Nelson EZ Pro Jr Installation guide

EZ PRO™Jr. Instructions
Zone Chart
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Rev 5-03

EZ Pro™Jr.
Installation and Programming Guide
For EZ ProTM Jr. models:
8304 8374
8306 8376
8309 8379
8312 8382

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THANK YOU for purchasing the EZ Pro™Jr. 8300 Series electronic
irrigation controller. The EZ Pro™Jr. 8300 Series is so “EZ”, you’ll
probably be able to install and program this feature-packed controller
without instructions. However, before installing and programming the
controller, we recommend you read these instructions carefully to take
full advantage of all the EZ Pro™Jr. 8300 Series has to offer.
If you have questions, problems or comments on your new EZ Pro™Jr.
8300 Series, please call our Technical Services Department toll-free at
1-888-NELSON8, or by visiting us on our website at LRNelson.com.
Leaders in Turf Irrigation Since 1911
NOTE: In our efforts to continually improve and update our products, features
and specifications in this manual may change without notice.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Features 5
Installation 6-10
Terminal Strip 9
Connecting Master Valve or Pump-Start Relay 9
Connecting Rain/Moisture Sensor 9
Connecting Battery & Starting Controller 10
Programming the EZ Pro™Jr. 11-21
Programming Overview 11
Front Panel Layout 12-13
Set Time of Day 14
Set Today's Date 14
Set Current Day 14
Select Zones and Set Their Run Times 14
Set Start Times 15
Set % Water Budget 15-16
Set % Water Budget by Month 16
Scheduling 16-17
Set Water Days Scheduling Option 17
Set Odd/Even Day Scheduling Option 18
Set Interval Scheduling Option 18
Set Event Day Scheduling Option 19
Program Review 19
Set Master Valve or Pump 20
Set Rain Delay 20
Turning the Controller Off 21
Advanced Features 22-23
Run a Zone Manually 22
Run a Program Cycle Manually 23
Technical Data/Specifications 24-26
Troubleshooting/Service 27
FCC Rules 28

FEATURES
• Nelson exclusive SELECT&ADJUST™programming
• Lithium battery back-up stores programs without AC or Battery power (AA)
• Programmable delay between zones
• Three independent programs
• Three start times per program (9 total starts)
• Stacking start times
• Three scheduling options to suit the needs of plant material or to comply
with watering restrictions (days of the week, 1-30 day interval, true
odd/even)
• Event days programming per program
• Rain Sensor bypass option
• Leap year compatible-automatically includes Feb 29th every four years
• Water budget option reduces or increases watering 0-200 percent
• Advanced water budget to set water budget for each month of the year
• Two test cycles (Manual with ManualAdvance™feature and Cycle)
• Programmable run times from one minute to 1 hour 59 minutes
• Poly-fuse self resetting circuit protection
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INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
The EZ Pro™Jr. 8300 Series can be mounted indoors or outdoors. Find a
location near a 120V wiring source (230/240V for 8374, 8376, 8379, and 8382
models). Install the EZ Pro™Jr. near eye level if possible. Use the supplied
template to mark and pre-drill pilot holes in the wall. Insert screws through the
holes in the case and screw each into the corresponding pilot hole in the wall.
Wiring the Transformer
120 VAC in United States, Canada and Mexico; 230 VAC in Europe, and
240 VAC in Australia and South Africa
NOTE: Refer to and follow local codes if different from these instructions.
CAUTION: Disconnect 120V (230/240V for 8374, 8376, 8379, and 8382 models) power
source before wiring transformer. Complete all wiring and installation
before connecting the transformer to power source. This will avoid
accidental shorting which could damage the controller.
Power supply cables and cords used for connections are to be of ordinary
duty or greater. Low voltage output cables should be enclosed in conduit affixed
to the controller with a suitable adapter. Remove the two screws and lift out the
transformer cover to provide access to the internal transformer, bring 120V (or
230/240 for 8374, 8376, 8379, and 8382 models) wires up through 1/2" conduit
hole in the bottom of the case. (For field connection, AC wires must have an
insulation rated at 75° C minimum). Conduit should be secured to the case
(follow local codes).
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INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
For models 8304, 8306, 8309, 8312 (see figure 1)
Remove the transformer cover by loosening the two screws. Attach AC wires
to transformer wires using wire nuts. Also, ensure earth ground wire is
attached to green with yellow stripe ground wire. Please check local codes for
the grounding requirements in your area. Bundle wire within cable tie loop and
tighten cable tie to prevent loose wiring from touching secondary circuits. The
transformer is now wired. Replace the transformer cover and the two screws.
DO NOT turn on power yet.
NOTE: Failure to ground unit properly may cause severe damage to the
controller and/or personal property and will void warranty.
Figure 1
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INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
For models 8354, 8356, 8359, 8362 (see figure 2)
Remove the transformer cover by loosening the two screws. Route AC wires
to connector provided. Cut and trim wires to install in chassis mount
connector. Tighten the screws. (For Australia an extra clamp has been
provided.) Observe proper polarity of wires as you install them (ie. L1, L2 and
ground). The transformer is now wired. Replace the transformer cover and the
two screws. DO NOT turn on power yet.
NOTE: Failure to ground unit properly may cause severe damage to the
controller and/or personal property and will void warranty.
Figure 2
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INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Terminal Strip
All zone, pump and sensor wire connections made inside the EZ Pro™Jr. utilize
screw type connectors that require a small screwdriver. The terminal strips in
the controller accept 12 AWG (2.1mm) wire or smaller.
Connecting Master Valve or Pump-Start Relay
The EZ Pro™Jr. is equipped with a shared circuit to operate either a pump-
start relay or a master valve. Connect one wire from the pump-start relay to
COM (common) on terminal strip, the other to PMP/MV (pump/master valve)
on the terminal strip. Refer to the pump-start relay manufacturer’s instructions
for specific installation details.
Connecting Rain/Moisture Sensor
The EZ Pro™Jr. is equipped to operate a sensor with normally-closed leads.
To install a sensor, remove the factory-installed jumper wire from the sensor
connector on the terminal strip and insert the sensor wires. Refer to the
sensor manufacturer’s instructions for specific installation details.
(See figure 2)
If a sensor has suspended watering, the sensor indicator segment will
appear on the LCD. The symbol will go off when the sensor has dried out. The
EZ Pro™Jr. will resume operation based on the selected program.
NOTE: Manual operations will ignore the rain sensor
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INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Connecting the batteries and starting the controller
Remove the terminal panel under the LCD of the unit by pushing up on the tab.
Insert two new AA Alkaline (LR6 in Europe) batteries into the battery clips in the
pocket directly above the terminal strip. The AA batteries enable the EZ Pro™Jr.
to be programmed without AC power and maintain the programs and real time
clock in the event of a power outage. If the batteries are not installed, and the
Lithium battery has not been activated, the controller will lose real time and
programs in the event of a power outage. The batteries should be replaced every
five years, or when low battery symbol appears.
CAUTION: Use AA alkaline batteries only. NiCad batteries may leak or
explode causing personal injury or property damage.
Lithium Battery Backup
The EZ Pro™Jr. controllers come with a lithium battery back-up, so you will
not lose program settings or time during a power failure - even if there is no
battery installed. There will be no visual indication that this backup is working,
or when this battery is going dead. Please keep fresh Alkaline AA batteries in
the unit for the main backup battery. To activate the Lithium Battery backup,
remove the tab marked “PULL” located under the AA battery compartment.
Attach the battery/wiring cover, being sure not to damage wires. If wires are
stiff, you may find it helpful to pre-bend them. Turn on the power source.
You’re now ready to start programming!
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PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS
Programming Overview
The EZ Pro™Jr. can be programmed under AC power or powered from the two
AA alkaline batteries. Before programming the EZ Pro™Jr., it may be helpful to
become familiar with some general programming guidelines:
• If a segment(s) on the LCD is flashing, it means that it can be changed by
the user.
• When using keys, hold the button three seconds to start a fast scroll.
• Be sure the appropriate program letter is displayed when you are
programming; program changes are specific to the program letter
displayed on the LCD.
• There is no “ENTER” key. Key-presses and dial settings are stored
automatically for you.
• If you make a programming change while a program is running, the
program terminates immediately. The new program starts at the next start
time scheduled.
• When not running, the controller displays the current time and the current day.
• During manual operations, there is a 5-second delay before the operation
begins. During this time, you can change your settings. Each time you
make a change, the delay resets to 5 seconds.
• MANUAL and CYCLE procedures only operate with the Program dial set in
the AUTO position.
• After a test procedure runs, the controller reverts back to the AUTO
procedure and runs the next program scheduled.
• The test procedures ignore the sensor connection; this allows you to
water or run your program even if the sensor has suspended operation.
• To clear all programs and start over, press and hold SELECT ‘–’ and
ADJUST ‘–’ for three seconds
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PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS
Front Panel Layout
Looking at the front panel (see figure 3), you see a large LCD, 4 rubber
buttons, one large rotary dial, and two small rotary dials. The rubber buttons
are marked SELECT and ADJUST and are the core of Nelson’s exclusive
SELECT&ADJUST™programming. The keys are identified with ‘+’ or ‘–’ for
increasing or decreasing the segment you’re working on.
SELECT&ADJUST™works on the principle that you first SELECT what you
want to set, and ADJUST the variables of what you selected. For example, if
you want a run time of 10 minutes on zone 5, you would use the SELECT keys
to select zone 5 and, once on zone 5, you would use the ADJUST keys to set
the run time to 10 minutes.
There are instances when only SELECT or only ADJUST are required. They will
be explained in this guide where appropriate.
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PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS
FIGURE 3
NOTE: The MODE dial must be in the PROGRAM position.
NOTE: Every time the ‘+’ or ‘–’ key is pressed, the display will increase or
decrease one unit. Hold the ‘+’ or ‘–’ key for three seconds to
initiate a fast scroll.
NOTE: Please refer to the Technical Data section for an explanation of the
LCD segments.
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PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS - PROGRAM MODE
Set Time of Day
Turn the large dial to the TIME position. Press SELECT to select between
hours, minutes, and 12/24 hour mode. Press ADJUST to scroll to the correct
time or adjust between 12/24 mode. ‘A.M.’ will not appear on the LCD when in
A.M. mode; ‘P.M.’ will appear on the LCD when in P.M. mode.
NOTE: In 24 hour mode, calendar is in D/M/Y format instead of M/D/Y
Set Today’s Date and Current Day of the Week
Turn the large dial to the DATE position. Press SELECT keys to select between
day, month and year positions. Press ADJUST keys to scroll to the current
date. The correct day of the week will automatically show on LCD screen when
today’s date is adjusted. The EZ Pro™Jr. controller is leap year compliant.
Select Zones and Set Their Run Times
A zone run time determines the duration a zone will run. Turn the large dial to the
ZONE/RUN TIME position. Turn PROGRAM dial to choose program A, B or C.
Press SELECT to choose the zone you want for the selected program (A, B, or C).
With the zone number displayed on the LCD, press ADJUST to adjust the RUN
TIME for that zone. RUN TIMES can be set from 1 minute to 1 hour 59 minutes.
Continue selecting zones and adjusting their run times until you have all the
zones you want in the selected program.
After the last zone and before the first zone, a RUN TIME summation is provided.
This is useful for determining the total run time for a program. The LCD displays
the letters “ALL” and a total RUN TIME is displayed. The time displayed is a
summation of all the RUN TIMES for the selected program (100% water budget).
(ex. A program has a run time of 5 minutes on zone 1; 12 minutes on zone 2; and
6 minutes on zone 4. The display at this position displays ALL and a run time of
23 minutes).
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PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS - PROGRAM MODE
Set Start Times
A START TIME is the time of day a program will start running. The EZ Pro™Jr.
allows three start times per program.
Turn the large dial to the START TIMES position. Press SELECT to select the
start time you want to set (1, 2, or 3). Press ADJUST to set the time of day the
program will start. Repeat as needed.
Start Time Stacking
The EZ Pro™Jr. will stack start times if your program watering times overlap
another start time. The additional start time will begin when the first cycle finishes.
Set % Water Budget
% WATER BUDGET changes the duration of run times in a program by the
percentage entered 0 - 200% (i.e., a 10 minute run time at 50% water budget
will run 5 minutes). This feature is useful when changes in weather occur. If it
is unusually dry, you may want to extend your run time for each zone in a
program. With % Water Budget, you can change one number, and all run
times in the program are adjusted. If 24 hours of run time is exceeded 24 hr
will flash on the LCD.
Turn the large dial to the % WATER BUDGET position. A % symbol will appear
on the LCD to let you know you are working on the % Water Budget amount.
Press ADJUST to choose the desired percentage amount.
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PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS - PROGRAM MODE
If % WATER BUDGET is set for 110% or greater, the EZ Pro™Jr. will split the
run time in half to reduce runoff. Half of the calculated run time will operate
for each zone in that program, followed by the second half of the run time for
each zone.
NOTE: % WATER BUDGET is changeable by program. If you have
programming in A, B, and C, you must enter three water budget
values if you want every program to be changed.
Set Water Budget by Month (Advanced feature)
The EZ Pro™Jr. allows you to set % WATER BUDGET by month. This feature
allows you to customize your program by month over the year to allow for hot
dry months and cooler wetter months.
Turn the large dial to the % WATER BUDGET position. Press both SELECT ‘+’
and SELECT ‘–’ together. Use the SELECT to select months 1-12. Use the
ADJUST to choose the desired percentage amount from 0-200%. If 0% is
chosen, no watering will take place in that month.
Set the Watering Schedule (A quick note on scheduling and the EZ Pro™ Jr.…)
The EZ Pro™Jr. controller has three scheduling options plus the option for
Event Days Programming:
•WATER DAYS, or daily, lets you choose which days of the week you want
to water (i.e., Monday, Wednesday, Friday only).
•ODD/EVEN tells the controller to water on either the odd or even days of
the month (i.e., the controller will water on the 31st and the 1st when an
ODD schedule is chosen).
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PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS - PROGRAM MODE
•INTERVAL waters every X number of days (from 1 to 30 days) (i.e., water
every 3 days, waters every 10 days, etc.). A value of 1 in an interval
schedule means to water every day. When using the interval option, you
have the flexibility to tell the controller what day to start the interval
program on (up to 30 days out).
•EVENT DAYS allows each program to block any specific day(s) from
watering, regardless of the scheduling option (odd/even, interval, or daily).
The LCD will display the currently scheduled program (default is all WATER
DAYS.) The SELECT keys will scroll the LCD display through each of the
scheduling positions WATER DAYS, ODD, EVEN, INTERVAL, and INTERVAL
START DATE. Be sure the PROGRAM dial is set on the program you want to
change (A, B, or C) and that you want to change the current schedule. A
scheduling option is chosen after you press a button, either SELECT or
ADJUST. The old schedule is replaced with the new one. It’s easy to program
a schedule with the following procedures.
Set Water Days Scheduling Option
Turn the large dial to the SCHEDULE position. Use the SELECT till the raindrops
appear above the days of the week. Press the ADJUST ‘+’ button to select that
day for watering or press ADJUST ‘–’ for non-watering days. A flashing indicator
appears over the day you’re about to set. Raindrops appear over selected days to
water. The indicator automatically moves one day to the right after an ADJUST ‘+’
or ‘–’ key press. Continue selecting or deselecting the days you want the
controller to water until you have your 7-day calendar set.
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PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS - PROGRAM MODE
NOTE: Programming a WATER DAYS schedule deletes any other schedule
for the selected program.
Set Odd/Even Day Scheduling Option
Turn the large dial to the SCHEDULE position. The last scheduling option
chosen for the current program appears on the LCD. To set either an ODD or
an EVEN schedule press the SELECT button till an arrow appears on the LCD
next to the appropriate schedule (ODD or EVEN). A DATE must be set for
odd/even watering). The SELECT buttons act as toggle keys and will toggle
between odd or even.
NOTE: Programming an ODD/EVEN schedule deletes any other schedule for
the selected program.
Set Interval Scheduling Option
Turn the large dial to the SCHEDULE position. The last scheduling option
chosen for the current program appears on the LCD. Press SELECT to scroll to
the interval days position. An arrow will appear on the LCD next to INT
(Interval). Use the ADJUST to choose interval days between watering (1-30).
The date displayed is day one of the interval schedule. (Today’s date if one has
been set). To change day 1 date use SELECT to go to the interval start date
position. As needed, change the date for day one of the interval schedule with
ADJUST (can only be set up to 30 days out).
NOTE: Programming an INTERVAL schedule deletes any other schedule for
the selected program.
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PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS - PROGRAM MODE
Set Event Days Programming (Optional)
Turn the large dial to the SCHEDULE position. The last scheduling option
chosen for the current program appears on the LCD. Press both the SELECT ‘+’
and SELECT ‘–’ together. A flashing indicator will appear next to Event Days on
the LCD. Use the ADJUST ‘+’ button to select that day for watering or press
ADJUST ‘–’ for non watering days. A flashing indicator appears over the day
you’re about to set. Raindrops appear over selected days to water. The
indicator automatically moves one day to the right after an ADJUST ‘+’ or ‘–’
key press. Continue selecting or deselecting the days you want the controller to
water until you have your 7 day calender set.
NOTE: Programming an EVENT DAYS schedule does NOT delete any other
schedule for the selected program.
Repeat the above procedures for each program (A, B, or C), as you require.
That’s it! Your EZ Pro™Jr. is now programmed. Turn the MODE dial to the
AUTO position to run the program you entered.
PROGRAM REVIEW
To review the current program, turn the MODE dial to the PROGRAM position
and turn the large dial to the setting you wish to review (i.e., turn the large dial
to TIME to review the time set for the controller). When you need to view
different zones or run times (1, 2, 3), use the SELECT buttons only.
NOTE: Since you are in the program mode, the potential exists to change
the program accidentally.
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PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS - PROGRAM MODE
Set Master Valve or Pump Delay
You can delay the time between when the Master Valve/Pump turns on and the
time the zones start. Turn the large dial to Zone Run Times. Press both the
SELECT ‘+’ and SELECT ‘–’ keys together. Use the ADJUST ‘+’ or ‘–’ key to
adjust the time delay. The LCD will show the time of the delay (Adjustable
between 1 second – 30 minutes) with “del” underneath. To return to setting
the Zone Run Times, press both the SELECT ‘+’ and SELECT ‘–’ keys together.
NOTE: The Master Valve/Pump Delay will be the same for all 3 programs
(A, B, and C).
PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS - AUTO MODE
Set the Rain Sensor Bypass
The EZ Pro™Jr. is equipped with a Rain Sensor Bypass. This will cause the
controller to water even if the rain sensor is tripped. To activate bypass the
controller must be in AUTO Mode. While in Auto Mode press both the SELECT
‘+’ and SELECT ‘–’ keys together. The Sensor Suspend symbol will flash. To
deactivate Press both the SELECT ‘+’ and SELECT ‘–’ keys together, while in
AUTO Mode. This will cause the Sensor symbol to stop flashing and show the
current rain sensor status.
NOTE: Rain Sensor Bypass will remain on until it is deactivated.
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