BaseStation 6000 Site Controller User Manual January 16, 2012 Contents at a Glance Section 1 Section 2 Section 3 Section 4 Section 5 Section 6 Section 7 Section 8 Section 9 Section 10 Section 11 Section 12 Pre-Installation Hardware Installation & Configuration Initial Programming Programming Adjustments ET-based Watering Flow Manual Operations System Management Logs, Reports, Alerts, and Graphs System Diagnostics Troubleshooting Reference Customer Service 1-866-294-5847
Table of Contents 1 – PRE-INSTALLATION..................................................................................................................................... 1 System Components ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 BaseStation 6000™ Site Controller Standard Components ............................................................................................
Table of Contents Settings for pause devices ........................................................................................................................................ 19 Adding Devices to Manage Start/Stop Conditions ....................................................................................................... 20 To add a start/stop device .......................................................................................................................................
Adjusting Programming with biSensors ...................................................................................................................... 41 Turn On Based on Day Interval and Turn Off Based on Upper Moisture Level (Water Strategy 1) ............................. 42 To configure the system to turn off based on upper moisture level .......................................................................
Table of Contents Setting Up Flow Management by Remote Base Unit Zones ......................................................................................... 69 Setting Up Flow Management by Program Zones ........................................................................................................ 69 Setting Up Flow Management by Flow Nodes ............................................................................................................. 69 Configuring the Source Flow Node..........
Using Time Valve Activation ......................................................................................................................................... 88 9 – LOGS, REPORTS, ALERTS, AND GRAPHS .............................................................................................89 Logs and Reports ........................................................................................................................................................ 89 Available Logs and Reports ........
Table of Contents Address Usage in the BaseStation 6000 .................................................................................................................... 114 Water Auditing ......................................................................................................................................................... 114 To audit a zone and set initial watering times .......................................................................................................
1 – PRE-INSTALLATION Congratulations on purchasing the most capable centrally-controlled irrigation system in the industry. The BaseStation 6000 accommodates up to 4,000 zones with 500 soil moisture sensors and manages flow on up to 800 separate flow zones across 24 flow devices. You can create as many as 100 programs to water even the most complicated site. In the BaseStation 6000 system, you can connect up to 20 Remote Base Units that take the place of individual controllers.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual • Internet connectivity required for technical support and remote access • Remote Base Unit™ – Each Remote Base Unit manages an electrically isolated irrigation sub-system and is able to support 200 valves Optional Components • Bridge Unit – When your system includes more than one Remote Base Unit, the Bridge Unit is located between the BaseStation 6000 computer and the Remote Base Units.
• Wi-Fi – Provides a short-range wireless solution. The BaseStation 6000 computer and the Remote Base Units must be able to connect to the Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN). Planning Your System Configuration Perform the following tasks to help simplify the installation and configuration process: • Use an existing site map or an as-built drawing that shows the location of each zone. If a site map is not available, draw something to the best of your ability.
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Planning the Two-Wire Layout for the Remote Base Unit Baseline’s two-wire communication protocol is called biLine™. The biLine protocol runs over the two-wire and provides a clear path for power and communication to travel throughout the site. The configuration and length of the wire runs determines what size of wire needs to be used. Please refer to the tables and other detailed information in the Two-Wire Tech Spec on Baseline’s web site (www.baselinesystems.com).
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Sample Wiring Topologies Figure 1 – Straight Run Figure 3 – Combination Topology Figure 2 – Star Figure 4 – Complete Loop Wiring Hints For wiring specifications, refer to the Two-Wire Tech Spec on Baseline’s web site (www.baselinesystems.com). Use the appropriate wire type for your project. Typical PVC irrigation wire, without a second layer of insulation is not suitable. If you use an unspecified wire type, it will void your warranty.
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BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 2 – HARDWARE INSTALLATION & CONFIGURATION Installation Hints To quickly configure the BaseStation 6000 Site Controller software and start watering, refer to the Quick Start Guide. This manual gives more detail for configuring the system and fine tuning the programming. Initial Setup This initial setup configures the devices within the system for use.
• Test components with the BaseStation 6000 Controller software before you bury anything. To find any failing zones, run the Quick Test All Zones option. Refer to Performing a Quick Test on All Zones on page 101. • Provide enough extra wire length (24 - 36 inches) at valve boxes and any buried locations so that you can easily work with the wire, biCoders, and/or sensors. Keep in mind that seasonal conditions can have an effect on your wiring.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Manually Starting the BaseStation 6000 Software If the BaseStation 6000 Site Controller software does not start automatically when you turn on the computer or if you accidentally close the software, double-click the Baseline Irrigation Control Software icon on the computer’s desktop. Note: If you think that the BaseStation 6000 Site Controller software is running, but you do not see the main program window, it might be minimized and not visible on the desktop.
Identifying Your Site Before you start configuring various hardware components in the BaseStation 6000 software, we recommend that you type the name of your site in the Local Site Name (1) field at the bottom of the Main Page. Configuring a Remote Base Unit This section describes how to add a Remote Base Unit (RBU) to the BaseStation 6000 Site Controller. Each RBU manages an electrically isolated irrigation sub-system and is able to support 200 valves.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 5. In the Communication Setup dialog box, select the Communication Type for the RBU. If Serial Port is the Communication Type for the selected Remote Base Unit, select that option. If a Mesh Radio is the Communication Type for the selected Remote Base Unit, select that option, and then type the MAC address that is listed on the Mesh Radio Module of the Remote Base Unit.
• Set an RBU to always apply power – If you have a sensor or other device that requires continuous monitoring attached to this RBU, select the Always On (4) check box to set the Remote Base Unit so it is always applying power to the two-wire system.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 5. Click the List Devices (3) button. The attached devices display in the pane on the right. If one or more devices are not listed, troubleshoot the connections per the Troubleshooting section until the problem is found and corrected. Note: If you want to save the list of attached devices to a file, follow the steps in the next section before you close the list. 6.
Adding Valve biCoders A valve biCoder is a decoder used to activate valves in the field. Each biCoder has a unique serial number and address that identifies it to the Remote Base Unit. The Remote Base Unit broadcasts a command that activates a biCoder, which, in turn, activates a valve. Tip: If you have groups of biCoders, leave a couple of blank fields between each group.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Timed – Enables you to set a zone to run based on its programmed times only. Linked – Sets a zone to use the same watering setting as a previously configured zone. Note: You are only able to link to a zone with a lower number. Mirror – Sets a zone to mimic the actions of another zone. Caution: This mode has a specialized function and is not recommended for general use. Disabled – Use this mode to disable the zone.
Adding a Master Valve Any single valve biCoder can be used to operate a master valve. A master valve biCoder can be used to actuate a master valve. 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Remote Base Unit that the master valve biCoder is connected to. 2. Click the Config Zone (1) tab. 3. In the Serial Number column, type the serial number for the master valve biCoder in an unused address line (2).
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Adding an Air Temperature Sensor The air temperature sensor for the BaseStation 6000 system provides two separate functions. It offers a convenient way to halt watering (for all programs) when the outside temperature drops below 38 degrees F. It also enables ET-based watering. The air temperature sensor is read every 10 minutes. For the physical installation of the device, please refer to the “Installation Guide” that was included in the package with the device.
To configure a pause device 1. Click the Information tab to activate the Main Menu. 2. Click the Rain/Pause menu, and then click Configure (1). The Flow BiCoder and Pause Device Management and Configuration dialog box opens. 3. Click the Pause/Rain - This Base tab. 4. Type the serial number of the pause device in an unused Serial Number (2) line. Notice that the top part of the list is for general pause devices. You configure the rain pause device in the fields under the Rain Pause Device heading.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Adding Devices to Manage Start/Stop Conditions You can add devices to your irrigation system and then configure them within the BaseStation 6000 to start or stop watering based on specific conditions. Consider the following examples: • You might install several moisture sensors at increasingly deeper positions in the soil and then use these moisture sensors to stop watering when the moisture penetrates to certain level.
Adding a Flow biCoder Use a Flow biCoder to connect a Flow Sensor to a BaseStation 6000 system. A water flow measurement device helps you monitor actual water usage, and it protects your water delivery system by diagnosing failures in zones and heads. To add a Flow biCoder 1. Click the Information tab to activate the Main Menu. 2. Click the Flow menu, and then click Configure Flow Sensors (1). 3. Click the Flow BiCoder – All Bases tab. 4.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Sensor Placement As you plan where to place the biSensors, make sure that you have considered 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.
To configure a biSensor 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Remote Base Unit (1) that the sensor is connected to. 2. Click the Config Sensor (2) tab. 3. In the Serial Number column, type the serial number for the sensor in an unused address line (3). Note: If you are setting up a series of stacked sensors, we advise that you enter them into the software in order from top to bottom to simplify the management of the system. 4. Press Enter on your keyboard.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual To perform the manual calibration, saturate the soil around the sensor by pouring approximately two gallons of water directly over the spot where the sensor is buried. Over the next several hours, the water will spread out through capillary movement. As a rule, it is best to wait 24 hours to get an accurate field capacity reading.
• If your run time is too short, not enough water is applied to the location and the sensor cannot detect a slowdown in the response curve. If the run time is not long enough to fill the soil to field capacity, the calibration will fail. • If you are using Water Strategy 3 or 4, the Auto Calibration option is not available on the Automatic Zone and Sensor Management window.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual • If the system is not watering enough and the ground is drying out to quickly, click the Too Dry (5) button. The system starts a run cycle to increase the moisture. Note: When you click the Too Dry button, the Zone Description field for an auto zone displays a magenta background. This status color indicates that the system is watering the zone.
3 – INITIAL PROGRAMMING Quick Start / First Watering To quickly configure the BaseStation 6000 Site Controller software and start watering, refer to the Quick Start Guide. This manual gives more detail for configuring the system and fine tuning the programming. IMPORTANT NOTE: After you have the BaseStation 6000 Site Controller software configured for watering, leave both the software and the computer running at all times.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual It is configured as either Auto or Timed. ◦ Auto – Requires that a sensor be connected ◦ Timed – Sets the zone to run based on its timed scheduling only After you have established the relationship between the primary and linked zones, you can specify what program the scheduling group will use for watering by simply assigning the program to the primary zone. You can also adjust how the group will run by adjusting the settings for the primary zone.
Setting up Scheduling Groups Scheduling groups are made up of a primary zone and multiple linked zones within one hydrozone. After you have scheduling groups configured, you can easily make changes to large groups of zones. Creating Scheduling Groups 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Remote Base Unit where you want to create the scheduling groups. 2. Click the Config Zone (1) tab. 3. Find the line that corresponds to the zone that you want to establish as a primary zone.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Grouping and Reordering Zones After you have set up your scheduling groups, it is helpful to order them so they are grouped visually. This grouping will simplify the management and troubleshooting of your system. 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Remote Base Unit where you want to group or reorder zones. 2. Click the Config Zone (1) tab. 3.
3. Click the arrow at the end of the Program (1) field, and then click the program that you want to set the water windows for. 4. Click the Click to Edit Program Name (2) button. The program Name dialog box opens. 5. In the field, type a descriptive name for the program that you are setting up. 6. Click OK. 7. On the Set Watering Program Schedule window, make sure that the Water Window (3) tab is visible. 8. Select the Enable Program (4) check box.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 6. Select the Enable Clock Mode with Timed Watering Starts (2) check box. 7. If the Enable Program (3) check box is not selected, click it to select it. 8. Click Return/Save (4). Using Day Intervals 1. After you have established the water windows for your program, click the Programs button on the Main Page. The Set Watering Program Schedule window opens. 2.
arrow to choose the program that controls the zones that you want to change. Make changes in the remaining fields and then click Apply. When finished, click Return to close the Set System Parameters window. • Review the settings for Concurrent Zones in the pane on the right side of the Water Window tab. Change the Concurrent Zone settings for the RBU that this program is running on and for the entire system. Refer to Controlling Total Active Zones (Concurrent Zones) on page 34.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Using Multi Program View • To change the programs that are displayed in the individual panes, click the arrow in the program number field above the pane, and then click a different program number from the list. • To create a group of six programs, make sure that the programs that you want to group are displayed in the individual panes in the lower part of the window.
To configure the total active zones for the entire system 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Base Unit (1) tab. 2. In the Total Active Zones (2) field at the bottom of the Base Unit tab, type a number to represent the maximum number of zones that the entire system can run at any one time. Note: During the initial configuration of your BaseStation 6000, we recommend that you set the Total Active Zones to 1, which limits the number of zones that can run at one time to only one.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual After You Finish Initial Programming After you complete the initial programming tasks in the BaseStation 6000 system, you should run the system to ensure that it is operating as expected. If you want to manually operate individual zones, refer to Manually Running Zones on page 72. If you need to make adjustments to your system, refer to the topics in the Programming Adjustments section of this document.
4 - PROGRAMMING ADJUSTMENTS Understanding System Status and Color Coding While you are configuring the BaseStation 6000 software and adjusting your programs, you will notice that the system displays various status messages and color coding that also indicates status. The example on the right illustrates some of the status messages and color coding. (1) System activity status – This flashing status tells what the system is doing. In this example, the system is Active, which means that watering is occurring.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual (7) Remote Base Unit buttons – Each of the Remote Base Units that you have configured on your BaseStation 6000 system are represented by buttons in this grid. The background of these buttons displays the same color coding as described above. In this example, the background color is dark blue, which indicates that one or more zones associated with this RBU are currently watering. When all zones are done, the background color of the RBU button changes to green.
Adjusting Individual Zones The BaseStation 6000 provides a variety of methods for adjusting watering time, but the most direct way to adjust individual zones is to make changes on the Adjust Zone tab. To adjust sprinkler settings and soak cycle settings for an individual zone 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Remote Base Unit where you want to adjust a zone. 2. Click the Adjust Zone (1) tab. 3.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Note: Refer to the following topics for information about the additional functionality available from the Adjust Zone tab.
Adjusting the Tracking Ratio of Linked Zones By adjusting the tracking ratio, you can account for different head types or variations in microclimate or soil type. A linked zone will “track” the run time of the primary zone that it is linked to. If you want a linked zone to run less than the primary zone, adjust the tracking ratio percentage down. If you want it to run longer than the primary zone, adjust the percentage up. The BaseStation 6000 tracking ratios range from 33 percent to 400 percent. 1.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual In order to use soil moisture sensors to monitor your watering, you must have at least one auto zone configured. Refer to Creating Scheduling Groups on page 29 for more information. The following sections explain how each strategy affects the “Start Time” and “Day Interval” programs and also explains how to set up your system to use the strategies.
Turn On Based on Lower Moisture Levels and Turn Off Based on Upper Moisture Levels (Water Strategy 2) When you enable Water Strategy 2, the system will start based on the way you have the program for the zone configured – either in clock mode with timed watering starts, or on day intervals (as configured on the Adjust Zone tab). • Clock mode with timed watering starts: The system will only start when a start time is reached and the moisture level is below the lower moisture level (lower threshold).
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Turn On Based on Lower Moisture Levels (Water Strategy 3) When you enable Water Strategy 3, the system will start based on the way you have the program for the zone configured – either in clock mode with timed watering starts, or on day intervals (as configured on the Adjust Zone tab). • Clock mode with timed watering starts: The system will only start when a start time is reached and the moisture level is below the lower moisture level (lower threshold).
Turn On Based on Day Interval and Turn Off Based on Time (Water Strategy 4) Effects on Start Time Programming and on Day Interval Programming When you use Water Strategy 4, the sensor will not affect the programming of the zone, but it will monitor the moisture levels for that zone. This option can be useful when you are configuring the system. To configure the system to turn on based on day interval and turn off based on time 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Adjust Zone tab.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 7. In the Select Off Hours (5) group box, find the hours when you want the system to be turned off, and then click any blue boxes to make them white. The white boxes indicate that watering is not allowed. 8. On the calendar (6), click the date when you want the event to occur. Note: If you have added event details that you do not want to save, click Cancel Event Edits to undo those changes. 9. Click Save Event (7). 10. Click Return/Save (8). To edit an event 1.
Making Seasonal Adjustments The BaseStation 6000 has tools for making adjustments to your programs to match seasonal watering needs. You can adjust both the watering frequency and watering amounts without making permanent changes to your programs. Note: We recommend that you do not use this tab to make adjustments for new landscapes, such as new sod or seed.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual • If you want to set up your seasonal adjustments based on a combination of days and percentages, select Monthly Adjust-Time and Days. In the Seasonal Adjustment Factors for Watering Time and Watering Days group box, first select Edit Watering Days, and then in the fields for the months when you want to adjust by days, type the number of days that you want the system to wait before it waters again.
Shutting Down the System when Rain is Forecast The BaseStation 6000 software provides sensor-based options for controlling your irrigation system when it rains. However, if rain is forecast and you do not have sensor devices installed or configured, you can use the Rain Shutdown option to pause all watering for a specified number of days. 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Information tab to activate the Main Menu. 2.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 4. Make sure that the Start/Stop Conditions tab is visible. 5. Click the arrow in the Program field and click the program that you want to configure moisture sensors for. 6. In the Moisture Sensor group box, refer to the list of sensors that you recorded in Step 1 above, and then type the information in the Base and Address fields.
Requirements • Air temperature sensors are installed in the locations that you need to monitor. • Air temperature sensors are configured in the BaseStation 6000 system. (Refer to Adding Devices to Manage Start/Stop Conditions on page 20.) To configure the settings for temperature sensor readings 1. Before you go to the Start/Stop Conditions tab to begin the configuration, find the serial number of the air temperature sensor that you added to the system for this purpose.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Starting/Stopping/Pausing Irrigation Based on Switch State The BaseStation 6000 system can be configured to start, stop, or pause irrigation based on the state of a switch. This option would be useful in the following example: Suppose that your irrigation water comes from a cistern. When the water level in the cistern drops below a certain depth, you want your irrigation system to shut off or pause so you do not pump the cistern dry.
9. If you want irrigation to pause when… • The switch is open, select the Open check box under Start. • The switch is closed, select the Closed check box under Start. 10. Click Return/Save. Changing all Zones in a Program The Program/Value Editor enables you to change all zones within a program to have the same the watering and soak cycle values. If you are managing a large site where the zones have similar watering requirements, this option will come in handy. 1.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 5 – ET-BASED WATERING Evapotranspiration (ET) refers to the loss of moisture from the soil by evaporation and by the transpiration of plants. Factors such as air temperature, humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed affect the rate at which ET occurs. The BaseStation 6000 system includes advanced ET-based watering technology, which enables ET-based zones to be watered when needed rather than on a pre-set schedule.
Configuring an ET Primary Zone 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Remote Base Unit that controls the zone that you want to configure as an ET zone. 2. Click the Config Zone (1) tab. 3. On the line for the zone that you want to configure, click the arrow in the field under Device Mode, and then click ET-Time (2). The ET Parameter Input window opens. 4. Click the Primary Zone Management (3) tab. 5. Verify that the correct zone is displayed in the Select Zone (4) field.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Adjusting an ET-Based Zone On the Adjust Zone tab, you can temporarily adjust the run time for a zone that is configured for ET, but the program will restore the ET settings. Follow the steps below to permanently adjust the settings for an ET-based zone. 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Remote Base Unit that controls the ET-based zone that you want to adjust. 2. Click the Config Zone tab. 3.
6. Ensure that the Weather Station and Sensor Setup tab is visible. 7. In the Rain Shutdown group box, ensure that the correct Remote Base Unit is displayed in the Select Base Unit to Be Controlled field. Note: If you have multiple RBUs connected to your BaseStation 6000 system, you can configure the rain gauge to control any or all of those RBUs.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Configuring an ET Weather Station A typical weather station includes the following meteorological sensors: • Solar Radiation Sensor (pyranometer) • Air Temperature Sensor • Relative Humidity Probe • Tipping Bucket Rain Gage • Wind Sensor (anemometer) The BaseStation 6000 software can read and display the data from the weather station and then use the data from that station to obtain an accurate estimate of reference ET (ETo).
6 – FLOW The BaseStation 6000 Site Controller has powerful flow features, which enable you to: • Detect and manage flow faults – With a flow device, the system can monitor the readings to protect your irrigation system from excessive flow. In an “overflow event” the controller closes all master valves associated with the flow meter and halts all irrigation to protect the landscape from flooding, within five minutes of overflow detection.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 5. 6. 7. In the Current Combined Flow and Usage group box, review the data in the following fields: • Combined Flow – This field shows the current sum of all the flow through all the flow devices on the system in gallons per minute. • Combined Usage – This field shows the total water usage by the irrigation system in gallons per minute since the system was installed or since the Flow biCoders were reset.
Setting Up Flow Monitoring for Flow Zones Use this procedure to set up individual components of your system to be monitored and handled separately. If there is a problem, only that component is shut down and the rest of the system continues to water as needed. 1. Make sure that you have already added all of the Flow biCoders that are associated with the flow devices to the BaseStation 6000 system. Refer to Adding a Flow biCoder on page 21. 2.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 12. Under the Set/Reset (9) column, click the S button to simulate a high flow event and find out whether the Flow biCoder is set up correctly. Click the R button to reset a high flow fault. 13. Click Return (10). The Flow BiCoder and Pause Device Management and Configuration window closes. 14. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Config Zone tab. 15.
7. In the Pipe Fill Time (3) field, type the number of seconds that it takes to fill the empty line, activate the valve, and reach a steady state operating pressure. Note: The easiest way to determine the pipe fill time is to turn on the zone, and then time how long it takes for you to see water flowing at a steady pressure. 8. In the Turn Off Time field, type the number of seconds required for the longest valve on the program to completely close after power is no longer applied to the solenoid.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Clearing a Flow-Based Fault When you notice a flow fault on your system, watering will not start again until you fix what is causing the fault, and then clear the fault. 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Information tab to view the flow faults as illustrated below. 2. Click Clear Alarms and Alerts (1). 3. Click one of the buttons in the Clear Error Warnings box. • Yes clears all errors on all Remote Base Units.
Controlling Water Usage The usage control features in the BaseStation 6000 enable you to proactively monitor usage and adjust watering to stay within certain allowed limits. When you configure the software to monitor usage, you can prevent costly overages from your water supplier. Setting Up a Water Budget By Month Setting up a Water Budget By Month enables you to define and track the total flow for each flow biCoder per month.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 8. In the fields under Programs NOT Controlled (5), type the numbers of any programs that you do not want the system to control with the flow usage settings. The system will water these programs as scheduled and adjust all other programs in order to meet the usage goals.
If the actual usage is greater than the planned usage on a specific day, the difference should be represented by any manual and/or unplanned usage. On the Actual vs. Planned graph, you can drill into more detail for a particular day by clicking one of the graphed bars for that day. The graph expands to show the data on an hourly scale. Click one of the bars again to see the data for that hour. To return to the previous view of the data, click Back to Previous Screen. Actual vs.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Projected Usage Against Limit – Cumulative – This graph shows the target usage from the Water Budget By Month tab represented by the green line compared with the total planned usage represented by the red line. Managing and Optimizing Flow The BaseStation 6000 software has powerful features that enable you to control how much water flows through the piping structure of your irrigation system.
Setting Up Flow Management by Remote Base Unit Zones When you set up flow management by Remote Base Unit zones, you define how many zones can be run on the overall system and then by each Remote Base Unit. Using this flow management option, you can control how much flow will be drawn from each portion of your system.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Configuring the Source Flow Node 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Information tab to activate the Main Menu. 2. On the Main Menu, click Flow, and then click Config Flow Control. The Set System Parameters window opens. 3. Click the Flow Node Management tab. The source flow node is listed in the left pane. 4. Click on the source flow node to highlight it. 5. Click the Edit Node button on the right side of the window.
Associating Valves with the Flow Nodes When you create your flow node structure, all the valves are associated with Flow Node 1 by default. Follow the steps in this procedure to change how the valves are associated. 1. Create and configure all of your flow nodes. 2. On the Flow Node Management tab, click Flow Node 1 in the left pane. All of the valves display in the pane on the right. 3. Click the valve that you want to move to a different flow node. 4. Click Edit Node.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 7 –MANUAL OPERATIONS Manually Running Zones The BaseStation 6000 provides the following options for manually running zones. To water all zones again This option waters all zones on the selected Remote Base Unit according to the active program. 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Information tab to activate the Main Menu. 2. On the Main Menu, click Manual, and then click Water All Zones Again.
To manually run a list of zones The BaseStation 6000 provides flexible control of non-scheduled irrigation cycles. One method is to define a list of zones and run them for a defined amount of time. You can initiate manual runs on as many as four Remote Base Units at any one time. 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Information tab to activate the Main Menu. 2. On the Main Menu, click Manual, and then click Manual Run Zones. The Activate Run List dialog box opens. 3.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Pausing the System Temporarily On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Pause button. The System Activity status changes to BaseUnit Paused Configuration Active. The Pause button is highlighted with a yellow border. If you leave the system paused with this button, it will restart at midnight. Click the Run button to return the system to Active status.
5. In the Starting Zone field, click the up arrow or down arrow (4) so that the zone where you want the test to start is visible in the field. 6. Type a number in the On Time In Seconds (5) field to indicate how long each zone will run during the walk around test. 7. Type a number in the Seconds before Starting field to indicate how long the system will wait before starting the first zone. This delay gives you time to go to the zone location so you can observe the test. 8.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 8 – SYSTEM MANAGEMENT Adding a Picture of a Zone You can associate photographs or drawings with your zones to help visualize the zone location. Note: The image must be in the JPG format. For example, the image file must have the .jpg file extension. The ideal photograph or drawing is a rectangular shape in the “landscape” orientation, which means that the width is greater than the height.
To change the zone picture 1. Click the Adjust Zone tab. 2. On the line for the zone image that you want to change, click the Actions button. 3. Click Picture. The Zone Map dialog box opens and displays the image. 4. Click the Browse for Picture button. 5. Use the Open dialog box to find the new image that you want to associate with the zone. 6. Click once on the image to select it, and then click Open. The Zone Map dialog box opens again. 7.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Viewing Base Notes 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Remote Base Unit that you want to view notes for. 2. Click the Information tab to activate the Main Menu. 3. On the Main Menu, click Window. 4. Click Notes and Pictures, and then click Base Notes. 5. On the Base Notes menu, click View Base Note. The Notepad window opens. 6. When you finish viewing the notes, click the X in the upper-right corner of the Notepad window.
3. a. Click the Start button on the Microsoft Windows taskbar. b. Point to All Programs, and then point to Accessories. c. Click Windows Explorer. Copy the image file into the following directory: C:\xTrol\Irrigation\Programs\SiteMap 4. If the default SiteMap1.jpg file is in the directory, you can either delete that file or give it a different file name. 5. Rename the your map file to SiteMap#.jpg where the # is a number between 1 and 20 that indicates which Remote Base Unit the map is for.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Managing the System from the Site Map After you have configured the site map, you can manage the system directly from the map view. The features available from the site map are the same as those in the rest of the software, but the map enables you to visualize where your zones are located. 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Information tab to activate the Main Menu. 2. On the Main Menu, click Maps, and then click Site Map.
Find Zone – Brings up the search function of the system and enables you to search for zones and devices based on serial number or zone number. ShowColorKey (6) – Displays the color key in the pane on the right. To return to the tab view, click HideColorKey. Print – This option prints the site map to the printer that is attached to the BaseStation 6000 computer. Note: This print option does not allow you to choose a specific printer and does not notify you when the document finishes printing.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual System Notification The BaseStation 6000 Site controller has advanced monitoring features. You can set up the system to automatically notify a person or group of people with a variety of site information. You can send general system information through email. You can set up system alerts to be sent over email or text message. Setting up System Notifications can greatly improve a user’s awareness to how the system is running.
3. Click Manage Contacts. The Manage Contact List window opens. 4. Click the contact in the top pane, and then click Edit Selected Contact. The Edit Contact window opens. 5. Make any necessary changes in the fields, and then click OK. 6. Click Close on the Manage Contact List window. 7. Minimize the BaseStation 6000 Report and Alert Mailer software window, but do not close it. WARNING! Closing the BaseStation 6000 Report and Alert Mailer software prevents all messages from being sent.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 10. Minimize the BaseStation 6000 Report and Alert Mailer software window, but do not close it. WARNING! Closing the BaseStation 6000 Report and Alert Mailer software prevents all messages from being sent. If you accidently close the software, restart it by double-clicking its icon on the desktop. Turning On the Notifications Now that you have your contacts set up, you can turn on the notifications that you want to send out and when. 1.
The email that you receive will be similar to the illustration below: The reports are linked to the email as attachments. To open a report attachment, double-click on the attachment. The report displays in a Notepad window. If you find that the columns in the report are not aligned properly, which makes the data hard to read, click the Maximize (□) button on the top window border. If the data is still not aligned properly, click the Format menu, and then click Word Wrap.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 7. Click Record (4). The Enter Password dialog box closes. IMPORTANT NOTE: By default, the administrator has access to all system functions indicated by blue shading in the table cells. Do not change the administrator’s access level. 8. In the Password Security and Logging window, select the Enable Passwords (5) check box. 9. If you want the system to keep a log of the changes made in this window, select the Enable Change Logs (6) check box. 10.
6. Click in the Name field, and then press Delete on the keyboard to remove the name from the field. 7. Click Record. 8. Click Cancel to close the Enter Password dialog box. The line for the user is removed from the table on Password Security and Logging window. Granting or Change Access to System Functions This procedure assumes that you have already set up an administrator password and you have already added users and their associated passwords.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual To log off 1. On the BaseStation 6000 Main Page, click the Information tab to activate the Main Menu. 2. On the Main Menu, click Login, and then click Log Off. A message informs you that logging off was successful. 3. Click OK to close the message box. Logging On as a Different User 1. On the BaseStation 6000 Main Page, click the Information tab to activate the Main Menu. 2. On the Main Menu, click Login, and then click Log On as different user.
9 – LOGS, REPORTS, ALERTS, and GRAPHS The BaseStation 6000 has a wealth of logs, reports, alerts, and graphs to help support your irrigation efforts. Logs and Reports The logs and reports capture the BaseStation 6000 software configuration, the changes made by users, and the daily activity of the system. The logs and reports are stored on the hard drive of the BaseStation 6000 computer in the path C:\xTrol\Irrigation\Programs\.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual To save a log or report file to a flash drive (also called a USB drive or a thumb drive), plug the flash drive device into a USB port on the computer. Windows will detect the drive. Open a folder to view files on the drive. Windows Explorer opens and shows the contents of the flash drive. Open another Windows Explorer window by clicking on the Windows Start button, and then clicking Open Windows Explorer.
Folder Name Logs and Reports Menu Description IOLog NA If you set up IO logs to be mailed to Baseline Support, the system sends the reports from this folder. These reports are used by Baseline Support to help troubleshoot your system – the data is not easily interpreted by end users. For instructions on mailing reports, refer to System Notification on page 82. IrrigationLog Station Run Time Log Reports the zone run times for each zone for each day of the month.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Alarms, Alerts, and Warnings The BaseStation 6000 constantly monitors the irrigation system to detect conditions that will affect the performance of your system. These alerts will help you stay on top of issues. As a matter of fact, one BaseStation 6000 user found and repaired 10 failed solenoids with the help of these alerts. He estimated that the time from alert to repair was 15 minutes, which prevented damage to the landscaping.
Moisture levels drop more sharply during day time than during night time due to higher temperatures. When a soil moisture sensor detects a steady increase in moisture levels during an irrigation event, the leading edge of the graph is sharp and clean. If the leading edge is jagged, it means that moisture levels increased erratically during (or after) the irrigation event. This situation might occur if the sensor is buried too deeply or if the irrigation event applies water too quickly.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual (5) Home – Click the Home button to display the data for a month where today’s date is centered. The default view shows a month where today’s date is on the right edge of the graph. (6) Scroll to different date – Click and drag the scroll box at the bottom of the graph display a different date range on the graph. (7) Scale – Click the Scale button to control the level of detail by zooming in or out.
Recommendations • This graph represents a normal occurrence caused by water traveling through the soil to the sensor more slowly than it is applied. If the peaking is not excessive, no changes are required. • If the peaking is excessive, the soak time should be increased so that water is applied more slowly.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Saturated – Not Drying Out (Watering Too Often) Characteristics • The lower threshold (the moisture level where the water turns on) is set just above the field capacity of the soil. • The soil does not have time to dry between watering cycles. • The excess moisture applied during each watering cycle percolates through the soil and is lost to the plant.
Graph Not Moving Characteristics • The graph shows only a little movement and the ground where the sensor is located is saturated. • The overall trend of the graph may be flat but there are sharp peaks that correspond to the watering cycles. The peaks fall off rapidly. Recommendation • The ground is near, at, or above field capacity and does not dry out between watering days. • Check the watering frequency. If the system is watering daily or every two days, increase the days between watering.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 10 –SYSTEM DIAGNOSTICS The BaseStation 6000 provides robust tools for analyzing the system and diagnosing issues. Refer to the Troubleshooting section on page 104 for information about using System Diagnostics to find issues. Accessing the System Diagnostics Interface 1. On the Main Page of the BaseStation 6000 software, click the Information tab to activate the Main Menu. 2. On the Main Menu, click Diagnostics, and then click System Diagnostics.
Testing Electrical Connections with Devices Use the Blink Device LEDs test to find bad electrical connections or broken wires. Clicking this test button activates the two-wire path and should cause the communication LED on each device to blink. If an LED is not blinking, check the electrical connections. Note: Perform this test when one person is working at the computer and another person is verifying the blinking LEDs in the field. 1. Go to the System Diagnostics interface.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Testing Valves This test activates a valve continuously to verify its operation. At the biCoder, the valve LED should be on. 1. Go to the System Diagnostics interface. Follow the steps in the Accessing the System Diagnostics Interface section. 2. Click the Valve Test tab. 3. Click the arrow in the Select Zone to Start Test field located in the upper right of the System Diagnostics interface. 4. Click the zone that you want to test.
4. Click the sensor that you want to test. The system updates the IO Event Display pane with data about the sensor. The sensor readings display in the Test Configured Sensor Parameters and Operation group box on the left side of the System Diagnostics interface. 5. Click Read Sensor to have the system refresh the fields with the most current readings. Performing a Quick Test on All Zones This test operates all biCoders for a half a second to verify that the solenoid is neither open nor shorted.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Auto Configuration does not configure devices that already have a zone number assigned. Additionally, you specify the number (or address) for the first automatically configured zone. After Auto Configuration is complete, you can reassign zone numbers as desired and group them any way you want. Auto Configuration only detects biCoders; you still need to manually configure other devices such as sensors and optional hardware.
Testing Radio or Backbone Communication between Computer and RBUs Use this option to test the input/output error rate between the computer and the Remote Base Units. 1. Go to the System Diagnostics interface. Follow the steps in the Accessing the System Diagnostics Interface section. 2. Click the Comm Test tab. 3. Click the Test Base Communication button. 4. If you want the test to run continuously, select the Enable Looping check box.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual 11 – TROUBLESHOOTING Access the System Diagnostics window by clicking the Diagnostics menu and then clicking System Diagnostics. Remote Base Unit Troubleshooting General Test Process In the System Diagnostics interface, click the Base/TwoWire tab, and then click the Base # Test button (where the # represents the number of the Remote Base Unit that you want to test).
Initialize Serial Ports button to configure a new Remote Base Unit. Reconnect the two-wire system. Run the Base # Test again. Advanced Two-Wire is Not Operational Test Process In the System Diagnostics interface, click the Base/TwoWire tab, and then click the Base # Test button (where the # represents the number of the Remote Base Unit that you want to test). Message The system is capable of operating in Advanced Two-Wire Mode but is currently operating in standard two-wire mode.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Run the Base # Test again. Break the two-wire communication and isolate parts of the system. Run the Base #Test again. Keep isolating and testing smaller and smaller sections of the system until the physical location of the fault is found. Isolate the problem to a wiring problem or a device failure and correct the failure.
Test Method 4 – Use a substitute two-wire path Repair 1. 2. Remove the biCoder from the questionable location. Run another wire or set of wires across the top of the ground to the questionable device and reconnect it. 3. In the upper right of the System Diagnostics interface, click the arrow in the Select Zone to Start Test field, and then click the device that you want to test. The results display in the IO Event Display pane.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual this fault. Run the Detailed Test All Zones from the System Self Test tab of the System Diagnostics interface. • High Communication Voltage failure – A poor quality or high resistance two-wire system caused by poor connections or excessively long wiring runs between the Remote Base Unit and the biCoder. • No 24 Volt AC on a 12- or 24-valve biCoder – Indicates that the power plug is not connected or the inline fuse (on the circuit board) is blown.
General Troubleshooting Problem Symptoms /Cause System activates valve and shows that it is watering but no water comes on. Water may be turned off or the valve is faulty or clogged. Errors are reported on zones and watering is intermittent. Bad or marginal wiring or connections is usually the cause of this problem. Possible Fixes • • • • • • Valve is turned on when it should not be. P a g e | 109 Valve has been turned manually in the field. Valve is accidentally wired to the two-wire path.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Wire Troubleshooting – The Ultimate Frustration Wiring problems can be very frustrating. A good process is critical in making continual progress and in isolating the problem. The root of many problems on existing installations is poor wiring, including broken insulation, inadequate connections, and patches on top of patches. WARNING! Corrosion is caused by electricity leaking from the wire into the earth.
12 – REFERENCE Backing Up Your Data The BaseStation 6000 system gives you an amazing amount of control over your watering system. If you have a large system, you will spend many hours of valuable time setting up the BaseStation 6000 system and fine tuning it to precisely meet your watering needs. Even though we do not anticipate software or hardware failure, and we do all that is possible to minimize the potential, failures do sometimes happen.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual System Adjustments – Reference Guide The Baseline 6000 system is capable of many different watering strategies. This section describes in detail the different options available. It is highly recommended that operators read through this section before setting up any watering strategies. An understanding of the different ways the system can be set up will be beneficial when deciding on setting site parameters.
Adjustments Made Per Program Adjustment How to Access in the Software More Information Set a day when program will not water Programs menu > Schedule Events > Schedule Events tab page 45 Set restricted watering day cycles Programs menu > Water Window > Watering Days tab page 33 Set how many zones can be active per program Programs menu > Water Window > Water Window tab page 30 Create start/stop conditions Programs menu > Start/Stop Conditions > Start/Stop Conditions tab page 49 Change all zon
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Address Usage in the BaseStation 6000 In the BaseStation 6000 Site Controller there are different address blocks associated with the different types of two-wire devices (biCoders) that can be connected to the system. Below is a basic list of the different address blocks and what can be assigned in each. Each individual Remote Base Unit will have its own list. Address Range Two-wire devices that can be assigned 1 – 199 Valve activating, two-wire devices (biCoders).
4. Using the table below, first look up the water depth in the top row. Select the present season and find the number of minutes suggested to water. This value (along with the suggested day interval) will be used to set initial watering times for each Automatic zone. Note: The time for rotor zones will be very different than popup zones.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Zone Group Organizer Worksheet Example Project Name Zone Sprinkler Type 1 na Sensor 2 P Automatic 3 P Slave 4 P 5 Zone Type Zone Description Serial # Notes North Lawn Middle Same Old zone #4 NE Lawn Popups Old zone #12 Slave 2 N Lawn Perimeter Popups Old zone #7 P Slave 2 NE Lawn middle popups Old zone #5 6 P Slave 2 NE Lawn perimeter popups Old zone #3 7 P Slave 2 Front entrance popups Old zone #8 8 P Etc.
Project Name Zone Sprinkler Type Zone Type 1 Sensor 2 Master 3 Slave Zone Description 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Sprinkler Type Key: P = popup, R = rotor, B = bubbler P a g e | 117 Serial # Notes
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual Calculating the Application Rate for Dripper or Bubbler Zones In zones watered by spray heads or rotors, the application rate is typically given in inches of water applied per hour. However, in drip systems, application amounts are given in gallons per hour (GPH) or gallons per minute (GPM) rather than inches.
Glossary of Terms address: When a device is attached to a Remote Base Unit and added to the BaseStation 6000 software, the device is given an address. In the BaseStation 6000 Site Controller, there are different address blocks associated with the different types of twowire devices (biCoders) that can be connected to the system. Refer to Address Usage in the BaseStation 6000 on page 114.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual ETo: See reference ET 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. evapotranspiration (ET): The process of transferring moisture from the earth to the atmosphere by evaporation of water and transpiration from plants.
maximum allowed depletion (MAD): When the soil moisture content reaches this level, irrigation needs to start. In most cases, the maximum allowed depletion level is just before the plants begin to show visible signs of stress. mesh radio: A wireless communication network made up of radio nodes in which there are at least two pathways of communication to each node. microclimate: The climate of a specific location within a landscape.
BaseStation 6000 Site Controller Manual saturation: When the soil moisture content is at this level, nearly all of the spaces between soil particles are filled with water. After a soil has reached saturation, it does not become more saturated; although, in some situations where water is trapped, it can become flooded. scheduling group: The primary zone and the other linked zones within a hydrozone. This group of zones can be watered on the same interval.
Warranty Information Baseline’s warranty obligations are limited to the terms set forth below: Baseline warrants to the original consumer purchaser that new Baseline System and components 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.
