BaseStation 3200 User Manual - Baseline Systems

C h a p t e r 2 – B a s i c P r o g r a m m i n gUpper LimitThis water strategy also has several programming options. As previously mentioned, thisstrategy will vary the zone water time each time the program runs, to apply enough water toraise the moisture level to field capacity. Soak cycles are critical for this mode as the controllerwill monitor the moisture level as water is applied. At the end of each soak cycle it willdetermine if an additional water cycle is needed. Once the upper limit has been reached, thecontroller will water for an additional 50% of the primary zone run time to compensate fordistribution uniformity issues and increased deep watering.The following summarizes the setting options for upper limit biSensor watering:Water StrategyOptionManual Limit Adjust CalibrateUpper (manual) User sets NA OFFUpper (onecalibration cycle)Pending until aftercalibration cycleUser can modifyNAOnceUpper Auto Locked After calibrationcycle, user can set anadjustment tocalculated limitNext water cycleFirst water cycle ofeach monthThese are the upper limit programming requirements:Set zone run times to apply ½” to ¾” of waterSet program to use Historical ET Calendar day intervals (or alternately, specific days ofthe week)Enable soak-cyclesUse upper auto water strategyUpper limit watering has the following behaviors:The water schedule is known as far as what days watering will occur – use waterwindows to specify a mow day.The water run time for a program is variable, so the end completion time is notpredictable – if there are completion time constraints, this may not be a good waterstrategyComplying with Water RestrictionsThere are times and seasons when water restrictions are placed on areas. Keeping a green andhealthy landscape during these restrictions is best achieved with deep rooted turf! Train yourgrass before the crisis to grow deep roots (water deep and only when the grass needs it) Under sevier water restrictions, do not try to water using moisturebiSensors – set the water strategies to Timed and apply permitted water.The moisture graphs can be used to track the moisture depletion rate.The first step in understanding how to keep the controller from watering when it shouldn’t is toidentify under what conditions it will allow watering. The BaseStation 3200 controller will start aprogram when all of the following conditions have been met:Page 41Baseline 3200