller ............................................................6
Selecting and Adjusting the Settings ............................................9
Chapter 2: Setting Up Your
WeatherTRAK ET plus ..............................................13
Setting the Irrigation Start Time ..................................................14
Setting the Water Window............................................................14
Setting the High ET Start..............................................................15
Setting the Clock ............................................................................16
Setting the Time Zone ..................................................................16
Setting Auto Daylight Savings ....................................................17
Setting the Maximum Active Stations ........................................17
Viewing the Serial Number..........................................................18
Viewing the Phase Integrity ........................................................18
Locking on a Phase........................................................................18
Displaying the Microzone ............................................................19
Displaying the WT Version ..........................................................20
Setting the Stacking Option..........................................................20
Setting the Water District Number..............................................21
Setting the Radio Antenna............................................................22
Activating WeatherTRAK ET plus ................................................23
Chapter 3: Programming Your
WeatherTRAK ET plus ..............................................25
Setting Schedules ..........................................................................26
Introduction to Programming......................................................30
Fully Automated Program ..........................................................31
User Program With ET..................................................................42
User Program No ET ....................................................................49
Copying ..........................................................................................49
Reviewing ......................................................................................55
Adjusting ........................................................................................57

Chapter 4: Using Special Features ..........................63
Viewing Run ..................................................................................64
Using Rain Pause ..........................................................................65
Watering Manually ........................................................................67
Understanding Alerts....................................................................71
Using ET..........................................................................................73
Using Display Adjust ....................................................................74
Using Help......................................................................................75
Setting to Off ..................................................................................77
Activating WeatherTRAK Rain Service ........................................78
Setting the Zip Code......................................................................79
Setting the ET Zone ......................................................................79
Displaying the Group Number....................................................80
Setting the Maximum Backup ET ..............................................80
Appendix A: Quick Reference Guide ..................83
Getting Started ..............................................................................83
Schedules ........................................................................................83
Programs ........................................................................................84
Copy ................................................................................................85
Review ............................................................................................85
Adjust (Auto Mode Only) ............................................................86
Manual ............................................................................................86
Rain Pause ......................................................................................87
Appendix B: Troubleshooting Guide....................89
Alert Troubleshooting ..................................................................89
The Controller Programs Correctly But the Stations
are Not Irrigating ..........................................................................90
Is Your Landscape Too Wet? ........................................................90
Is Your Landscape Too Dry? ........................................................90
Feature Adjust is Not Working....................................................91
Controller Just Installed, Activated and Still Beeping ............91
What the Beeps Mean....................................................................91
The Display is Blank......................................................................92
The Display is Frozen....................................................................92
ET Display has a “P” After It ......................................................92
Week 1 in the Review Screen is Much Different ......................93
The Display in REVIEW Shows “99+” Minutes ......................93
Table of ContentsII

Table of Contents III
Appendix C: Site Data Gathering..........................95
Introduction ....................................................................................95
The Processes..................................................................................96
Appendix D: FCC Information ............................101
Index ..........................................................................103

Introduction
I
Introduction
Welcome to the World of WeatherTRAK®
What is WeatherTRAK?
WeatherTRAK ET plus is the leading smart, weather-based irrigation
solution. Numerous, multiyear studies by water districts and
municipalities have proven that WeatherTRAK optimizes landscape
health while it also saves time, money and water.
Your WeatherTRAK ET plus controller includes the built-in irrigation
Scheduling Engine™ that calculates an accurate irrigation schedule
based on the specific needs of your landscape. Your customized
schedule is automatically adjusted as the controller receives
evapotranspiration (ET) updates via the WeatherTRAK ET
Everywhere™ service. HydroPoint Customer Service completes the
solution, providing expert assistance at every step of the way. Help is
just a phone call away at: [phone].
This Owner’s Manual will help you maximize the benefits of your
new WeatherTRAK ET plus controller.
Why Should I Care About Accurate Irrigation?
Research has proven that over-watering is not only costly, but it also
threatens the life of your landscape.
Over-watering leads to poor plant health and disease. It also dramatically
increases water bills, depletes precious water supplies and creates
runoff pollution, endangering local watershed areas and beaches.
In many cases, landscapes become conditioned to inaccurate irrigation.
Often times the plants have adjusted to inconsistent watering and have
developed survival mechanisms such as shallow rooting.
Shallow roots
from frequent
overwatering
Deeper roots
from correct
watering
1
Introduction

Over time, the WeatherTRAK ET plus solution reconditions your
landscape to a natural balance, leading to healthier plants and
greater efficiency in the way they use and absorb water.
How Does it Work?
First, the WeatherTRAK ET plus controller automatically calculates a
program that matches your landscape’s specific needs. Next,
WeatherTRAK ET Everywhere service collects and analyzes the weather
conditions in your area, and automatically broadcasts local weather
data directly to your controller, seven days a week. This
revolutionary technology ensures the most accurate, cost-effective
irrigation ever devised.
WeatherTRAK ET Everywhere service and ET plus controller
What is the WeatherTRAK ET Solution?
WeatherTRAK ET plus offers three key solutions to your irrigation
needs:
1. WeatherTRAK ET plus Scheduling Engine. You simply enter basic
information about your landscape into WeatherTRAK ET plus and
the controller automatically calculates a scientifically based,
customized schedule for you.
2. WeatherTRAK ET Everywhere service. HydroPoint obtains
weather station data from a host of public and private partners
including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), cities, states, universities, water districts and other
organizations that own and manage weather station networks or
individual weather stations.
Introduction2

HydroPoint collects, analyzes and validates weather data
gathered from thousands of weather stations. HydroPoint
utilizes these weather stations to provide input parameters for
our local evapotranspiration (ET)* calculations.
ET Everywhere service provides accurate ET down to one square
kilometer, automatically adjusting the water flow with changes in
your local weather conditions. ET Everywhere service is centrally
managed at the HydroPoint Data Center.
3. HydroPoint Customer Service. HydroPoint offers the irrigation
industry’s most professional and personalized customer support.
HydroPoint is here to answer any questions you have: from
understanding how to install WeatherTRAK ET plus to questions
about horticulture, water conservation and proper plant
maintenance.
If you need help, just call HydroPoint Data Systems at [phone] or
look HydroPoint Data Systems up on the Web at www.hydropoint.com.
Go to the support page.
How Do I Maintain My Landscape?
Although WeatherTRAK ET plus eliminates most adjustments, it relies
on a good irrigation system.
Inspect your irrigation system by checking for leaks and broken
sprinkler heads at least four times per irrigation season.
What You Can Expect
Once your WeatherTRAK ET plus controller is installed, it will likely
need to be “tuned” as your landscape gets reconditioned. It will take
time and a phased-in approach to develop an optimal water schedule.
However, with WeatherTRAK ET plus, you will begin to see dramatic
results in water savings and plant health within a few short weeks.
* ET is a scientific formula that determines the amount of water lost from
a plant and its soil due to transpiration and evaporation caused by local
weather conditions.
Introduction 3

Getting to Know Your WeatherTRAK ET plus
Chapter 1: Getting to Know Your
WeatherTRAK ET plus
In this chapter you will learn about:
• Overview of the Controller and
• Selecting and Adjusting the Settings.
Note: Before using your controller
1. Make sure to inspect your existing irrigation system for any leaks
or broken pipes. The efficiency of your new controller depends
on the condition of your system. By having an efficient system,
you will gain the most from using WeatherTRAK ET plus.
2. Install your new controller. HydroPoint recommends that you
have WeatherTRAK ET plus installed and programmed by an
authorized WeatherTRAK ACE contractor. For more information,
call HydroPoint at: [phone].
HydroPoint has provided a mounting template and separate poster
with step-by-step instructions for installing WeatherTRAK ET plus.
Chapter 1
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