Step-by-Step Guide

Access BaseManager

1. Open a browser and navigate to baselineapps.net.
2. Log into your Baseline Apps account using your username and secure password.
3. Once logged in, click the BaseManager icon on the left side of the screen.

Adjust Concurrent Zone Settings in a Program

To run more than one zone at a time, you need to adjust settings inside each program.

1. Click on the Schedules tab.
2. Open the first program you want to change.
3. Click on the Edit tab to make changes.
4. Scroll down until you find Concurrent Zone Operations.
5. Update Program Concurrent Zones to the number of zones you want to run at one time within this specific program (for example, 2 zones).
6. Change Controller Concurrent Zones to the total number of zones you want the controller to run at once across all programs (for example, 6 zones).

This configuration tells the controller that in this program, no more than two zones can run at any one time. Across all programs in the entire controller, it can run up to six zones at once. That means two zones can run in this program and an additional four zones can run in other programs, up to a total of six zones.

Exclude Non-Hydraulic Programs from Controller Concurrency

These settings work well when you know how many zones your system can handle at once based on hydraulic capacity. Your experience may tell you that a four-inch main line can supply enough water to run more than one drip zone at a time.

When programs operate something non-hydraulic, like a lighting system, you'll find that it doesn't impact site hydraulics. In that case, uncheck the box that says Include with Total Controller Concurrency. This means that the program would not be counted against the controller concurrent zones limit since it doesn't impact the hydraulics of your main line.

Set Up Flow-Based Concurrency Using Design Flow

An easier and more efficient way to run more than one zone at a time is to use the flow setup menu and manage concurrency by flow.

1. Navigate to the Flow Setup menu.
2. Under Main Lines, select Edit.
3. Scroll down until you find Design Flow, which is based on the hydraulic capacity of your main line.
4. Reference a pipe pressure loss chart to determine the safe flow capacity for your main line size and material. For example, a two-inch Schedule 40 main line can safely carry up to 50 gallons per minute. Note that a two-inch copper main line and a two-inch PVC main line each have different capacities. If you're not sure how to find this information, reach out to your Baseline distributor for help.
5. Enter the design flow value (for example, 50 gallons per minute).
6. Select Manage by Flow.
   1. This allows the controller to run any combination of zones up to the design flow limit (for example, 50 gallons per minute), but no higher than that limit. You're essentially giving the controller the ability to sort out the puzzle pieces of all your different learned flows and fit them together in the most efficient way. Since the controller uses real-time data, it can adjust if a zone faults or fails to run.
7. Make sure that you've learned flow for your zones, or this feature won't work correctly.
8. Save your work before you leave this screen.

Update Program Concurrency for Flow-Based Management

After setting up flow-based concurrency, you need to go back and adjust the program settings to allow the controller to maximize zone combinations.

1. Go back to the Schedules tab.
2. Select the program you previously edited and click Edit.
3. Scroll down until you find Concurrent Zone Operations again.
4. Change Program Concurrent Zones to 15 zones.
5. Change Controller Concurrent Zones to 15 zones.

The number 15 is selected because that's how many zones a two-wire controller can operate all at once, which is based on the size of the transformer. The controller now has the capability of running up to 15 zones and 50 GPM worth of zones at one time. It may find 15 three-GPM zones, it may find two 25-GPM zones, or five 10-GPM zones. It will never run more than 50 gallons per minute and never more than 15 zones at one time.

Concurrent Zones on Conventional Wire Systems

Conventional wire systems treat concurrent zones differently than two-wire systems.

An enclosure that fits 48 zones of conventional wire over two different powered biCoders has concurrency set at two zones for each group of twelve. The first biCoder has twelve zones on the lower half, and it can run two zones for that group. There are three more groups of 12 zones, and each one is able to run two zones at one time. This enclosure can run eight zones at once spread out over all the powered biCoders.

Expanding Concurrency with Substations

Some systems may have very large main lines and hydraulics that can run more than 15 zones at once. A substation that's wirelessly connected to a BaseStation 3200 gets another 15 zones concurrent.

On a site with a BaseStation 3200, the controller can run 15 zones on two-wire. When you add a substation and connect it back to the BaseStation 3200, you get another 15 zones concurrent. With each additional substation that you add, you get another 15 zones concurrent.

In a configuration with one BaseStation 3200 and three substations, you can run 60 zones at one time, assuming your hydraulics allow it.

Regardless of whether you're using a conventional wired system or a two-wire system, running more than one zone at a time is a great way to reduce your overall watering time and take advantage of the hydraulics on your site.

Video Walkthrough

Video originally published September 2020.

If you have questions, here are 3 ways to get answers:

1. Search within this Baseline knowledgebase

2. Visit the Baseline support page

3. Call 866-294-5847 or email support@baselinesystems.com, hours are from 6:00 am to 7:00 pm Eastern Time or 4:00 am to 5:00 pm Pacific Time.