RAIN BIRD E-6c User Manual
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EC CONTROLLER ICON LEGEND
+
SET MONTH
SET DAY
SET TIME
2 Ec Controller
TEST PRESET
-
PROGRAM
BUTTON
SCHEDULES
OFF AUTO DATE/TIME
ENTER
MANUAL CYCLE
DAY CYCLE
WATER DAY
PROGRAM START TIME
STATION RUN TIME
WATER
BUDGET
MANUAL
STATION(S)
CONTENTS
Introduction ........................................................... 4
Ec Controller ................................................................. 4
Controller Stations ......................................................... 5
What Is a Program? ........................................................ 5
Controller Basics .................................................... 6
Programming Under Battery Power .................................. 6
Installing the Battery ...................................................... 6
Diagnostic Circuit Breaker .............................................. 6
Controls and Indicators ................................................. 7
Programming Checklist ................................................. 8
Controller Programming Chart ........................................ 8
Programming the Controller ................................. 12
Erase Any Existing Programming .................................. 12
Set Year ...................................................................... 12
Set Month and Day ...................................................... 12
Set Time ..................................................................... 13
Select Pre-Set Schedules ............................................ 13
Select Program (A, B, and/or C) ................................... 14
Set Watering Day Cycle ................................................ 14
Set Watering Days ....................................................... 15
Set Program Start Time(s) ............................................ 16
Delete Program Start Time(s) ........................................ 16
Set Station Run Times ................................................. 17
Operating the Controller ....................................... 17
Off Mode ..................................................................... 17
Auto Mode .................................................................. 18
Adjust Water Budget .................................................... 18
Manually Run Stations and Programs ........................... 19
Run a Test Program...................................................... 20
Installing the Controller ........................................ 21
Choose a Proper Location ............................................ 21
Mount the Controller .................................................... 22
Connect Main Power Wires ........................................... 22
Connect Field Wires to Remote Control Valves .............. 22
Troubleshooting ................................................... 24
Have a question, problem, or comment? In the United States, call
Rain Bird Technical Assistance at 800-247-3782. Outside the
United States, call your Rain Bird dealer.
© 2000 Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.
® Registered trademark of Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.
3Ec Controller
WARNING: A CIRCUIT BREAKER OR CUTOFF SWITCH
IS TO BE PROVIDED IN THE FIXED WIRING TO ISOLATE
THE CONTROLLER.
MEMORY IS RETAINED BY A BATTERY WHICH IS TO BE
DISPOSED OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOCAL REGULA-
TIONS.
CAUTION ICONS
INTRODUCTION
Ec Controller
Thank you for purchasing a Rain Bird Ec irrigation system
controller. This manual shows how to install, program, and
operate your controller. Please read these instructions carefully
and keep this manual in a handy place for future reference.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an
equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the
presence of uninsulated dangerous voltage within the
products enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude
to constitute a risk of electronic shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is
intended to alert the user to the presence of important
operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in
the literature accompanying the product.
The Rain Bird Ec is a compact, easy-to-use controller that
offers the following features:
• Three programs, with independent watering days
• Up to four watering start times per program
• Option to set any day of the week as a watering day
• Water budgeting feature across all programs
• Battery backup to retain time, date, and programming
CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY TO EUROPEAN DIRECTIVES
Rain Bird declares that the Ec device, an irrigation controller, conforms to the 72/23/CEE European
Directives for electrical safety and to 89/336/CEE and 93/31/CEE concerning electromagnetic
compatibility. The applicable standards in accordance with the technical file are :
EN 60065 for electrical safety.
EN 50081-1 ed 92 for interference.
EN 50082-1 ed 92 for interference resistance.
The Ec type device is powered by 230V~,50Hz,
single phase.
4 Ec Controller
during power outages
• Three year warranty
Controller Stations
DIAGRAM 1
The Rain Bird Ec controller is an electronic timer that controls
when your sprinkler system turns on, and how long the
sprinklers run.
Depending on the model, the Ec can control four, six, or nine
watering stations. Astation is a series of sprinklers, or other
irrigation devices, connected to a common remote control
valve. When the valve receives a signal from the controller, the
valve opens and turns on the sprinklers connected to it.
This illustration shows a diagram of a station layout. Station 1
is currently watering. When station 1 finishes, the controller
shuts it off and turns on station 2. When station 2 finishes
watering, station 3 begins, and so on.
What Is a Program?
Programming is the process of telling the controller exactly
when and how long you want to water. The controller opens
and closes the remote control valves for each station according
to the program you set.
The Ec offers three independent programs; A, B, and C. Each
program controls from one to six stations, and lets you
customize your watering schedules to meet the needs of
different types of plants, soil conditions, slopes, shady or
sunny areas, etc.
You will need to understand the following terms to successfully
program your Ec controller.
• Watering day cycle The period of days in which the
controller repeats the program you set. For example, a 7-day
cycle is a weekly schedule that repeats once every seven
days. A 2-day cycle repeats every other day.
• Watering days The specific days within the watering
day cycle when watering takes place. In a 7-day cycle, you
may select multiple watering days within the cycle. For
example, you might water on day 1 (Monday), day 3
(Wednesday), and day 5 (Friday). In a 1- through 6-day
cycle, day 1 is always the only watering day. A 2-day cycle
waters on day 1, skips a day, and then waters again on day 1
as the cycle repeats. A 3-day cycle waters on day 1, skips 2
days, and then repeats.
• Start time This is the time, or times, the first station in
a program begins watering. All other stations in the program
then follow in sequence.
NOTE: The term start time refers to the time the
program begins not the time each individual
station begins to run.
• Run time The number of minutes that each station
runs.
5Ec Controller
CONTROLLER BASICS
Programming Under Battery Power
If you wish, you can program the controller under battery
power. This feature can be useful if the controller is installed
in an area that is not readily accessible. This feature also
allows you to enter program information before installing the
controller at a job site.
NOTE: Make sure the controller is connected to an
AC power supply when replacing the battery, or you
will lose all programming information including
date and time.
To install the battery:
1. Remove the controllers lower access cover to expose the
battery compartment.
To program the Ec controller under battery power, you must first
install the battery.
NOTE: To save battery power, the Ec goes into
Sleep mode after 40 seconds of inactivity on
the programming dial or buttons. Press any button
once to reactivate the controller.
2. Snap the two-wire battery clip onto the terminals of the
new battery. If you are replacing an old battery, dispose of
the old battery properly.
3. Insert the new battery snugly into the battery
compartment.
4. Replace the lower access cover.
Installing the Battery
DIAGRAM 2
The battery back-up feature retains time, date, and
programming information during power outages. The battery
also lets you program the controller under battery power
before it is connected to an AC power supply.
For best results, use a long-life, 9-Volt alkaline battery. A new
battery will normally provide power for up to one year. Replace
the battery yearly to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.
6 Ec Controller
Diagnostic Circuit Breaker
DIAGRAM 3
If the Ec controller detects an electrical short circuit on one of
the sprinkler systems station wires or valve solenoids, the
controller automatically shuts off the station with the fault. After
30 to 40 seconds, while it checks again to confirm the fault,
the controller advances to the next working station in the
program.
Every three seconds, the LCD displays the problem stations
number and the letters Err. The controller will continue to run
each operable station in the program. As each station is
running, the controller (at an alternate 3-second interval)
displays the working stations number and run time remaining.
When the controller finishes the program, it will continue to
display the problem stations number and the Err message.
After the program finishes, you should isolate and repair the
short circuit. Short circuits occur most frequently in the valve
solenoid (the plastic-encapsulated coil on the valve with the
two wire leads), or in the wire connectors to the valve leads.
After you find and repair the short circuit, turn the programming
dial to AUTO. Then press ENTER to clear the Err message
from the display. You may wish to operate the station manually
to make sure it works properly. (See Manually Run a
Station(s) on p. 19).
The LCD display shown in Diagram 3 indicates that the
controller has detected a short circuit on station 2.
Controls and Indicators
DIAGRAM 4
This illustration shows the programming controls on the face
of the Ec controller. These controls include:
1. Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) During normal
operation, displays the time of day and the programs that
will run today. During programming, shows the results of
your commands. During watering, shows the station that is
running, the minutes remaining in the stations run time,
and whether another program is waiting to water.
2. + and - buttons Set start times and days, and make
programming changes.
3. Programming dial Turns the controller to OFF or
AUTO modes, and selects other programming functions.
4. PROGRAM button Selects watering programs A, B,
or C.
5. ENTER button Enters programming commands, and
starts manual operation.
7Ec Controller
Programming Checklist
To program your Ec controller for the first time, we recommend
that you complete the steps in the order listed to the right.
❒ Fill out the Programming Chart....................... p. 8
❒ Erase any existing programming ..................... p. 12
❒ Set the current year/month/day/time ............... p. 12
For each program:
ABC
❒❒❒Select pre-set schedules .................. p. 13
❒❒❒Select program (A, B and/or C) .........p. 14
Controller Programming Chart
Before programming your Ec controller, fill out the
Programming Chart included with your controller. Then
program the controller in the order shown on the Programming
Checklist.
1. Select the watering day cycle you wish to use, and circle
the watering days within the cycle. In the example shown for
program A, the operator has chosen a 7-day watering cycle
and circled M, W, and F as watering days. This means that
program A will water every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
NOTE: If you plan to use only one program for
your watering needs, select program A.
❒ ❒ ❒ Set the watering day cycle ................ p. 14
❒❒❒Set the watering days ........................ p. 15
❒❒❒Set the program start time(s) ............. p. 16
❒❒❒Set the station run time(s) ................ p. 17
❒ Set the controller to automatic operation........... p. 18
For your convenience, a check-off box (❐) is provided for
each step.
2. For program B, the operator selected a 3-day watering
cycle. With these selections, program B will water once,
skip two days, and then water again on the first day of a new
three day cycle.
3. You may also choose three special watering day cycles that
do not require you to select watering days. These cycles are:
• Ev = Waters only on even-numbered days of the month.
• Od = Waters only on odd-numbered days of the month.
8 Ec Controller
9Ec Controller
• Od31 = Waters only on odd-numbered days of the month,
but not on the 31st of any month or on February 29. (This
watering day cycle complies with special ordinances in
some water-restricted areas).
7. In the Run Time column for each program, enter the
number of minutes you want each station to run.
Notice that stations 1 through 4 are assigned to program A,
while stations 5 and 6 are assigned to program B.
4. In the Program Start Times box for program A, write the time
you want the program to begin watering. You may assign up
to four start times to each program. If you want the program
to water only once each watering day, enter only one start
time. Enter other start times only if you want to repeat the
entire program more than once each watering day.
5. Enter the start time(s) for program B (if any). In the example,
Program A begins watering at 7 a.m. ProgramB begins
watering twice each watering day, once at 5 a.m. (05:00)
and again at 3 p.m. (15:00)
NOTE: If the total run time for one program
overlaps the start time for a second program, the
controller will automatically stack the programs
and delay the start time of the second program
until the first program finishes watering.
6. Next to each station number, enter a brief description of the
area covered by each controller station. Remember, a
station is a set of sprinklers operated by one remote
control valve.
10 Ec Controller
The Ec allows you to use the same station in multiple
programs for special watering needs. However, for most
applications, choosing not to repeat a station makes
programming simpler.
NOTE: Any Water Budget setting applies to all
programs (A, B, and C).
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