BaseStation 3200 User Manual – 11.7.5.15 ... - Baseline Systems

BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual
Understanding Upper and Lower Limit Watering Strategies
Lower Limit
This water strategy provides an excellent way to achieve healthy, deep-rooted grass. You can either set the lower
limit manually or you can have the controller perform a calibration cycle in order to calculate the limit. Set the
lower limit at the maximum allowable depletion moisture level, just before the lawn begins to stress or wilt.
Manual
When you choose the Lower water strategy, you must set and then manage
the lower watering limit. This water strategy works well when you are not
constrained by specific water days. Schedule the program to water every day,
and then let the biSensor determine which days to skip by monitoring the
moisture level. The controller only waters when the moisture level has
dropped below the lower limit, and then a full water cycle runs.
The best way to set the lower limit is to have the controller do an initial
calibration cycle. Set the Calibrate field to Once. The calibration cycle will run
during the first normally scheduled run time that is at least two days after the
biSensor installation. The system sets an initial lower limit based on the calibration.
Auto
When you choose the Lower Auto water strategy, the controller sets and
manages the lower water limit. The controller schedules a monthly calibration
cycle to adjust the limit for seasonal changes to soil and plants. This
calibration cycle occurs on the first water time of the new month. Setting this
water strategy also schedules an initial calibration cycle for the next start time
that is at least two days after the biSensor installation. You have the option to
adjust the auto limit by entering a value in the Adjust field. This adjustment of
up to +/– 2% is added to the limit to make the soil a little wetter or a little
drier than the controller set limit.
Lower Limit Programming Requirements
• Set zone run times to apply ½ inch of water
• Set program to start every day of the week (biSensor will block watering until it is needed)
• Enable soak-cycles
• Use the default lower limit water strategy to begin with
• The first calibration cycle occurs on the first start time after a biSensor has been installed for at least 48
hours.
• A calibration cycle will calculate limits 12 to 15 hours after watering is complete on the primary zone.
• A calibration cycle will extend the programmed zone water time if needed to determine the soil
saturation point - if the ground is very dry (or if the run time is too short), the run time could extend to
twice the programmed time.
• If a calibration cycle cannot determine the soil saturation point, the calibration cycle will fail – posting an
alert and setting a default limit.
Page 53