BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller User Manual Firmware Version 12.
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Table of Contents 1 – INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................1 How to Read this Manual.................................................................................................... 1 How to Irrigate Efficiently ................................................................................................... 1 Soil Moisture Content ....................................................................
Wire Layout ................................................................................................................. 23 Wire Burial ................................................................................................................... 24 Removing a Two-Wire Device ........................................................................................... 24 4 – THE BASESTATION 3200 INTERFACE ......................................................................................
Associating Zones with a Program ..................................................................................... 53 Removing a Zone from a Program ..................................................................................... 54 Setting Up Soil Moisture Sensor Based Watering ............................................................... 54 Prerequisites for Watering with Soil Moisture Sensors .....................................................
To update the controller’s firmware from BaseManager .................................................. 87 Connecting to BaseManager – Overview ........................................................................... 87 Enabling the BaseManager Connection on the Controller ................................................ 88 Checking the Status of the BaseManager Connection ...................................................... 88 Activating Your BaseManager Account .......................................
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 1 – Introduction Congratulations on choosing the most capable commercial grade smart irrigation controller in the world! You will find that the BaseStation 3200 is capable of dramatically reducing your water use while improving the health and quality of your landscape. Fully central control compatible, the BaseStation 3200 controller will typically pay for itself in one to two seasons based on water waste reduction alone.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Watering deeply means that the soil should be wetted down to a depth of 6 inches or deeper for grasses and 12 inches or deeper for trees and shrubs. Watering infrequently means that the next irrigation event (or start time) should be delayed as long as possible without stressing the plants. • Deeper roots = more efficient plants.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To understand soil moisture based smart irrigation, you also need to understand the following industry standard terms for soil moisture content. The soil pores are filled with water and nearly all of the air in the soil has been displaced by water. Gravity exerts force on the water contained in saturated soils, moving it deeper into the ground (if possible). When this “gravitational water” moves down through the soil, it becomes unavailable to plants.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual How to Use Soil Moisture Sensors Successfully The first key for success with soil moisture sensors is to consider the hydrozones that exist in your landscaping. A hydrozone is a grouping of plants that have similar water usage and delivery characteristics and can be watered the same.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Lastly, the irrigation manager breaks the parking lot and perimeter shrub beds into two scheduling groups representing sunny and shady exposures. In this way, the irrigation manager is able to configure 42 individual zones into 5 scheduling groups that are controlled by 5 soil moisture sensors.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Take care when you set the soak and cycle times for slopes and berms – for some slopes, you might need to break the total run time into five or more cycles. Optimal biSensor Placement for Slopes and Berms If the slope or berm is irrigated as a part of a larger zone that is mostly level, Baseline recommends that you place the sensor in the larger level area.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual If you want to install a sensor in newly seeded turf grass, follow the installation instructions and bury the sensor at the proper depth. Baseline recommends that you water according to an appropriate timed schedule until the grass has rooted sufficiently (typically 60 to 90 days) before enabling a sensor based watering strategy. After the grass has rooted, you can convert the primary zone to a sensor based watering strategy.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Installing biSensors with New Trees In the case of new landscape with newly installed trees that are watered separately from turf zones, it is important to make sure that the sensor is located as close to the root ball in the top 1/3 of the root ball as possible. Watering new trees with a sensor based watering strategy is a good way to avoid inadvertently “drowning” new trees and shrubs due to overwatering.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Lower Limit Also called Lower Threshold. In this soil moisture based, smart watering strategy, irrigation is suspended or skipped until the soil dries to the lower limit, which may be set manually, or set using the automatic calibration process. This watering strategy naturally waters deeply and infrequently and promotes deeper root growth in plants. The controller will water for a specified run time each time it is allowed to water.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Watering deeply and infrequently on a consistent basis will promote healthier plants with deeper root structures. As roots grow deeper, the plants are then able to access water in deeper and typically wetter soil layers, making them even more water efficient. Plants with deeper roots are also able to draw nutrients and fertilizers from deeper soil layers, making the plants more nutrition efficient as well.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual When the irrigation schedule puts down more water than the soil can take up, the excess water will typically run off to the lowest point, leaving some areas of the landscape, or even the entire irrigated landscape, under watered. Standing water also evaporates at a fairly high rate, especially in the heat of the summer months, further reducing irrigation efficiency.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Distribution Uniformity Distribution uniformity (DU) refers to how evenly water is applied over the area in a particular zone or landscape. This is generally driven by the choice of heads (spray, rotor, multi-stream, etc.) and by the irrigation design. In reality, it is very common that distribution uniformity is fairly low in irrigated landscapes.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 2 – System Components This section covers the components, devices, and communication options that are available for the BaseStation 3200 irrigation controller. This section also gives the total supported devices and limits. Cabinet Options Your BaseStation 3200 will be installed in one of the following cabinets: All cabinets are constructed from 16-gauge steel.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Central Control and Remote Communication Options The BaseStation 3200 is compatible with a number of remote communication options to enable connectivity to Baseline’s central control platforms including LiveView and BaseManager 2.0.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual BL Commander The BL-Commander is a handheld radio for activating valves while away from the BaseStation 3200 controller. The radio receiver is powered from the BL-3200X series controller and can be easily moved between controllers for field service and repair. More information is available on the Baseline web site (http://www.baselinesystems.com).
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual • Pump relay biCoder • Lightning arrestor/surge suppression devices You can expand every BaseStation 3200 to support up to 200 zones using virtually any combination of two-wire and conventional wiring. Total Supported Devices and Limits The following table lists the total numbers of devices by type that can be connected to a BaseStation 3200.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Maximum Concurrent Valves The maximum number of concurrently operating valves is shown in the two tables below.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 3 – Wiring Guidelines Review this section to find instructions for wiring your BaseStation 3200 irrigation controller and for connecting the standard and optional devices. Conventional Irrigation Wiring Installation BaseStation 3200R controllers and Baseline 5200R Series Powered biCoders connect directly to conventional 24 VAC irrigation wiring, with one wire for each valve plus a common wire.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Only two zones of any 12 zone block of terminals can be activated concurrently, plus VE1 and VE2, resulting in a total concurrency of 6 zones for a 24 zone unit. You can connect Baseline biSensors directly to valve wires on the Sensor-over-valve-wire ports (A1, A2 and B1, B2). BaseStation 3200R systems have built-in biCoders, and each screw terminal has a unique serial number.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual BL-5200 Series Powered biCoder Wiring Example with One biSensor Expanding with Two-Wire All BaseStation 3200 controllers are capable of communicating with Baseline biCoders and biSensors connected to a two-wire path. Any supported two-wire devices may be connected.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Connecting to BL-5200R Series Wall Mount biCoders Baseline 5200R Series Powered biCoders are specifically intended for retrofit applications and make combining several old controllers into a single BaseStation 3200 easy and affordable.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Two-Wire Installation All BaseStation 3200 and 3200R controllers are equipped with a full-function two-wire port capable of connecting to valve biCoders, powered retrofit biCoders, biSensors, flow meters, and other devices. Because Baseline’s biLine protocol provides full bidirectional communications, you can connect all your irrigation accessories to the same two-wire path – saving time and money compared to conventional wiring.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Wire Lengths Total wire length supported depends on the gauge of the wire used. Straight Run Looped Run Wire Layout Straight line, star, looped, and combination configurations are supported. The straight line and the star topology are the recommended layouts. To simplify the illustrations, only the last device is shown for most configurations.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Wire Burial Bury all wire at a depth appropriate to protect the wire from mechanical damage due to digging or aeration. Baseline’s two-wire system operates under 30 VAC RMS, which is considered safe for shallow burial as outlined in the National Electric Code. All installations should comply with local electrical codes.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 4 – The BaseStation 3200 Interface Review this section to get familiar with the layout of the BaseStation 3200 interface. This information covers the components of the front panel, the Online Help, the features of the main screen, as well as the status colors and a brief overview of the on-screen reports.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual (5) Status LEDs – These two LEDs indicate the power status of the controller and the internal status of the controller hardware. The upper light is normally ON, but it may blink when internal diagnostics are run. (6) Remote Control Port – This connector is used with the BL Commander hand-held radio remote control to operate valves while away from the controller.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Status Colors The following colors display on the RUN screen to indicate the status of programs, master valves, flow meters, and zones. Idle (watering done) Active (watering) Waiting to water Soaking Disabled Paused Off or Message (blinking) Unused On-Screen Reports The on-screen reports include the results of Test All, the soil moisture graph, the run time graph, and the water used graph.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Setting the Controller Time and Date Set or change the controller date and time to match the current time and date. An inaccurate date and time can cause watering events to be missed. Note: When the controller is connected to BaseManager, the date and time are automatically set. 1. Turn the dial to the Time & Date position. 2. In the Time field, the hours place is highlighted. 3. Press the + or – button to change the value. 4.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 5 – Configuring Devices After you have finished connecting all your devices, you need to have the controller find those devices so you can assign them. The devices that you can attach to the BaseStation 3200 have serial numbers. The controller identifies an attached device by its serial number. After you have searched for the attached devices, you can assign each serial number to a specific purpose in the controller.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Assigning Valve biCoders to Zone Numbers You can assign any valve biCoder serial number to any zone number. You may also wish to reassign and/or reorder certain zones in order to properly combine primary and linked zones in a scheduling group. The 3200 makes these assignments quick and easy to do, but be sure to document any changes that you make. Failure to properly document assignments can cause confusion and frustration for maintenance staff.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To clear a previous zone number assignment You can reassign your biCoders to different zone numbers in order to accurately represent your irrigation system and the primary zones and scheduling groups that you want to use. 1. If you have not searched for the biCoders, do that first. Refer to Searching For biCoders (including Powered biCoders) on page 29. 2.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 4. Linked – Within a zone group, there is one primary zone and all other zones are then “linked” to the primary and will get their programming information from the primary (water time, program, schedule, etc.) Timed – Any zone programmed to water on a time/day schedule, rather than on a smart irrigation schedule Press the Next button to move to the Water Time field. If you want to increase the value in the hours place, press the + button.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To remove the zone from the current program, press the Previous button to return to the Water Time field, and then press the – button to remove the watering time in the field. To assign the zone to a different program, perform the previous task to remove the zone from the current program. Move to the Program field, and press the + or – button to change the number to the new program that you want the zone to be assigned to.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Searching For Start, Stop, & Pause Devices Programs can be started, stopped, or paused by the following conditions monitored by a dedicated device: • Whether the contacts on event biCoders are open or closed • Whether moisture levels are above or below a specified percentage as monitored by a biSensor • Whether temperature values are above or below a specified level as monitored by either moisture sensors or temperature sensors Searching For and
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Searching For and Assigning Soil Moisture Sensors (for Start, Stop, Pause Conditions) The BaseStation 3200 supports 25 soil moisture sensors. Any soil moisture sensors used to monitor start, stop, and pause conditions are included in the total count. 1. Turn the dial to the Start, Stop, Pause position. 2. Press the Next or Previous button to highlight the Moisture Control Setup option. 3. Press the Enter button.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 5. Press the Next button to highlight Search. 6. Press the Enter button to search for temperature sensors. The serial numbers of the sensors are shown in the Temperature Sensors column. 7. Press the + or – button to highlight the serial number of the temperature sensor that you want to assign. 8. Continue to the procedure for setting up the start, stop, and pause conditions for air temperature sensors on page 61.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Searching For and Assigning Pump Start Devices and Master Valves The BaseStation 3200 supports up to 8 normally open and/or normally closed master valves and/or pump starts for the entire system. Valve decoders are assigned to Pump/MV numbers, and flow+NOMV are assigned to MVs.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Searching For and Assigning Flow Meters The BaseStation 3200 supports up to 8 flow sensors or meters, which manage and monitor flow across a site as independent or connected hydraulic systems organized into mainline groupings. In addition to finding flow biCoders, this search finds two-wire flow meters with integrated master valves (both normally open and normally closed). 1. Turn the dial to the Water Sources position. 2.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 6 – Initial Programming After you have assigned your devices as described in the previous section, you are ready to start the initial programming on your BaseStation 3200 controller. Review the information in this section to learn how to set up time-based watering for your zones, how to enable the soak cycles, and set up your programs.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 4. Press the Next button to move to the Water Time field. To change the value in the hours place, press the + button. To change the value in the minutes place, press the Next button, and then press the + or – button. Tip: Let the controller calculate the cycle time and soak time settings for you. Press the Next button to move to the minutes placeholder in the Soak Time field, and then press the Back button.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Setting Up a Primary Zone A primary zone is the zone within a scheduling group that all other linked zones are linked to. Changing the programming on this zone will adjust the programming on all linked zones, resulting in saved time and consistency. If you are using a biSensor, the primary zone is the zone where the sensor is located. Note: The primary zones of a program always run first. Prerequisites • biCoders have been assigned to zones.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Linking Zones (Creating a Scheduling Group) To make programming easier and more structured, the BaseStation 3200 provides a way to group zones that have similar watering requirements. You create a scheduling group by designating a zone within the group as the primary zone and then configuring the other zones in the group as linked.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Adjusting the Water Time Tracking Ratio of Linked Zones You can change the water time tracking ratio of a linked zone in order to allow different water times for zones within a group of linked zones.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Using Soak Cycles Because each type of soil has a different rate at which it can absorb water, you should set up the cycle time and soak time (“soak cycles”) for your zones to ensure that water soaks into the soil instead of being wasted. For example, if you are applying water at 0.4 inch per hour to an area of clay soil that can only absorb water at 0.2 inch per hour, the water that does not soak into the soil will either run off or evaporate.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 6. Press the Next button to move to the Soak Time field. If you are using soak cycles for this zone, the soak time defines the duration of each soaking cycle interspersed with watering times. To change the value in the hours place, press the + button. To change the value in the minutes place, press the Next button, and then press the + or – button. Note: You cannot change the soak time setting for a linked zone. 7.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Setting Up Programs The BaseStation 3200 supports 99 programs. The controller identifies each program with a number. In many irrigation controllers, you set up the water times and the watering schedules in the programs, but in the BaseStation 3200, water times are configured for the individual zones, and a program provides the schedule for when the associated zones will water.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 7. Press the Next button to move to the next cell in the start times grid, and then press the + or – button to set additional start times as needed. 8. After you have configured the start times for the current program, perform one of the following actions: To configure start times for another program, press the Enter button until the number of the program that you want to configure displays in the Program field at the top of the screen.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 5. Historical Calendar – Using the Historical Calendar watering schedule you can set up custom start day intervals for the first half and second half of every month of the year. This watering schedule works best in regions where landscapes are irrigated all year. Refer to the topic for setting up program start days based on a historical calendar on page 48.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Instructions 1. Turn the dial to the Programs position. 2. Press the Next button to highlight the Program Start Days Setup option, and then press the Enter button. The Start Days screen displays. 3. Verify that the number displayed in the Program field matches the program that you want to set the historical calendar watering schedule for. If you want to select a different program, press the + or – button to change the program number. 4.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 1. Turn the dial to the Programs position. 2. Press the Next button to select the Program Water Windows Setup option. The Water Windows screen displays. 3. Press the + or – button to select the program that you want to set up water windows for. 4. Press the Next button to move to the Water Window Type field, and then press the + or – button to select either Weekly or Daily.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To set up concurrent zones for a program Concurrent zones are the number of zones (valves) that can be operated at the same time – typically limited by the amount of water available and the design flow of each of the zones. You can set up the concurrent zones on a per program basis and have it automatically managed using a flow device. You can also set the total number of concurrent zones for the controller.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To set the priority for a program When a start event is reached, the program with the highest priority gets first call on the water and time. A higher priority program “preempts” lower priority programs and runs to completion before the lower ones. 1. Turn the dial to the Programs position. 2. Press the Next button to select the Advanced Programs Setup option. The Advanced screen displays. 3.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 1. Turn the dial to the Smart Watering position. 2. Press the Next or Previous button to select Program Seasonal Adjust, and then press the Enter button. The Season Adjust screen displays and shows all programs set to 100%. 3. Press the + button to move to the program where you want to adjust the percentage. 4. Press the Next button to move to the Budget % column. 5. Press the + or – button to change the percentage.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 5. Complete the other zone fields according to the instructions in Configuring Zone Settings on page 31. Note: Zones can be associated with multiple programs. Whenever a zone has a water time set in a program, the zone is associated with the program. The programs that the zone is associated with are shown in the lower-left corner of the screen. 6. Repeat steps 2 – 5 to associate all zones with a specific program. 7.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual • Upper Limit – Allows watering at each start time, but the water time is adjusted to replenish the moisture to field capacity. The user sets and manages the limit and the base water time. Ensure that ½ inch or more of water is applied frequently enough to water sufficiently during the hottest period of the season. Make sure that you have soak cycles properly set up for the zones that will be using soil moisture based watering.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 7. Press the Next button to move to the Calibration Cycle field. Never – No calibration cycle will be performed One Time – A single calibration cycle will be performed at the next start time Monthly – A calibration cycle will be performed each month at the first start time Note: Calibration cycles require that soak cycles be enabled. When you set these watering strategies, soak cycles will be automatically enabled.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual The first calibration cycle occurs on the first start time after a biSensor has been installed for at least 48 hours. A calibration cycle will calculate limits 12 to 15 hours after watering is complete on the primary zone.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Complying with Water Restrictions There are times and seasons when water restrictions are placed on areas. Keeping a green and healthy landscape during these restrictions is best achieved with deep rooted turf! Train your grass before the crisis to grow deep roots by watering deeply and only when the grass needs it.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Setting Up Start, Stop, and Pause Conditions The BaseStation 3200 enables you to set up conditions based on the status of devices that will start, stop, or pause the entire controller or specific programs.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 11. Press the Next button to move to the Enable column of the Pause field. Press the + button to toggle the setting between Off and Equals. 12. Press the Next button to move to the Value column of the Pause field. Press the + button to toggle the setting between Open and Closed. 13. Press the Next button to move to the Pause Time field. Press the + or – button to change the value in the field. 14.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 9. Press the Next button to move to the Enable column of the Stop field. Press the + button to toggle the setting between Off, Below, Above, and Equals. 10. Press the Next button to move to the Value column of the Stop field. Press the + button to change the value in the field. 11. Press the Next button to move to the Enable column of the Pause field. Press the + button to toggle the setting between Off, Below, Above, and Equals. 12.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 9. Press the Next button to move to the Enable column of the Stop field. Press the + button to toggle the setting between Off, Below, Above, and Equals. 10. Press the Next button to move to the Value column of the Stop field. Press the + button to change the value in the field. 11. Press the Next button to move to the Enable column of the Pause field. Press the + button to toggle the setting between Off, Below, Above, and Equals. 12.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 7 – Flow Management & Monitoring The BaseStation 3200 provides an extensive set of flow monitoring and management capabilities to help understand how water is being used and to reduce the effects of pipeline breaks and sprinkler malfunctions. It can monitor actual water flow rates and compare them against the expected or design flow rates and provide alerts and perform actions when limits or boundaries are exceeded.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Setting Up a Water Source The BaseStation 3200 supports 8 points of connection (POCs). You can set limits and budgets for each POC. You can set the following values for each flow device on the Setup POC screen: Note: The step-by-step procedure for setting up the water source is on page 64.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To set up the water source 1. Turn the dial to the Water Sources position. 2. Press the Next button to highlight the Water Sources (POCs) Setup option. 3. Press the Enter button. The Setup POCs screen displays. 4. In the Water Source field, press the + button to select the POC that you want to set up. 5. Press the Next button to move to the POC Priority field, and then press the + or – button to set the priority as High, Medium, Low, or Off.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Setting Up Empty Conditions for a POC If one of your water sources is a cistern or reservoir, you can install a moisture sensor or an event switch (float) to monitor the water level and stop using that water source when the water drops below a specified level. 1. Turn the dial to the Water Sources position. 2. Press the Next button to highlight the Water Sources (POCs) Setup option. 3. Press the Enter button. The Empty Conditions screen displays.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 3. Press the Enter button. The Booster Pumps screen displays. 4. In the Decoder field, press the + button to select the master valve decoder that you want to set up as a booster pump. 5. Press the Next button to move to the Use As Booster Pump field, and then press the + button change the setting to Yes. 6.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Assigning Programs to Mainlines The BaseStation 3200 supports 99 programs and 8 mainlines. By default, the mainlines are numbered in the controller from 1 – 8 regardless of whether your system has more than one. All programs are automatically assigned to mainline #1, but you can change the settings to match your irrigation system. 1. Turn the dial to the Flow position. 2. Press the Next button to highlight the Assign Programs to Mainlines option.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual • Pipe Fill Time – This field represents the time that it takes to fill the pipe and achieve a steady flow rate after a valve change. The default value is 2 minutes, but you can set it to any value between 1 and 30 minutes. Zone changes are made at the top of the minute, and the zone is considered stable after the pipe fill time. One minute after the pipe fill time, a valid flow is calculated (over the last minute interval).
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To set up the mainline 1. Turn the dial to the Flow position. 2. Press the Next button to highlight the Setup Mainline Operating Limits option. 3. Press the Enter button. The Setup Mainline screen displays. 4. In the Mainline field, press the + or – button to select the number of the mainline that you want to set up. 5.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Learning Flow With one or more flow devices, the BaseStation 3200 has the ability to do a learn flow cycle to determine the flow for zones. You can run the learn flow cycle either for individual zones or by program. You can set up the learn flow cycle to be delayed from 15 minutes to 23 hours and 45 minutes. You can set multiple programs to learn the flow, each at a different time, or the same time.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Learning the Flow by Program 1. Turn the dial to the Flow position. 2. Press the Next button to highlight the Program Learn Flow Operations option. 3. Press the Enter button. The Prog Learn Flow screen displays. 4. In the Program column, press the + button to move to the program that you want to schedule a learn flow cycle for. 5.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual If you want your irrigation system to have this capability, you need to assign the various pieces of your system to a corresponding mainline. A mainline can have flow devices, master valves, and programs (which contain the zones connected to the mainline). The illustration to the right shows how you can configure a site that has two mainlines. Note that mainline 2 has two POCs, each with a master valve and flow device.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 8 – Manual Operations The BaseStation 3200 has several options that enable you to manually control your irrigation system. You can force a program to start, stop a program that is actively watering or set the next start date for a program. You can also manually water a single zone, all zones, or the zones of a program.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Stopping an Active Program 1. Turn the dial to the Manual position. 2. Press the Next button to highlight the Start or Stop Program(s) option. 3. Press the Enter button. The Prog Start/Stop screen displays. 4. In the Program/Status column, press the + button to highlight a watering program that you want to stop. 5. Press the Next button to move to the Start/Stop column. The field in this column displays Stop. 6. Press the + button.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 9. If you want to manually run another zone in the program, press the Previous button to return to the Zone/Status column. Repeat steps 6 – 8 to start another zone. 10. Turn the dial to the RUN position. Manually Running One or All Zones for a Fixed Time 1. Turn the dial to the Manual position. 2. If the Run One or All Zones for Fixed Time option is highlighted, press the Enter button.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Manually Running Zones for a Fixed Time 1. Turn the dial to the Manual position. 2. If the Run Zone(s) for Fixed Time option is highlighted, press the Enter button. If the option is not highlighted, press the Next/Previous button to highlight it, and then press the Enter button. The Run Zones screen displays. 3. In the Zone column, press the + button to highlight the zone that you want to run. 4.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Manually Running Programs for a Fixed Time 1. Turn the dial to the Manual position. 2. Press the Next button to highlight the Run Program(s) for Fixed Time option. 3. Press the Enter button. The Run Prog Zones screen displays. 4. In the Prog column, press the + button to highlight the program that you want to run. 5.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 4. In the Pump/MV column, press the + button to highlight the pump or master valve that you want to run. 5. Press the Next button to move to the Run Time column, and then press the + or – button to set the amount of time for the manual run. 6. If you want to add another pump or master valve to the manual run, press the Previous button to return to the Pump/MV column, and then repeat steps 4 – 5 to set the time for the next pump or master valve. 7.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 9 – System Management The BaseStation 3200 has a number of features that enable you to manage the controller. You can select the language for the online help, set up personal identification numbers (PINs) to grant various levels of remote access to the controller. You can back up your system with a USB drive, and then you can use those backup files to restore your system if it ever goes down.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 2. Press the Next button to highlight the Security Setup option, and then press the Enter button. The Security screen displays. 3. In the Enable Security Levels field, press the + button to toggle between Enabled and Disabled. 4. Press the Next button to highlight the first digit of the Admin PIN, and then press the + or – button to change the number. 5.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 1. Turn the dial to the Advanced position. 2. Press the Next button to highlight the System Settings option, and then press the Enter button. The System Settings screen displays. 3. Press the + or – button to change the number in the first digit of the serial number. 4. Press Next button to highlight the next digit of the serial number, and then press the + or – button to change the number. Repeat this step to change the numbers in all digits.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual copying the data to the USB drive, notice that the backup date is listed as an available restore point within the Restore option box. 5. Unplug the drive from the port, and then turn the dial back to the RUN position. Note: You can leave the backup data on the USB drive until you need it for a restore. However, if you need the USB drive for another purpose, you can also copy the data to a computer.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 2. Turn the dial to the Advanced position. 3. Press the Next button to move to the Data Management (USB Storage) option, and then press the Enter button. The USB Data screen displays. 4. Press the Next button to move to the Export Data option. 5. Press the + or – button to select the range of data that you want to export: This Month Last Month Everything 6. Press the Enter button.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Erasing All Files from the Controller This function will clear or erase all log files from the controller. We recommend that you use this function only when directed by Baseline Support. 1. Turn the dial to the Advanced position. 2. Press the Next button to move to the Data Management (USB Storage) option, and then press the Enter button. The USB Data screen displays. 3. Press the Next button highlight the last option box on the screen. 4.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To update the controller’s firmware from the Baseline web site with a USB drive Note: The following procedure assumes that your computer is running Microsoft Windows. 1. Download the firmware from the Baseline web site. a. On a computer that is connected to the Internet, go to the Baseline web site at the following URL: www.baselinesystems.com b. On the home page, click Support. c. In the left navigation bar, click Firmware Version Updates. d.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 2. Update the firmware on the controller. a. On the BaseStation 3200 controller, plug the USB drive that has the Update files on it into the USB port. b. Turn the dial to the OFF position. c. Press and hold the – and + and Enter buttons for approximately 5 seconds. d. After the screen goes blank, release the buttons. The controller restarts automatically. e. Unplug the USB drive from the port on the controller.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Enabling the BaseManager Connection on the Controller 1. Turn the dial to the Network position. 2. Press the Next button to highlight the BaseManager Server Setup option, and then press Enter. The BaseManager Address screen displays. 3.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Check the status of your network connection by turning the controller’s dial to the RUN position and viewing the status in the BaseMgr field. Activating Your BaseManager Account When you are ready to activate your BaseManager account, call Baseline Support at 866-294-5847. Baseline Support will assign the company admin username and password. The admin can change this password after logging in for the first time.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Setting Up a Static IP Address While DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) is the default network configuration for the BaseStation 3200 network connection, some situations, such as private network configurations or network security issues might require that you configure a static IP address for your controller. 1. Connect and configure the communication module.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Understanding the Ethernet Settings When your controller is connected to a network with a supported communication module, the system automatically assigns the networking addresses that enable the connection. You might need to refer to this information in order to complete your connection or to troubleshoot it. 1. Connect and configure the communication module.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 10 – Reports, Messages, & Logs The main screen shows basic information about the operating state of the BaseStation controller, but additional reports and messages are available from the Reports dial position and the Messages dial position. The controller provides the following categories of reports and each category can have multiple reports.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Next to the time and date, you see the status or state of the following items. • BaseMgr – Indicates the status of the controller’s connection to BaseManager. • Two-wire – Indicates the approximate current being supplied to the two-wire path. The value will vary with the size of the installation and the number of active valves. When the system is not watering, the two-wire status is OFF unless the two-wire is to be always on.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Test All Report The Test All report displays when you turn the dial to the Reports position. This report shows the status of all devices that are connected to your controller. To scroll through the report, press the Next button to highlight the Scroll field, and then press the + button. Moisture Sensor Data The Soil Moisture Sensor Data report shows a moisture graph for each of the moisture sensors connected to the controller.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Program Run Time Report Each program has a run time report. Above the graph, you will see the program number that the report is generated for. Below the graph, you will see the date range for the report. To display the Program Run Time report 1. Turn the dial to the Reports position. 2. In the Select Report field, press the + button until Run Time displays in the box. The report displays for Program 1. 3.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Operator Messages Operator messages are used to indicate programming errors and to provide assistance in fixing common installation and operation problems. Messages can include status or warning messages, or serious controller alarms. The message shows the time and date of the alert. The message also includes suggestions for correcting the issue. To display the messages 1.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Flow Switch Low Temperature Pause biCoder Pause Switch Rain Switch Rain/OFF days • An open jumper or flow switch stops all watering and keeps all programs from starting. • To delete the message, press Next to move to the Delete option, and then press Enter. • Deleting the message does not reset this condition. Replace the jumper or reset the flow switch hardware. • Not automatically cleared – the user must clear this pause condition.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Water Window Page 98 • To delete the message, press Next to move to the Delete option, and then press Enter. • Deleting the message resets the delay days to zero and clears the pause condition. • Automatically cleared when delay days are over. • A water window (white squares) will pause a program. • To delete the message, press Next to move to the Delete option, and then press Enter.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 11 – Troubleshooting The BaseStation 3200 has built-in features for testing zones, valves, biCoders and biSensors. These tests help you isolate and identify components and devices that are not working properly so you know what needs to be repaired. Testing a Specific Two-wire Device When you test a two-wire device, the controller verifies the communication between the controller and the device.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Short circuit No response • Wire connection between the valve biCoder and the valve solenoid is shorted together – repair wire connections. • Valve solenoid is broken – replace solenoid. • Two-wire connection to the valve biCoder is broken – repair wire and connections to the valve biCoder.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Ground is too dry with high biSensor moisture reading • biSensor not being watered by its primary zone – change the assignment or move the biSensor to the correct location • biSensor is buried too deep – rebury the biSensor to be only 3 inches deep Ground is too wet with high biSensor moisture reading • biSensor is buried in low area where water collects – move biSensor from low area • biSensor not being watered by its primary zone – change the
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 1. Turn the dial to the Self Test position. 2. Press the Next or Previous button to select Check Two-wire Addresses, and then press the Enter button. The two-wire tests starts immediately. While the test is in progress, the statuses and results display on the screen. Testing All Devices Before you begin troubleshooting a problem, run a Test ALL from the Self-Test dial position.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 3. In the Blink Interval field, press the + or – button to indicate the number of seconds between blinks. 4. Press the Enter button to start the test. While the blink test is in progress, the Blink Interval field displays “Running” and the Status box displays the results. 5. To stop the test, press the Back button.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual • After the short has been diagnosed as either damage to the wire or a faulty device, repair or replace it. • Reconnect components on the repaired two-wire segment. Verify that that adding these components does not cause additional failures. • Connect other two-wire segments, verifying correct operation as each is connected. Diagnosing a Circuit Board Issue 1. Disconnect the two-wire from the controller. 2.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Troubleshooting Manually If you do not have a millamp clamp meter, you can manually break the two-wire connections in a systematic manner to isolate a wire segment or device that is generating the Over Current message. 1. Determine the approximate halfway point of the two-wire path, and then break the connection at that valve box. 2. Check the controller again. Perform one of the following actions: 3.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 12 – Appendix Warranty Baseline warrants to the original consumer purchaser that new BaseStation 3200 Series controller as well as the 12 and 24 valve biCoders will be free from defects in material and workmanship for the Standard One Year Warranty Period. The Baseline biSensor™ as well as 1, 2 and 4 valve biCoders will be free of defects in material and workmanship for a Five Year Warranty Period.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Tips for Setting Up Common Configurations Lower Threshold Moisture Sensor Based Watering Baseline recommends this configuration as a general watering strategy. 1. Install the soil moisture sensor in the landscaping according to the instructions that came with the device. 2. In the BaseStation 3200, search for and assign the sensor. Refer to Searching For and Assigning biSensors on page 36. 3.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 4. Assign the primary zone to a program by giving the zone a water time. Make sure the water time is sufficient to get through the longest day interval during the hottest time of the year (typically ¾” water). Refer to Configuring Zone Settings on page 31. 5. Link the other zones in the area that is monitored by the sensor to the primary zone. Refer to Linking Zones on page 42. 6. Set up a Day & Time start condition for the program.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual BL-3200-R Hydrozone Worksheet 1. Record your programming information from your old irrigation controller. Use the table below to make this process easier. 2. Identify the hydrozones in your landscape. A hydrozone is a grouping of zones that can be watered similarly, such as zones that share the same slope, sun exposure, and plant type. Areas that require dissimilar water or scheduling requirements are considered to be separate hydrozones.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. Additional Information for Existing Programs Program Watering Days Start Times Programming Information for the BaseStation 3200 Controller 1. Use the table below to plan connections and programming before physically programming the controller. 2. Determine which zone within each hydrozone will be the “primary” zone. If you are using a biSensor, the primary zone is the zone where the sensor is located.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 3. Setting Up a Primary Zone on page 41 of the BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual. 4. Determine how the irrigation zones for each hydrozone will be put into a scheduling group. Link the other zones in the scheduling group to the primary zone so they will be watered more or less relative to it. In the BaseStation 3200 controller, you will link the zones in the scheduling group to the primary zone.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual B-9 VB00009 B-10 VB000010 B-11 VB000011 B-12 VB000012 E-1 VE00001 E-2 VE00002 Additional Information for New Programs Program Page 112 Watering Days Start Times
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Glossary of Terms address When a device is connected to the two-wire, the device is given an address that identifies it to the BaseStation 3200 controller. The controller refers to an address as a “zone number.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual ET-based watering A watering methodology that uses the principles of evapotranspiration to water when needed rather than on an established schedule evaporation Loss of water as vapor from the soil surface or from moisture on the surface of a leaf. Differs from transpiration in that the water does not pass through the plant parts.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual microclimate The climate of a specific location within a landscape. Variations in climate are influenced by subtle differences in temperature, humidity, and wind exposure. Microclimates can have a significant impact on plant water needs. NCMV Normally closed master valve NOMV Normally open master valve – It can monitor high flow and shut down independently from the controller.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual scheduling group A group of one or more zones that have been linked together for irrigation scheduling. A scheduling group must have one primary zone, and may have one or more linked zones. Irrigation for all zones in a scheduling group will follow the watering strategy of the primary zone, but actual water times and soak/cycle behavior will scale as programmed relative to the primary zone.
