CS3500 Training

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CS3500 Training
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Introduction to CS3500

• Digital TDT Soil Moisture Sensor Based
  Irrigation
• 2-Wire System
• Supports Conventional Wiring
• Up to 64 Zones and up to 64 Sensors
• Flow Control
• Water on Demand
• Water up to 4 Zones Simultaneously
• Cycle and Soak

• Watering Restrictions
• Manual Progams
• Irrigation Manager Software
• Event Pause Programming
• Voice Access
• Centralized Control
• Lightning Protection

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How the Sensor Works

• Electromagnetic (EM) waves travel more slowly in
  water.
• Light
• Radio
• Electrical signals

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TDT Sensor Technology

• Propagation of electromagnetic wave
• Area of influence

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Sensor Readings

• Percent water per unit volume ()
• Soil Temperature (C, F)
• Bulk Conductivity (dS/m)

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2-Wire vs. Conventional wire

• Conventional-Wire Systems (Retrofit)
• 2-Wire Systems

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Routing

• How to run wires
• Wiring patterns

Star Pattern Loop Pattern
Combination Pattern
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Wire Specifications

• Total Wire Length of 10,000 feet
• Max Distance from Controller 4,000 feet
• Wiring gauges 14-10 ga recommended

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Connections

• Communications demands
• Electrical connection
• CW Twist
• Wire nut
• Protection
• Grease cap

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4 Zone Decoder Wiring
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CS3500 Controller Wiring
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Conventional Wire Retrofits

• Borrowing Zone Wires for Sensors and Flow Meters
• 16 and 32 Zone Decoders

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16/32 Zone Decoder Installation
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Zone Decoder Serial Numbers
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Flow Meter Pressure Transducer (Optional)
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Sensor Placement

• Microclimate
• Full Sun/Shade
• Partial Sun/Shade
• Plant Types
• Turf
• Flower/Shrub Beds
• Soil Type Variations
• Hillsides
• Near Top
• SW Exposure
• Avoid
• Low spots
• Near cement
• Bottom of hill
• Unhealthy roots
• Emitter Proximity
• Two Zone Coverage

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Typical Sensor Locations

• Full Sun Turf Zone (Typically Western Exposure)
• Full/Partial Shade Turf Zone
• Full Sun Shrubs
• Full/Partial Shade Shrubs
• Hillside/Berm (Near Top)
• Flower Beds
• Drip vs. Spray

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Sensor Installation

• Preparation
• Moisten Soil
• Record Sensor Serial Number and Location
• Turf
• U-Shape Cut
• 3 Inches Deep
• Other Root Zones
• Shrubs, Beds
• Junction Box
• Valve box

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Sensor Installation - Wires
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Soil Behavior

• Soil acts like a sponge
• The goal is to maintain optimum conditions

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Soil Behavior

• Field Capacity
• Permanent Wilt Point
• Finding Management Allowable Depletion

More Water
Less Water
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Finding Field Capacity

• Saturate Soil Surrounding Sensor
• Allow percolation dependant on soil type
• Heavy Clay Soils 12 Hrs
• Sandy Soils 3 hrs
• Moisture reading after percolation is Field
  Capacity
• Lower threshold is 78 of Field Capacity

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Water on Demand

• Watering needs calculated every minute
• Watering restrictions set times when not to water

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Remote Control

• Telephone Modem
• Local Network (Ethernet)
• Internet
• Medium Range Mesh Radio
• Commander Radio
• Voice/Cell Phone Access

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Irrigation Manager

• Software