Sprinkler System

[Desert_AIP]

I'm using the inexpensive Rainbird RSD-CEX.
It uses no power and has dry contact output.

Hook it a zone, declare a "Rain" flag.

When zone NOT READY
THEN Rain flag ON

When Rain Flag ON shut off sprinklers.
I also use it as a condition during the irrigation routines, IF Rain flag OFF, to prevent starting the sprinklers if it is raining.

As an aside, I have a status Icon on my 5.7e homepage that comes on if it's raining outside.
So this simple sensor has multiple uses.

 

[jharrell]

I'm installing a Rain8UPB Pro to an existing OmniPro II-based system as we're having irrigation put in. I've got a rain sensor as well, but having some difficulty figuring out 1) how to wire it into the system and 2) how to program it in PC Access as a zone. I'm very familiar with PC Access, so don't need help with the programming.

There is a 3.5mm input on the Rain8 for a sensor, but I see that others are wiring it into a relay board on the Omnipro. Also, I’ve seen examples where RAIN SENSOR is configured as a zone, thereby allowing HAI to disable irrigation when the rain sensor is closed (wet). How does the HAI system request status on this rain sensor input?

Sorry for all the questions - thanks!

Patrick

The rain sensor I have, which seems very common when looking at the big box stores is just a sponge sensor. It is cylindrical with sponges inside, when it gets wet, they expand and either open or close a mechanical switch. So the one I had just had two wires coming out it, which I wired into a input zone on the Omni. You should be able to use a multimeter and check the 3.5mm plug while putting water on it to make sure its just a simple mechanical switch, I know mine I can actually push a little button on top to test it manually without water.

My Omni program looks like this:

2. WHEN SprinklerPrg ON
THEN LOG Sprinkler Start
3. WHEN SprinklerPrg ON
THEN Sprnk Zone 1 ON FOR 1 HOUR
4. WHEN Sprnk Zone 1 OFF
AND IF SprinklerPrg ON
THEN Sprnk Zone 2 ON FOR 1 HOUR
5. WHEN Sprnk Zone 2 OFF
AND IF SprinklerPrg ON
THEN Sprnk Zone 3 ON FOR 1 HOUR
6. WHEN Sprnk Zone 3 OFF
AND IF SprinklerPrg ON
THEN Sprnk Zone 4 ON FOR 1 HOUR
7. WHEN Sprnk Zone 4 OFF
AND IF SprinklerPrg ON
THEN SprinklerPrg OFF
8. WHEN SprinklerPrg OFF
THEN LOG Sprinkler Stop
9. WHEN SprinklerPrg OFF
THEN Sprnk Zone 1 OFF
10. WHEN SprinklerPrg OFF
THEN Sprnk Zone 2 OFF
11. WHEN SprinklerPrg OFF
THEN Sprnk Zone 3 OFF
12. WHEN SprinklerPrg OFF
THEN Sprnk Zone 4 OFF
13. TIMED 4:00 AM ----F--
AND IF Rain Sensor SECURE
THEN SprinklerPrg ON

 

[babyrocket]

I've spent a fair amount of time tweaking my irrigation routine, and thought I would share it here. Let me know if there are any questions:

112. // /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

// IRRIGATION SYSTEM ROUTINES
//
// Each zone checks to see if rain sensor has flagged before starting. If one zone is
// canceled, then the remaining zones are canceled also.
//
// System logs event if sprinkler activates or is bypassed by rain sensor
//
// If it begins raining during irrigation, then it stops immediately
//
// Can also start any zone without triggering the others
​

113. // If irrigation is attempted but stopped by a triggered rain sensor, then

// log that event
//
​

114. TIMED 5:00 AM M-W-F-S

AND IF Sprinklers Bypassed OFF
AND IF Rain Sensor NOT READY
THEN LOG Sprinklers Bypassed by Rain Snsr
​

115. // If irrigation begins normally (sprinklers not bypassed and rain sensor either dry or

// bypassed), then log the event and start the system​

116. TIMED 5:00 AM M-W-F-S

AND IF Sprinklers Bypassed OFF
AND IF Rain Sensor SECURE
OR
AND IF Sprinklers Bypassed OFF
AND IF Rain Sensor Is Bypassed
​

THEN Sprinkler Program Running ON

THEN LOG Sprinkler System has Started
THEN SprinkZone1 ON FOR Duration for sprinkler Zone 1
​

117. WHEN SprinkZone1 OFF

THEN SPRINK 1 TMR ON FOR 1 SECOND​

118. WHEN SPRINK 1 TMR OFF

AND IF Rain Sensor SECURE
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON
OR
AND IF Rain Sensor Is Bypassed
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON
​

THEN SprinkZone2 ON FOR Duration for sprinkler Zone 2​

119. WHEN SprinkZone2 OFF

THEN SPRINK 2 TMR ON FOR 1 SECOND​

120. WHEN SPRINK 2 TMR OFF

AND IF Rain Sensor SECURE
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON
OR
AND IF Rain Sensor Is Bypassed
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON
​

THEN SprinkZone3 ON FOR Duration for sprinkler Zone 3​

121. WHEN SprinkZone3 OFF

THEN SPRINK 3 TMR ON FOR 1 SECOND​

122. WHEN SPRINK 3 TMR OFF

AND IF Rain Sensor SECURE
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON
OR
AND IF Rain Sensor Is Bypassed
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON
​

THEN SprinkZone4 ON FOR Duration for sprinkler Zone 4​

123. WHEN SprinkZone4 OFF

THEN SPRINK 4 TMR ON FOR 1 SECOND​

124. WHEN SPRINK 4 TMR OFF

AND IF Rain Sensor SECURE
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON
OR
AND IF Rain Sensor Is Bypassed
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON​

THEN SprinkZone5 ON FOR Duration for sprinkler Zone 5​

125. WHEN SprinkZone5 OFF

THEN SPRINK 5 TMR ON FOR 1 SECOND​

126. WHEN SPRINK 5 TMR OFF

AND IF Rain Sensor SECURE
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON
OR
AND IF Rain Sensor Is Bypassed
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON​

THEN SprinkZone6 ON FOR Duration for sprinkler Zone 6​

127. WHEN SprinkZone6 OFF

THEN SPRINK 6 TMR ON FOR 1 SECOND​

128. WHEN SPRINK 6 TMR OFF

AND IF Rain Sensor SECURE
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON
OR
AND IF Rain Sensor Is Bypassed
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON
​

THEN SprinkZone7 ON FOR Duration for sprinkler Zone 7​

129. WHEN SprinkZone7 OFF

THEN SPRINK 7 TMR ON FOR 1 SECOND
​

130. WHEN SPRINK 7 TMR OFF

AND IF Rain Sensor SECURE
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON
OR
AND IF Rain Sensor Is Bypassed
AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON​

THEN SprinkZone8 ON FOR Duration for sprinkler Zone 8​

131. WHEN SprinkZone8 OFF

THEN Sprinkler Program Running OFF​

132. // If sprinklers are stopped in mid-session by rain, then shut off all irrigation and log

// the event​

133. WHEN Rain Sensor NOT READY

AND IF Sprinkler Program Running ON​

THEN SprinkZone1 OFF
THEN SprinkZone2 OFF
THEN SprinkZone3 OFF
THEN SprinkZone4 OFF
THEN SprinkZone5 OFF
THEN SprinkZone6 OFF
THEN SprinkZone7 OFF
THEN SprinkZone8 OFF
THEN Sprinkler Program Running OFF
THEN LOG Sprinklers Stopped by Rain Sensr
​

134. // Reset flag in case sprinklers were manually stopped in mid-session with no rain sensor

// trigger​

135. TIMED 2:00 AM MTWTFSS

THEN Sprinkler Program Running OFF​

​