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
1
5

Getting to Know Your WeatherTRAK ET plus6
Overview of the Controller
The main controls on WeatherTRAK ET plus are:
• a Function Selector knob (1) for selecting functions (5),
• an Upper Line knob (2) and
• a Lower Line knob (3).
You will also see a Copy button (4) and an information display (6).
1. Function Selector
Turn this knob left or right to select items to view. (For example,
RUN, SETUP and PROGRAM.)
2
3
4
1
5
6

Getting to Know Your WeatherTRAK ET plus 7
2. Upper Line Knob
Turn this knob left or right to select items on a list that appear on
the upper line of the display.
3. Lower Line Knob
Turn this knob left or right to change the items on the list that
you have selected. These will appear in the second line of the display.
4. Copy
Use this button to copy information that has been set for one
station to another station.
5. Function Selector Positions
Run
Set the controller to this position for day-to-day operation. You
will see a display that shows:
• the time and date,
• which valves are on (manually or automatic) and
• whether the controller is in RAIN PAUSE or if the rain
sensor is active
Setup
This position lets you adjust the time, date and time zone.
Schedule
Use this position to set the days your irrigation system can
operate.
Program
This position lets you customize your landscape-specific
parameters by setting various “user modes.” These user modes
include items such as:
• Fully Automated,
• User Program with ET,
• User Program No ET and
• Off.
Copy
This feature allows you to:
• Copy one station’s settings to another station,
• Copy one station’s settings to all other stations or
• Restore default values.

Review
This setting displays each station’s:
• Irrigation runtime,
• Number of cycles,
• Soak times,
• Adjustment factor expressed as a percentage and
• Operating days.
Adjust
When you set a station to “Fully Automated”, this feature
adjusts station runtimes by adjusting the percentage ET.
When in “Fully Automated” mode, you can adjust in increments
of 5% (in a range of -50% to +25%).
Rain Pause
This feature lets you shut down the controller for a specific
number of days (in a range of 1 to 14 days).
Off
This setting stops all irrigation. The controller will still receive
daily ET updates and the schedule will be recalculated.
Display Adjust
This feature lets you adjust the contrast of the display for better
viewing.
Help
Select HELP to see the toll-free phone number to call for
information about your WeatherTRAK ET plus controller. The
HELP feature also displays important activation and
troubleshooting information about your controller.
Alerts
This setting provides a list of alerts that you will receive about
your controller. You will be alerted if you attempt to make a
setting that could harm your plants, and in the event of an
electrical or communication malfunction.
Getting to Know Your WeatherTRAK ET plus8

Getting to Know Your WeatherTRAK ET plus 9
ET
This setting displays:
• The last ET value received along with the time and date it
was received,
• The weekly ET value, which is an accumulation of the ET
values sent over the last seven days and
• An optional feature that allows you to set custom plant and
turf types and associated water requirements.
Manual
This feature lets you manually operate one, multiple, or all
stations for a specific period of time, in increments of 1 minute,
from 1 to 99 minutes.
6. Information Display
This three-line display shows the status of your controller and
the adjustments that you make to it.
Selecting and Adjusting the Settings
You can select and adjust the controller’s settings in three simple
steps.
1. Turn the Function Selector knob to one of the following settings.
Going clockwise they are:
• Run,
• Setup,
• Schedule,
• Program,
• Copy,
• Review,
• Adjust,
• Rain Pause,
• Off,
• Display Adjust,
• Help,
• Alerts,
• ET and
• Manual.
You will see the display change as you turn the knob.

2. Turn the Upper Line knob to the left or right to scroll through
items on the list.
For example, if you choose SETUP with the Function Selector,
you can turn the Upper Line knob left or right to scroll through
the entire list of setup features.
Note: As you scroll through a list, many lists will loop through
the last item to the first item. This avoids the need to retrace your
previous steps to go to items in the current list.
3. Turn the Lower Line knob to the left or right to change the items
on the list that you have selected. For example, if you select “Set
Clock” on the upper line with the Upper Line knob, you actually
change the clock settings on the lower line with the Lower Line
knob.
These changes appear in the second lower line of the display.
Note: The latest setting is automatically saved. There is no need
to press any special “save” key.
Getting to Know Your WeatherTRAK ET plus10

Setting Up Your WeatherTRAK ET plus
Chapter 2: Setting Up Your
WeatherTRAK ET plus
Now that you have installed your WeatherTRAK ET plus controller
and are familiar with the way to make changes to the settings, it’s
time to set up the controller.
This chapter explains:
• Setting the Irrigation Start Time,
• Setting the Water Window,
• Setting the High ET Start,
• Setting the Clock,
• Setting the Time Zone,
• Setting Auto Daylight Savings,
• Setting the Maximum Active Stations,
• Viewing the Serial Number,
• Viewing the Phase Integrity,
• Locking on a Phase,
• Displaying the Microzone,
• Displaying the WT Version,
• Setting the Stacking Option,
• Setting the Water District Number,
• Setting the Radio Antenna and
• Activating WeatherTRAK ET plus.
After you are finished with the basic set-up and have completed the
Installation and Program Settings worksheet, please call HydroPoint
Customer Service to activate your WeatherTRAK ET plus.
To start, turn the Function Selector knob to SETUP.
Chapter 2
2
13

Setting the Irrigation Start Time
With WeatherTRAK ET plus, once you set a start time, the rest of the
irrigation calculations are done automatically.
To set the irrigation start time:
1. Turn the Upper Line knob until you see:
2. Turn the Lower Line knob to set the hour (a.m. or p.m.) you
would like irrigation to begin.
3. Turn the Upper Line knob to the right once more to select the
start time minutes.
4. Use the Lower Line knob to change the start time minutes.
Note: The default start time is 12:01 a.m. You cannot set the time
to 12:00 a.m.
Setting the Water Window
The “Water Window” setting allows you to create a window of time
that irrigation is allowed to operate. The calculated program may be
shorter or longer than the window. If it is longer than the window, it
will not complete. Any incomplete runtimes will be carried over to
the next irrigation day.
To create a water window, the end time must be at least six hours
from the start time to allow for effective watering.
To set the water window:
1. Turn the Upper Line knob until you see:
SET WATER WINDOW (HOUR)
23:00 hrs (End 11:01pm)
SET IRRIG START (HOUR)
12:01am
Setting Up Your WeatherTRAK ET plus14

The lower line of the display shows the default setting of 23:00
hours.
2. Turn the Lower Line knob to set the number of hours.
3. Turn the Upper Line knob to the right once more to select the
number of minutes.
4. Turn the Lower Line knob to set the water window minutes
(00 to :59).
Note: The minimum window you can set is 6 hours.
Setting the High ET Start
With WeatherTRAK ET plus, you set a high ET start time for when the
controller needs to water more than once per day to adjust for
extreme weather conditions.
During periods of high ET, WeatherTRAK ET plus may water every
day of the week using a single start time. If more water is needed
within a given day (typically for turf), WeatherTRAK ET plus will
irrigate a second cycle long enough to replenish the required ET.
To do this:
1. Turn the Upper Line knob until you see:
2. Turn the Lower Line knob to set the high ET start hour (1 to 9).
The lower line of the display shows the default setting of 1 p.m.
3. Turn the Upper Line knob to the right once more to select the
high ET start minutes.
4. Use the Lower Line knob to change the high ET start minutes (00
to :59).
SET HIGH ET START (HOUR)
01:00pm
Setting Up Your WeatherTRAK ET plus 15

Setting the Clock
To set the clock:
1. Turn the Upper Line knob until you see:
2. Turn the Lower Line knob to set the year.
3. Turn the Upper Line knob to the right once more to select the
month.
4. Turn the Lower Line knob to change the month.
Continue using the Upper and Lower Line knobs to set the day, hour
and minutes.
Setting the Time Zone
WeatherTRAK ET plus receives a regular time broadcast, which is
based on Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
The controller then automatically adjusts this time based on the local
time zone and Daylight Savings Time (if used).
To set the time zone:
Turn the Lower Line knob to select your time zone. The choices are:
• Atlantic,
• Eastern,
• Central,
• Mountain,
• Pacific (Default Setting),
• Alaska and
• Hawaii.
SET TIME ZONE
acific
SET CLOCK (YEAR)
Sep 21 2005
Setting Up Your WeatherTRAK ET plus16