RAIN BIRD Simple To Program Operating Instructions

Download

Simple To Program (STPi) Controller

Installation, Programming & Operation Guide

Hole provided to hang manual next to controller.

Welcome! Simple To Program (STPi) Controller

Thank you for Purchasing the Rain Bird Simple To Program Controller! In the following pages, you will ﬁnd step by step instructions on how to use every function included in your STPi Controller. Thanks again and we hope you enjoy your new Controller.

Contents

Controller Functions ........................................................... 2

Set Clock .............................................................................. 3

Set Date ............................................................................... 4

Schedule Watering ............................................................. 5

Water Now ........................................................................... 6

Rain Delay ........................................................................... 7

Adjust Water ........................................................................ 8

Normal Operation ............................................................... 9

Mounting Controller......................................................... 10

Connecting Power Cord ................................................... 11

Master Valve or Pump Start Relay ................................... 12

Connecting Rain Sensor ................................................... 14

Troubleshooting ............................................................... 15

Programming Chart.......................................................... 16

STPi Controller Operation Manual

Controller Functions

The diagram below shows the controls and displays for your new Controller. Use this to become familiar with the Controller functions.

OFF

Turns oﬀ ALL watering

RAIN DELAY

Delays watering up to 72 hours

ADJUST WATER

Adjusts watering amount (%) as seasons change

ZONES 1-9

Program watering for each zone (4 Zone model shown)

WATER NOW

Manually waters any zone

NOTE: Always begin by turning the dial to the position you want to make a change to and then make your changes using the options and information displayed to the right of the dial. For example, if you want to set a schedule for

Zone 1 in your yard, ﬁrst turn the dial to “1” and then make your changes using the buttons to the right and below the display screen.

AUTO

Set dial here to run your programmed settings

SET CLOCK

Set current time of day

SET DATE

Set current date

DISPLAY SCREEN

WATERING DAYS

Select which day(s) the displayed zone is watered

ZONE OFF

Shuts oﬀ the displayed watering zone

WATERING TIMES

Select how many times per day the displayed zone is watered

UP/DOWN ARROWS

Use UP/DOWN arrows on left or right to set time, date, run time, start time, etc.

STPi Controller Operation Manual

Set Clock

Step 1

Turn dial to SET CLOCK

Step 2

Use left UP/ DOWN arrow keys to adjust current time

To input the current time into the Controller, follow these steps below:

NOTE: Verify that the AM/PM setting is correct when setting time

NOTE: Reset dial to AUTO position after making any adjustments to the programming.

Set Date

Step 1

Turn dial to SET DATE

Step 2

Use left UP/ DOWN arrow keys to select current year

Step 3

Use right UP/ DOWN arrow keys to select current month and day

To input the current date into the Controller, follow these steps below:

NOTE: Reset dial to AUTO position after making any adjustments to the programming.

STPi Controller Operation Manual

Schedule Watering

To set up a watering schedule for each zone in your yard, follow these steps below:

Step 1

Turn dial to the zone you wish to program

Step 2

Use left UP/DOWN arrow keys to select 1st start time to water

Step 3

Use right UP/ DOWN arrow keys to select the run time for each zone

Watering Times Per Day Options Hours From First Start Time

2 times per day 6 hours 3 times per day 4 and 8 hours 4 times per day 3, 6 and 9 hours

Example: If the ﬁrst start time for Zone 1 is programmed for 8:00 AM and the user has selected THREE TIMES, then the second start time will be at 12:00 PM and the third start time will be at 4:00 PM.

For start time details see page 16.

Step 4

Select number of times per day to water. Default is once per day (see table below)

Step 5

Select the DAY(s) of the week or ODD/EVEN days you wish to water

Step 6

Turn dial to each active zone and repeat steps 2-5

NOTE: The Controller is designed to prevent any two zones from irrigating at the same time. This

feature is called “Program Stacking”

TIP: The best way to condense the irrigation schedule is to set each zone’s start time the same. For example: If both Zone 1 and Zone 2 are scheduled to irrigate on the same day and both start times are set for 8:00 AM (with a 10 minute run time), then Zone 1 would begin irrigating at 8:00 AM and Zone 2 would begin irrigating at 8:10 AM (after Zone 1 has stopped).

Water Now

This option allows you to water any single zone on demand instead of waiting for the programmed schedule.

NOTE: Any watering you do with this function will not aﬀect your normal

schedule.

Step 1

Turn the dial to the zone you wish to water

Step 2

Press WATER NOW. The zone will start watering for a default 10 minutes

Current Watering Zone

Step 3

Use the UP/ DOWN arrows to adjust the number of minutes

Step 4

To stop watering before the time is up, return dial to AUTO position

STPi Controller Operation Manual

Rain Delay

NOTE: Once the Controller has waited the amount of time you select for Rain Delay, it will resume normal scheduled watering. Any scheduled watering that falls into the delay period will not occur.

Step 1

Turn the dial to RAIN DELAY

Step 2

Use the right UP/ DOWN arrows to adjust the amount of delay time

Use this function to suspend watering for up to 3 days (72 hours) due to weather or other reasons.

Step 3

Return dial to AUTO position

Screen displays current time and the number of rain delay hours that are left until regularly scheduled watering resumes.

NOTE: Reset dial to AUTO position after making any adjustments to the programming.

Adjust Water

NOTE: Instead of changing the settings for each zone, you can adjust the amount of time you water for each zone with one simple adjustment using the WATER ADJUST function. Your scheduled start times will not

change, but the actual zone run time will be adjusted.

Step 1

Turn the dial to ADJUST WATER

Step 2

Use the left UP/ DOWN arrows to adjust the percentage increase or decrease to the initial zone run time setting

Use this simple option to make run time adjustments that account for seasonal variation, without changing all of the initial zone settings.

TIP:

Automatically adjust watering of each individual zone by using left UP/DOWN arrows to adjust from

-90% to+100%. It is important to note that the baseline schedule is set at 0% and not 100%.

EXAMPLE:

If Zone 1 is scheduled to water for 10 minutes and you set ADJUST WATER to +50% then Zone 1 run time will be increased to 15 minutes.

STPi Controller Operation Manual

NOTE: Reset dial to AUTO position after making any adjustments to the programming.

STPi Controller Operation Manual

Normal Operation

Below are diﬀerent screens your Controller might display while in AUTO position mode.

Normal Operations

Screen displays current time, the zone that is scheduled to be watered next, and the date and time it will be watered.

With Rain Delay

Screen displays current time and the number of rain delay hours that are left until regularly scheduled watering resumes.

Watering Now

Screen displays current time, which zone is currently being watered, and the number of minutes remaining in the cycle for that zone.

Error Detected

When an error is detected, screen displays the aﬀected Zone # in upper-left corner.

Mounting Controller

Step 1

Drive a screw into the wall, leaving an1/8” gap between screw-head and wall as shown in Figure 1 (you can also use the supplied wall anchors if necessary).

Step 2

Hang the Controller on the exposed screw.

Step 3

Remove access cover at bottom of Controller and drive a screw through the center hole into the wall as shown in Figure 2.

Follow these instructions to mount STPi Controller:

STPi Controller Operation Manual

Connecting Power Cord

Step 1

Attach the transformer connector to the 24VAC POWER pin connection on the Controller.

Step 2

Plug transformer into the wall socket.

NOTE: DO NOT plug in the transformer until you have

completed and checked all wiring connections. Also, do not attempt to link two or more Controllers together with a single transformer.

NOTE: Do not plug Controller into socket

that is controlled by a secondary ON/OFF light switch.

Follow these instructions to connect the power cord:

Master Valve or Pump Start Relay

Step 1 Connect the color-coded “Hot” Wire from the Master Valve (or

Pump Relay) to the Controller terminal marked MSTR VALVE.

Step 2

Connect the Common Wire (usually White) from the Master Valve (or Pump Start Relay) to the Controller terminal marked COMMON.

This example shows what a Master Valve connection would look like. A Pump Start Relay would connect diﬀerently at the water source.

NOTE: STPi Series Controllers allow a Master Valve or Pump Start Relay to

operate whenever a valve is operating (pumps are used in some places to draw water from a well or other source). If you are activating a pump from the Controller, you must also install a Pump Control Relay

STPi Controller Operation Manual

Master Valve or Pump Start Relay

Step 3

To avoid possible pump damage when using a Pump Start Relay, connect a short jumper wire from any unused zone terminal(s) to the nearest zone terminal screw in use.

For example: if you have a 4 Zone Controller with only two zones in use, route the terminals for Zones 3 and 4 to the nearest active terminal (in this example, Zone 2).

NOTE: Make sure that the total draw of the

Master Valve or Pump Start Relay, plus the draw of the valves does not exceed 0.650 Amps at 24VAC, 60 Hz.

NOTE: This Controller does not provide main

power for a pump.

Note these additional instructions when connecting a Pump Start Relay:

Connecting Rain Sensor

Step 1

Remove the jumper wire from the Rain Sensor terminals.

Follow these instructions if you wish to connect a Rain Sensor to the STPi Controller.

Step 2

Connect both Rain Sensor delay wires to the terminals marked RAIN SENSOR.

STPi Controller Operation Manual

Troubleshooting

Watering Issues

Problem Possible Cause Possible Solution

Automatic and Manual cycles do not begin watering.

Electrical Issues

Problem Possible Cause Possible Solution

LCD Display is blank.

LCD Display is “frozen” and Controller will not accept programming.

Water source not supplying water. Make sure the main water line and all supply lines are open and operating properly.

Wires not properly connected. Make sure all ﬁeld wires and master valve/pump start relay wiring is connected properly.

Wires loose or cut; corroded connections. Check ﬁeld wiring for broken, cut, or “skinned” wires and replace if necessary. Check all wire

Dial not set to AUTO position. Make sure the dial is on AUTO position—not any other dial position.

If you have a Rain Sensor, it may be activated.

If you do not have a Rain Sensor, the wire connecting the two yellow Rain Sensor terminals may be damaged or missing.

An electrical surge may have damaged the Controller’s electronics.

Transformer not plugged in or wall socket not supplying power (Red light on the transformer is not illuminated).

An electrical surge may have damaged the Controller’s electronics.

connections and replace with watertight splice connectors as needed.

You can either wait until the Rain Sensor dries out, or disconnect the Rain Sensor from the yellow terminals on the Controller and replace it with a wire connecting the two yellow terminals.

Connect the two yellow Rain Sensor terminals in the Controller’s terminal bay with a short length of 14 to 18 gauge wire.

Press the reset button under the wiring cover. If there is no permanent damage, the Controller should resume normal operation. You will need to input the current time and date, but your watering schedule should remain intact.

Make sure the two-prong connector is connected and the transformer is securely plugged in.

Make sure the main AC power supply is working properly.

Unplug the Controller for 3 minutes. Plug the Controller back in. If there is no permanent damage, the Controller will accept programming and resume normal operation.

Programming Chart

Zone Zone Description

Run

Time

(Max 240 min.)

___ Min M T W T F SA SU ODD EVEN ___:___ AM PM 1 2 3 4

Watering Days

(circle days that apply)

* Start Time #1

(15 min. increments)

Total Start

Times

(circle no. of starts)

Note: A total of 4 start times can be assigned for each zone (this can be helpful for zones irrigating tight soils and slopes).

* Start Time Sequence (hours after ﬁrst programmed start time)

No. of Start Times 1st Start Time 2nd Start Time 3rd Start Time 4th Start Time

One Time as programmed n/a n/a n/a

Two Times as programmed 6 hours n/a n/a

Three Times as programmed 4 hours 8 hours n/a

Four Times as programmed 3 hours 6 hours 9 hours

STPi Controller Operation Manual

Notes:

The Intelligent Use Of Water

RAIN BIRD CORPORATION

6991 E. Southpoint Road

Building 1

Tucson, AZ 85706

Registered trademark of Rain Bird Corporation

RAIN BIRD EUROPE, S.A.R.L 900, rue Ampere · BP72000

13792 Aix en Provence Cedex 3

France

Marca registrada de Rain Bird Corporation

www.rainbird.com

Technical services (U.S. and Canada only)

1-800-RAIN-BIRD

P/N: 637418-01

RAIN BIRD Simple To Program Operating Instructions

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual