RAIN BIRD ESP-4, ESP-6, ESP-8 installation Guide

RRAINAIN

PREFERRED BY PROFESSIONALS WORLDWIDE

BBIRDIRD®

Installation,
Programming,
& Operation

ESP-4
ESP-6
ESP-8

INTRODUCTION

Congratulations on purchasing a Rain Bird ESP solid state controller. This manual describes how to in­stall, operate, and maintain your controller. Please read these instructions carefully. For your conve­nience, we have included a Quick Reference Guide below, so you can quickly find instructions for com­mon tasks.

Quick Reference Guide

If you want to:

Change the time of day............................ page 4

¨

Turn the controller off and on

¨

(for example, because of rain).................. page 8

Adjust watering times for all stations

¨

(for example, during a hot or cool period)... page 9

Start the sprinkler system manually.......... page 9

¨

Run the test program............................... page 10

¨

Install a new battery................................ page 14

¨

Troubleshoot a controller problem............. page 14

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1Technical Support: 1-800-RAIN BIRD

Controller Stations

The controller has several stations as shown in the illustration below. Each station is connected to a re­mote control sprinkler valve. The valve opens when it receives a signal from the controller, and the
sprinklers connected to the valve turn on. When these sprinklers have run for their allotted time, the
controller shuts off the valve and opens the next valve in sequence.

For example, the illustration shows that station 1 is currently watering. When station 1 is finished, the
controller will shut it off and start station 2. In the same way, station 3 will begin watering when station 2
is finished.

Sample Station Layout

Controls and Switches

The illustration shows the programming controls on
the face of the ESP. These controls include:

Œ LCD Display — during normal operation, displays

the time of day; during programming, shows the
results of your commands; during watering,
shows the station that is running and the minutes
remaining in its run time.

• Arrow ON-OFF Buttons — used to set times and

days, and to make program changes.

Ž A / B Program Button — used to select watering

program A or B. (On some ESP models, this but­ton is labeled PGM.)

• Manual Start / Advance Button — used to start

the irrigation program manually or to manually
advance watering from one station to the next.

• Programming Dial — used to turn controller off

and on, and for programming.

‘ Schedule Slide Switch — used to select one of

the fixed-interval watering schedules or a custom
watering schedule.

2Technical Support: 1-800-RAIN BIRD

PROGRAMMING THE CONTROLLER

Your ESP controller is an electronic clock that controls when your sprinkler system turns on, and how
long the sprinklers run.

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 according to the program you set.

Each program contains:

n Watering days — the specific days of the week on which watering takes place (for example, Mon-

day, Wednesday, Friday), or the watering interval (for example, every third day).

n Start time — the time of day that the program begins; this is the time that the first station in the pro-

gram begins watering; all other stations then follow in sequence.

n Run time — the number of minutes that each station runs.

Programming Checklist

To program the ESP- controller for the first time, we recommend that you complete the following steps
in order:

Fill out Program Schedule Sheet................................... page 3

Select watering schedule............................................... page 4

Set the current time....................................................... page 4

Set the current day........................................................ page 5

Select the program (A or B)........................................... page 6

Set station watering days.

(custom schedule only).................................................. page 6

Set station run times...................................................... page 7

Set watering start times.................................................. page 7

Set controller to automatic operation............................. page 8

Fill Out Program Schedule Sheet

Before you begin programming, fill out the ESP Con­troller Program Sheet and attach it to the label on the in­side of the controller door. A sample Program Sheet is
shown in this illustration.

ΠEnter a brief description of each station on the con-

troller.

• In the Program A column, mark the watering sched­ule. Either circle one of the fixed intervals, or fill in the
watering days in the “Custom” row.

Ž Enter the starting time(s) for Program A. You may

have up to three separate start times for each pro­gram.

• Enter the run time for each station assigned to Pro­gram A. Enter “0” for stations that are not used in Pro­gram A.

• Repeat steps 2 - 4 for Program B. If you are using a
fixed schedule, Program B will have the same water­ing days as Program A.

3Technical Support: 1-800-RAIN BIRD

Select Watering Schedule

The ESP has two types of watering schedules, either
fixed or custom. The fixed schedule sets watering to oc­cur every second, third, or fifth day. The custom sched­ule lets you select specific days of the week on which
watering is to occur.

The type of schedule you select applies to both pro­grams, A and B. For example, you cannot set Pro­gram A to a fixed schedule and Program B to a cus­tom schedule.

ΠTo use a fixed schedule, move the Schedule Slide

Switch to one of the FIXED positions:
2 = every other day

3 = every third day
5 = every fifth day

• To use the custom schedule, move the Schedule
Slide Switch to the “C” position.

Set Current Time

Œ Turn the dial to “HR.”

•The display shows the hour that is currently set,

either AM or PM.

Ž Press ñ or ò to set the current hour.

• Turn the dial to “MIN.”

• The display shows the minute currently set.

‘ Press ñ or ò to set the current minute.

4Technical Support: 1-800-RAIN BIRD

AUTO

START

ADJUST WATER %

WATERING TIME PER STATION

1

4

Set Current Day

Setting the current day varies somewhat depending on
whether you are using a custom schedule or a fixed
schedule.

3

DAY

PGM

A

OFFON B

MAN

A

ADV.

Custom Schedule

Œ Make sure the Schedule Slide switch is set to “C.”

• Turn the dial to “DAY.”

Ž The display shows the day of the week that is

currently set (for example, “MO” for Monday).

• Press ñ or ò to change the display to the cur-

rent day of the week.

Fixed Schedule

ΠMake sure the Schedule Slide switch is set to a

fixed-

day schedule: 2, 3, or 5.

• Turn the dial to “DAY.”
Ž The display shows “1” for the first day of the watering

cycle. Day 1 is always the watering day.

• Press ñ or ò to change the current day from

1. If you want tomorrow to be the watering day,
change the current day to the last day in your
fixed schedule.

2

CURRENT TIME
AND DAY

WATERING
START TIMES

OFF

DAY

3

2

HR

1

MIN

6

ESP-6Si

THU

2

FIXED

FRI

SAT

SUN

1

SCHEDULE

2 3 5 C

DAYS TO WATER

CUSTOM

SCHEDULE

CUSTOM

MON

TUE

WED

3

4

5

For example, if you’re using a two-day schedule and
you want to start watering tomorrow, set the current day
to “2.” If you’re using a three-day schedule and you
want to start tomorrow, set the current day to “3.”

5Technical Support: 1-800-RAIN BIRD