Hunter ET User Manual

ET System

Evapotranspiration Sensor and
Module for Hunter Controllers
with SmartPort®

Owner’s Manual and Programming Instructions

TABLE OF CONTENTS .............................................................................................................................

Introduction ...........................................................................1

ET System Components .........................................................3

System Overview and ET System Operation ..........................3

Installing the ET Sensor .........................................................4

Additional Tools and Materials ........................................4

Choose the Location .......................................................4

ET Sensor Wiring ............................................................5

Prevailing Wind Compensation .......................................5

Metal Fence Pole .............................................................6

Wooden Post ..................................................................6

Wall or Eave ....................................................................6

Installing the ET Module ........................................................7

ET Module Wiring ...........................................................7

SRC or SRC Plus Controller Connection .........................8

Pro-C Controller Connection ...........................................8

ICC Controller Connection ..............................................8

Remote Control Connection ............................................9

ACC Controller Connection .............................................9

Test ...............................................................................11

Maintaining the ET Sensor ...................................................11

Programming the ET Module ...............................................12

Setup Overview .............................................................12

Global % Setting ...........................................................13

Initial Soil Deficit ...........................................................13

International Users – Metric Setting .............................13

Controller Type .............................................................13

Prepare the Controller ...................................................14

Set Time/Date ...............................................................15

Set Daylight Savings .....................................................15

Plant Type .....................................................................15

Maturity ........................................................................16

Type ..............................................................................16

Variety...........................................................................16

Site Info ........................................................................18

Slope ............................................................................18

Soil ...............................................................................18

Sun ...............................................................................19

Sprinkler Type ...............................................................19

Precip ...........................................................................19

Water Days ...................................................................20

Daily Start Time ............................................................21

WiltGard™ .....................................................................22

Rain Setting ..................................................................22

ET Setup .......................................................................23

Automatic .....................................................................24

Watering History ...........................................................25

View Sensor Date ..........................................................26

Reset ............................................................................26

Troubleshooting ...................................................................27

Specifications .......................................................................29

ET System Compatibility List ...............................................29

Dimensions ..........................................................................29

FCC Notice .............................................................Back Cover

INTrOduCTION .......................................................................................................................................

The Hunter ET System allows irrigation programs to be created automatically, based on local climate conditions. These programs are then loaded
into a compatible irrigation controller’s Program A (except ACC controllers, see page 14) and run automatically, on water days and at start times
set by the system operator. Compatible controllers are Hunter Models SRC/SRC

ET System uses sensors to determine the local “evapotranspiration” (ET) rate of turf and plants. This is a formula which calculates how much wa
ter the plants have lost, or consumed, due to local atmospheric conditions. Each ET System can be customized by station (or “zone”) for specific
plant, soil, and sprinkler types.

The result is a new, water-efficient irrigation program every water day, based on local weather conditions.

Once installed, the ET-controller zones are programmed from the ET Module, rather than the controller itself. The ET Module will display the new
program data for the climate-based irrigation.

The ET System allows manual station starts, and will also permit connection of an ICR or SRR remote control receiver.

This product is intended for turf and landscaping applications only, not intended for agricultural or scientific use.

Plus, Pro-C, ICC, and ACC with SmartPort® technology.

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C.

A.

D.

B.

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ET SySTEm COmpONENTS ...................................................................................................................

ET System has two major components, and one optional accessory. All
ET System components are low voltage (24 VAC or less).

A. ET Sensor

Sensor platform wired to the ET Module, which senses local

conditions. For external mounting up to 100 ft/33m from the Mod
ule. Pole adapters included (requires other hardware for various
mounting options).

B. ET Module

Electronic control and user interface for the ET System.

C. ET Wind (Optional)

Optional anemometer which senses wind speed. Provides more

sensitive ET measurement, especially in arid climates.

D. ET/ACC Adapter (Included)

­ For connection with ACC series controllers. The adapter is not

required for use with Hunter ICC, Pro-C, and SRC family

controllers.

SySTEm OvErvIEw ANd ET SySTEm OpErATION .........................................................................

The ET System can be simply and easily installed with any Hunter
SmartPort®-equipped irrigation controller. The System consists of the
ET Sensor, installed in or near an area typical of the irrigated plants,
and the ET Module inter face box, installed next to the irrigation con
troller. The ET Sensor measures solar radiation, air temperature, and
relative humidity, and calculates the daily Evapotranspiration factor
(ET) for the irrigation zones. This represents the amount of water lost
by the plants to local climatic conditions, which needs to be replaced
by irrigation. The optional ET Wind sensor will add evapotranspiration
loss due to wind, along with automatic wind shutdown capability.

The ET Sensor also includes a Rain Gauge, which measures rainfall
in either hundredths of an inch, or in millimeters. Rainfall will stop
automatic irrigation which may be in progress, and a percentage of
the rainfall itself will be added to the soil and subtracted automatically
from the automatic irrigation, to prevent waste.

The ET Module receives the data from the ET Sensor, and applies it
to the individual zones of irrigation. The ET Module has settings to

customize each zone’s plant, soil, and sprinkler types, so that ET data
can be applied intelligently for each unique irrigation requirement. The
ET Module is plugged into the controller’s SmartPort and adjusts ir

rigation run times to only replace the amount of water the plants have

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lost, at a rate at which they can absorb it. ET Module works by rewrit
ing Program “A” of the local controller on a daily basis except the ACC
controller (where it works independently of any programs).

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How ET System Decides to Water: Using the local ET Sensor readings
and the ET Module’s database of station information, ET System pre
dicts the Management Allowable Depletion of water (MAD) available
to each plant type (ideally, a MAD of 30 to 50% is recommended for a
healthy landscape).

Each day, ET System looks at the current depletion level, ET rate, plant
type (crop coefficient and root zone), and whether the next day is an
allowable watering day. Then the system performs a “look ahead” on
the allowable watering days, to see if not watering now would take the
MAD below 50% by the time a watering day is scheduled.

Finally, the decision to start a specific station is also based upon a
minimum irrigation amount, to prevent shallow watering. Deeper
watering events encourage healthy root systems and plant growth.

The calculation for minimum sprinkler runtime is based upon the soil
type and capacity, where typically the MAD is between 30-50%. For
the worst-case scenario, sandy soil with spray heads, the minimum

runtime would then be approximately 7 minutes.

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INSTALLINg ThE ET SENSOr ..............................................................................................................

Additional Tools and Materials

2 x 18 AWG/1mm dia. wire, solid or stranded (stranded preferred for
flexibility). Provide enough wire to connect the Sensor to the Module
(up to 100 ft/30m, green/black).

Shielded Wire: If wire runs absolutely must extend beyond 100
ft./30m, or the wire will be run through electrically noisy (high volt

age) environments, trouble can be minimized by using foil-shielded
wire. If shielded wire is to be used, attach the shielding to the black
wire on the sensor platform, ONLY. Do not ground the shield at each
end, only at the sensor.

There is no benefit in using larger conductor wires. Shielding is of
much greater benefit for longer runs of sensor wire. It may be pos

sible to double the recommended distance with shielded wire but this

is not guaranteed. If possible, extend the wire above-ground first and
test in the actual location, before proceeding with a permanent instal

lation.

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Choose the Location

ET Sensor should be placed in an area representative of the plants it is
designed to irrigate.

The ET Sensor should be

grass area, approximately 6 ft./2m above the grass, with approxi-

mately 6 ft./2m of turf grass surrounding it on all sides. The ET

Sensor weighs approximately 6 lbs./2.5kg.

This may not always be practical, so choose the actual location ac

cording to the following guidelines:

a) ET Sensor must be mounted within 100 ft./30m of the ET Module

and the controller.

b) Avoid positioning ET Sensor over large areas of concrete, asphalt,

roof tile, or shingles. These surfaces will cause the sensors to
read much higher levels of ET than plants.

c) Choose a sunny location between 6 and 20 feet (2 and 7m) above

the ground.

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post or pole-mounted in a full-sun turf

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15 ft/5m Clearance From Any Structure

ICC Controller

ET Module

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2 x 18 AWG/1mm,
100 ft/30m, Maximum

d) Do not mount the sensor where it will be hit by sprinkler spray or

other irrigation!

e) Do not mount the ET Sensor under a ledge or overhang, and avoid

placing it directly under tree canopies.

blocked sun and rain to function correctly!

f)

Do not mount the ET Sensor within falling distance of power
lines! High voltage shocks can injure and kill.

ET Sensor

Minimum

ET Sensor needs un-

6 ft/2m

Above

Turf,

g) Position the ET Sensor where it can be reached for occasional ser-

vice. The rain gauge should be checked and cleaned once a month
during the warmer months, to ensure that it is free of debris.

h) Avoid mounting sensor near any high intensity light, heat or infra

red sources as this may add excess ET amounts over time.

The ET Sensor is designed to adapt to steel fence poles (mounting
adapters included, requires 2 2" U-bolts), 4x4 (or larger) posts, or
eaves or walls.

Metal poles or weather-treated wooden posts are preferred, since

ET measurements will be somewhat less accurate if the sensor is

wall or eave-mounted.

Locate the 6-position screw terminal strip. Connect the two long
conductors (18 AWG, green and black) to the appropriately labeled
terminals. If an ET Wind Sensor is to be installed, this is also the time
to connect the wires.

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Prevailing Wind Compensation

If ET Wind will not be connected,
a factor for average prevailing
winds in the installation area

Green and
Black Wires

ET Sensor Wiring

Before mounting the ET Sensor, connect the 18 AWG wires to the
terminal strip. This operation is much easier on the ground, prior to
mounting the sensor.

Locate the wiring compartment cover on the bottom of the ET Sensor.
This is a trap door, secured with 2 screws. Remove the wiring com

partment door screws and set in a safe place, and remove the wiring
compartment door.

Table 1

Avg. Wind 1mph 2mph 3mph 4mph 5mph 6mph 7mph

DIP setting 1.6kph 3.2kph 4.8kph 6.4kph 8kph 9.6kph 11.2kph

SW 1 On Off On Off Off Off On

SW 2 Off On On Off Off On On

SW 3 Off Off Off On Off On On

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White Wire
Blue Wire

ON

OFF

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4

1 2 3 4

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can be entered while the wiring door is removed. The factory default
setting is 5 mph (8 kph). With the wiring cover removed, a DIP switch
is visible allowing other prevailing average wind speeds to be set,
according to the Table 1 (note that Switch 4 is not used).

If the optional ET Wind sensor is installed, mount the
ET Wind sensor according to its instructions, and
connect the blue and white conductors from the
ET Sensor to the appropriately labeled terminals
and secure their screws. Do not reverse the blue
and white wire connections from ET Wind…con

nect as shown!

Replace the wiring compartment door and secure
with the screws.

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Metal Fence Pole

Steel adapters are supplied for most popular sizes

of galvanized steel fence posts, 2" diameter and

smaller.

Additional materials (not supplied): 2 x 2" galva-

nized or stainless steel U-bolts, 3" long or greater

4 nuts and washers for U-bolts

90 lb. bag of concrete

If pole is new construction for specific purpose
of mounting ET Sensor, dig approximately 12" x
12" hole and fill with approximately one 90 lb. bag
of concrete, or place as required by local code.
Insert pole, check with level and straighten, and
brace until concrete is firmly set.

Insert U-bolts around pole through steel pole
adaptors, and through mating holes in ET Sensor
back plane. Add washers, thread nuts onto U-bolt,

and tighten. Do not overtighten.

Route ET Sensor wire (2 x 18 AWG conductors) to

ground surface or burial trench, and run back to ET Module.

External mounting in outdoor low voltage conduit (for the above-

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ground exposed portion of the wire run) is recom
mended for protection from the elements.

Wooden Post

Additional materials (not supplied): 4x4" pres-

sure-treated, outdoor, direct-burial grade 4x4" or
larger post.

4 x ¼" dia. x 1½" long galvanized or stainless steel
lag bolts and washers

Nut driver for lag bolts

90 lb. bag of concrete

Dig approximately 12" x 12" hole (or greater, as lo

cal code dictates) and fill with approximately one 90 lb.

bag of concrete. Insert post, check with level and straighten,

and brace until concrete is firmly set.

Level, mark, and drill pilot holes for 4 lag screws through back of ET
Sensor holes. Insert lag bolts and washers through mounting hole in
backplane of ET Sensor and tighten. Do not overtighten.

Route ET Sensor wire (2 x 18 AWG conductors) to ground sur face or
burial trench, and run back to ET Module.

External mounting in outdoor low voltage conduit (for the above­ground exposed portion of the wire run) is recommended for protec

tion from the elements.

Wall or Eave

Additional materials (not supplied): 4 x ¼" dia. x 1.5" long galvanized

or stainless steel lag bolts and washers.

Nut driver for lag bolts.

Level, mark, and drill pilot holes for 4 lag screws through back of ET
Sensor holes. Insert lag bolts and washers through mounting hole in
backplane of ET Sensor and tighten. Do not overtighten.

Route ET Sensor wire (2 x 18 AWG conductors) to ground sur face or
burial trench, and run back to ET Module.

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Orange, or Blue-And-White-Striped

in some versions

Controller Connections

(ET System Only)

Blue: REM

White: AC2

Red: AC1

To ET Sensor

Green

Black

External mounting in outdoor low voltage conduit (for the above­ground exposed portion of the wire run) is recommended for protec

tion from the elements.

INSTALLINg ThE ET mOduLE ..............................................................................................................

The ET Module is designed to be wall-mounted, either in or outdoor,
immediately next (6 ft./2m) to the Hunter SmartPort-equipped irriga

tion controller (including models SRC, Pro-C, ICC, and ACC). The ET

Module is low-voltage only and does not require a separate high-volt

age power connection.

The ET Module is connected to the ET Sensor via the two 18 AWG con

ductors (up to 100 ft./30m away), and then wired into the SmartPort
wiring terminals inside the controller.

To wall mount the ET Module, choose a location within 6 ft./2m of the
controller. Avoid direct sunlight when possible (to enhance visibility of
the LCD display). Verify that the wallboard construction is of sufficient
strength to securely mount the small, lightweight enclosure.

The 6-conductor umbilical cord extends through the shielded hole in
the bottom of the enclosure. Verify that it remains clear and accessible
when securing the enclosure to the wall.

Use two anchors or self-tapping screws of minimum #12 (5.5mm)
diameter to secure the ET Module enclosure to the wall.

Turn off AC power to the irrigation controller, before connecting the

ET Module to the controller! The ET System receives its power from

the SmartPort connection to the Hunter controller. Do not connect the
ET Module to the controller while AC power is turned on.

ET Module Wiring

The 6-conductor umbilical cord from the ET Module is color-coded to
simplify connections.

Do NOT connect 110/230V high-voltage power to the ET System!

Make all wiring connections with approved butt splices or wire

nuts for 18 AWG/1mm wire, and place the splices in a suitable

junction box. Conduit is recommended for both indoor and

outdoor installations.

In all cases, ensure that any exposed wire loop from the ET Sensor to

the wire routing conduit does not swing freely in the wind, as this will

­shorten its life.

Install CR2032 backup battery for date/time backup in event of power

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failure (battery included with mounting hardware). Battery must be
installed with + visible, facing toward the installer.

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If connecting the ET System to an ACC series controller, see ACC
section for special installation instructions.

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ICC, Pro-C, and SRC controllers (ACC special instructions in next
section): Connect the green and black 18 AWG/1mm wires from the

Install CR2032 lithium battery (included)

under cover for time/date backup.

Inst all CR 2032 bat ter y

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AC AC R RS C MV 1 2 3 4 5 6

9 V Battery

RESET

BlueRed

White

BlueRed

White

Blue

Red

White

ET Module to the ET Sensor with appropriately sized butt splices or
wire nuts. These two wires may be extended up to 100 ft./30m to
reach the sensor.

SRC or SRC

Plus Controller

Connection

If no wireless

remote control

receiver will be

installed, the

Orange wire

(or Blue-And-

White-Striped

wire in some

versions) from

the ET Module is not used.

Connect the red wire from the ET Module to the bottom left of the two
terminals on the power module labeled “24VAC” (or just AC, on older

units).

Connect the white wire from the

ET Module to the second to the
right of the two terminals on the
power module labeled “24VAC” (or
just AC, on older units)..

Connect the blue wire from the
ET Module to the terminal in the
controller labeled “R”.

If no wireless remote control
receiver will be installed, the blue­and-white striped wire from the ET
Module is not used.

Pro-C Controller Connection

Connect the red wire from the ET

Module to the terminal in the controller labeled AC1.

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Connect the white wire from the ET Module to the terminal in the
controller labeled AC2.

Connect the blue wire from the ET Module to the terminal in the con

troller labeled REM.

ICC Controller Connection

Connect the red wire from the ET Module to the bottommost of the

terminals on the power module labeled “AC”.

Connect the white wire from the ET Module to the upper of the two
terminals on the power module labeled “AC”.

Connect the blue wire from the ET Module to the terminal in the con

troller labeled REM.

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SmartPort

for ICR Receiver

Blue: REM

Connect orange

(or blue-and-white-striped)

wire from module,

to blue wire from SmartPort

White: AC2

Red: AC1

To ET Sensor

Green

Black

Controller Connections

(SmartPort with ET and ICR)

Remote Control Connection

If a remote control (either Hunter ICR or SRR) receiver is to be con-

nected, connect the Orange wire (or Blue-And-White-Striped wire in
some versions) from the ET Module, to the blue ICR/SRR receiver
wire. The SmartPort wiring that connects ET Module to the controller
will complete the connection for the remote receiver.

ACC Controller Connection

The ET System is shipped with a special adapter for use with the ACC

series of controllers.

The ACC controllers have an integrated SmartPort for remote receivers
(such as the Hunter ICR remote control) on the side of the cabinet in
the metal cabinet configurations, and inside the pedestal in the plastic
pedestal configurations.

All ET System connections are made within the enclosed ET/ACC
adapter, which is then plugged into the SmartPort. The adapter allows
both ICR remote receivers and the ET System to be connected to the
ACC controller at the same time.

Then installing ET System with an ACC controller, the ET Sensor con

nections are also made at the terminal strip inside the adapter, NOT to

the ET Module cable directly. This is only true for ACC connections.

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

To ET Sensor

To

ET Module

Wiring

Harness

Blue

Orange (or Blue-And­White-Striped)

Red

White

Green
Black

Green

Black

Installation

Remove the screws holding the terminal strip cover on ET/ACC

adapter.

Connect the red, white, and blue wires from the ET Module (in that
order) from left to right, on the first three terminals, as shown.

Connect the Orange wire, (or Blue-And-White-Striped wire in some
versions) from the Module to the terminal as marked.

Twist the ends of the green wires from the ET Sensor and the ET Mod

ule together, and connect them together to the terminal as marked.

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Twist the ends of the black wires from the ET Sensor and the ET
Module together, and connect them together to the last terminal as

marked.

Plug the male pin side of the ET/ACC Adapter into the SmartPort

receptacle on the ACC controller. ET connections are now made.

To use an ICR receiver with
the ACC through the adapter,
it is only necessary to plug

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the ICR receiver into the re

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ceptacle on the adapter, and

issue commands normally.

If ICR commands are sent
while ET System is irrigating
automatically, and other pro

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grams are already running,
it is possible that the ICR
command will be ignored (if
it violates the ACC maximum
of 6 simultaneous stations).
Likewise, if 6 events are
already running in the ACC
when the ET Start Time is
reached, the ET events may be missed. Avoid overlapping the ET Start
Time with multiple stations.

Disconnect other external Clik sensors from the controller: External
Clik sensors, such as Mini-Clik, Freeze-Clik, and Wind-Clik, are not
necessary and not compatible with the ET System. The ET System will
sense rain and freezing automatically with its own sensors, and will
terminate irrigation when necessary. If this occurs, the display will
show “RAIN PAUSE” or “FREEZE PAUSE”.

If existing Clik sensors are removed, the Clik sensor inputs should
have the original jumper replaced, or the sensor connection should be
jumpered with a short piece of wire.

If ET WIND is connected, ET System will also detect windy conditions
and shutdown automatically at preset wind levels. If this occurs, the
display will show “WIND PAUSE”.

The ET System will also be aware of these shutdowns for future
scheduling. External Clik-type sensor shutdowns will not be known to
ET System and may cause conflicts.

The ET System does not sense flow, but may not perform correctly
with Flow-Clik installations, unless the Flow-Clik is wired into the
common ground to the valve connections (instead of to the control

ler’s sensor input). Contact Hunter Technical Ser vices if it is necessary
to use a Flow-Clik together with the ET System.

Leave enough slack in all wires to allow for expansion and contraction
in temperature extremes. Secure the wire splice points to the inside of
the junction box or controller, to create a strain relief.

Reapply AC power to the irrigation controller, and observe the display
in the ET Module. The display should illuminate and show a welcom

ing screen, followed by information about the ET System.

Troubleshooting: If the ET Module screen does not illuminate,

check all wiring connections. Verify that the red wire from the ET
Module goes to AC1, and that the white wire goes to AC2, in a

Pro-C controller.

In the SRC controllers, the red wire is the left-most of the two AC

connections.

In the ICC controller, the red wire must be the bottommost of the two
AC connections.

Sensor Fault: If the ET Module display shows Sensor Fault, check

connection between ET Module and ET Sensor (green and black wires

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or equivalents). Solid conductor wire is prone to breakage from rough
handling. If wires appear correctly installed and Sensor Fault persists,
check continuity of Sensor wiring with a DC voltmeter – the volt

age reading at the black and green terminal on the sensor should be
between 9 to 15VDC.

Test: The ET Module can run a test with the host controller to check
the SmartPort wiring from ET System to the controller.

cause Station 1 to run for up to one minute if successful.

Press and hold the recessed Reset button with a ballpoint pen tip or
similar item.

Press the left 3 buttons on the ET Module (STA plus left and right ar

rows) at once, and hold them.

­Release the Reset button.

Release the left 3 buttons.

This should cause Station 1 on the controller to activate for one
minute or less.

The test will be visible in the ET Module display.

If the test is successful, Station 1 will also appear active in the con

troller display. This verifies that the SmartPort wiring connection from

the ET Module to the controller is correct.

If station does not activate in controller display (but appears in ET
Module), check SmartPort wiring, in particular the red, white and blue
wire connections.

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This will

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mAINTAININg ThE ET SENSOr ..........................................................................................................

The ET Sensor is designed for outdoor use, but must be kept clean to
function correctly. Wiping the platform and sensors down with a clean
cloth every 30 days is recommended.

Do not use harsh chemicals or abrasives, particularly on the clear
plastic solar radiation lens. It is very important that this sensor be
kept clean and dust-free to record sunlight accurately.

The rain gauge may gather dust and debris, and should also be
cleaned out every 30 days.

Solar Radiation
Sensor

Rain Gauge

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prOgrAmmINg ThE ET mOduLE ......................................................................................................

Station Advance Button

Left/Right Navigation Buttons

Dial

The ET Module has a backlit LCD display, a dial, and 5 buttons.

There is also a recessed Reset button, and a removable lithium

batter y cover.

The display is backlit whenever the 24V power (from the SmartPort)
is present.

When power is initially turned on with the dial in the Automatic posi

tion, the display will momentarily show a welcome screen, and will
then show the Date and Time and the Current ET. Initially, this may
be 0.00 until the sensor has accumulated enough data to generate an
automatic ET (this may take up to one hour).

11:00AM 00SEP05

DAILY ET: 0.10 IN

Plus/Minus Buttons

Reset Button

Lithium Battery Cover

(CR2032, in box)

Setup Overview

Setup is simplified by following the dial clockwise all the way around,

and entering data for each station until setup is complete.

First, select the controller type and station size

select Metric measurement first, at the ET Setup dial postion).

­Then, each station will receive its own data for Plant, Soil, and Sprin

kler types.

Other options related to automatic operation are set, and finally the

dial is returned to the Automatic position (straight up, or 12 o’clock
position). The module will now be ready to run ET-based automatic

irrigation.

The ET Module dial must be left in the Automatic position, or the ET
program will not irrigate! If the ET System is watering, moving the
dial from the Automatic position will cause it to stop.

(international users,

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Global ET % Setting

The ET System uses the modified Penman-Monteith equation to deter­mine moisture loss from evapo-transpiration. Because not every factor

in a specific landscape is modeled mathematically, the ET value is now
adjustable. This allows irrigation to be adjusted based on a percentage
of measured ET, and allows the system to run “wetter” or “drier” to
customize performance for specific landscapes.

ET System (version 17 and later) is preset to operate with 80% of ET.
However, this can be adjusted (in 1% increments) from 10% to 150%.
The adjustment is applied equally to all stations, which are further
modified by their individual settings (Plant, Site Info, and Sprinkler
types). This factor may compensate for non-ideal mounting condi

tions, where sensor cannot be placed according to ideal specifica

tions.

Hunter recommends obser ving per formance carefully over the first

weeks of operation and adjusting the percentage only as a last resort
to tweak system performance.

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Initial Soil Deficit

ET System assumes an initial soil deficit of .1” of water, meaning the
soil is neither saturated nor dry. This relatively neutral value prevents
excessive watering after initial installation.

If soil is very dry when the system is installed, it may be desirable to
run all stations from the host controller first, with Manual Program
starts, for a “normal” watering. Do not over water, but bring the soil to
a naturally moist state before beginning ET operations.

International Users – Metric Setting

ET System is set to Inches-style measurement, but can be quickly set
to Metric. Turn the dial to the ET Setup position, before entering the
other setup screens.

ENABLE ET: YES

UNITS: INCHES

ET SOURCE: SENSOR

ET ADJUST: 80%

Use the right arrow key to advance to the UNITS: INCHES position.

Use the +/- keys to change the display to METRIC.

Turn the dial to save the setting. For initial setup, turn the dial to
the Controller Type dial position. Millimeters will now be used in the
displays in other dial positions.

Controller Type

Use the +/- keys to enter the number of stations you will be control­ling with ET. Press and hold either key to accelerate the setting.

At the Controller Type dial position, select the type of Hunter control

ler to which the ET Module is connected. Use the +/- keys to cycle

through the valid selections: SRC, Pro-C, ICC or ACC.

When the correct controller is displayed, use the Left/Right arrow keys
to advance to the station size.

The ET Module will not allow a number greater than the maximum size
for the selected controller.

NOTE: Enter only the number of stations you wish to control with
ET–they will all run through Program A (except in the ACC controller).

It is possible to allow other stations to run in the controller’s other
programs (B, C, or higher in some models) with traditional programs.
These other programs will always run for the set Run Time in hours:
minutes.

However, these other programs may only run
finished. Note that these other programs will not “stack,” and their
Start Times must be set to a safe time, after all ET stations will have
completed. The ET System Start Time will cancel any other programs
that may be running, and will prevent any new programs from begin

ning, until the ET watering is complete (except in the ACC controller).
The best practice is to calculate the longest likely run times for the ET
adjusted stations, and add the total to the ET System Start Time. Set
the Start Times for any other programs after this longest possible ET
water window, or set them to complete before the ET Start Time.

after the ET program has

-

-



Prepare the Controller

The ET System connects to any Hunter SmartPort®-equipped irrigation
controller. The controller must be properly prepared to work with ET
prior to use.

ICC, Pro-C, SRC (or SRC Plus)

• Program A will be erased. ET System will use the controller’s

Program A as a storage area for its ET-based run time informa
tion. Any information in the controller for Program A will be lost,
after ET System communicates with it. If the Program A informa
tion was valuable, it is a good idea to write the day/start/run time
information down before connecting ET System.

•

Adjust other Program Start Times. Programs B, C, and (in ICC
only) D can still be used when ET System is connected, but not at
the same time as the ET station program coming from the ET Sys
tem. If it is still necessary to use the other programs, adjust their
start times so that they will never overlap the longest program that
ET System is likely to create. When ET starts running stations, it
will automatically cancel all other programs (including D in the
ICC) that may be running at that time, and will prevent any other
programs from starting.

•

Move the Station wires (if necessary). ET System will control
the number of stations it is told to control, but does not know
where they are in the host controller. It will assume it controls
from station 1, to the highest numbered station it knows about, in
consecutive order. If there are stations for which ET control is not
desired, their wires should be moved to the highest-numbered sta
tion positions. Be sure to change the Pump/Master Valve settings
for those stations if applicable (Pro-C and ICC only).

Example: A 9-station Pro-C controller has two stations, 3 and 5, for
which ET control is not desired. At the Controller dial position, ET
System is told that it is a 7-station system. Since ET System will as

sume control of the first 7 stations, move the valve wires for stations
3 and 5 to stations 8 and 9, and move the former stations 8 and 9 to
the 3 and 5 positions. ET System cannot skip stations. It will accept
any number of stations, from 1 to xx, regardless of the controller

type selected.



-

-

-

ACC Controllers

The Hunter ACC controller is compatible with ET System, but setup

is somewhat different. See installation section for use of the ET/ACC

adapter.

•

Program A is not erased: ET System will not affect controller
Program A directly. It will issue its run commands directly from
the ET Module.

•

Overlapping (with other Programs): ET System stations may
overlap other ACC controller programs which happen to be run
ning (within the controller’s or user-program’s maximum number
of overlapping stations), which is not possible in ICC, Pro-C, or
SRC. However, if ET System and the ACC controller try to run

more than 6 stations (or the user programmed maximum) at once,

-

-

ACC will cancel any irrigation over the maximum, and watering
may be postponed or lost. Avoid overlapping ET with other pro

grams unless absolutely necessary, to prevent confusion.

•

Cycle and Soak: Disable cycle and soak settings in the ACC con­troller for any stations that will be run by ET. ET will create its own
cycle and soak settings (based on Site Info) and the ACC station

settings will cause a conflict.

•

Delay between Stations: Disable any “Delay between Stations”
settings in the ACC controller. ET System does not support Delay
between Stations and this will cause a conflict.

•

Flow: ACC controllers may also be equipped with flow meters, and
high or low flow shutdowns will not be known to the ET System (it

will think it has watered correctly). Compensate for any lost irriga

tion by manual watering, after the flow condition has been fixed.

•

Move the Station wires (if necessary). This applies to ACC as it

does to the other controllers: all stations for the ET control should
be first, in consecutive order from station 1 to the highest number
to be controlled by ET, followed by any non-ET stations that the
ACC will run in other programs.

-

-

-

Set Time/Date

The ET Module keeps its own time, separately from the irrigation
controller, and the current date/time must be set at the Controller Type
dial position.

After the station size has been set correctly, use the right arrow key to
advance to the hour position.

Use the +/- buttons to enter the correct hour. Press and hold either
key to accelerate the setting.

Use the right arrow key to advance to the minute position, and use
+/- to enter the minute.

Use the right arrow key to advance to the AM/PM setting, and use +/­to finish the time setting.

AM/PM International Time definitions (in 24-hour clock terms):

0000 – 1200 = AM (Latin

1201 – 2359 = PM (

Midnight = 12 AM

Noon = 12 PM

Continue to set the date with the right arrow key. Set the date, month,
and year separately, using the +/- at each position, and the right arrow
to move positions (dd/mm/yy).

Ante Meridiem, before noon)

Post Meridiem, after noon)

Set Daylight Savings

ET Module can automatically adjust for Daylight Savings time

changes.

After the time and date are set, use the right arrow key to advance to
the Daylight Savings position.

Use the +/- keys to select either USE or DO NOT USE.

If Daylight Savings is set to USE, the time will change forward one
hour at 2 AM on the last Sunday in March, and will change backward
one hour at 2 AM on the last Sunday in October.

When the Controller Type settings are complete, turn the dial to

save the information. For initial setup, proceed to the Plant Type
dial position.

Individual Zone Setup

Once the general setup settings have been made, it is necessary to
enter the characteristics of each station, or zone, of irrigation in the
ET Module.

The 3 dial positions Plant Type, Site Info, and Sprinkler Type need to
be completed for each zone. This may be done one of two ways:

1) Go to each dial position and advance through all stations. Enter

the Plant Types for each station, turn to Site Info and advance
through all stations again, and finally turn to the Sprinkler Type
position and repeat for all stations.

2) It is easier for some to set all characteristics for each zone, one at

a time. ET System will stay on the same selected station through
all 3 dial positions, so you can select a station and choose the
Plant Type, turn to Site Info and enter the slope, soil, and sun
data, then turn to Sprinkler Type and set the precipitation rate.
Select the next station and repeat, until all stations have all data.

Multiple Plant Types Per Zone:

Occasionally a single zone of irrigation will water several different
types of plants. This is not ideal, but the correct approach in this
case is to set all characteristics for the most sensitive (to watering)
plant species in the zone. If one of the species is highly susceptible
to under- or over watering, use that plant’s characteristics for all zone
setup information.

The “zone” is the minimum level at which automatic irrigation control
is possible. If damage to valuable landscaping or specimen plantings
is feared, do not include the station in the ET setup at all, or physically
add an additional zone to the system.

Plant Type

At the Plant Type dial position, select and customize the actual plants
irrigated by each zone of irrigation. There is one screen for each zone
(if there is more than one plant type within a zone, select the type
most sensitive to watering).



STATION 01

MATURITY: ESTABLISHED

TYPE: GRASS

VARIETY: FESCUE

Set all information for one zone (or station), then advance to the next

station with the Station button on the ET Module.

Use the right arrow key to advance through the fields, and the +/- but

tons to scroll through all possible selections.

Maturity

There are only two maturity settings for all plant types, NEW or
ESTABLISHED.

Established indicates normal watering requirements for turf or plants.

New indicates adjusted watering for the higher needs of growing
plants which do not yet have established root zones. The New setting
will automatically change to “Established” after a preset period of
days, depending on the Plant Type selected.

If a plant type is entered as “New”, the starting crop coefficient will
“mature” over time to an established plant crop coefficient based on
the plant type:

• Grass: 42 days (6 weeks)

• Shrub: 3 months

• Tree: 7 months

• Annual/Perennial/Biennial: 30 days

• Native/Desert: 6 weeks

The setting can also be changed manually at any time.

Type

Selects the general plant type, from a table of choices.

Variety

Selects the exact, or similar, species under Types.



The following assumptions are made with regards to the Plant
Type: Maturity settings:

• Normal root depth and health based on the plant type: assump
tions based on average root depth in non-restrictive soils:

• Grass–4 to 5 inches

• Perennial (including annuals AND biennials)–varies from
4-16 inches

• Shrub–6-10 inches

-

• Desert–3-5 inches for most desert plants with a wide area

• Ground Cover–3-5 inches

• Tree–up to 24 inches, typically 6-8 inches for feeder roots,
deeper for thicker roots

• Non-stressed plant health, no environmental stress

• No excessive soil salinity

• Plants are actively growing, not in dormancy

• New maturity = initial growth stage (past germination)

• Established maturity = mid growth stage, before seed harvest
or late stage decline

• No large areas of exposed soil, contiguous vegetation

• Crop coefficients are considered to be relatively uniform over
zone area, i.e., native plants are not grouped together with
water intensive plants.

NOTE: The included plant types are based on recognized categories
of plants, by watering needs. The plant type choices in the ET System
are representative of the different levels of watering requirements of
typical plants, and are based on the

scape Species (WUCOLS) Guide developed by the University
of California (available on the internet from the California Department

of Water Resources, at http://www.owue.water.ca.gov/landscape/faq/

faq.cfm).

Water Use Classifications of Land-

-

If an exact plant is not represented, there are two options:

1) Choose the closest type, based on the plant’s watering needs. This
is generally adequate.

ET System built-in menu selections (samples shown are representative of each variety):

TYPE Grass Shrub Ground Cover Vine Tree Perennial Desert

2) Customize one of the existing plant types. This is described in
detail below the plant type table.

For further information on regional plant data, consult an agronomist
or regional county extension office.

FESCUE

SEASONAL RYE

BLUEGRASS

BENTGRASS

BERMUDA

ST. AUGUSTINE

VARIETY

ZOYSIA

BAHIA

CENTIPEDE

BUFFALO

CARPET

KIKUYU

When all information for a station or zone has been set, use the Stations button to proceed to the next station, or turn the dial to Site Info to

continue setup for the selected zone.

HIGH
WATERING:
Azalea

MEDIUM
WATERING:
Rose of Sharon

LOW
WATERING:
Bougainvillea

MINIMUM
WATERING:
Saltbrush
Jojoba

HIGH
WATERING:
Babys Tears

MEDIUM
WATERING:
White Clover

LOW
WATERING:
Ice Plant

MINIMUM
WATERING:
Rhagodia

HIGH
WATERING:
Climbing Rose

MEDIUM
WATERING:
Wisteria

LOW
WATERING:
Grape, Coral

MINIMUM
WATERING:
Pipestem

HIGH
WATERING:
Willow, Birch

MEDIUM
WATERING:
Pecan, Cypress

LOW
WATERING:
Primrose

MINIMUM
WATERING:
California pep
per tree

HIGH
WATERING:
Horsetail

MEDIUM
WATERING:
Phlox, Geranium

LOW
WATERING:
Pampas Grass

MINIMUM
WATERING:

­Daffodil

LOW
WATERING:
Turpentine

MINIMUM
WATERING:
Cactus



Customize Plant Type: Each plant type and variety results in a Crop

Coefficient, which ET System uses to determine the actual amount of
watering for the zone. Crop Coefficient is abbreviated “Kc” in the nota

tion used in the ET calculation.

Through a hidden feature, ET System permits customization of the

stored plant types for unusual or extreme types and conditions.

At the Plant Type dial position, enter the nearest Type and Variety for
the station to be customized.

Turn the dial back to the Automatic position to save the station

setting.

Hold down both the + and – buttons, and turn the dial back to the

Plant Type position. Release the + and – buttons.

The Station number will be highlighted, and the display will now also
show the Kc (crop coefficient) associated with the current selections.

Use the right arrow key to move to the Kc= position. The Kc value can
then be changed up or down, with the + or – button. Use them to set a
custom Kc for that zone.

Move the dial to another position to save the custom crop coefficient
for that zone. The change only applies to the customized station, and
must be repeated for any similar custom plant types.

When all stations have Plant Type data entered, turn the dial to save
the information. For initial setup, proceed to the Site Info dial position.

Site Info

At the Site Info dial position, select and customize the slope, soil, and
sun exposure for each zone of irrigation. There is one screen for each
zone (if there is more than condition within a zone, select the type
which predominates).

Use the arrow keys to advance to each value, and the +/- keys to cycle
through the choices.

STATION 01

-

SLOPE: 00%

SOIL: LOAM

SUN: PART SUN

Slope

This value (along with SOIL) is used to determine automatic cycles

and soaks for each station, based on the probable run-off of irrigation.

Use the +/- keys to set the percentage of slope, from 0 to 50% in 1%
increments. If the ground is flat, leave this setting at 0%.

Determining the slope percentage: The slope is defined as the

amount of elevation change, or Rise, divided by Run (the measured
distance), multiplied by 100. If an irrigated area rises 2 (feet or
meters) over 15 (feet or meters), the slope is approximately 13%:

(2/15)x100=13.333.

Soil

Soil type (or texture) is used together with the SLOPE information

to determine the Intake Rate of the soil, resulting in cycle and soak

scheduling.

Use the +/- key to select from the following soil types:

• Sand: Predominantly Sandy soil

• Sandy Loam

• Loam: Predominantly loamy soil

• Clay Loam

• Silt: Predominantly silt soil

• Clay: Predominantly clay soil

• Silty Clay



Automatic Cycle and Soak: A maximum run time before runoff irriga-

tion from the sprinklers occurs will be calculated, based on the slope
and soil settings. A station is only allowed to run continuously up to
that time limit.

If the zone needs more water, ET System will shutoff for a soak period,
determined by the Slope and Soil settings, to allow the water to soak
into the earth. Other stations can run during the station’s soak time, if
they are able. When the soak period has elapsed, the ET System will
re-activate the station at the next opportunity to continue irrigating.
This process will repeat until the full application amount is complete.

Advance to the next station with the station button, or turn the dial to
continue to Sprinkler Type setup of the selected station.

Sun

Sets the average amount of sunlight for each irrigated area, according
to the following values:

• Full Sun – 100 percent of solar portion of ET

• Part Shade – 75 percent of solar portion of ET

• Part Sun – 50 percent of solar portion of ET

• Full Shade – 25 percent of solar portion of ET

The ET System is equipped with a solar radiation sensor and measures
daily sunlight (this is why the ET Sensor platform is mounted in full
sunlight). However, the irrigated areas may be in a variety of different
sunlight conditions, and this setting provides an offset for the sun
measured at the sensor, and the sun which probably reached the
plants in a given zone. Zones are assumed to be in full sun, unless you
enter a different setting here.

Set the SLOPE, SOIL, and SUN for each station. Advance to the next
station with the station button.

When all stations have Soil Type data entered, turn the dial to save

the information. For initial setup, proceed to the Sprinkler Type

dial position.

Sprinkler Type

At the Sprinkler Type dial position, select the type of sprinkler which

irrigates each station or zone. This setting determines the Precipita

tion Rate for each zone, which is a critical setting in determining the

Run Time for each station.

Use the arrow button to navigate to the Sprinkler Type under the sta

tion number, and use the +/- keys to choose one of the sprinkler types

available (or create a Custom type).

-

-

STATION 01

ROTOR

PRECIP IN/HR: 0.50

RUNTIME H: MM 0:00

To simplify setup, several standard types of irrigation devices are
included, along with typical precipitation rates. Select the type closest
to the irrigation for the zone.

• Rotor – 0.5 in/hr

• Spray – 1.6 in/hr

• Drip – 0.35 in/hr (this can vary widely and should be checked for

accuracy)

• Bubbler – 1.16 in/hr (this can vary widely and should be checked
for accuracy)

• Custom – entered by user (based on field tests)

Precip

The Precipitation Rate is specified in inches or millimeters per hour.
The Precipitation setting is based on the Sprinkler Type and cannot
be changed directly, except when “CUSTOM” has been chosen. The
longer a station runs, the more inches or millimeters it adds to the
root zone of the plants. ET determines how many inches or millimeters
were lost; Precipitation Rate determines how long the station needs to
run, to replace the lost water.

Sprinkler types should not be mixed within a single zone.



RUNTIME is for information only, and cannot be set at this screen. The
RUNTIME field shows how long a station with the selected Sprinkler
Type and Precipitation rate will run, based on the current ET.

In a new installation, the ET Module will not have an ET reading

yet, and the RUNTIME may show as “0:00”. This is not an error, and

the correct run time will be shown after the ET Sensor has gathered

enough data to calculate an ET.

Determining Precipitation Rates: The sprinkler types included in the

ET System are typical values for common types of irrigation zones. If
greater accuracy is desired, a few simple tests to spot-check actual
zones can be performed, and the results can be entered at the CUS

TOM Sprinkler Type selection.

One informal method to determine a sample Precipitation Rate is to
place catchments at intervals over the area irrigated by a single zone.
There are officially calibrated catchment kits, or straight-sided metal
cans of equal height can be used.

The catchments should be placed at different distances from the
sprinkler heads. The more catchments, the better the test.

Run the zone for an exact period of time, divisible into 1 hour. 5 min

utes is a good quick test for spray heads; 15 minutes might be better
for rotor zones.

Measure the amount of water in each catchment as accurately as pos

sible. A metal ruler or machinist’s scale is good for this purpose.

Add the measurements of all the containers, and divide the total by
the number of containers, to get the average precipitation for the test
period. Irrigation consultants will generally establish a factor for dis

tibution uniformity (DU) that indicates the overall efficiency of a zone.
For ET System purposes, the precipitation rate entered should be the
adjusted rate, and the averaging process described here will usually
be adequate.

Multiply the results by the number of times the test period will divide
into 1 hour (12 x 5 minutes for the sprays, 4 x 15 minutes for the
rotors, in the example), to get the Precipitation Rate in inches or mil

limeters per hour.

-

-

-

-

This is the amount to enter for “CUSTOM” in the Sprinkler Type
dial position.

Enter a Custom Precipitation Rate: Use the +/- keys to cycle through

the choices until CUSTOM is displayed.

Use the arrow keys to advance to the PRECIP position. The Precipita

tion will be set to 1.6"

Use the +/- keys to change the Precipitation Rate to the desired

number.

Continue to enter Sprinkler Type data for each station, by pressing the

STA button and repeating the sprinkler selections, until finished.

When all stations have Sprinkler Type data, turn the dial to save the
information. For initial setup, proceed to the Water Days dial position.

Water Days

The Water Days dial position sets the days of the week on which it is

permissible to water. This does not necessarily mean watering will oc

cur on Days OK to Water, only that it is permitted if conditions require
watering.

Water Days apply equally to all stations, and only need to be set up in

a single screen (not one per station).

-

DAYS OK TO WATER

SU MO TU WE TH FR SA

Y Y Y Y Y Y Y

EVEN ODD INTERVAL

- - -

All days will initially be set to Y (Yes). The first day (Sunday) will be
highlighted. To change the Y to N (No), use the +/- keys. Set any days
on which you are not allowed to water, or don’t wish to water, to N.

When the Y/N setting is changed, ET System will automatically jump
to the next day. Use the left key to go back, if the day Y/N setting

-

-

0

needs to be changed again.

Use the right arrow to skip past days that do not require changing.

Use +/- to set each day to Yes or No; when the week is set up cor

rectly, turn the dial to the next position.

-

Interval Days:

ET System can be programmed to water on intervals, instead of
specific days of the week. Use the arrow keys to move to the Interval
position, and press the + button. The dash will change to a Y under

DAYS OK TO WATER

INTERVAL: 01 DAYS

REMAINING: 00 DAYS

EVEN ODD INTERVAL

- - Y

Interval, and the interval settings will replace the Day of Week display.

You may set from 1 to 31 day intervals. Use the arrow keys to move to
the Interval field, and press +/- to set the Interval.

“Remaining” is used to indicate the number of days until the next
watering. If you need to set an Interval of ever y 3 days, but you do
not want that pattern to begin until 2 days from now, enter “2” at Re

maining. In two days watering will be permitted, and the every-3-day
pattern will begin from that day.

To exit the Interval mode and return to another type of day schedule,
use the arrow keys to move back to the Interval position at the bottom
of the screen, and press the – key to change the Y to a dash [-]. The
Day of Week display will return and you can make other selections.

-

Even/Odd Days:

ET System can be programmed to water on Even or Odd dates of the
month to conform to local watering restrictions.

Use the arrow keys to move to the Even or Odd position, and press the
+ button. The dash will change to a Y under the selection, and all other

DAYS OK TO WATER

SU MO TU WE TH FR SA

- - - - - - -

EVEN ODD INTERVAL

Y - -

positions will change to a dash [-]. ET System will only permit water

ing on the selected Even or Odd dates in this position.

To exit Even/Odd mode, use the arrow keys to move back to the selec

tion and press the – button to change the Y back to a dash. The Day of

Week display will return and you can make other selections.

ET System does not necessarily water on every day that has a Yes, for
OK to Water. These are only the days on which it is
For further information on this, refer to the section, “How ET System
Decides to Water”, in the System Overview near the beginning of this

manual.

When the days are set correctly, turn the dial to save the information.

For initial setup, proceed to the Daily Start Time position.

allowed to water.

Daily Start Time

The Daily Start Time dial position sets the time of day at which irriga­tion is allowed to begin.

10:00PM

WILTGARD™: ON

WILT RUNTIME: 14MIN

If ET System decides to water on a specific day, the irrigation will

begin at the Start Time entered in this screen.

Use the +/- key to set the hour.

Use the arrow key to move to the minute position, and then use the
+/- keys to set the minute.

-

-



Use the arrow keys to move to the AM/PM setting, and use the +/­keys to set AM or PM.

There is only one setting for the Daily Start Time (not one for each
station), and all irrigation for that day will run sequentially beginning
at that time.

WiltGard™

WiltGard is a unique feature that prevents damage to plants in

extremely hot conditions, by triggering watering when damage may
occur, regardless of the normal start time. WiltGard is especially well
suited to cool turf grasses in desert environments, or other sensitive
plants that can reach the wilting point due to extremes between daily
start times. In other words, WiltGard is emergency watering that will
start whenever the plants in a zone are threatened.

The default setting is WiltGard = Off. To enable WiltGard, use the
arrow keys to advance to the OFF position, and use the +/- keys to
change the setting to ON.

If WiltGard is ON, watering may start without warning at unexpected
times of day. Do not enable WiltGard if this creates a hazardous or
inconvenient condition!

The actual Wilt Runtime cannot be set from this screen, and is only
shown for information. WiltGard’s run time is created automatically,
based on the settings for each specific zone. WiltGard will base its
“emergency” run time on 50% of the MAD (Management Allowable

Depletion)

The WiltGard watering is tracked for ET purposes, and a portion of
it will count against the daily ET (in other words, it will be deducted
from the scheduled irrigation at the automatic start time).

The WiltGard Off/On setting applies to all zones. However, WiltGard
will only start zones whose plants are in danger of damage (based on
the plant and soil settings for the individual zones).

When the Start Time and WiltGard settings are correct, turn the dial
to save the settings. For initial setup, turn the dial to the Rain Setting

position.



Rain Setting

The Rain Setting position determines how much natural rainfall is
required to stop irrigation. A minimum amount is preset, and it is not
necessary to adjust anything at this dial position for initial setup.

The ET Sensor is equipped with a “tipping bucket” style rain sensor.
Rain is not used directly in the calculation of ET, but it can be used to
a) shut off the irrigation, and b) adjust the next application of irriga

tion, by deducting a percentage of the naturally occurring precipitation
(some rainfall is assumed to run off before absorption into the soil,
and a loss factor is included).

-

RAIN SHUTOFF

THRESHOLD: .02 IN

IN ONE HOUR

Rain water fills a small internal cup in the sensor, the weight of

which tips the bucket. Each tip represents .01 in or .254mm (rounded)
of water.

The preset rain shutoff amount is .02 in/.51mm per hour, which is the
minimum setting. Generally, the preset amount should be sufficient,
and

most users can skip this dial position.

In some areas with frequent short, heavy downpours of rain, or very
high concentrations of fog, the rain shutoff threshold can be adjusted
higher. Condensing fog or dew can accumulate enough to tip the buck

et over the course of a few hours, the threshold is never set below two
tips of the sensor.

Use the +/- keys to change the rain shutoff threshold. The threshold
adjusts in increments of .01" per hour. For international users, the
adjustments will be in approximately .25mm increments.

This setting applies to all stations. Turn the dial to save the Rain set

ting. For initial setup, turn the dial to the ET setup position.

If the Rain Sensor has caused the irrigation to pause, the ET System
display will show “RAIN PAUSE”. If rainfall ceases during the auto

-

-

-

matic irrigation period, ET System may resume irrigating if the rainfall
was insufficient to fully replenish the soil reservoir. The system may
resume where it left off automatic irrigation, but with adjusted run
times for the amount of measured rainfall.

Rain Pauses always last for 15 minutes, after which ET System will
check the sensor again. If Rain is still detected, it will begin another
15 minute pause. This will continue until the Rain has stopped, and
ET System determines that watering is still required. If the measured
rainfall has replenished the soil fully, ET System will cancel the
remaining irrigation.

All sensor-based Pause modes (Rain, Freeze, and optional Wind) are
tracked in the watering history and will be reported for the days on
which they occurred.

ET Setup

The ET Setup dial position contains important settings that affect all

stations.

Enable ET: Normally this is set to YES, and that is how the ET System
is designed to operate.

ENABLE ET: YES

UNITS: INCHES

ET SOURCE: SENSOR

ET ADJUST: 80%

If Enable ET is set to NO, the ET System will not irrigate at all. If
WiltGard was enabled (at the Daily Start Time dial position) it will also
be disabled, and when the dial is returned to the Automatic position,
the display will show OFF.

To disable ET, use the +/- key to change the display to ENABLE ET: NO.

The ET System display will then show OFF when the dial is returned
to the Automatic position, and no automatic irrigation (including Wilt

Gard) will take place. Setting ET Enable to NO is one way of shutting
the system down for winter, or other extended periods.

Turning the host controller to Off will not stop ET System from run­ning Program A! You must also disable ET in the ET System to stop
all irrigation for an extended period.

Units: The ET System can display settings in either inches or millime-

ters. Use the arrow key to advance to the UNITS setting, and use the

+/- keys to change the units between INCHES and METRIC.

ET Adjust: This setting adjusts the percentage of monitored ET that

will be used in irrigation calculations. The default setting is 80%,
which seems to fit most landscape applications. However, the adjust

ment factor can be changed from 10 to 150% in 1% increments to

tweak the irrigation calculation for individual climates.

Use the arrow keys to move to the ET Adjust position, and press +/- to
change the setting up or down.

The adjustment is applied equally to all stations, which are further
modified by their individual settings (Plant, Site Info, and Sprinkler
types). This factor may compensate for non-ideal mounting condi

tions, where sensor cannot be placed according to ideal specifica
tions.

Hunter recommends obser ving per formance carefully over the first
weeks of operation and adjusting the percentage only as a last resort
to tweak system performance.

ET Source: Normally this is set to SENSOR, meaning the ET Sen-

sor station to which the ET Module is connected, and this is how ET
System was designed to operate.

It is also possible to set ET Source to MANUAL, allowing the user to
enter an ET value manually. This could be done to manually override
the Sensor for some reason, or to provide irrigation when the Sensor
is not physically connected.

To enter a Manual ET, use the arrow keys to move to the ET Source
setting, and use the +/- keys to change the display to MANUAL.

An ET value for the day will appear in the display. Use the +/- keys to

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enter an ET in .01 in/.25mm increments.

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

When the dial is turned to the Automatic position, the display will
show the time/date, and then MANUAL ET: followed by the manually
entered value.

If ET SOURCE is set to MANUAL, it will remain the same every day
unless it is manually updated again.

Normal settings for proper ET operation are ENABLE ET: YES and ET

SOURCE: SENSOR. Do not change these except in unusual circum

stances (such as Winter shutdown, or a disconnected Sensor).

It is also possible to set ET Source to MANUAL, allowing the user to

enter an ET value manually.

This value will accrue each day, just like sensor-based ET. If the sys

tem is not set to every day watering, the Manual amount will be added
each day between watering days. On the next watering day the total
accrual will be replenished.

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Automatic

For normal operations, the dial is returned to the Automatic position.

ET System will not irrigate unless the dial is in AUTOMATIC!

3:00PM 15MAR06

DAILY ET: 0.07 IN

3:00PM 15MAR06

MANUAL ET: 0.07 IN

If the ET has been set to ET SOURCE: MANUAL, the current ET will
be displayed along with “MANUAL”. This shows that the ET has been
entered manually and will not change automatically.

When ET System is Watering: At the Automatic position, the ET
Module display will show the station watering activity whenever any
irrigation is occurring.

The host controller (ICC, Pro-C, and SRC) will show the display for
a manual station watering. ACC controllers will show “ETS” with the
station running and time remaining.

This display indicates that Station 1 is active (watering), and that it is
on the first Cycle of 3 scheduled Cycles.

WATERING

CYCLE 01 of 03

STATION 01: 10 MIN

When the dial is in the Automatic position, the display should normally
show the time, date, and current ET reading from the Sensor.

OFF

3:00PM 15MAR06

DAILY ET: 0.07 IN

(ET DISABLED)

If ET has been set to ET ENABLE: NO, the display will show OFF (to

change, go the ET SETUP dial position).



The time showing for this station (10 Min., in the example) indicates
the time remaining on this Cycle.

SOAKING BEFORE

CYCLE 02 of 03

STATION 01: 32 MIN

Based on the soil, slope, precipitation rate, and other factors, ET
System has scheduled 3 different Cycles (with Soak times in between)

to prevent runoff of irrigation water. The system will calculate a pause
(or Soak) for the first Cycle to soak into the soil type, before applying
any more irrigation.

When the station is Soaking between Cycles, and no other stations
are running, ET System will indicate this in the display, along with the
time remaining in the Soak period.

In the example, Station 1 is Soaking between Cycles 1 and 2 (of 3 total
Cycles), and there are 32 minutes left in the Soak period before Cycle
2 begins.

This display will only be seen if a Soak is occurring, and ET System
has no other stations to run. Normally, ET System will try to run
another available station during a station’s Soak period.

Watering History

After irrigation is complete, the last irrigation on any station can be
viewed when the dial is in the Automatic position.

LAST WATERED

SAT 06MAR07

STATION 01: 14 MIN

(RAIN PAUSE)

Last Watered scre en with one s tation event and a sensor pause.

With the dial in the Automatic position, press the STA button to enter
the History mode.

The Last Watered screen displays the last irrigation that occurred on
each day of the week. There are individual histories for each day of the
week.

Press the +/- buttons to step through each day, and each station.
This will show the stations that watered on each day, with the date on
which the watering occurred.

If irrigation was paused for any reason (Rain, Freeze, Wind, or User)
the Pause will be shown immediately after the station during which it

occurred.

If the last watering for a station on a day of week occurred on an
earlier date, the events may not appear to be in chronological order.
Each day of the week has a slot, which is updated when any watering
occurs on that day. The day slot will show all the events for the last
day on which there was activity. Stations that did not run are shown
with dashes (---) instead of run times.

In the example shown below, the ET System history shows the last
watering for each station on each day, by date.

Station 1 waters almost every day. Station 3 waters a little less often.

Station 2 does not water very often, at all (perhaps it is very shaded
with low water usage plants). It ran on Tuesday, May 08, and the last
watering before that was on Thursday, April 19.

Since no stations have watered on a Thursday since April 19, it is the
only event shown on that date.

The next time any station waters on Thursday, all events will be up

dated and the April 19 date will disappear.

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S (Sunday) M T W T F S (Saturday)

Sta. 1 MAY 06 Sta. 1 MAY 07 Sta. 1 MAY 08

Sta. 2 ---------- Sta. 2 ---------- Sta. 2 MAY 08

Sta. 3 MAY 06 Sta. 3 MAY 07 Sta. 3 --------- Sta. 3 --------- Sta. 3 --------- Sta. 3 --------- Sta. 3 MAY 12

7 Day Hist ory ex ample (not actual scree ns)

Sta. 1 MAY 09 Sta. 1 -------- Sta. 1 MAY 11 Sta. 1 MAY 12

Sta. 2 ---------- Sta. 2 APR19 Sta. 2 --------- Sta. 2 ----------



View Sensor Data

The individual sensor readings can be seen at any time.

Turn the dial to the ET Setup position.

Press and hold the STA button for approximately 5 seconds. The sen

sor display will appear, in place of the ET Adjust setting.

ENABLE ET: YES

UNITS: INCHES

ET SOURCE: SENSOR

S T H W R24

0812 74 68 5 0000

S = Solar Radiation, hourly average in watts per m

T = Temperature (Fahrenheit only), near top of last hour.

H = Humidity (%) near top of last hour.

W = Wind (miles per hour): shows automatic wind factor setting, or
(when optional ET Wind is installed) hourly average.

R24 = Rain (last 24 hours). Shows accumulated rainfall in inches for
last 24 hours or since last watering event.

The display is not updated "live." Turn the dial to any other position,
then back and hold STA again, for an updated reading.

2

.

Reset

The recessed Reset button can be used to restore system operation in

two different ways.

Restart: In rare circumstances, the ET Module’s microprocessor may

become confused, and the display may “lock up”. If this, or other
unusual phenomena, occurs (buttons not responding, odd symbols
in the display), press the Reset button for about one second with a
ballpoint pen tip, and release. This will restart the microprocessor.
The display will momentarily show the welcome screen, then return to
normal operations.

Restart should not erase any of the station, plant, soil, or other
program data.

Full System Reset/Erase: It is also possible to completely erase the

ET Module memory, to allow complete reprogramming.

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This procedure will cause all station, plant, soil, and other program
data to be erased! The ET System will return to factory default set-

tings, as it came out of the box.

Hold down the + and – keys at the same time, and depress the Reset
button with a ballpoint pen tip for about 1 second. Continue to hold
the + and – keys for approximately one second after depressing the
Reset button, and release.

The display will show “ET SYSTEM ERASING…”. The Reset process
may take up to 5 seconds. When the erase is complete, the display
will show the welcome screen for a few seconds, and then the screen
for the current dial position. All user-programmed information will be
erased.

The ET Module must now be completely reprogrammed, beginning
with the first steps in this manual.

Lithium battery: The ten-year lithium battery can be accessed from

the small sliding door on the front of the ET Module. This battery pow

ers ONLY the real-time clock information, so that the time/date does

not need to be updated after a short-term power failure.

All program information and the station database are non-volatile, and
are not affected by this battery.

After 30 days without power, the time/date information backup will be
stopped, to save the battery. This allows the battery to survive long
shutdowns (such as during winter months). The time and date should
only require resetting after very long periods of no power, and the bat

ter y should generally not require replacement.

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

TrOuBLEShOOTINg ...............................................................................................................................

Problem Cause Solution

No display Disconnected, or miswired SmartPort connection. Check wiring. Verify that red SmartPort wire is connected to

Frozen display or odd
characters in display

No ET reading (0.00). Sensor has not had enough time to gather data (at

No water. Dial not in Automatic position.

Too much/too little
water.

Program stopped.

Static electricity.

system startup)

ET System disconnected from controller.

ET System disabled.

No water days.

No start time.

Sensor Pause (shutdown due to conditions).

Interval Days set too high for conditions.

Incorrect station settings.

Malfunctioning sensors.

ET SOURCE set to Manual.

Landscape characteristics.

AC1, white wire connected to AC2.

Verify that Controller has Power.

Turn off power to controller for a few seconds.

Turn power back on.

Press Reset button.

Wait until sensors have had enough time to accumulate data.

Turn dial to ET Setup, press and hold STA, to check individual
sensor readings.

Dial must be in Automatic.

Verify SmartPort connection to controller.

Set ENABLE ET to YES (ET Setup dial position).

Set water day to Y (Yes) (Water Days dial position)

Set start time (Daily Start Time dial position)

Check ET Module display for “RAIN”, “FREEZE”, or “WIND”
PAUSE message… system will resume when conditions

permit.

Set shorter interval.

Verify station settings at all dial positions, including Plant
Type, Site Info, and Sprinkler Type.

Per form maintenance on sensors: clean out rain gauge, clean
off solar radiation sensor, clear debris from “beehive” hous

ing.

Set ET SOURCE to SENSOR (ET Setup position).

Use ET Adjust (ET Setup position) to control the percentage of

ET used to calculate watering.

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

Waters with controller
dial in OFF position

Dry or dead spots in
grass

ET or sensor readings
do not match with lo
cal weather sources.

Sensor Fault Sensor miswired or missing. Check ET Sensor wiring connections, and physical status of

Warning: Do not paint or apply any decorations or covers to sensor platform. This could negatively affect the readings.

NOTE: This product is intended for turf and landscaping applications only, not intended for agricultural or scientific use.

ET System must also be Off. Set ENABLE ET to NO (ET Setup position).

Variation in sprinklers, spacing. Check sprinkler layout

Check plant type, soil type, and slope settings

Increase ET Adjust % gradually (by 5-10%) and monitor over
the course of several weeks for improvement.

Microclimate, sensor variations. ET, temperatures, humidity, solar, wind and rain values can

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var y widely even over relatively short distances

sensors. Voltage at sensor (green and black wires) should be

9-15VDC



SpECIFICATIONS .....................................................................................................................................

Power Input: 24 VAC, 50/60Hz (from host controller)

Current draw: 20 ma, max

Non-volatile memory

Replaceable 10-year lithium battery CR2032 (for time/date backup only)

Wiring: ET Module power, SmartPort

ET Sensor, 2 x 18 AWG/1 mm

Max distance, ET Module from controller: 6 ft./2 m

Max distance, ET Sensor from module: 100 ft./30 m

ET SySTEm COmpATIBILITy LIST .......................................................................................................

SRC/SRC Plus Controllers

Pro-C Controllers

ICC Controllers

ACC Controllers (with included ACC adapter)

ACC-99D Controller (with included ACC adapter) up to 48 stations, maximum

dImENSIONS ...........................................................................................................................................

ET Module – 6" H x 4" W x 1.75" D (153 mm H x 102 mm W x 45 mm D)

ET Sensor – 10½" H x 7¼" W x 121⁄8" D (26.7 mm H x 18.4 mm W x 30.8 mm D)

ET Sensor with pole brackets – 10½" H x 7¼" W x 13" D (26.7 mm H x 18.4 mm W x 33.0 mm D)

ET Sensor with ET Wind – 11½" H x 7¼" W x 197⁄8" D (29.2 mm H x 18.4 mm W x 50.5 mm D)

ET Sensor and ET Wind with pole brackets – 11½" H x 7¼" W x 20¾" D (29.2 mm H x 18.4 mm W x 52.7 mm D)



FCC NOTICE ...............................................................................................................................................

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits
are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio commu

nications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interfer

ence to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to tr y to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

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Hunter Industries Incorporated • The Irrigation Innovators

Internet: www.HunterIndustries.com P/N 00 LIT- /0