paauto Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 What do I need to add a 6 zone irrigation program to my system? Best I can tell the EZFlora Controller and the Weatherbug module. Is that correct? Link to comment
LeeG Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 An EZFlora and an ISY Program are all that is needed to run the EZFlora. The WeatherBug and Irrigation modules provide environmental data that allow intelligent adjustment of irrigation schedules, length of watering cycles, etc. I don’t use either optional module. Just use a few different ISY Programs based on how much rain has fallen in the last few days and how hot. I irrigate from a large lake so water consumption is not an issue. I’m sure others who do use the irrigation module will jump in here with information on its advantages. Link to comment
paauto Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 Thanks Lee. I have a Toro Rain Sensor that I plan to adapt by wiring it into the common on the valves. Aside from that, all I want is to be able to set watering days, times and lenght of watering per zone. I also have a "master valve" (which is essentially another zone). So I can create programs within my existing ISY software to accomplish this? Link to comment
LeeG Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Things were going well until the Master Valve question. The EZFlora does support what is referred to as a Pump Control function that turns On Zone 8 when any other Zone is On. Unfortunately the ISY does not support turning on that function. Simplehomenet provides a Simplehomenet Utility Suite (free XP program download from the SHN web site) that can configure the EZFlora to use Zone 8 as a Pump Control Zone. It would require another PLM to use as the SHN Utility Suite interface to the powerline to configure the EZFlora. Use of the Pump Control function is required as turning On any Zone in the EZFlora automatically turns Off any other Zone which is currently On. From an ISY Program it is not possible to turn two Zones On at once. Link to comment
paauto Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 Glad I asked. So, do I need to have another PLM up and running all the time to accomplish the zone 8 configuration, or is it only a one time thing? Link to comment
LeeG Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 It is a onetime thing. Once the EZFlora configuration is set to use Zone 8 as Pump Control it will remain. The Pump Control configuration change has to be done after adding the EZFlora to the ISY. It would also be lost if the EZFlora was factory reset. Link to comment
paauto Posted March 25, 2012 Author Share Posted March 25, 2012 Can I use my ISY's PLM temporarily? Link to comment
LeeG Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Sure, if you have a Serial port to connect it to. I have done that in the past. The SHN Utility makes NO changes to the PLM. The PLM is simply means for passing commands to the powerline. Link to comment
ScottAvery Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 now how do you connect a standard serial (is it a dsub9?) to the rj45? Question to the OP, do you have an existing irrigation system or are you installing new? Curious if this is a reasonable DIY project. Link to comment
LeeG Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 My PLM came with the Serial cable although I did purchase the PLM separate from the ISY. Link to comment
LeeG Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 "Curious if this is a reasonable DIY project." I designed and installed my own irrigation system. Covers about 1/2 acre with 7 zones, no 8 actually. Takes much research to understand water flow rates through the various types of heads and distribution pipe used. I pump from a lake so there was not much room for error with each Zone. Easier if using municipal water system. The physical installation is a chore. Lots of trenching, lots of plumbing and low voltage wiring. Broke it into two phases, backyard, from yard. That worked well. The system works great. Well worth the months of planning and weeks of install. Saved several thousand dollars compared to a professional install. Must have a good plan! Laid out all zones, where all the heads would be, type of heads, head coverage, flow rates, valve locations on scale drawing before ever lifting a shovel. Do not scrimp on heads. A head or two can always be capped off but dry spots are hard to fix. Throwing something in the ground hoping it will work is not the answer. Go with a professional install if a good plan is not possible. Link to comment
Brian H Posted March 30, 2012 Share Posted March 30, 2012 Scott, Look in the PLMs box. There should be a RJ45 to DB9 serial cable packed somewhere in the PLM box. Mine was inside the packing cradle holding the PLM in the box. Link to comment
ScottAvery Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Found it! Just where you described. Glad I kept the boxes. Link to comment
Brian H Posted April 4, 2012 Share Posted April 4, 2012 Glad you found it. I always keep my boxes and packing material. On the off chance I have to return something. My problem is many times the item itself is gone but I forget to trash the packing boxes. Link to comment
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