Toro Sentinel Product Guide
SENTINEL
SENTINEL
Technical Support: 1-877-345-TORO (8676)
Toro NSN®®
Toro NSN
Sentinel Support: 1--
Sentinel Support: 1
®
®
CENTRAL CONTROL
CENTRAL CONTROL
Product Guide
The Toro Company
Irrigation Division
5825 Jasmine Street
Riverside, CA 92504
800--
ASK TORO (275--
800
ASK TORO (275
8676)
8676)
SENTINEL
SENTINEL
®
®
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
SENTINEL
SENTINEL
®
®
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
Sentinel Central Control System
The dictionary defines Sentinel [sěn'tə-nəl] as “a soldier stationed as a guard to challenge all
comers and prevent a surprise attack: to stand sentinel.” Its roots are found in the Old Latin word
“sentina” which means “vigilance.”
Toro defines Sentinel as a product that will watch over your irrigation system and safeguard it
against potential problems resulting from excess flow, incorrect programming, varying weather
and many other conditions. As a result, the intrinsic value of the landscape is protected, and
water waste is minimized or eliminated. The term “Central Control” identifies Sentinel’s ability
to watch over a single site or multiple sites in a localized area or across a broad geographic area
from one location (computer).
Whether it’s a stand-alone controller or a large centrally based system, the Sentinel product line
offers numerous features that address a broad array of customer needs.
Two words… Reliability & Confidence
Toro customers expect control products to work continually in harsh environmental conditions
and to last for many years. Unrelenting sunlight and heat, followed by cool nights and humidity,
lightning ground strikes and other electric surges, constant updating of programs dictated by
constant weather changes, ants and or vermin who make enclosures their home, dusty conditions,
and temporary power are just some of the conditions that can impact controller operation.
Customers want a product they can install and depend upon for reliable performance, not one
that must be constantly disassembled and sent in for repair.
Toro’s development focus for the Sentinel Central Control System was to create the most fullfeatured, easy-to-use, and reliable product possible. A closed-case controller module design
provides protection against many environmental variables that might negatively impact
functionality, but allows easy troubleshooting in the field. Options for multiple enclosure types
and multiple levels of surge protection ensure regional and customer-specific durability needs are
met.
We didn’t stop there. We backed this product up with Toro NSN® support to provide your
customer with 24/7 telephone support for computer system components or software-related
problems. Although competitors may claim to have a similar service, NSN is recognized
worldwide as the premier organization for irrigation central control issues. As with other Toro
control systems, NSN takes a proactive approach by assembling and configuring the Sentinel
central computer and software for maximum performance and reliability in less-than-favorable
environments.
Don’t forget about Toro distribution. Toro distributors are recognized wherever they operate as
being customer-focused companies with well-trained staff members that are there for their
customers. Trained and supported by the best Field Service Managers in the industry, Sentinel
distributors must be certified to sell and service this product. Their skills are continually
enhanced in service schools that are part of the mandatory curriculum at Toro University.
SENTINEL
SENTINEL
®
®
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
The Challenge: Effective Water Management
Putting together an efficient irrigation system is no small task. Concerns such as watering
precision, broken pipes and mainlines, or dealing with electrical shorts and power outages have
been problematic for landscape managers for decades. These along with increased competition
for water supplies, scarcity of resources, and recent irrigation mandates have left those in
irrigation management roles searching for the most efficient, yet simple, way of combating all of
these issues.
The Solution: Sentinel Central Control
The Toro Sentinel System was introduced in 2002 and has established itself in the marketplaces
as one of the leaders in wireless communication for central control systems. Sentinel allows the
user to communicate to up to 999 satellite controllers wirelessly rather than forcing the customer
to install lengthy wire runs that tie field controllers together. Sentinel provides a variety of
Central Computer to Satellite communication options, including radio, Ethernet, telephone,
cellular, and others, so you can choose the one that best meets your site-specific needs or mixand-match across multiple sites.
Multiple Site Applications: Sentinel provides the ability to program, control, and monitor
multiple remote controllers from one location. Whether controlling one large, contiguous site
like a sports complex or housing association, or multiple remote sites like a school district or
parks & recreation department, a central control system provides easy, rapid access to the
irrigation system from a computer.
System Control: Sentinel allows all irrigation control actions to be carried out easily and
efficiently from a central location. Control actions such as adjusting runtimes to changing
weather conditions or stopping irrigation in the event of rain or high wind can be automatically
accomplished without requiring a technician to visit individual controllers. However, if a
technician is on-site and sees a need for programming changes, like shortening runtimes after a
grow-in period, true two-way communications allow changes to the program at the field
controller on-site and can also be uploaded to the central computer.
Sensor Integration: Sentinel can incorporate many different sensors, including flow sensors,
tipping rain cans, wind sensors, freeze sensors, and full weather-stations. These sensors and
instruments monitor site and climatic conditions and report to the central computer. Runtime
adjustments are automatically made based on these inputs and combined with information on
plant material and soil types. Sentinel Satellites can react automatically to readings outside of
pre-defined limits set by the system operator, like isolating stations when excessive flow
indicates a piping break.
Multiple Communication Options: A Sentinel system consists of a central computer, irrigation
controllers, sensors, weather stations, and a communication system that ties it all together. No
matter whether the central computer is located onsite or at a remote location, communication
options like radio, telephone, cellular, and Ethernet can be mixed and matched to meet system
needs.
SENTINEL
SENTINEL
®
®
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
Simplicity
As a Microsoft® Windows-based software, Sentinel is easy-to-use and intuitive, and it’s one of
the most powerful irrigation control systems ever offered. Information is graphically displayed—
so it’s easy to see and use. And, all similar functions are grouped together making it simple to
find information quickly. Plus, the customer uses only the features they need… Basic features or
advanced functionality; the choice is yours.
Sentinel Master Control Panel: Provides
easy access to all programming functions—
no keystrokes or sequences required, and
no need to go searching for functions.
Automatic Operations: Daily operations and
scheduling are made quick and easy. All essential
programming information is contained in one
window so it’s easy to understand and manage.
Easy Navigation – Full Featured: Expandable/collapsible
navigation tree that puts all the data for individual field controllers
one click away. Tabbed Access to what you need to work with:
Satellites (Units): Individual Field Controllers within the
Sentinel System. Capable of, up to, 999 individual controllers
numbered 001…999.
Systems: Groups of controllers that share operating parameters.
Organizing these controllers into Systems enables edits,
operational status checks, and reporting (total Water Use) to be
performed on multiple satellites simultaneously.
Weather Sources: Weather Sources provide weather-related
data to the Sentinel WMS software. This information can be
used by the satellites to automatically adjust run times based on
ET demand and rainfall activity. Sentinel WMS can also
monitor weather parameters and react at preset thresholds. For
example, monitoring rainfall to automatically shut down a
satellite System when measured rainfall reaches a predefined
amount.
And, many more customer-driven features that optimize water management…
ET-based watering
Set control parameters for each station
View water usage and compare to historical
Extensive alarm and reporting capabilities
Map-based feedback of system operation
Intuitive visual cues and operator aids
®
SENTINEL
SENTINEL
®
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
Effective Water Management
Water Savings
Use of a weather station, providing
effective Evapo-Transpiration (ET) based
system management can lead to water
savings of 25% to 35% per year.
Depending on current management
practices, water savings may be greater,
or in the case of extremely well managed
stand alone systems, somewhat lower. As
an additional source of savings, pipeline
breaks, malfunctioning valves, and
missing heads are automatically detected
and shut down, preventing excessive
water loss.
Flow Optimization
Start times of programs can be
automatically optimized to maintain
system demand at the optimum level,
ensuring demand does not exceed preset
limits while maximizing efficiency in
systems with pumps. Flow optimization
also shortens water windows.
And, many more customer-driven features that optimize water management…
Theoretical (predictive) Flow Graphs
Set control parameters for each station
View water usage and compare to historical
Extensive alarm and reporting capabilities
Map-based feedback of system operation
Intuitive visual cues and operator aids
SENTINEL
SENTINEL
®
®
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
Flexibility - Making Sentinel Work for You
The Toro Sentinel System has established itself in the marketplaces as one of the leaders in
wireless communication for central control systems. Sentinel allows the user to communicate to
up to 999 satellite controllers wirelessly, rather than forcing the customer to install lengthy wire
runs that tie field controllers together. Sentinel provides a variety of Central Computer to
Satellite communication options, so you can choose the one that best meets your site-specific
needs or mix-and-match across multiple sites including:
Radio Communications - Radio communication from the Central Computer to Sentinel
Satellites allows you to install Sentinel at sites with little or no disruption of existing landscapes
and is ideal for single-site installations. Sentinel can also utilize radio protocols to communicate
with MapTo Satellites, maximizing system capabilities.
Telephone Communications - When reliable communication to multiple geographically-remote
satellites is needed, standard telephone communications can meet your needs. Installation can be
accomplished anywhere a standard telephone line can be run to a Sentinel Satellite. A standard
internal or external phone modem is all that is required at the Central Computer, which
communicates to a commercial-grade modem in the Sentinel Satellite.
Cellular Communications - When remote-access benefits of telephone communications are
needed, but a phone line is not available at the Satellite location, cellular networks provide a
wireless communication option. By installing a cellular IP modem in the Sentinel Satellite, the
user can communicate wirelessly from anywhere in the world.
Ethernet Communications - In an increasingly “wired” world, Ethernet/Internet is one of the
fastest growing segments of central control communications. The simple combination of an IP
address at the computer and an Ethernet adapter in the field can allow for network access and
control of your Satellites.
Controller Options - Sentinel also provides the widest array of standard Satellite configurations s
in the industry, ensuring system installation meets the requirements of your site. Enclosure
options to choose from include:
• Small Metal Wall Mount Cabinet
• Stainless Steel Wall Mount Cabinet
• Stainless Steel Pedestal
• Plastic Pedestal
Also, many existing controllers, like the Irritrol MC can be upgraded with a Sentinel Retro-Link
to turn them into a Sentinel Satellite without needing to replace the controller. And, if the
standard product doesn’t meet your needs, our Eicon Division can custom build what you require,
from custom enclosures to non-standard station counts and communications methods, the options
are endless.
With communication and enclosure options, modular station counts in 12-station increments, and
sensing and flow monitoring inputs that do not require additional interface components, a
Sentinel system adapts to meet your specific requirements instead you adapting to the
capabilities of the system.
®
SENTINEL
SENTINEL
TYPICAL SENTINEL COMMUNICATION OPTIONS
TYPICAL SENTINEL COMMUNICATION OPTIONS
Narrowband Radio:
Narrowband Radio:
®
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
CENTRAL CONTROL PRODUCT GUIDE
(450--
(450
Phone (Landline):
Phone (Landline):
470 MHz)
470 MHz)
Ethernet:
Ethernet:
Phone (Cellular):
Phone (Cellular):
Spread Spectrum:
Spread Spectrum:
(Radio -
(Radio
900 MHz)
900 MHz)
Loading...