Irritrol MCPLUS Series User manual

MCPLUS SERIES 6
CONTROLLERS
MC-42 PLUS
irritrd
B
4, 6,8,12,18,
24,
30, 36and
42
stations
IrritroP

TABLE OF
CONTENTS
Tableof Features .......................................................................................
iii
Locationof Parts .......................................................................................
iv
Installing and Wiring the Controller...........................................................
I
Selecting theSite....................................................................................
1
Mounting the Controller.........................................................................
1
Connecting the Power..
...........................................................................2
Hooking Up theValves
...........................................................................
4
How theBackupSystem Works
.............................................................
.6
Installing andUsing Sensor Ports
...........................................................
.6
How the Electronic Circuit Breaker Works
.............................................
7
How To Set the Current Time and Day....................................................
.8
Setting the Time....................................................................................
.8
Setting theCurrent Day
........................................................................
10
How To Program the Controller for Watering.........................................
11
Developing a Watering
Plan..................................................................
11
Erasing Any PriorProgramss
...................................................................
13
Selecting the Days to Water
..................................................................
14
Setting the Watering Duration for Each Station....................................
16
Programming Cycle Start Times............................................................
17
Running the Programmed Watering Plan
..............................................
18
Operating the Controller Manually...........................................................
19
Manual On ............................................................................................
19
Manual Off...........................................................................................
.20
Activating a Watering Cycle for a Selected Program
............................
.2 1
Watering One Station for the Programmed Time.................................
.22
Rain Off............................................................................................... .23
Testing All Stations.............................................................................
.24
Displaying ExistingSettings
.....................................................................
.2 5
Displaying the Time and Day of the Week
............................................25
Watering Information
..........................................................................
.26
Using Advanced Features .........................................................................
31
Changing the Length of the Watering Calendar
..................................
.3 1
Using Water Budgeting
.........................................................................32
Programming a Delay Between Stations
...............................................
.34
Using Options........................................................................................... .35
Loop Watering ......................................................................................37
Setting Watering Time for All Stations Using One Entry.....................41
Troubleshooting .......................................................................................
42
Index ........................................................................................................ .44
Table of Contents

TABLE OF
FEATURES
Thank you for purchasing the IrriTrol MC/du.s Series Controller. Listed
below are some important features you should be aware of before you
begin programming. Details on how to implement these features are
described on the following pages.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Programmable watering calendar from 1 to 16 days for application
versatility
Rain off sensor hookup
Sensor start hookup in program 4 for water conservation systems
Non-volatile memory that retains programmed information
indefinitely
9-volt alkaline battery to ensure accurate time during power failures
Four independent programs that can run concurrently
Capability of operating up to 4 valves per station
Water
budgeting for simple, single-entry increase or decrease of
watering run time per program
Total watering time display for quick review
of scheduled watering
time per
program
True manual, semi-automatic and single station timed manual for
versatile operation
Incomplete program alert to prevent errors in programming
Station test for easy system testing of each station for 1 to
9 minutes each
Remote ready for upgrading to an IrriTrol remote control system
Program scrolling for information recall
Sclectahle single program option for seasonal programming
Selectable loop option for continuous cycling of program
Electronic circuit breaker that identifies and overrides had stations
Single entry to program all stations with the same watering duration
Rain off programmable
to 7 days
Start time stacking overlap protection within each program
These are just a few of the many features
of the MQlw Series
Controllers. Please review your manual before beginning programming.
Table of Features
111

iv
LOCATION
OF PARTS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Function Dial
For selecting programming and operating functions.
Calendar/Program Erase
Calendar for setting calendar length ( 1 to 16 days) and/or program
erase for erasing all programmed information.
Station Test
For running a valve test for all stations from 1 to 9 minutes.
Options
For selecting options, single program option and seconds
watering time option.
Rain Off
For turning off output to all stations manually or programming up
to 7
days off.
Manual
For true manual on and
off~operation.
Auto/Run
Programming off posistion for automatic operation.
Digital Display
For
viewing time and program information.
Program Positions One Through Four
For selecting program.
Twenty Position Keyboard
For programming data and operating controller.
LED Station Indicator Lights
For
viewing stations that are currently on.
Terminal Strip
MC-4,6,8 and 12 Plus
For hook-up of 24 volts, "GND", valve
wires, common, pump start
and sensors.
Battery Snap
For hook-up of 9V alkaline battery to keep time during power failures.
1 10V/24V Transformer
Main Bus Strip MC-18, 24,
30,36 and 42 Plus
For hook-up to quick disconnect terminal strip.
Quick Disconnect Terminal Strip MC-18, 24, 30, 36 and 42 Plus
For hook-up of 24 volts, "GND", valve wires, common, pump start
and sensors.
Location of Parts
8
-9
10
11
-15
-16
13
14
Location of Parts
V

INSTALLING & WIRING
THE CONTROLLER
This section includes instructions for installing the controller and
hooking up the electricity. To ensure safe operation, it is important to
follow the instructions carefully. The following topics are covered:
l Selecting the site
l Mounting the controller
l Connecting the power
l Hooking up the valves
-Testing the valve hook-ups
-If you have a pump
lHow the backup system works
lInstalling and using sensor ports
lHow the electronic circuit breaker works
g
CAUTION:To avoid injury to you or damage to the controller, you
MUST follow the sequence of installation steps outlined
in this manual.
SELECTING THE SITE
The controller comes in an outdoor, rain-resistant, rust-resistant and
dust-resistant box. The correct location is essential
to ensure safe
operation. Select a site for the controller that is:
1. Away from direct sprinkler spray.
2. Accessible to a
3-wire, grounded 120-volt AC, 60 Hz power supply.
g
CAUTION: DO NOT place controller where it is
exposed to temperatures exceeding 130°F.
MOUNTING THE CONTROLLER
WALL MOUNT: For wall mounting, install the controller vertically
on a flat, secure surface. Use the enclosed template to locate mounting
screw holes. Follow complete mounting instructions on template.
PEDESTAL: For free-standing installation on a pedestal, follow the
installation instructions in the pedestal box.
Installing and Wiring the Controller
1

2
3
- CONTINUED
- CONTINUED
CONNECTING THE POWER
The controller is a solid-state microcomputer that may be affected by
transient surges and electromagnetic interference.
Wherever possible,
the controller should be installed on its own dedicated circuit breaker.
El
CAUTION:
g
CAUTION:
CAUTION:
Be sure to follow all applicable local electrical wiring
codes.
DO NOT install the controller on the same line or
within 5 feet of a heavy inductive load, such as a pump,
motor, air conditioner, refrigerator, transformer, etc.
DO NOT turn on the power until all
valves are wired
(see “Hooking Up the Valves,” page 4).
1. Remove the lower panel by unfastening the quarter-turn screw on
the bottom center of
the panel and pulling out and down slightly.
2. Verify that the yellow and
red wires of the transformer are conncctd
to the 24 VAC input on the terminals of the controller (see fig. 1).
Connect the black and white wires of the 120 VAC, 60 Hz power
supply to the black and white wires of the transformer (see fig. 1 ).
Installing and Wiring the Controller
CAUTION:DO NOT wire 120 volts directly to the PC board
terminals; the transformer supplied with the controller
MUST be used.
3. Connect the green ground wire directly to the terminal
labeled “GND”
In areas where lightning is prevalent or the condition of the third wire
ground is questionable, a ground rod must be installed. Connect the
grounding rod to the controller’s case ground using a
#lO gauge or
heavier stranded copper wire.
The distance from the controller’s case to the earth ground should
be minimized.
Installing and Wiring the Controller

- CONTINUED
HOOKING UP THE VALVES
A maximum load of 30VA ( 1.24 amps) may he connected to
each station. A maximum total load of 43 VA (1.8 amps) may he
programmed to operate simultaneously.
1. Strip the solenoid wires approximately l/4 inch (do not bend
exposed end).
2. Following the wiring diagram in figure 1, insert straight hare wire
between the plates of the “sure grip” terminal. Connect one
solenoid wire to the station terminal and the other to common.
R
Tighten screw firmly.
CAUTION:Use a separate (dedicated) valve common wire for each
controller. DO NOT daisy-chain
controllers together
using the same common wire.
3. Before turning on the power, recheck all leads connected to the
terminal block for shorts.
TESTING THE VALVE HOOK-UPS
1. Make sure the valve common wire and all station wires
are connected.
2. Turn on power to the controller.
3. Turn dial to Station Test position.
4. To enter test time, key in a number from 1 min. to 9 min.
If no time is entered, 2 min. will be assumed.
5. Press the Manual On/Off key.
Each station in sequence will turn on for the number of minutes you
entered. A Fused Circuit test will occur
during the station test.
If a Fused Circuit condition exists on any station, the controller
will display “FUSE” alternately with the station number. “FUSE”
indicates a short on that station. See “How the Electronic Circuit
Breaker Works”, page 7.
- CONTINUED
IF YOU HAVE A PUMP
In cases where a pump is to he controlled by the master valve output,
DO NOT drive the pump directly from the controller. The master
station must he connected
to the coil of a 24 VAC relay, such as an
Essex #l84-20105-101Z (I ‘itrol p
Irr number I 100 1).
El
CAUTION:Connecting pump to controller without a 24 VAC
relay
will damage controller.
The pump latch relay should he set up by an electrician so that a switch
closure will activate the latch relay coil, turning on the pump. The
switch
contacts of the relay should he connected to control the latch
relay coil (see figure 2). The relay should he mounted at least 5 feet
from
the controller box, and the box MUST be grounded. Installation
must follow all local electrical wiring codes.
g
CAUTION:DO NOT
attempt to power the controller using
power from one phase of pump
power. This will
damage the controller.
VALVE MASTER
COMMON VALVE
PUMP -
POWER
4
Installing and Wiring the Controller Installing and Wiring the Controller
5

- CONTINUED
- CONTINUED
HOW THE BACKUP SYSTEM WORKS
The controller is equipped with non-volatile memory for retention
of programmed information. Once programming is complete, the
controller will retain your program in the event of a power failure.
There will be no need to reprogram following a power failure.
This controller is also equipped with a timekeeping circuit. The
controller will keep accurate time during a power failure for a period
of 30 days continuous via a 9-volt alkaline battery (not included).
INSTALLING &USING
SENSOR PORTS
The controller is equipped with two types of sensor hookups.
Rain Off Sensor Hook-up: Terminals labeled “Inhibit Sensor”
on the controller’s terminal block. When the sensor contacts open,
the controller will inhibit output to all stations (all programs are
affected). If no sensor is used, the “short” wire must be installed.
Start Sensor Hook-up: Terminals labeled “Start Sensor” on the
controller’s terminal block. The sensor must be a “normally open”
type of sensor. When the sensor contacts close, the controller will
start a Program 4 watering cycle.
This sensor hook-up enables you to activate watering using a sensor,
such as a moisture sensor. Sensor contacts must remain closed for
30 seconds before the cycle will start.
If the sensor remains closed after completion of the watering cycle,
another cycle will be initiated. If the sensor opens before
completion of the watering cycle, no new cycle will be initiated.
The cycle in progress, however, will continue watering until
completion.
To install a sensor:
1. Attach the sensor to the terminals of the controller’s terminal
block. Adjust the sensor according to manufacturer’s instructions.
HOW THE ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT
BREAKER WORKS
The controller is equipped with an electronic circuit breaker. If the
controller detects a short circuit on a station, the shorted station (valve)
will be turned off automatically. The display will then alternately flash
“FUSE” and the shorted station number or “0” for the master valve.
The controller will continue to automatically water the other stations
and the following watering cycles until the short is repaired.
Common conditions of the electronic circuit breaker include:
CONDITION:
Diagnosis:
Solution:
Diagnosis:
Solution:
CONDITION:
Diagnosis:
Solution:
Diagnosis:
Solution:
Diagnosis:
Solution:
CONDITION:
Diagnosis:
Solution:
“FUSE” and one or more station numbers
alternately flash
One or more stations are shorted.
Check station(s) for cause of shorted condition. Repair
valve(s) and/or wiring on station(s) and press clear button.
Too many valves are operating at the same time.
Check programs and stations including master valve for VA
output. Maximum total output is 43VA (1.8 amps). Reduce
amount of valves on at the same time to below maximum
output allowance.
“FUSE” displays without any station numbers
A transient surge has spiked the line.
Press CLEAR.
An overload or short has occurred while the controller is
being remotely activated by a remote control device such as
the RVC system.
Press CLEAR.
A short has
ocurred for too short of a time duration for the
controller to determine the station number.
Check wiring for broken insulation or other conditions
which may cause an intermittent short. Press CLEAR.
“FUSE” is alternately displayed with “0” and
none of the stations are operating automatically
The Master Valve is shorted. When this occurs all station
outputs will be suspended until the short is repaired.
Repair Master Valve, pump start relay and/or wiring and
press CLEAR.
Installing and Wiring the Controller Installing and Wiring the Controller
7

HOW TO SET THE
CURRENT TIME
& DAY
- CONTINUED
8
Before you can program the controller for watering, you must set the
current time and day of the week. This information is used
to control
the watering schedules. Once set, the time and day apply
to all pro-
grams.
To set the day and time, follow the steps below. To change the
day or time,
use the same steps.
IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE
If you make a mistake while programming, the controller displays an
error message. Press the Clear key; then try again.
SETTING THE TIME
1. Set the dial to any program (e.g., Program 1).
2. Using the number keys, key in the current time. You must enter
both the hours
and the minutes.
3. To indicate P.M., press the PM key. The controller will now display
an apostrophe (‘) before the time. For A.M., skip this step.
4. Press the Set Time key.
NOTE: Midnight is 12:00 A.M.; noon is 12:OO P.M.
EXAMPLE A:
PROGRAM
.
.
.’
To set the time to 10:25 A.M.
* *
set the dial to Program 1:
.
4.
. .
.
Then press:
LYLE
The controller displays:
EXAMPLE B: PROGRAM
.
.
.'
To set the time to 3:23 P.M.
’
set the dial to Program 1:
-
4
.
.
..
.
Then press:
How to Set the Current Time and Day How to Set the Current Time and
Day

- CONTINUED
SETTING THE CURRENT DAY
1. Make sure the dial is set to any program (e.g., Program 1).
2. Press the number key that corresponds to the current day of the
week, such as 3 for Tuesday.
3. Press the Set Today key.
EXAMPLE:
PROGRAM
To set the current Jay to
.
Tuesday, set the dial to Program 1: .
Then press:
HOW TO PROGRAM THE
CONTROLLER FOR WATERING
To set up a regular watering schedule, follow the steps below. This
section covers the following topics:
l Developing a watering plan
l Erasing any prior programs
lSelecting the clays to water
l Programming the cycle start
l Setting the watering duration for each station
DEVELOPING A WATERING PLAN
Four watering programs are available. Each program can be used for
separate watering requirements. For example, you might use one
program to water the lawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and another
program to water trees and shrubs once a week.
The controller is
pre-programmed with a 7-day calender. The calendar
can be changed to a different number
of days, such as a 14-day calendar
(see the section on
advanced features, page 3 1). The examples in this
section assume a
7-day calendar.
WHAT IS A WATERING CYCLE?
Each watering cycle waters all the stations in a program in sequence.
For example, in
the sample watering plan shown on page 12, program 1
has three watering cycles. Therefore, all six stations in the program are
watered three times each day, first starting at 2
A.M. then at 6 A.M., and
again at
5 P.M.
PLANNING THE WATERING CYCLES
Before you program a watering schedule, decide how to USC each
program. The chart on page 12 shows a sample watering plan. The
sample watering plan illustrates the following important concepts:
lNumber of watering cycles available
l Planning station placement
lPlanning a delay between valve openings
10
How to Set the Current Time and Day How to Program the Controller for Watering

- CONTINUED
- CONTINUED
SAMPLE WATERING PLAN
I
Planning a Delav Between Valve Openings
Program
1
2
3
4
Days
Every
M,Th
T,W,F
Every
Cycle
Start Times
2 A.M.
6 A.M.
5 P.M.
7:066 A.M.
7:000 A.M.
8:311 A.M.
11 A.M.
Stations
:
:
11
12
5
6
7
:
11
12
Water Time
Duration
10 min.
15 min.
35 min.
5 min.
50 min.
2 min.
2 hrs.
25 min.
5 min.
45 15 min. min.
50 min.
2 min.
Number of Watering Cycles Available
Programs 1, 2, and 3 can have up to 3 watering cycles each. Program 4
can have up to 2 cycles. For example, program 1 in the sample has three
watering cycles. The first starts at 2 A.M., the second at 6 A.M., the third
at 5
P.M. Therefore, each station in program 1 is activated three times
each day.
Overlap Protection
The start time stacking feature on this controller will provide start time
overlap protection in the event that an error in programming or an
increased water budgeting percent creates an overlap between cycle
start times. In the event that an overlap does occur, the controller
will automatically suspend the start time until the current watering
cycle finishes.
Planning Station Placement
Each station may be used in no more than 2 programs. For example,
stations 11 and 12 are watered in programs 1 and 4, but could not be
included in a third program.
If you plan to program a delay between valve openings, be sure to
include that delay time in your watering plan. In all programs, the delay
can be from 1 second to 4 minutes. (See the section on additional
features, page 3
1, for programming instructions.)
Planning Summarv
Max. Watering Cycles
Station Placement
Delay
=3. (except 2 in program or loop
operation in program 4)
= Each station in up to 2 programs
= 1 second to 4 minutes
ERASING ANY PRIOR PROGRAMS
This process erases all previously programmed information. However, it
does NOT erase the current time, current day of the week, the
programmed watering calendar, or selected options (see page 31).
To clear prior watering programs:
1. Turn the dial to the Calendar/Program Erase position.
2. Press the following key sequence: 1,3, 7,9.
3. Press the Enter key.
4. Return the program dial to desired program.
EXAMPLE:
.
.
To clear all programs, set the dial
’
to Calendar/Program Erase:
..
I
..
.
.
CALENDER
PROGRAM ERASE
Then press:
KKKV
12
How to Program the Controller for Watering How to Program the Controller for Watering
13

14
- CONTINUED
SELECTING THE DAYS TO WATER
Refer to your watering plan and follow the steps below to select
watering days. The examples assume a 7-day calendar.
1. Turn the dial to the program number you wish to enter
(e.g., Program 1).
2. Press the number corresponding to the day to water
(e.g., 2 for Monday).
3. Press the Day On key.
4. Repeat for all watering days for the selected program.
EXAMPLE:
PROGRAM
.
..
To set Program 2 to water on
l
.2
Mondays and Thursdays, turn
.
.
the dial to Program 2:
. .
.
Then press:
K @ t =
The controller displays “On”
and then the watering day number,
such as in the following example
for Monday:
How to Program the Controller for Watering
- CONTINUED
DELETING A PROGRAMMED DAY ON
If you make a mistake or want to delete a programmed day on,
do the following:
1. Turn the dial to the program with the day to be deleted.
2. Press the number corresponding to the day to delete
(e.g., 2 for Monday).
3. Press the Day Off key.
4. Repeat for all watering days to be deleted.
The controller displays “OF:” and the day number for
the deleted watering day:
How to Program the Controller for Watering
15

- CONTINUED
- CONTINUED
SETTING THE WATERING DURATION FOR
EACH STATION
Refer to your watering plan and follow the steps below to set the
watering duration for each station in a program. The watering durations
may be set for 1 minute to 24 hours.
1. Set the dial to the desired program.
2.
Key in the station number.
3.
Press the Water Time key.
4.
Use the number keys to key in the watering duration for the station
(e.g., 5 for 5 minutes).
5. Press Enter.
6.
Repeat steps 2 through 5 for each station in this program.
EXAMPLE:
PROGRAM
.
..
To set station 5 in Program 2 l
.2
to water for 2 hours, set the
dial to Program 2:
. .
. .
.
Then press:
EIRVV
The controller
displays:
NOTE: A flashing
"P1:P2" or "P3:P4" on the display indicates that
this station is already programmed to water in two other
programs. The numbers displayed are the programs that the
station currently resides in. (See “Planning Station Place-
ment,” page 12.)
DELETING A PROGRAMMED STATION
To delete a programmed station, enter "0" for water time.
PROGRAMMING CYCLE
START TIMES
Use this feature to set the time for a watering cycle to start. The
watering cycle will water all the stations in a program starting at the
time you set. Programs
1, 2, and 3 can be activated to water up to three
times a day, and program 4 two times a day. For each cycle, set the cycle
start as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Turn dial to the desired program.
Press the number key corresponding to the cycle number you are
programming (e.g. 1 for the first cycle).
Press the Cycle Start key.
Using the
number keys, key in the start time for the cycle. You
must enter both the hours and the minutes.
To indicate
P.M., press the PM key. For A.M., skip this step.
Press the Enter key.
Repeat steps 2 through 6 for each additional cycle start in
this program.
PROGRAM
EXAMPLE:
.
.
.’
To activate all valves in Program 1 l
4
.
twice each watering day at 2 A.M. and
..
5:15 P.M., turn the dial to Program 1:
. .
To set the start
time of
2:00 A.M.
for the first cycle,
V
swJ
press:
The controller displays the
start time for the first cycle.
16
How to Program the Controller for Watering How to Program the Controller for Watering
17

- CONTINUED
OPERATING THE
CONTROLLER MANUALLY
To set the start time of 5: 15 P.M. for the second cycle,
The controller displays the start
time for the second cycle
NOTE: The start time stacking feature on this controller will
provide
start time overlap protection in the event that an error in
programming or an increased water budgeting percent creates
an overlap between cycle start times. In the event that an
overlap does occur, the controller will automatically suspend
the start time until the current watering cycle finishes.
INCOMPLETE PROGRAM ALERT
To check that programming is complete, move the dial out of the
current program position. If one long beep sounds, program is
incomplete.
NOTE: This beep indicates that the program will NOT
run automatically.
RUNNING THE PROGRAMMED
WATERING PLAN
When you have finished programming, turn the dial to the Auto Run
position. This locks the keyboard, thus eliminating unintentional
program entries (watering program will also run if dial is in Program 1
position, but keyboard will not be locked).
With the dial in Auto Run position, all stations will water
as pro-
grammed, and the controller displays the current time.
Manual operation allows you
to perform a one-time watering function
without affecting the programmed watering plan. For example, you
might want to turn off sprinklers on a rainy day but have watering
,tion includes instructions for the
resume normally after that. This set
following manual operations:
Manual on
Manual off
Activating a watering cycle
Watering one station for the programmed time
Rain off
Testing all stations
MANUAL ON
Use this option to water one station for any amount of time regardless of
programming. The selected station will water until you turn it off.
NOTE:
NOTE:
For safety, a station turned on manually will shut off auto-
matically at midnight.
To alert the operator, the controller will sound two quick
beeps every 30 seconds while the station is manually on.
1. Set the dial to the Manual position.
2. Key in the station number (e.g., 5 for station 5).
3. Press the Manual On/Off key.
18
How to Program the Controller for Watering Operating the Controller Manually
19

l
20
- CONTINUED
- CONTINUED
EXAMPLE:
To water station 5 (until you
later turn it off), set the dial
to Manual position:
MANUAL. ’ ,
. .
.
\
.
..
.
Then press:
V
j!#=
THU
Station indicator LED light will come on for station 5.
ACTIVATING A WATERING CYCLE FOR A
SELECTED PROGRAM
Use this option to water all the stations in the program you select.
1. Turn the dial to the desired program.
2. Key in the first station you intend to turn on.
3. Press the Manual On/Off key.
All stations programmed after the selected starting station will turn on
automatically in sequence.
NOTE: The selected starting station must have programmed water
time to turn on. If it does not, the controller will select the
next programmed station to start watering.
EXAMPLE: .
PR,OGRAM
To water all stations in Program 1,
..
turn the dial to Program 1:
MANUAL OFF
Use this option to turn off any manual watering function.
To shut off a watering station:
1. Return the dial to the Auto Run position, or press the
Manual On/Off key.
m Press:
The controller will alternately
display the first station number,
and the remaining water
time for that station in
minutes and seconds:
Operating the Controller Manually Operating the Controller Manually
21

22
- CONTINUED
- CONTINUED
WATERING ONE STATION FOR
THE PROGRAMMED TIME
Use this feature to water one station for the programmed time. Only
the selected station will be watered.
1.
Turn dial to the program with the desired water station.
2. Key in the station number.
3. Press the Water Time key.
4.
Press the Manual On/Off key.
5.
Return the dial to the Auto Run position.
NOTE: A station without programmed water time
will NOT turn on.
EXAMPLE:
PROGRAM
.
’ lTo water station 6 in program 3
without activating the rest of the
l
.
watering sequence in program 3,
.
-
-3
set the dial to Program 3:
.
.
.
Then press:
K IiBI N!%Y
The controller displays the
station number,
then the remaining water
time for that station in
minutes and seconds:
AUTO RUN
.
.
Y
.
Return dial to
-
.
Auto Run position: .
.
..
.
Operating the Controller Manually
RAIN OFF
Use this feature to temporarily turn off watering such as when it is
raining. As long as this feature is on,
watering cycles cannot he acti-
vated automatically.
1.
Turn dial to Rain Off position.
Stations currently watering will
turn off after a 2-second delay.
To return controller to normal operation, turn dial to Auto Run
position.
EXAMPLE:
.
. .
To turn off all stations currently RAIN OFF. .
watering, turn dial to Rain Off position:
. .
. .
.
PROGRAMMABLE RAIN OFF
Use this feature to turn off watering cycles for a specific length of time,
from 1 to 7 days.
1.
Turn dial to Rain Off position.
2.
Press number of days to stop watering ( 1 to 7).
3. Press Enter.
4.
Return dial to Auto Run position.
In the Auto Run position, the display will indicate "OFF" and the
number of remaining days to he off.
To cancel programmable Rain Off
1.
Turn dial to Rain Off position.
2. Press 0.
3. Press Enter.
4.
Return dial to Auto Run position.
Operating the Controller Manually
23

24
- CONTINUED
TESTING ALL STATIONS
Use this feature to test all stations without affecting the program.
1. Turn dial to Station Test position.
2. To enter test time, key in a number from 1 minutes to 9 minutes.
If no time is entered, 2 minutes will be assumed.
3. Press the Manual On/Off key.
Each station in sequence will turn on for the number of minutes you
entered. A Fused Circuit test will occur during the station test. If a
Fused Circuit condition exists on any station, the controller will display
“Fuse” alternately with the station number.“Fuse” indicates a short on
that station.
EXAMPLE:
.
.
.
To test all stations for 5 min. l
.
each, turn dial to
’ Station Test position:
4
.
STATION TEST l . l
To turn on, press:
V
TtitJ
The controller alternately
flashes the station number:
and the remaining test
time in minutes and
seconds:
NOTE: Any currently active automatic watering cycles will be
suspended while the Station Test is in operation.
Upon completion or
termination of the Station Test,
automatic operation will resume.
Operating the Controller Manually
DISPLAYING EXISTING
SETTINGS
Use the features in this section to display current settings without
affecting the program. For example, you can check the current time or
check the watering time for a station. The following topics are covered:
lDisplaying the time and day of the week
l Displaying watering information
- Watering days for a program
- Total water time for a program
- Water time duration for a station
- Cycle start and end
- Current water budget percent
DISPLAYING THE TIME
AND DAY OF THE WEEK
To display the time and day of week without affecting settings:
1. Turn the dial to any program (e.g., Program 1).
2. Press the Set Time key to display the current time. (The current
time is also displayed when the dial is in the Auto Run position.)
3. Press the Set Today key to display the day of the week. The
controller displays the number corresponding to the current day of
the week, e.g., 2 for Monday.
NOTE: To change the time or day of week, see “How To Set the
Current Time and Day,” pages
8- 10.
EXAMPLE: .
PR,OGRAM
. .’
To check if the current day is correctly .
entered as Monday, set the dial to any
program, such as Program 1:
.
4
.
.
. .
.
Press:
<**a
p
For Monday, the
controller displays:
Displaying Existing Settings 25

26
Displaying Existing Settings
- CONTINUED
WATERING INFORMATION
This section describes how to display watering information. Current
settings are not affected by displaying them.
DISPLAYING WATERING DAYS FOR A PROGRAM
To display watering days for a program without affecting the program:
1. Turn the dial to the desired program.
2. Press the Day On key.
The controller displays, in turn, “On:” and the number correspond-
ing to each day programmed for watering. Likewise, pressing the
Day Off key will display the days that are not programmed to water.
EXAMPLE:
PROGRAM
.
To check watering days for program 3,
assuming Tuesday, Wednesday, and
Friday were programmed, turn the dial
to Program 3:
.
m Press:
The controller displays:
Then:
Then:
- CONTINUED
DISPLAYING ALL STATIONS PROGRAMMED TO
WATER AND THEIR WATER TIMES
The controller will display each programmed station in sequence with
its watering time.
DISPLAYING TOTAL WATER TIME
FOR A PROGRAM
To display total watering time for a program without affecting the
program:
1. Turn the dial to the desired program.
2. Press the Clear key.
3. Press the Water Time key.
NOTE: If the controller displays a flashing number, the
Total Watering Time is greater than 100 hours.
EXAMPLE:
To display the total water time
(for Program 1 in the sample watering
*
plan, page 12), turn the dial to Program 1:
.
NOTE: Total water time takes into account
the water budget and station delays.
The controller displays:
Displaying Existing Settings
.
PR,OGRAM
27

28
- CONTINUED
DISPLAYING WATER TIME DURATION
FOR A STATION
To display watering time for a station without affecting the program:
1. Turn the dial to the desired program.
2. Key in the station number (e.g., 2 for station 2).
3. Press the Water Time key.
NOTE: Time displayed will be programmed time and will not be
recalculated by water budget percentage.
EXAMPLE:
To display the watering time
PROGRAM
.
for station 2 in Program 1
’
.’
(programmed to water for l
15 minutes with water
.
budgeting 50%), turn the
dial to Program 1:
Q
.
.
. .
.
m Press:
The controller displays
the programmed
watering time:
Displaying Existing Settings
- CONTINUED
DISPLAYING CYCLE START & END
To display the cycle start and end for a program without affecting the
program:
1. Turn the dial to the desired program.
2. Key in the number of the desired cycle start.
3. Press the Cycle Start key.
4. To display the cycle end time, press the Cycle Start key again.
NOTE: If cycle end time is more than 24 hours after the cycle start,
the end time display will flash.
NOTE: Cycle end time will take into account the water budget
percentage and any programmed delays.
EXAMPLE:
To display the cycle start and end for
.
the second cycle in Program 1, turn
the dial to Program 1:
.
m Press: E q
.PR,%RAM
.
.’
4
.
.
. .
The controller displays the cycle start time:
m Press: ”
Iii
The controller displays the cycle end time:
If loop watering is activated (Program 4 only,
see page 37), the controller displays:
Displaying Existing Settings
.
29

.
30
- CONTINUED
DISPLAYING CURRENT WATER
BUDGETING PERCENT
To display the current water budgeting percent without affecting the
program:
1. Turn dial to desired program.
2. Press the %/PM key.
Display will show water budgeting’s current value.
NOTE: 100% is normal when water budgeting is not in use.
EXAMPLE:
PROGRAM
.
1
Assume that water budgeting had previously
been set at
50% (see “Water Budgeting,”
.
.
page 32). To display this setting without
.
.
affecting the program, turn the dial to Program 1:
NOTE: For percentages other
than 100, in
position, a period will he displayed
the display.
Displaying Existing Settings
.
the respective program
in the lower right side of
USING ADVANCED
FEATURES
The MC$tcs controller offers several advanced features for sophisticated
watering applications. These include:
lChanging the length of the watering calendar
l Using water budgeting
lProgramming a delay between stations
l Options
- Running a single program
- Changing watering time to seconds and minutes in Program 4
l Loop watering
lSetting watering time for all stations using one entry
CHANGING THE LENGTH OF THE
WATERING CALENDAR
To give you greater flexibility, the watering calendar may be changed
from its factory setting of 7 days. The calendar may
be from 1 to 16
days. This change affects all programs. This feature can be used to aid
in meeting watering restrictions or for ease in programming.
For simplicity of programming, you may want to shorten the watering
calendar. A watering calendar of 2 days, for instance, would water each
program every other day. Keep in mind that a 2-day watering calendar
uses only two days, i.e., day 1 and day 2.
A longer watering calendar may also be programmed. For example, to
water every 2 weeks, use a 14-day calendar.
To change the watering calendar:
1. Turn the dial to the Calendar/Program Erase position. The current
calendar length is displayed. For example,
PE:7 indicates a 7-day
weekly calendar.
2. Key in the desired calendar length (from 1 to 16).
3. Press the Enter key.
NOTE: The number entered for Set Today, Days On, and Days
Off
cannot be greater than the programmed calendar length.
Using Advanced Features
31