Hunter Soil-Clik Owner's Manual

Soil-Clik

®

OWNER’S MANUAL

Soil Moisture Sensor

Wired Soil-Clik Module and Probe

Sensor for Compatible Hunter Controllers

2

Introduction

Soil-Clik is a soil moisture system that prevents overwatering when the soil is wet. Soil-Clik is designed for
use with Hunter controllers that have normally closed smart sensor inputs, or with any AC-powered control
system by interrupting the common wire to the valves.

Module

Probe

3

Table of Contents

4 Installation
4 Choosing the Probe Location
7 Installing the Probe
10 Choosing the Module Location

12 Connecting the Module to Hunter Products
12 Overview
13 ACC
13 ACC2
14 HC
14 HCC
15 I-Core®
15 ICC2
16 PCC
16 Pro-C®
17 Pro-HC
17 X-Core®
18 Common Interrupt (Most AC-Powered Controllers)
19 Using the Soil-Clik with Solar Sync®

20 Programming
20 LED Screen Overview
21 Programming Moisture Levels
22 Pausing Operation
22 Alarms

23 Troubleshooting Guide
23 Problems, Causes, and Solutions

24 Controller Compatibility
24 Controller Compatibility

25 Notices
25 FCC Notice
26 Certicate of Conformity to European Directives

4

Installation

Choose a zone with full sun exposure that is
in the fastest-drying area of the landscape. If
necessary, move valve wires so that this is the
last (highest-numbered) station to water.

Choosing the Probe Location

The moisture-sensing Soil-Clik probe must be installed
within 1,000' (300 m) of the Soil-Clik module, using
18 AWG (1 mm2) direct burial (UF) wire.

Choosing the Zone

Install the probe within the last typical zone to irrigate,
so that normal irrigation will not interrupt watering
prematurely.

1,000' (300 m)

5

Installation

Choosing the Exact Spot

Select an area with full sun exposure that represents the
fastest-drying irrigated area.

6

Installation

Place in the Root Zone

In turf applications, the probe should be placed in the root
zone, approximately 6" (15 cm) deep (adjust for actual turf
conditions).

For shrubs or trees, select a deeper depth that matches
the root zone. For new plantings, choose a spot halfway
down the root ball, adjacent to native soil.

7

Installation

Installing the Probe

1. Soak the lower two-thirds of the probe for 30 minutes
before installing. Do not allow water to cover the top
cap where the wires are connected.

2. Use ½" (12 mm) PVC pipe to make a vertical hole
to desired depth in the soil (outside diameter
⁄" (22 mm)).

8

Installation

Do not install the probe horizontally!

Installing the Probe (continued)

3. Mix a slurry of native soil and water, and pour it into
the hole.

4. Place the sensor in a vertical position (do not tilt it
more than 45°) at the bottom of the hole.

9

Installation

Installing the Probe (continued)

5. Pack native soil tightly around the probe. Soil must be
in full contact with the probe.

6. Allow the probe to acclimate for two to three days
and water normally, before proceeding to sensor­based irrigation.

10

Installation

Mount within 6' (2 m) of the host controller.

Choosing the Module Location

The Soil-Clik module is designed for outdoor installation
when necessary. However, electronics will benet from a
protected location when practical.

An indoor location, or inside the controller enclosure (ACC,
ACC2, I-Core) is recommended. If the module must be
outdoors, place it away from direct sunlight and sprinkler
spray for best results. Avoid placing the module near
electrical boxes and sources of electrical interference.

6' (2 m)

11

Avoid high-voltage lines or other sources of
electrical interference.

Connecting the Probe to the Module

Use only 18 AWG (1 mm2) or larger direct burial rated wire,
up to 1000' (300 m) from the module.

Connect the gray/black probe wires to the two gray
module wires with waterproof connections (polarity is not
important in this system).

Yel low

Gray
connection

Gray/Black
connection

Module

Probe

White

Installation

12

Connecting the Module to Hunter Products

Overview

1. Gray Wires: Connection to Soil-Clik probe

2. Yellow Wires: Soil-Clik module power, requires 24 VAC

power (100 mA max)

3. White Wires: Module output, to Hunter controller
sensor input, or to interrupt 24 V common wiring to eld

Route all wires through low-voltage conduit hole in the
controller enclosure. Make all external connections with
waterproof connectors.

Do not connect the Soil-Clik to high-voltage
(120/230 VAC) wiring!

➌ ➋

➊

+–+–+

–

+

–

24

SEN1

SEN1

SEN2

SEN2

SEN3

SEN3

SEN4

SEN4

VAC

COM

24VAC

COM

P/MV3

COM

+ SEN1 SEN1

–

+ SEN2

SEN2

–

+ SEN3

SEN3

–

13

1. Yellow power wires to the ACC 24 VAC and
COM common power terminals

2. White wires to SEN sensor + and –
terminals

3. Or use the Common Interrupt method on

page 18

1. Yellow power wires to the ACC2 24VAC
and COM common power terminals

2. White wires to SEN sensor + and –
terminals

3. Or use the Common Interrupt method on

page 18

Connecting the Module to Hunter Products

ACC ACC2

14

24V

24V

SENSOR 1

SENSOR 2

COMMON

SEN C

SEN 2

SEN 1

REM

24VAC

24VAC

GND

Connecting the Module to Hunter Products

1. Yellow power wires to the HC 24V power

terminals

2. White wires to the SENSOR and sensor
COMMON terminals

3. Or use the Common Interrupt method on

page 18

1. Yellow power wires to the HCC 24VAC

power terminals

2. White wires to the SENSOR and sensor
COMMON terminals

3. Or use the Common Interrupt method on

page 18

HC HCC

15

S1 S1

S2S2C

C

GND

AC1 AC2

REM

C

P/MV

TEST

SEN

SEN

REM

24VAC

24VAC

GND

1. Yellow power wires to the I-Core AC1 and
AC2 power terminals

2. White wires to SEN sensor terminals

3. Or use the Common Interrupt method on

page 18

1. Yellow power wires to ICC2 24VAC power

terminals

2. White wires to SEN sensor terminals

3. Or use the Common Interrupt method on

page 18

Connecting the Module to Hunter Products

I-Core® ICC2

16

AC1

AC2

SEN

SEN

SEN

SEN

AC2

AC1

GND

Connecting the Module to Hunter Products

PCC Pro-C®

1. Yellow power wires to the PCC AC1 and
AC2 power terminals

2. White wires to the SEN sensor terminals

3. Or use the Common Interrupt method on

page 18

1. Yellow power wires to the Pro-C AC1 and
AC2 power terminals

2. White wires to the SEN sensor terminals

3. Or use the Common Interrupt method on

page 18

17

24 VAC

24 VAC

SEN-1

SEN COM

24VAC SEN

REM

C

Connecting the Module to Hunter Products

Pro-HC X-Core®

1. Yellow power wires to the Pro-HC 24VAC

power terminals

2. White wires to the SEN sensor and
SEN COM common terminals

3. Or use the Common Interrupt method on

page 18

1. Yellow power wires to the X-Core 24VAC

power terminals

2. White wires to the SEN sensor terminals

3. Or use the Common Interrupt method on

page 18

COM 1 2 3 424V 24V

18

Common Interrupt (Most AC-Powered Controllers)

1. Connect Yellow power wires to 24V power in the
controller.

2. Cut eld common wire(s), and splice one Soil-Clik
white wire to each end of the common.

Connecting the Module to Hunter Products

Yel low

White

19

Connecting the Module to Hunter Products

Using the Soil-Clik with Solar Sync®

Soil-Clik is ideal when installed together with Hunter Solar
Sync. Solar Sync adjusts run times for weather conditions,
and provides automatic rain and freeze shutdown. Soil-Clik
prevents unnecessary watering when soil is still wet.

The following controllers have a single sensor terminal
and the Soil-Clik should be installed using the Common
Interrupt method shown on page 18.

• ICC2, PCC, Pro-C, and X-Core

1. Connect Solar Sync to controller sensor terminal, as
described in the Solar Sync owner’s manual.

2. Do not connect to SEN terminals if Solar-Sync is
already installed.

The following controllers have multiple sensor terminals
and can accommodate more than one sensor. The Solar
Sync and Soil-Clik can be installed by using either the
conventional or Common Interrupt methods.

• ACC, ACC2, HC, HCC, and I-Core

1. Connect Solar Sync to controller sensor terminal, as
described in the Solar Sync owner’s manual.

Compatible with ACC version 5.0 and later
Compatible with I-Core version 3.0 and later

20

Programming

LED Screen Overview

Soil-Clik is used to set a desired moisture level. The level
may be changed with the + and - buttons.

When the desired moisture has been reached, Soil-Clik
will interrupt irrigation either through the controller’s
sensor input, or by “breaking” the common wire to
the eld.

LCD SCREEN

1

Alarm

2

Measurement

3

Moisture level

4

Moisture setting

5

Watering interrupted

6

Pause/override

➊

➏

➋

➎

➌ ➍

21

Programming Moisture Levels

The bar steps in the display represent centibars of soil water

tension on a scale of 10 to 100. High numbers indicate dry soil, or

soil from which it is very dicult for plants to extract moisture.

The level of the arrows indicates the point at which irrigation

will be shut o.

Programming

Start with a midrange setting based on the table or local

experience.

Observe results, and adjust as needed.

Press to increase, to decrease.

0–10

Very wet

10–30

Sand

30–60

Silt and loam

60–100

Clay

100

Very dry

When the moisture level is reached, Soil-Clik stops the irrigation.

This is shown by the symbol.

22

Programming

Pausing Operation

Press to override the Soil-Clik. It will allow the controller to

water normally, even if the soil moisture level has been reached.

When it is in Pause mode, the Pause symbol is shown and the

rest of the screen is blank.

Press again to return to normal operation.

Pause does not pause watering. It overrides the
Soil-Clik, and allows watering.

Press to update the moisture level reading. The

Measurement icon will appear. An updated measurement (bars)

will appear within 5 seconds.

Alarms

The Alarm symbol shows an internal malfunction. Replace the

Soil-Clik Module if this occurs.

23

PROBLEM CAUSE SOLUTION

Plants are too dry

• Moisture level set ting too low

• Sensor in wrong location

• Increase arrows (+ button)

• Move sensor or valve wires; sensor must be
in last zone to water

Plants are too wet

• Moisture level set ting too high

• Sensor in wrong location

• Pause mode has been set

• Decrease arrows (- button)

• Move sensor to a sunnier location

• Turn o Pause

Moisture level seems incorrect

• Incorrect sensor installation/placement • Ensure full soil contact with sensor

• Check sensor wiring

Moisture always at max or minimum

• Failed sensor • Use handheld sensor meter to verify
operation

Alarm symbol is displayed

• Module failure • Replace module (part no. SC-MOD)

Module display is blank

• Power failure • Check power connection to host controller

For more detailed information, application notes, or assistance, please visit us at www.hunterindustries.com.

Troubleshooting Guide

Problems, Causes, and Solutions

24

Controller Compatibility

The Soil-Clik is designed for use with Hunter ACC, ACC2,
HC, HCC, I-Core, ICC2, PCC, Pro-C, Pro-HC, and X-Core
controllers.

Controller Compatibility

Dimensions

Module:

• 4⁄ " H x 3⁄" W x 1⁄" D (11.4 cm H x 8.9 cm W x 3.2 cm D)

Probe:

• 2⁄" H x ⁄" Dia (8.25 cm H x 2.22 cm Dia)

Wire to probe:

• 1,000' (300 m) max, 18 AWG (1 mm2) diect burial wire

25

Notices

FCC Notice

This device complies with FCC rules Part 15. Operation is
subject to the following two conditions:

1. This device may not cause harmful interference and

2. This device must accept any interference received,
including interference that may cause undesired
operation.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for class B digital devices, 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 communications. However,
there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in
a particular installation. If this equipment does cause
harmful interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment
on and o, the user is encouraged to try 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
the receiver

• Connect the equipment to an outlet on a circuit
dierent from that to which the receiver is connected

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

The user is cautioned that changes and modications
made to the equipment without the approval of the
manufacturer could void the user’s authority to operate
this equipment.

26

Certicate of Conformity to European Directives

Hunter Industries hereby declares that this remote control
device is in compliance with the essential requirements
and other relevant provisions of Directive 2014/30/EU.

Declaration of Conformity: We, Hunter Industries
Incorporated, 1940 Diamond Street, San Marcos, CA
92078, declare under our own responsibility that the Soil
Clik, to which this declaration refers, conforms with the
relevant standards: EN 61000-6-1 and EN 61000-6-3.

Andrew Bera, Senior Regulatory Compliance Engineer

Place San Marcos, CA

Date May 1, 2018

Notices

27

Notes

LIT-609-OM-EN 5/18© 2018 Hunter Industries Incorporated

RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL IRRIGATION | Built on Innovation®
Hunter Industries Incorporated
1940 Diamond Street, San Marcos, California 92078, USA
www.hunterindustries.com

Helping our customers succeed is what drives us. While our passion for innovation and engineering
is built into everything we do, it is our commitment to exceptional support that we hope will keep you
in the Hunter family of customers for years to come.

Gregory R. Hunter, CEO of Hunter Industries