Toro 212 User Manual
GreenKeeper 212 Features:
• Easily Expandable Up To 12 Stations
with 2-Station Plug-in Modules
•3 Watering Programs With:
- Calendar, Interval and Odd/Even Days
- 1 Min. to 4 Hrs. Station Run Time
- 4 Start Times Per Program
•Battery Back-Up
•Automatic Pump Start
•Seasonal Run Time Adjust
•Rain Delay
•Rain Sensor Ready
•Remote Control Ready
•Snap-in Wire Connectors
Automatic Sprinkler System Controller
User’s Guide
MANUAL
START
ON
NEXT
OFF
PROGRAMS
B
CA
R
R
Introduction and Set Up
■ GreenKeeper 212 Components......................2-5
■ Sprinkler System Basics....................................6
■ Watering Program Basics..................................7
■ Watering Program Details ..............................8-9
■ Planning Your Watering Schedule...................10
■ Filling Out the Watering Schedule Form.....10-11
❚ Watering Schedule Form ..............................12
■ Programming Before Installation .....................13
■ Installing the Battery ........................................13
■ Selecting Optional Features ............................14
❚ 24-Hour Clock Mode.....................................14
❚ 15-Second Run Delay ..................................14
❚ Odd/Even Watering Days..............................14
■ About the Controller Memory...........................14
■ Resetting the Controller Memory.....................15
❚ To Reset the Permanent Memory.................15
❚ To Clear the Memory ...................................15
Programming the Controller
■ Setting the Current Time and Day or Date ......16
■ Setting the Watering Day Schedule............17-19
❚ Setting a Calendar Schedule ........................17
❚ Setting an Interval Schedule.........................18
❚ Setting an Odd or Even Schedule.................19
❚ Turning Off a Program .................................19
■ Setting Program Start Times ...........................20
■ Setting Station Run Times...............................21
Controller Installation
■ Indoor Model Installation ..............................22
❚ Connecting the Valves..................................23
❚ Connecting a Pump Start Relay....................24
❚ Connecting the Transformer .........................24
■ Outdoor Model Installation ...........................25
❚ Preparing the Cabinet for Installation............25
❚ Installing the Cabinet.....................................26
❚ Connecting the Valves..................................27
❚ Connecting a Pump Start Relay....................28
❚ Connecting the Power Source ................28–29
■ Connecting a Toro Rain Switch .......................29
Controller Operation
■ Automatic Operation .....................................30
■ Manual Operation ..........................................31
❚ Starting Programs or Stations Manually........31
❚ Watering Control Features............................32
❚
To Pause Watering .....................................32
❚
To Resume Watering..................................32
❚
To Cancel Watering ....................................32
❚
To Skip Zones.............................................32
❚
To Adjust the Station Run TIme..................33
■ Turning Off the GreenKeeper 212 ...................33
■ Using the Rain Delay Feature..........................33
■ Using the Season Adjust Feature....................34
Service and Specifications
■ Replacing the Fuse..........................................35
■ Adding a Station Module..................................36
■ Troubleshooting...............................................36
■ Specifications...................................................37
■ Warranty ..........................................................38
■ Electromagnetic Compatibility .........................38
Table of Contents
1
Controller Components
GreenKeeper 212 Introduction
and Set Up
2
1
2
3
BATTERY
GreenKeeper 212 Components
The following are brief descriptions of the controller components and display elements. Each of these items will
be explained in further detail within the appropriate programming, operating and installation sections of this
guide.
1 - LCD Display
A -
“Start Time” symbol – Alarm clock is displayed
when setting the program start times.
B - Program start time identification numbers 1–4.
C - Main display of various time values and prompts.
D - Program A, B and C identifiers.
E - “Watering On” symbol – Water droplet indicates a
watering station is running. Droplet flashes if watering is paused.
F - “Watering Off” symbol – Water droplet with slash
indicates all watering activity is Off.
G - “Power Off” symbol – Displayed when main power
is disconnected and controller is on battery power
only.
H - “Low Battery Voltage” symbol – Indicates low bat-
tery voltage (when main power is disconnected).
I - Watering Station identification numbers.
J - “Percent” symbol – Indicates the Season Adjust
feature is in use.
K - Day of the week identifiers.
L - “Run Time” symbol – Hourglass is displayed when
setting the watering station run times.
2 - Control Buttons
+/ON button – Increases the time display, scrolls for-
ward through the program information and selects
watering days.
–/OFF button – Decreases the time display, scrolls
backward through the program information and
removes watering days.
NEXT button – Advances to the next portion of pro-
gram information. Resumes watering if paused.
Advances through stations manually when watering.
MANUAL START button – Selects and starts manual
watering operations.
3 - Control Dial – Selects all controller programming
and operation controls (except Manual Start).
Control Dial Positions
RUN – The normal dial position for all automatic
and manual operations.
CURRENT TIME/DAY – Enables the clock time
and day to be set.
WATERING DAYS – Enables the watering day
schedules to be set and reviewed.
PROGRAM START TIME – Enables the program
start times to be set and reviewed.
STATION TIMES – Enables the station run time to
be set and reviewed.
(continued)
3
Controller Components
3 - Control Dial Positions (continued)
SEASON ADJUST – Enables the run time of all
zones in a program to be simultaneously increased
or decreased in 10% increments.
OFF – Shuts off and prevents all automatic and
manual watering activity.
RAIN DELAY – Enables all watering operations to
be delayed from 1 to 7 days.
4 - Program Select Switch – Three-position slide
switch used to select watering program A, B or C
during the programming procedures and manual
operation.
5 - 12 or 24-Hour Clock Selector Jumper – Removing
this jumper selects 24-hour (military time) clock
mode. Jumper installed selects 12-hour clock mode.
6 - Run Delay Selector Jumper– Removing this
jumper selects a 15-second delay period before a
station begins watering. Jumper installed provides a
2-second delay.
7 - Odd/Even Day Schedule Selector Jumper –
Removing this jumper enables an Odd or Even
watering day schedule to be selected.
8 - Fuse – Domestic - 0.75A, 3AG (shown throughout
manual). Export - 0.63A, (not shown).
9 - Battery Charger Switch – Controls the battery
charging circuit. Switch positions provided for
Alkaline (ALK) and rechargeable (RCHG) batteries.
10 - Rain Sensor Control Switch – Controls the sensor
input circuit. Switch positions provided for sensor
circuit On and Off.
11 - Sensor Connection Terminals – Snap-in connec-
tors for connection of an (optional) Toro Rain Switch.
12 - Valve Common Connection Terminal – Snap-in
wire connector for the valve common wire.
13 - Pump/Master Valve Connection Terminal –
Snap-in wire connector for a pump start relay or
master valve.
14 - Transformer Connection Terminals – Snap-in
connectors for the plug-in transformer wires.
15 - Plug-In Station Control Module – Each control
module provides snap-in connectors for two station
control valve power wires. Up to six modules can be
installed.
16 - 9-Volt Battery – The battery maintains the con-
troller memory if the transformer power is disconnected. Either an Alkaline or rechargeable Ni-MH
battery can be installed.
17 - Power Supply – A Plug-in transformer supplies
24 V a.c. power to the indoor controller models.
(Domestic transformer version shown.)
18 - Remote Control Receiver Jack – Modular jack
provided for connection of the optional Toro Remote
Control receiver cable.
(Refer to the instructions provided with the remote
control device for installation and operation details.)
19 - Transformer – A built-in transformer supplies
24 V a.c. power to the outdoor controller models.
20 - Terminal Block – Input power wire connection ter-
minals for outdoor controller models.
4
5
Controller Components
3
18
4
5
6
7
8
BATTERY
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
PROGRAMS
B
CA
19
BATTERY
17
20
MANUAL
START
ON
NEXT
OFF
18
16
The three main components of every automatic sprinkler
system are the controller, station control valves and
sprinklers.
The controller is the brain of the system, telling the control
valves when and how long to supply water to the sprinklers. The sprinklers direct and control the water applied to
the lawn and plants.
Each valve controls a specific group of sprinklers called
a watering
station. The stations are generally laid out
and installed according to the type of plant material to be
watered, the location of the plant within the landscape
and the maximum amount of water which can be supplied. Each valve is connected to a numbered terminal
within the controller, identifying it as Station 1, Station 2,
etc.
The controller operates the valves in order, one at a
time. In other words, one station would water completely
before another station would turn on. This is called a
watering
cycle. The information stored in the controller
memory which determines when and how long the stations will water is called a
program.
The next section of this guide is very important. It explains
what a program is and how the GreenKeeper 212 controls
the operation of the sprinkler system.
Sprinkler System Basics
6
Valve 1 - Station 1 - Parkway Lawn - Fixed Spray
Valve 2 - Station 2 - Front Lawn - Fixed Spray
Valve 3 - Station 3 - Front Shrubs - Flood Bubbler
Valve 4 - Station 4 - Back Lawn - Geared Rotor
Valve 5 - Station 5 - Garden - Drip
Valve 1
Controller
Valve 2
House
Valve 3
Valve 4
Valve 5
ON
MANUAL
NEXT
START
PROGRAMS
B
CA
OFF
R
A watering program requires three basic instructions to
operate automatically:
• What days to water –called
watering days
• When to water – called a program start time
• How long to water – called station run time
The following example illustrates how a typical watering
program could be set for the sprinkler system shown on
the previous page.
Example: The program start time is set for 5:00
AM. Lawn
stations 1 and 2 each have a run time of 10 minutes and
lawn station 4 is set to run for 20 minutes. Note that stations 3 and 5 water shrubs and flowers and have been
excluded from this program. (These stations will be set
to operate on separate programs).
As shown in the watering program diagram, at 5:00
AM
the controller starts the program watering cycle. Station
1 sprinklers run for 10 minutes and shut off. Station 2
sprinklers turn on, run for 10 minutes and shut off. The
controller skips station 3 and turns on station 4, which
runs for 20 minutes and shuts off. Station 5 is skipped
and the watering cycle ends at 5:40
AM.
As you can see from this example, only one program
start time was needed to operate three different stations.
Because of variations in plant watering needs, the
GreenKeeper 212 provides three separate programs.
The programs, called
A, B and C, are completely inde-
pendent of one another – like having three timers in one
housing.
Using more than one program for example, would enable
lawn zones to be watered every day on program
A,
shrub zones to run on on Monday, Wednesday and Friday on program
B and drip irrigation to soak the flower
beds every three days on program
C.
Although the GreenKeeper 212 offers the multiple program feature, you may want to have all zones on one
program if it meets your needs. The other programs can
remain turned off until you need to use them.
Watering Program Basics
7
Station 1
Program
Starts - 5:00 AM
Program
Ends- 5:40 AM
Station 2
Station 4
Watering Program Diagram
12
3
9
6
12
3
9
6
12
3
9
6
This section covers in detail each of the three parts of a
watering program – watering days, program start times
and station run times.
Selecting Watering Days
The GreenKeeper 212 provides four options for scheduling watering days: Calendar, Interval, Odd or Even and
Off.
Calendar Schedule
A Calendar schedule enables you to select specific days
of the week to water, for example, Monday, Wednesday
and Friday. This is a seven-day schedule which starts on
Sunday and ends on Saturday.
This illustration shows how a Calendar schedule would
be displayed when the control dial is in the
WATERING DAYS position.
In this example, program
A
has watering days set for MO
(Monday), WE (Wednesday)
and
FR (Friday).
Interval Schedule
An Interval schedule enables you to set watering days
without regard to the actual days of the week. For example, if you want to water every third day, you would
select a 3-day Interval. Interval schedules range from
1-day (watering every day) to 7-day (watering every seventh day). Once you have selected an Interval schedule,
you can choose which day of the week will be the first day
of the Interval. The number of days in the Interval determines the available start days. For example, if you have
selected a 3-day Interval and today is Sunday, you may
choose to start the Interval today, Monday or Tuesday.
This illustration shows how
an Interval schedule would
be displayed. In this example, program
B has a 3-day
Interval schedule which will
start on Monday.
Odd/Even Schedule
The Odd/Even schedule enables you to select odd or
even numbered days of the month as watering days.
This illustration shows how
an Odd day schedule
would be displayed.
Program Off
Selecting OFF suspends the operation of the program
when it is not needed. Turning the program off does not
alter or erase the watering day schedule of the program,
it simply places the program on hold until it is needed.
This illustration shows how a
program would be displayed
if its watering day schedule
is turned off. In this example, program
C is off.
Watering Program Details
8
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
PGM A
PGM A B C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
SU MO TU WE TH FR SA
PGM A
Selecting Program Start Times
A program start time is the time of day you select to
begin an automatic program watering cycle.
It is important to remember that a program only
requires one start time to operate automatically.
When a program starts, each station assigned to the
program will water in numerical order, one at a time for
its set run time.
Sometimes it is necessary to run a watering program
more than one time per day. For example, when growing
a new lawn. The GreenKeeper 212 enables each program to have up to four separate start times per day.
Program start times are numbered 1 through 4. These
numbers are shown at the top left of the display next to
the start time symbol when the control dial is in the
PROGRAM START TIME position and indicate how
many start times are currently set for the program.
This illustration shows how
a program start time is
displayed. In this example,
program
A has one start
time (start time number 1)
set for 5:00
AM.
Setting the Station Run Time
A station run time is the length of time the station (controlled by the valve) will water during the program watering cycle. The run time for each station can be set from
Off (no run time) to 4 hours, in one-minute increments.
A station is
assigned to a program when it is given a run
time. If the run time for a station is turned Off in a program, it will not operate during the program watering
cycle. This is how the GreenKeeper 212 enables you to
assign stations to different programs.
All stations assigned to the program are shown on the
lower portion of the display when the control dial is in the
STATION TIMES position.
This illustration shows how
a station run time is displayed for a program. In this
example, zones 1–6 are
assigned to program
A.
Station 1 has a 10-minute
run time and station 2 is set
to run for 25 minutes.
The station run time being
displayed is identified by the
flashing station number.
9
Flashing
Flashing
It is always helpful to plan your watering schedule on
paper before beginning the programming steps. You will
have a record of your watering schedule and station locations which can be kept with your GreenKeeper 212 after
it is installed. If you have an indoor model controller, a
watering schedule form is provided on page 12 for you to
fill out then remove to keep with the controller. This form is
duplicated on a decal located on the inside cover of the
outdoor model.
◆
Guidelines for Watering
There are several factors to be considered when deciding when and how long to water. For example, the soil
type (i.e., clay, loam, etc.), the part of the landscape
being watered, climate conditions and the type of sprinklers being used. Because of these variables, we cannot
provide an exact schedule to follow, but here are some
general watering guidelines to help you get started.
• Water early in the morning, one to two hours before
sunrise. You will have the best water pressure at this
time and the water can soak into the plant root zone
while evaporation is minimal. Watering during mid-day
or in the evening may cause plant damage or mildew.
• Watch for signs of under- or over-watering and make
program adjustments immediately.
Filling Out the Watering Schedule Form
When filling out this form, use a pencil so changes can be
easily made. After installing the indoor model controller,
remove the form and store it in the pocket formed
between the mounting bracket and the back of the controller housing.
Refer to the example form shown on the opposite page
and fill out your form in a similar manner with the following information:
•
Location - Identify the location of each watering station and the type of plant being watered.
Note: Enter the following information for each program. If the program is not needed, leave its information column blank.
•
Watering Day Schedule - For a Calendar schedule,
indicate which day(s) of the week watering is desired.
For an Interval schedule indicate the desired Interval
number. For Odd or Even days, simply mark the
appropriate box.
•
Station Run Time - Indicate the amount of run time
(1 minute to 4 hours) for each station. Write “Off” for any
station which you do not want to operate in the program.
•
Program Start Times - Indicate the time of day to
start the program. Each program can have 1 to 4 start
times per watering day.
Note: The GreenKeeper will run only one watering
cycle at a time. Therefore, when using multiple start
times within a program or when using multiple programs, make sure that each watering cycle will be
able to run completely before the next watering cycle
is scheduled to start. A program start time that occurs
while a watering cycle is in progress will be delayed
until the current watering cycle is finished.
Planning Your Watering Schedule
10
11
(Example)
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