Rain Bird ESP-LX Plus Series Guide

ESP-LX Plus Site Satellite Controller Addendum
Installation, Connection and Settings
120 VAC, 60 Hz Models
ESPLX16STE
ESPLX20STE
ESPLX24STE
ESPLX16STM
ESPLX20STM
ESPLX24STM
230 VAC, 50 Hz Models
IESPLX16ST
IESPLX20ST
IESPLX24ST
IESPLX16SM
IESPLX20SM
IESPLX24SM
240 VAC, 50 Hz Models
AESPLX16ST
AESPLX20ST
AESPLX24ST
AESPLX16SM
AESPLX20SM
AESPLX24SM

Before You Begin:
Please refer to your ESP-LX PLUS Installation,
Programming, & Operation guide for answers to questions
regarding installation and connection (valve wires, etc) of
an ESP-LX PLUS Controller.
NOTE: When Setting the Time and Date on
startup of the ESP-LX PLUS SITE Controller,
the ESP-LX PLUS SITE defaults will be MON
12:00 26 MAY 03. Dates earlier than this can
not be set in this controller. ESP-LX PLUS
Controllers (per the manual) default to SUN
12:00 1 JAN 95.
Installation instructions in this addendum assume conver-
sion of an existing ESP-LX PLUS Controller to an ESP-LX
PLUS SITE Controller using the ESP-LX PLUS SITE
Module Kit. If purchase of a new ESP-LX PLUS SITE
Controller was made, instructions specific to the Module
Kit (transformer replacement, etc) may be ignored.
Warnings:
Important: The ESP-LX PLUS SITE Controller is
designed to operate up to 4 valve stations
plus one Master Valve, simultaneously. It is
necessary that only one Rain Bird valve sole-
noid be connected to each valve station in the
controller.
Important: Before installing the Site Satellite
Maxicom Interface Site Board (MISB) cabinet,
make sure that the area around you is free
from dirt and dust and that your hands and
arms are clean. This will avoid contamination
of the controller’s internal parts.
Warning! Don’t let water or other liquids come
in contact with any part inside the controller
cabinet.
Caution: This controller contains a Lithium bat-
tery. Danger of explosion if battery is incorrect-
ly replaced. Replace only with the same or
equivalent type recommended by the manu-
facturer. Dispose of used battery according to
the manufacturer’s instructions

Overview of the Maxicom Interface
Site Board (MISB)
To convert your ESP-LX PLUS stand-alone controller into
an ESP-LX PLUS SITE Satellite controller, you must install
the Maxicom Interface Site Board Cabinet. Once installed,
the MISB allows your ESP-LX PLUS controller to function
as either an ESP-LX PLUS SITE controller in conjunction
with the Maxicom2® Irrigation System, or as a stand-alone
unit.
ESP-LX Plus Site Satellite Controller Addendum 3

INSTALLATION
Select Location
Follow these Guidelines to select a location for the
Maxicom Interface Site Board (MISB) Cabinet.
Note: The MISB Cabinet is the same cabinet as
used for the ESP-LX PLUS Controller. Please
refer to your ESP-LX PLUS Installation,
Programming, & Operation guide for detailed
description of the mounting of the cabinet.
The MISB Cabinet requires a data and power cable con-
necting it to the ESP-LX PLUS Controller. This cable
includes 36" (91,4 cm) length designed to be outside the
two cabinets. Allow enough length for vertical passage
through electrical conduit prior to determining horizontal
length available.
It is recommended that you place the MISB cabinet not
more than 15" (38,1 cm) horizontally from the ESP-LX
PLUS controller cabinet. Allow at least 91⁄2" (24,2 cm) of
horizontal clearance between the two cabinets, so the
hinged cabinet door can swing fully open to the left.
Ensure at least 63⁄4" (17,2 cm) of clearance above the cab-
inet door so the hinge pin can be removed to service the
controller.
ESP-LX Plus Site Satellite Controller Addendum4

ESP-LX Plus Site Satellite Controller Addendum 5
ESP-LX Plus
Controller Cabinet MISB Cabinet
Primary Power
Valve
Wires
Phone Cable/
Sensor Wires
MISB Data and Power Cables
Minimum 9 1/2" (24,2 cm)
Maximum 15" (38,1 cm)
Recommended:
6" (15,2 cm)
Minimum:
6 3/4"
(17,2 cm)
Clearance

Cabinet Installation
Mount the MISB Cabinet as described on pages 50 and
51 of the ESP-LX PLUS Installation, Programming, &
Operation guide.
Transformer Replacement
Remove the LX PLUS Door and Face Panel as described
on pages 48 and 49 of the ESP-LX PLUS Installation,
Programming, & Operation guide.
WARNING: To prevent electrical shock, make
sure all supply power is OFF before replacing
the transformer.
Remove the existing power
transformer
You must replace the existing power transformer in the
ESP-LX PLUS controller with the new power transformer
included with the Module Kit. First, you will remove the
existing transformer:
• Disconnect the transformer from the ESP-LX PLUS ter-
minal board.
• With the door and face panel removed, locate the high-
voltage compartment in the lower left corner of the
controller cabinet.
• Remove the screw on the right edge of the compart-
ment cover, then swing the cover open to expose the
transformer’s primary input wires.
• Disconnect the transformer’s primary input wires.
• Locate the nut and washer that secure the existing
transformer.
• Use a hammer and screwdriver to tap on the nut to
loosen it. Once loose, remove the nut and washer from
the power transformer’s nipple. Retain the nut and
washer.
• Push the power transformer’s nipple into the cabinet
until it clears the hole. Lift the power transformer out of
the controller cabinet.
ESP-LX Plus Site Satellite Controller Addendum6

Installing the new transformer
Now you are ready to install the new power transformer.
Place the new power transformer into the same position
as the old transformer and slide the transformer’s nipple
through the hole at the top of the high-voltage compart-
ment.
Thread the washer and the nut on to the new power trans-
former’s nipple. Finger-tighten the nut. Final-tighten the
nut by lightly tapping a screwdriver placed against the
nut.
Connections to the Main Power Source
The three main power input wires for the standard 120-
volt, 60 Hz/ AC transformer are black, white, and green.
The international version 230-volt, 50 Hz wires are brown,
blue, and green and yellow.
To connect the power input wires to the main power
source,
• If you have the standard 120-volt, 60 Hz model, use
wire nuts to connect the black wire to the power source
hot wire, the white wire to the common wire, and the
green wire to the ground wire.
OR
• If you have a 230-volt or 240-volt, 50 Hz model, use
wire nuts to connect the brown wire to the power
source hot wire, and the blue to the power source com-
mon wire. Connect the green and yellow wire to the
ground wire.
• Close the high voltage compartment
Reconnecting the power
Reconnect the controller to the power source.
• Connect the transformer’s three wires (two oranges and
one green) cable to the terminal board
Note: If you have a 240 VAC, 50 Hz model,
your transformer will have only two orange
wires for connection to the terminal board.
There will be no green ground wire.
ESP-LX Plus Site Satellite Controller Addendum 7

INSTALLING THE MISB DATA AND
POWER CABLE
The ESP-LX PLUS cabinet has five knockouts for routing
field wires. Three are located on the underside of the cab-
inet and two are located on the back
• The underside of the cabinet has a knockout for a PVC
male adapter sized 3⁄4" (1,9 cm) on the right hand side
of the controller. This is the hole to be used for routing
of the MISB Data and Power Cables from the LX-Plus
Controller. Conduit is recommended between the two
cabinets.
• Run the MISB data (end without the ferrite bead) and
power cables between the two cabinets. There should
be 36” (91.4 cm) of cable available, external to the two
cabinets. Recommended conduit run is 6” (15,2 cm)
vertical under each cabinet. Horizontal distance is
based on cabinet mounting - recommended minimum
distance between cabinets is 91⁄2” (24,1 cm).
In the MISB Cabinet:
• The bottom (center) of the MISB Cabinet has a knock-
out for a PVC male adapter sized 1” (2,5 cm) surround-
ed by a knockout for a 11⁄4” (3,2 cm) adapter. The 1”
(2,5 cm) knockout is what is to be used for routing the
MISB data and power cables into the MISB Cabinet. If
using conduit, you will need a 1⁄2” (1,9 cm) to 1” (2,5
cm) conduit adapter to upsize the conduit to fit the
knockout. Note: the right-hand 3⁄4" (1,9 cm) knockout
will be used for sensor and phone cables.
• Plug the three-wire (black, white, and green) power
cable into the J4 connector on the bottom edge of the
MISB, to the left of the sensor ports. Note: If you have a
240 VAC, 50 Hz controller your power cable will only
have two-wires (black and white).
• Connect the six-wire cable to the J1 connector on the
MISB.
ESP-LX Plus Site Satellite Controller Addendum8

ESP-LX Plus Site Satellite Controller Addendum 9

Grounding Connections
The MISB has built-in electrical surge protection. For the
system to work, the MISB's earth ground terminal (E1)
must be connected to a ground rod that is driven into the
earth.
Important: Use a #10 (6 mm) or #8 (10 mm)
bare wire to connect the controller to the
ground rod or grounding grid.
To connect the ground wire,
1. Feed the ground wire through the large hole at the
bottom of the cabinet.
2. Place the ground wire into the copper earth ground
terminal. Tighten the screw to secure the wire.
In the LX PLUS Controller Cabinet:
• Install the ESP-LX Plus SITE front panel on the LX PLUS
controller. Connect the ribbon cable and two-wire har-
ness from the face panel to the controller’s circuit
board as shown on page 48 of the ESP-LX PLUS
Installation, Programming, & Operation guide.
• Insert the battery into the battery holder on the back of
the faceplate and attach the recharging clip to the
battery.
• Route the six-wire data cable (end with ferrite bead)
through the cable guides on the back of the face panel
to the Remote/Comm connection port.
• Plug the six-wire cable (ferrite bead close to the con-
nector) into the Remote/Comm connector.
ESP-LX Plus Site Satellite Controller Addendum10