LEED Series:1. Introduction to LEED2. Weather-Based Irrigation Control & How to Specify ET Manager3. Anatomy of Water-Efficient Irrigation Systems4. Landscape Drip Solutions: Achieving Low Water Use & Low Maintenance
Doug MooreIrrisoft, Inc.
The Intelligent Use of Water™
ET Manager
The New Standard In Irrigation Control
Today’s Objectives:
The science of automated water management to improve irrigation efficiency.
How does the ET Manager automate water management?
The ET Manager is the right choice.
Using the ET Manager in the design of an irrigation system.
Improve Irrigation Efficiency
Landscapes are over watered.– EPA: 50% of water is wasted
Twice as much water
Reduce Water Waste– Distribution
Improve uniformity
– ControlSmart Control
Automated Water Management Improves Irrigation Efficiency
For a landscape to be beautiful, plants need to be watered right.A plant’s need for water changes:
– Evaporation– Transpiration– Rain– Soil– Roots– Plant Type
Over-watering– Wasting precious water resources– Wasting money– Impacts plant health
Sprinkler controllers (timers) must be manually programmed when conditions change
– The labor cost to reprogram controllers has been more than the cost of water.
Water Management Science
Evaporation of water from the soil or plants surfaces and transpired from leaves.
– It is typically measured in inches
Weather conditions affect ET:– Solar radiation– Temperature– Wind– Humidity
Evapotranspiration (ET)
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Houston, TX
ET p
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ETcHistorical ET
Historical vs. Real Time
Evaporation Rate (ET)Constantly Changing
1 3 5 7 9 11 13 15 17 19 21 23 25 27
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Inches Daily EvaporationInches of Irrigation Used with Weekly AdjustmentsInches of Irrigation Used with Monthly Adjustments
Days
ET
Typical Irrigation System Adjustments
Smart Control Starts with SensorsFull sensor set:
Solar radiationTemperatureWindHumidityRain
Sensor quality:AccuracyReliabilityLongevity
Weather station locationProperly sitedRepresentative conditions
Weather station maintenanceCalibrationCleaningReplacement
Effective Rain Fall
Measurement of rain is as important as the measurement of ET
Rainfall replenishes soil moisture
Rainfall that runs off is NOT effective rain– Soil percolation rate and slope limit effective rain.
Rain that soaks below the roots is NOT effective rain– A soil moisture balance calculation determines
when the root zone is saturated.
ET – Effective Rain = Irrigation Requirement
– The Irrigation Requirement is met when sprinklers run long enough to return the soil moisture level back to desired levels.
Irrigation Requirement
Soil is a Reservoir
Capacity– Soil type– Root depth
Moisture Level– Evaporation– Rain– Irrigation
Gravitational Water(Rapid Drainage)
Available Water(AW)
Irrigation Amount
Saturation
Saturation Allowance
Field Capacity
(Typically 50% of AW)
Permanent Wilt Point
Hygroscopic Water
Readily Available
Water
Understanding the Soil Reservoir
Quantify the Optimum Irrigation Amount(Soil Type, Rooting Depth and 50% Allowed Depletion)
When is watering needed?
Once water from irrigation or rain has evaporated.
Soil Moisture Balance
Checkbook Method– Bank:
Soil – Withdrawal:
Evaporation – Deposit:
Effective RainIrrigation
Managed Allowed DepletionMaintains Proper Soil Moisture
How does the ET Manager Automate Water Management?
Receives a wireless signal from local ET weather stations to calculate evaporation.
Landscapes are healthy because they are watered right.
Water is used efficiently.
ET Manager Cartridge– Integrated into the LX Modular Controller.
ET Manager - model ETMi– Adapts to any sprinkler controller.
The ET Manager measures evaporation and rainfall to automatically control watering.
ET Manager System Starts with an ET Weather Station
Full sensor set:Solar radiationTemperatureWindHumidityRain
Sensor quality:AccuracyReliabilityLongevity
Weather station locationProperly sitedRepresentative conditions
Weather station maintenanceCalibrationCleaningReplacement
Weather Reach Signal
One Weather Station Thousands of Landscapes
Weather Reach Signal Providers(WRSP)
Serves customers with improved water management
Manages or accesses a weather station network
Broadcasts weather data to Rain Bird ET Managers
Weather Reach Signal Providers
Public– Public Agencies– Water Authorities– Parks Departments– Sponsors
Commercial– Water Managers– Maintenance Contractors– Distributors
Private– Home Owners Associations– Parks Departments– Campuses
Weather Reach System Operators
Owner Operator– Purchase the Weather Reach Server Software– Access or Purchase Weather Stations– Contract for Paging – Starts at $165.00 per month
Unlimited number of usersAirtime for 4 Weather Stations
Irrisoft Signal Service(Irrisoft Inc. is a Campbell Scientific Company and Rain Bird’s ET Manager Partner)– Signal Sponsor
$79.00 per month per Weather Station Unlimited number of users with NO end-user subscription fee
– Private Signal Service$240.00 per month per Weather Station
Weather Reach Signal Service
Highlighted states have Weather Reach Signal Providers coverage
New Weather Reach Signal Providers are being added all the time
The current coverage map is available at: www.rainbird.com/wrsp
ET Manager Hotline: (877) 351-6588
– Choose option 1 for Signal Providers
ET Manager Uses Measured Rainfall
Three Options:1. On-Site Rain Gauge
2. Regional Weather Signal Broadcast
3. Local Rain Station Broadcast
Evaporation – Effective Rain = Irrigation Requirement
ETM-RG - Tipping Bucket Rain Gauge
Interrupts the Valve Common.
Allows watering once the last irrigation or rain has evaporated.
ET ManagerAdapts to Any Sprinkler Controller
A B
ET Manager Cartridgefor the ESP LX Modular Controller
Integrated into the controller– The ET Cartridge mounts in the
front panel
Independent ET-Based Control for each Program (A B C D)
Supports 4 Modules - Up to 32 Stations
Precision Water Management
Professional Water Management ToolsAutomate Irrigation Control
Maintains Moisture Balance– Separate for Each Program– Current Moisture Level
Weather Interrupt– Rain– Freeze– Wind
Status Information
Irrigation Logs– Last Watering– Days Watered– Total Water Applied
Weather Information
The ET Manager is the Right Choice
The Rain Bird ET ManagerThe Professional’s Choice
The New Standard– Real ET
ET Weather Station
– Measures RainfallThree options
– Best Water ManagementMoisture BalanceManaged Allowed Depletion
Results
Southcentere Mall
Beattie Homes Head Office
Shaw Cable Systems Head Office
Mt. Douglas Peaks Condominiums
Real Canadian Superstore –Westhills
The Renaissance Condominiums
Smart control begins with sensors
Long term sustainable results
Community solution
ET Manager: The Big PictureShared Weather Data
Using the ET Manager in the design of an irrigation system.
Design Steps
1. Product– ET Manager Cartridge– ET Manager
2. ET Source– Existing Signal Service – New Signal Service– Historical ET
3. Rain Source– ET Weather Station– On-Site Rain Gauge– Rain Station
4. Settings– Signal – Water Management
– ET Manager Cartridge for the ESP-LX Modular Controller
Model ETM-LXMIntegrated into the ControllerAccessories
ET Manager Receiver Remote Mounting Kit
– ET ManagerModel ETMiRetrofits Existing ControllersAccessories
Outdoor EnclosureExternal Antenna CAD Drawings / Wiring Diagrams
• www.rainbird.com/design
• ET Manager Resource CD
ET Manager Product FamilyStep 1: Choose the Right ET Manager
ET Manager Cartridge
Kit includes Two Parts: ET Manager Receiver includes the paging radio antenna.
ET Manager Cartridge mounts in the back of the ESP-LX Modular Controller face plate.
Weather Reach Server Software ETM-WRSS
ETM Programming Software ETM-PS
ETMi Outdoor Enclosure ** ETMi-OE
ETMi AC Transformer ** ETMi-TRAN
Tipping Bucket Rain GaugeETM-RG
External Antenna ** ETM-ANT
ET Manager Receiver Remote Mounting Kit *ETM-RMK
Accessories:
ET Manager Receiver (indoor) ETMi
ET Manager Cartridge for the ESP-LX Modular ControllerETM-LXM
ET Manager Model Numbers
* Used with ETM-LXM Only
** Used with ETMi Only
Step 2: ET Source
Existing Signal Service– www.rainbird.com/wrsp
Historical ET
New Weather Reach Signal
New Weather Reach Signal ServiceCall ET Manager Hotline 1-877-351-6588 Select Option 1
Owner Operator– Purchase the Weather Reach Server Software– Access or Purchase Weather Stations– Contract for Paging – Starts at $165.00 per month
Unlimited number of usersAirtime for 4 Weather Stations
Irrisoft Signal Service(Irrisoft Inc. is a Campbell Scientific Company and Rain Bird’s
ET Manager Partner)– Signal Sponsor
$79.00 per month per Weather Station Unlimited number of users with NO end-user subscription fee
– Private Signal Service$240.00 per month per Weather Station
Step 3: Rain Source
1. Weather Signal– Regional ET Weather Station
2. On-Site Rain Gauge– ETM-RG
3. Rain Station– Community Rain Gauge– Wireless Signal
Step 4: Settings
Signal Settings– Weather Reach Signal Provider Code– Weather Region– Rain Source– Elevation – Historical ET
Water Management– Available Water Days– Cycle Start Times – Valve Run Times – Irrigation Amount– Landscape Adjustment %
Settings Resources
Signal Settings– Weather Reach Signal Provider Information Sheet– ET Manager Scheduler– ET Manager Programming Software
Water Management Settings– ET Manager Scheduler– User Guide
ET Manager Hotline 1-877-351-6588 Select Option 1
WRSP contact information
Notes or activation instructions
Signal Provider Code
Weather station information– Location– Weather Region– Elevation– Historical ET
www.rainbird.com/wrsp
Weather Reach Signal Provider Information Sheet
Site-specific watering schedules
Sprinkler performance database
Controller settings
ET Manager settings
ET Manager SchedulerFree Software Included with each ET Manager
ET Manager Settings Report
ET Manager Designer Resources
Rain Bird Website www.rainbird.com/etmanager– Specifier Guide– Tech Specs– Literature – CAD Details: www.rainbird.com/design– Map with access to Weather Reach Signal Providers– Interactive Tutorial – ET Manager Scheduler Software– Application Notes
ET Manager Resource CD: D37400 – Ask your Rain Bird Sales Representative
Specification Hotline: (800) 458-3005
ET Manager Hotline: (877) 351-6588
More training with Rain Bird Academy: www.rainbird.com/training
ET Manager Scheduler
Product Tutorials
ETMi Simulator
Tools / Resources– Product Literature– Application Notes– Worksheets– Manuals
ET Manager Resource CD
Features and BenefitsMeasures both Evaporation (ET) and Rain to Automate Irrigation
– Efficient Water Use.– Peace of mind.
Wireless Weather Signal Shares Data from an ET Weather Station– One high-quality community ET weather station to maintain will serve thousands of landscapes.– Quality data for the life of the product.
Maintains a Moisture Balance to Water Based on Allowed Depletion– Plants are Watered Right.– Healthy Landscapes.
Weather Interrupts for Freeze, High Wind and Rain– Avoid watering in adverse conditions.
Two Models– ET Manager Cartridge - Integrated with the ESP-LX Modular Controller.
Easy to use.Four Programs under ET-Based Control.
– ETMi Adapts to Any Controller.Simple easy to install.
Receives a wireless signal from local ET weather stations to calculate evaporation.
Landscapes are healthy because they are watered right.
Water is used efficiently.
ET Manager Cartridge– Integrated into the LX Modular Controller.
ET Manager - model ETMi– Adapts to any sprinkler controller.
The ET Manager measures evaporation and rainfall to automatically control watering.
ET Manager
The New Standard In Irrigation Control
The Intelligent Use of Water™We believe it is our responsibility to develop products and technologies that use water efficiently. Our commitment also extends to education, training and services for our industry and our communities. The need to conserve water has never been greater. We want to do even more, and with your help, we can.
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