BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller User Manual Software Version 11.7.5.
Baseline Inc. www.baselinesystems.com Phone 208-323-1634 FAX 208-323-1834 Toll Free 866-294-5847 ©2012 Baseline Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Table of Contents 1 – INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................1 How to Read this Manual................................................................................................................................ 1 How to Irrigate Efficiently ............................................................................................................................... 1 Soil Moisture Content .............
Two-Wire Installation ................................................................................................................................... 21 Two-Wire Serial Numbers ............................................................................................................................... 22 Two-Wire Connections and Layout................................................................................................................. 22 Wire Connections ...................................
6 – INITIAL PROGRAMMING............................................................................................................. 42 Power Cycling or Restarting the Controller ................................................................................................... 42 Setting the Controller Date and Time ............................................................................................................ 42 Checking the Software Version on Your Controller ................................
Learning the Flow by Program.................................................................................................................... 62 Learning the Flow by Zone ......................................................................................................................... 63 Multiple Flow Devices and Mainlines ............................................................................................................ 64 To assign mainline numbers to your flow devices and programs.....
Troubleshooting the Two-Wire: High Current or Shorted .............................................................................. 85 Troubleshooting: Lost Devices | No Response .............................................................................................. 86 12 – APPENDIX ..................................................................................................................................... 87 Warranty .........................................................................
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BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 1 – INTRODUCTION Congratulations on choosing the most capable and easiest to use 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 • Avoid runoff. Matching the application rate of irrigation to the infiltration rate of the soil is critical to avoid runoff. • Only apply the amount of water needed. Irrigation water is a supplement to natural rainfall – you only need to apply the amount of water needed to return the soil to optimum moisture.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Saturation 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. Field Capacity The level of soil moisture left in the soil after drainage of the gravitational water.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual After you have identified the hydrozones in your landscaping, determine which irrigation zones are used to water those hydrozones, and then put the irrigation zones into scheduling groups based on their common characteristics. Within the scheduling group, designate the zone where the sensor is located to be the “primary” zone, and then you set up the watering strategy for the scheduling group based on the readings from that sensor.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Choosing the Sensor Location You will achieve the best results by locating the biSensor in an area that is average for the zone and ideally for the entire scheduling group.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Turf Grass As previously stated, you should bury the sensor 2 inches to 3 inches below the thatch layer, or in the top 1/3 of the root zone of the grass. Newly Seeded Turf Grass or New Sod The default watering strategies for the 3200 are intended to optimize water efficiency for established plants and turf. This style of watering can result in poor performance for newly seeded turf.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Note: Root depth and water requirements for trees and shrubs vary much more greatly than for turf. Consult an experienced Arborist or Master Gardener for specific guidelines for watering trees. Most trees are watered along with turf in commercial landscapes.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual infrequently and promotes deeper root growth in plants. The controller will water for a specified run time each time it is allowed to water. When you are using this watering strategy, remember to ensure that ½ inch or more of water is applied frequently enough to water sufficiently during the hottest period of the season. Refer to Understanding Upper and Lower Limit Watering Strategies on page 53.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Understanding Soak Cycling When you set up your irrigation programs, remember that the rate at which the irrigation application devices apply water might be very different than the rate at which the soil in your landscape can take up that water. Soak cycling breaks the total run time into shorter water “cycles” with “soak” periods in between to allow time for water to soak into the soil. Precipitation Rates vs.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Note: One easy way to determine good cycle times is to turn a zone on and watch for first signs of standing water or runoff. Set the cycle time to be no more than this amount of time. Properly setting soak and cycle times will dramatically improve water penetration and watering efficiency. Distribution Uniformity Distribution uniformity (DU) refers to how evenly water is applied over the area in a particular zone or landscape.
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. Review this information to learn about how many devices are supported and how to install your enclosure. 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 Communication options include the following: • Cellular Modem • Ethernet • Wireless Ethernet (Wi-Fi) • Wireless RF spread spectrum radio • Direct RS-232 connection Note: To install the remote communication devices, refer to the instructions included with the device. BL Commander The BL-Commander is a handheld radio for activating valves while away from the BaseStation 3200 controller.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual • Flow sensor biCoders for connection to third-party flow sensors and master valves • Pause biCoder – compatible with any standard normally closed pause device such as a rain switch or a wind switch • Air temperature biCoder • Pause button (also called a “coach’s button”) • 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-
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Maximum Concurrent Valves The maximum number of concurrently operating valves is shown in the two tables below. The number of concurrent valves varies based on the total load count and wire length to the farthest device: Maximum Wire Distances for 3200R and 5200R Series biCoders Installing the BaseStation 3200 Enclosure This section covers the basic installation of the various enclosures for the BaseStation 3200 controller.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Connecting Power and Ground All C-series wall mount 3200 controllers ship with a conduit-ready ½ inch male exposed thread connection point as shown in the diagram. Make all AC power connections in an approved electrical connection junction box, in accordance with all local electrical codes. Wire nuts for AC power connections are provided.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Connecting Power and Ground The main AC power connection is via a small built-in electrical box in the lower left of the enclosure. To access the electrical box, remove the screw on the right and the panel. The box has a knockout suitable for direct connection of a ½ inch conduit. All installations should comply with local and national electrical codes.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Remote Connection Modules and Antennas If installed, antennas for WiFi, Cell Modem, and Mesh Radio communication units mount through the access port on the left side of the pedestal, and include a stainless steel mounting body to protect antenna cabling and raise antennas above the top of the pedestal for best signal strength. Consult the Resource Library on the Baseline web site at http://www.baselinesystems.
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 BaseStation 3200R systems have built-in biCoders, and each screw terminal has a unique serial number. These serial numbers are listed on the wiring label that is included in the unit as shown in the illustration below. Serial Numbers for zones 1-24 on a BL-5200 Series Powered biCoder™ Powered biCoders are preconfigured at the factory to assign zones 1 to 48 (depending on how many zones the unit is equipped with) to terminals 1 through 48.
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 Serial Numbers Each Baseline two-wire device has a unique serial number used to identify it. Serial numbers are labeled on all Baseline devices. For devices such as two or four zone biCoders, each output for the biCoder has a unique serial number, even if it only has one serial number listed on its label.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 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. You can assume that other devices, both sensors and biCoders, are connected along the length of the two-wire path. On a star configuration, the topology has multiple last devices.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Installing Two-Wire Devices Wiring a Valve biCoder Baseline’s valve biCoders are designed for direct burial and are tested to very rigorous standards of durability. Make all connections in valve boxes fully waterproof. The connectors on the two-wire path and on the valve side must conform to the 3M™ Direct Bury Splice Kit DBR/Y specification and be properly installed. BiCoders include status and activity LEDs for troubleshooting purposes.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Wiring Surge Protection and Lightning Arrestors Install lightning arrestors according to the specification below. Each lightning arrestor protects roughly a 300 foot circle, so you should place a lightning arrestor every 600 feet along the wire path. Ground each lightning arrestor using an appropriate ground rod or plate as per the Baseline BL-LA01 Surge Arrestor Specification.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 5. Attach the bare copper to a ground rod or ground plate and follow proper grounding practices. Example of Surge Protection Wiring Wiring a Soil Moisture Sensor (biSensor™) 1. Power off the two-wire when installing devices. 2. Wire connections must be 3M™ Direct Bury Splice Kit DBR/Y connectors for all two-wire connections. All connections must be installed according to their manufacturer’s instructions. 3.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Wiring a Pump Start Relay 1. Power off the two-wire when installing devices. Leave 24 to 36 inches of slack on the two-wire to allow for easy installation and maintenance. 2. Locate the biCoder near the irrigation pump relay. 3. Connect the red and black wire from the biCoder to the corresponding red and black wires on the two-wire using 3M™ Direct Bury Splice Kit DBR/Y connectors. It is critical that polarity be maintained. 4.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 3. Connect the red and black wire from the flow biCoder to the corresponding red and black wires on the two-wire, making sure that you maintain polarity. You must use 3M™ Direct Bury Splice Kit DBR/Y connectors for all two-wire wire path connections. 4. Identify the type of flow sensor/water meter and connect its wires to the flow biCoder as shown in the diagrams. You must use a 3M™ Direct Bury Splice Kit DBR/Y connector for all of these connections.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 7. Verify communications from the BaseStation to the flow biCoder and complete the configuration and setup. Refer to Searching for Flow biCoders (including those associated with a Master Valve) on page 37 and to Configuring Flow biCoders, Flow Meters, and Flow Sensors on page 41. Wiring a Water Meter You must use a water meter register that provides at least 10 pulses per gallon.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Pause Devices Wiring a Pause Button The pause button provides a convenient way to stop watering. You can install this button in any location where easy access to the two-wire can be used for a connection. You can install up to three pause devices on a single BaseStation 3200 or 3200R system to allow convenient access from multiple locations around large sites. Installation Instructions 1.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 5. Assign the biCoder as a pause device, and test its operation. Refer to Configuring Pause Devices on page 40. Wiring a Rain Switch and Other Normally Closed Sensing Devices All BaseStation 3200 controllers are compatible with industry standard normally closed (NC) sensing devices such as rain switches. You can directly connect these devices to the appropriate terminals on the 3200, or you can connect them to the two-wire path using pause biCoders.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Wireless Rain Sensors Another popular accessory is a wireless rain sensor. Wireless sensors differ from standard rain sensors because they require external power, typically 24 VAC. The various types of wireless rain sensors have different wiring requirements for their receivers. Consult the user manual for your wireless rain sensor for wiring guidelines.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 4 –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 on-screen 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 On-Screen Help At the bottom of every screen, there are instructions that describe how to use the buttons to change the functions associated with that screen. The instructions on the screen change depending on the functions and control requirements. Auto Run Main Screen The main screen displays when the dial is in the Auto Run position. This screen shows status for all elements of the 3200 controller.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Status Colors The following colors display on the Auto 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 Follow the on-screen instructions to access reports from the main screen.
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 Searching for biSensors 1. Turn the dial to the biSensor Menu position. 2. Press the NEXT or PREV button to select Assign biSensors. 3. Press the ENTR button. 4. Press the + or – button to select Search. 5. Press the ENTR button. The display shows the number of devices found and the number of ports or addresses available. 6. Continue to the procedure for assigning the biSensors to primary zones on page 40.
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 2. With the dial in the biCoder Menu position and the biCoder List displayed, press the + or – button until Clear displays in the Assign biCoder field. 3. Press the NEXT or PREV button to highlight the Zone Number that you want to clear. 4. Press the ENTR button.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Configuring Other Devices Assigning Soil Moisture Sensors (biSensors) to Primary Zones When you have biSensors connected to your irrigation system, you need to assign each sensor to the zone where it is located. This zone then becomes a primary zone. 1. If you have not searched for the biSensors, do that first. Refer to Searching for biSensors on page 37. 2.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 8. When the program is selected, press the + or – button to change between Y (yes) and – (no). Note: If you want to turn off the pause biCoder, select the Pause Delay Time field, and then press the CLR button. 9. When you have finished making changes, turn the dial to the Auto Run position. Configuring Flow biCoders, Flow Meters, and Flow Sensors Flow Meters and Flow Sensors are configured on the Flow Menu dial position.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 6 – INITIAL PROGRAMMING After you have configured 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 To determine whether the software version on your controller is different from the currently released version, go to the Baseline web site (www.baselinesystems.com). Type software update in the Search field and click Submit. In the search results, click the BaseStation 3200 Software Update link. Review the information on that page, to find out what the current software version is and then compare that with the version on your controller.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Zone Mode – There are three modes for zones in the BaseStation 3200. Timed • The default for newly assigned zones. In this mode, you can program the zone to water in a time-based manner (like other irrigation controllers). Primary • This zone type is used for the lowest numbered zone in a zone scheduling group. Making changes to a primary zone will automatically make corresponding changes in all linked zones.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To assign a primary zone 1. Turn the dial to the Zone Water Times position. 2. Press the + or – button to select the zone that you want to assign as a primary zone. 3. Press the NEXT button to move to the Zone Mode field. 4. Press the + or – button until Primary displays in the Zone Mode field. 5. Repeat steps 2 – 4 for each primary zone with a biSensor.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Note: As you change the time in the field, the ratio percentage changes to indicate how the time is related to the amount of time that the primary zone is scheduled to water. The example in the illustration shows that 45 minutes is 100% of the watering time scheduled for zone 2, so you know that zone 2 is also scheduled to water for 45 minutes.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To change soak-cycle settings for timed zones You can change the soak and cycle times for timed zones as needed to match the zone conditions (soil type and slope). 1. Turn the dial to the Soak Cycle position. 2. Press the + or – button to select the timed zone that you want to change the soak-cycle settings for. 3. Perform one of the following: a.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To set up the start times for a program 1. Turn the dial to the Start Times position. 2. Press the + or – button to select the program that you want to set up start times for. 3. Press the NEXT button to move to one of the start time fields. 4. Press the + or – button to set the time in the field. 5. Press the CLR button to remove a start time from the field. 6. When you have finished making changes, turn the dial to the Auto Run position.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To set up the day intervals for a program 1. Turn the dial to the Day Intervals position. 2. Press the + or – button to select the program that you want to set up day intervals for. 3. Press the NEXT button to move to the field where you select the interval that you want. 4. Press the + button to move through the options, and then stop when the option that you want to use is displayed in the field.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Instructions 1. Turn the dial to the Day Intervals position. 2. Press the + or – button to select the program that you want to set up historical ET-based watering for. 3. Press the NEXT button to move to the field where you select the interval. 4. Press the + button to move through the options, and then stop when Historical ET Calendar is displayed in the field. 5. Press the NEXT button to move to the Day Interval Calendar.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Associating Zones with a Program In your landscape, you probably have zones that need to be watered every day (such as those that water turf areas) and other zones that need to be watered less frequently (such as shrub borders). In order to manage these different watering schedules, it is best to create separate programs for the turf and the shrubs and then associate the appropriate program with the zones that water the specific landscape area.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Prerequisites for Watering with Soil Moisture Sensors • Your biSensors are installed and assigned in the BaseStation 3200. Make sure to assign the correct biSensor to its primary zone. Making an incorrect assignment here will result in unexpected and confusing water behavior. Refer to Assigning Soil Moisture Sensors (biSensors) to Primary Zones on page 40.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Understanding Upper and Lower Limit Watering Strategies Lower Limit This water strategy provides an excellent way to achieve healthy, deep-rooted grass. You can either set the lower limit manually or you can have the controller perform a calibration cycle in order to calculate the limit. Set the lower limit at the maximum allowable depletion moisture level, just before the lawn begins to stress or wilt.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Lower Limit Watering Behaviors • It is uncertain which days of the week when watering will occur – use water windows to specify a mow day. • The water run time for a program is fixed, so the end time is predictable to the extent that multiple programs may all be trying to water on the same day.
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 Event Days The BaseStation 3200 supports eight event days. An event day stops all watering and keeps all programs from starting on that date. You can schedule an event day up to a year in advance. To add a new event day 1. Turn the dial to the Event Days position. 2. Press the NEXT or PREV button to move to an empty event day box. 3. Press the + or – button to set the desired date. 4.
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 Note: If flow device #1 has a NOMV, the system assigns the device as master valve 1 (MV1). This flow device can monitor flow rates and automatically shut down the NOMV on a high flow condition, independent of the state of the controller. If you want the device to provide 24x7 monitoring, you must supply power to the device either from an external 24 VAC source or by setting the two-wire to be always on. 5.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual • Monthly Budget – When the value in this field is greater than zero, the system monitors the total water used during a single month. If the monthly water used exceeds this number, an alert is generated. If you set the Shut Down field to Y (yes), then the associated MVs shut off and water is stopped until the first of the next month. To configure the flow device limits 1. Turn the dial to the Flow Menu position. 2.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual • Design Flow GPM – This field is the flow rating for the mainline in gallons per minute (GPM). This flow is likely different from the design flow of the POC/flow device. When a mainline has multiple POCs of different capacity, the controller uses the constrained design flow to determine the actual available flow for watering.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual the zone will be marked as good and watering will continue. If the variance is out of limit, then the zone will be marked as a failure and shut down. This method allows watering to continue almost without interruption, while isolating the faulty zone or zones. To set up the mainline 1. Turn the dial to the Flow Menu position. 2. Press the NEXT button to select Mainline Setup, and then press the ENTR button. The Mainline Setup screen displays. 3.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Even if your system does not have a flow device, you can still use the Zone Concurrency settings at the controller and program level without having to input design flows for all zones and the mainline.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual IMPORTANT NOTE! The learn flow cycle does not start until you turn the dial to the Auto Run position. Depending on how many zones a program has, the learn flow cycle could take more than an hour to complete. When the learn flow cycle begins, it will pause any running programs (on that mainline), and it will run one zone at a time to learn its flow. It will take several minutes to learn the flow for each zone.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Multiple Flow Devices and Mainlines With the BaseStation 3200, you can independently manage four mainlines separate from each other. A mainline is defined as a primary water delivery pipe that delivers water to a specific set of zones (valves and heads). Mainlines are considered to be different and separate if the water in one mainline cannot be delivered to the zones of another mainline.
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 Setting the Next Start Date for a Program If you are using the Historical ET Calendar interval for multiple programs, you can use this option to set staggered start dates for each program. 1. Turn the dial to the Manual Run Program position. 2. Press the + button to change the option in the top field to Set Next Program Start Date. 3. Press the NEXT button to move to the list of programs.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 5. Press the NEXT button to move to the First Zone Delay field, and then press the + or – button to set the amount of time that you want the system to delay before the zone starts running. Note: Use the First Zone Delay setting to give you time to walk to the zone location so you can observe the zone running. You can set the delay time from 0 seconds to 10 minutes. 6.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Manually Running the Zones of a Program 1. Turn the dial to the Manual Water position. 2. In the first field on the screen, press the + button to change the setting to Run Zones of Program. 3. Press the NEXT button to move to the next field, and then press the + or – button to select the program that you want to run manually.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Setting Up a Rain Delay This function will stop all water for a specified number of days. Setting the days to 1 will stop watering for the rest of the day and will resume normal watering at midnight. To set up a rain delay 1. Turn the dial to the AUX position. 2. Press the NEXT or PREV button to select Rain/Off, and then press the ENTR button. 3. Press the + button to set the number of delay days. 4.
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 set up passcodes 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. You can also ensure that your controller has the most current software code with a download from the Baseline web site.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Also be aware that it is easy to inadvertently change the serial number when you are in this screen. We recommend that you avoid accessing this screen unless you are directed to do so by Baseline Support. 1. Turn the dial to the AUX position. 2. Press the NEXT button to move to the System option, and then press the ENTR button. The Serial Number screen displays. 3. Press the + or – button to change the serial number. 4.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 2. Turn the dial to the AUX position. 3. Press the NEXT button to move to the USB Data option, and then press the ENTR button. 4. Press the NEXT button to move to the Restore option, and then press the ENTR button. The controller replaces the current programming with the copy from the USB drive. 5.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Updating the Controller Software Software updates are free for the life of any Baseline controller as long as the hardware is compatible. Baseline will periodically release software updates that enhance the usefulness of our products or fix the occasional bug. To update your controller’s software, you will need Internet access, a USB drive, and a computer with a USB port.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual To update the software on the controller 1. On the BaseStation 3200 controller, plug the USB drive that has the Update folder on it into the USB port. WARNING! To avoid damaging the connector pins, gently push the drive into the port. 2. Turn the dial to the AUX position. 3. Press the NEXT button to move to the System option, and then press the ENTR button. 4. To move the cursor out of the serial number box, press the PREV button.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 10 – REPORTS, MESSAGES, ALERTS, & LOGS The main screen shows information about the operating state of the BaseStation controller. 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. • Air Temp – Shows “None” if no air temperature sensor is connected to the system, otherwise shows the current air temperature. • Remote – Indicates the status of remote communications to the 3200. Possible indicators include: None – No remote communication devices were detected.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Moisture Sensor Data The Soil Moisture Sensor Data report shows a moisture graph for each of the moisture sensors connected to the controller. The graph shows the watering limits: • Green line = lower limit – Allow watering at the next start time when the moisture has dropped below this limit • Red line = upper limit – Stop watering during a water cycle when the moisture reaches this limit To display the Soil Moisture Sensor Data report 1.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Pause Conditions A variety of conditions will cause the controller to pause watering, either by specific programs or the entire controller. When one or more pause conditions occur, the Pause Condition reports describe the reasons for the pause conditions. The following pause conditions can occur on the BaseStation 3200.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Pause Switch Rain Switch Rain/OFF days Water Window • An open jumper or wired switch pauses all watering on the controller. • Pressing CLR does not reset the pause condition until the jumper or switch has closed the circuit. Then pressing CLR resets the pause condition before the delay time has elapsed. • Automatically cleared at end of the delay time.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Note: If pause conditions exist on the controller, pressing NEXT four times from the main screen displays the Pause Conditions report. In this case, you need to press the NEXT button five times to display the Operator Messages. 2. If there are multiple messages, press the + or – button to scroll through the messages. 3. Press the CLR button to clear the message.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual 3. When Windows prompts, click the option to open the folder and view the files. A Windows Explorer window opens and displays the contents of the USB drive. If you want to copy all of the exported log files, right-click on the folder that matches the serial number of your controller, and then click Copy. If you want to copy a specific log file, double-click on the folder that matches the serial number of your controller.
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 Zones, Valves, and biCoders When you test a zone, the controller verifies the communication between the controller and the valve biCoder.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Testing Soil Moisture Sensors (biSensors) When you test a soil moisture sensor (biSensor), the controller verifies the communication between the controller and the biSensor and returns the following readings: • The current soil moisture percentage value • The raw reading from the biSensor (in parenthesis) • The soil temperature from the sensor in degrees Fahrenheit • The two-wire voltage loss (a measure of the wire length and quality between the
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual page 52) 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 – c
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual For problems that fall into the second category, find out what has changed because these factors might provide some insight or a place to start looking for solutions. Repairing Device Assignments and Addresses This process searches for and verifies communication with each of the devices on the two-wire. Note: Baseline recommends that you back up your controller data before you run this process. Refer to Backing Up Your System on page 71.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual Is there the possibility of lightning damage? Any recent work done on the site that could have damaged the buried wire? • If there is no apparent damage to the two-wire, start disconnecting devices, one at a time, from the shorted segment until the problem goes away. • 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.
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 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 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 Connector B-5 biCoder S/N VB00005 B-6 VB00006 B-7 VB00007 B-8 VB00008 B-9 VB00009 B-10 VB000010 B-11 VB000011 B-12 VB000012 E-1 VE00001 E-2 VE00002 biSensor S/N Zone # on BaseStation Additional Information for New Programs Program Page 90 Watering Days Start Times Old Zone # Hydrozone Program Run Time
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 field capacity This is the maximum water holding capacity of the soil, in other words, the level of soil moisture left in the soil after drainage of the gravitational water. Irrigation to levels above field capacity will result in runoff or drainage as gravitational water.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual primary zone 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 that the sensor is connected to. program A program is a controller programming concept used to organize watering events.
BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual water budget In the BaseStation 3200 controller, the water budget functionality enables you to define and track the total flow for each Flow biCoder per month. You can configure the target flow value in GPM for the Flow biCoder and how the system will react when this number is reached. water window The time available for watering through an irrigation system.
