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

BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual
Lower Limit Watering Behaviors
• It is uncertain which days of the week when watering will occur – use water windows to specify a mow day.
• The water run time for a program is fixed, so the end time is predictable to the extent that multiple programs
may all be trying to water on the same day.
Upper Limit
This water strategy varies the zone water time each time the program runs in order to apply enough water to raise
the moisture level to field capacity. Soak cycles are critical for this mode because the controller monitors the
moisture level as water is applied. At the end of each soak cycle, the controller determines whether an additional
water cycle is needed. After the upper limit has been reached, the controller will water for an additional 50% of
the primary zone run time to compensate for distribution uniformity issues and increased deep watering.
Manual
When you choose the Upper water strategy, you must set and manage the
upper watering limit. You can have the controller perform an initial calibration
cycle to establish the starting limit value. This calibration cycle will be run on
the first start time, two days after the biSensor installation date. After the
initial calibration cycle has been run, you must monitor the moisture levels
and plant health so you can make adjustments as needed.
Upper limit watering starts a watering cycle on each start time for the primary
zone and adjusts the watering time to raise the moisture level back up to the
upper limit (field capacity). The controller increases or decreases the water
time, but it never adjusts more than twice your initial water time.
Auto
When you choose the Upper Limit Auto water strategy, the controller
performs a monthly calibration cycle to determine the field capacity of the soil
due to seasonal changes in the soil and plants. This calibration cycle will be
run on the first start time of the new month. When this strategy is first set, it
will perform an initial calibration cycle during the next start time that is at
least two days after the biSensor installation date.
Upper Limit Programming Requirements
• Set the zone run times to apply ½ inch to ¾ inch of water
• Set the program to use Historical ET Calendar day intervals (or alternately, specific days of the week)
• Enable soak cycles
Upper Limit Watering Behaviors
• The water schedule is known as far as what days watering will occur – use water windows to specify a mow
day.
• The water run time for a program is variable, so the end completion time is not predictable – if there are
completion time constraints, this may not be a good water strategy.
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