Step-by-Step Guide

Accessing the Schedules Tab

1. Open a web browser and navigate to baselineapps.net.

2. Log in using your username and secure password.

3. Locate the base menu icon on the left side of the screen.

4. Open BaseManager and click on the Schedules tab.

The Schedules tab displays all programs configured in your system. Each program can be assigned to different irrigation zones and given different priority levels to control when and how they run in relation to each other.

Understanding Schedule Priority Settings

1. Select a program from the list and click Edit to make changes.

2. Locate the Schedule Priority setting within the program configuration.

3. Click on Schedule Priority to view the available options.

Schedule priority options range from Priority 1 (highest priority) all the way up to Priority 99 (lowest priority). Each individual program can have its own priority level, allowing you to control which programs take precedence when multiple programs are scheduled to run.

The Zone Concurrency setting determines how many zones can run simultaneously within a single program and across the entire controller. For example, you might set a program to run one zone at a time within the program, while allowing a total of five zones to run across the entire controller.

How Programs with Equal Priority Run

When multiple programs share the same priority level and the same start time, they will run sequentially in numeric order rather than simultaneously. 

The controller follows these rules:

• Program 1 starts at the scheduled time and runs until complete
• After Program 1 shuts off, Program 2 starts and runs until complete
• Program 3 begins after Program 2 finishes
• This sequence continues through all programs with the same priority

Even if all programs have the same start time and the same priority, they won't run simultaneously. The controller processes them in numeric order, starting with the lowest numbered program and moving to the largest numbered program.

How Higher Priority Programs Interrupt Lower Priority Programs

When a program with a higher priority (lower number) needs to run while lower priority programs are operating, the controller handles this by pausing the lower priority programs. 

Here's how this works:

Priority 1 Programs (Highest Priority):

• Priority 1 programs ignore concurrency settings completely
• When a Priority 1 program starts, all other running programs are forced to pause
• No other programs are allowed to run at the same time as a Priority 1 program
• Paused programs automatically resume where they left off once the Priority 1 program completes

For example, if Program 1 and Program 2 are running at Priority 5, and an on-demand Priority 1 program (Program 3) starts, the controller will force Program 2 to close and place it in a pause state. Program 3 will operate as needed, and once it completes, the paused Program 2 will automatically resume and continue where it left off.

A paused program will resume as soon as it's allowed, which is different from a stopped program that won't run again.

Running Multiple Programs Concurrently with Different Priorities

If you want to allow other programs to continue running while a higher priority program operates, you can achieve this by avoiding the Priority 1 setting and using intermediate priority levels instead.

1. Assign your standard programs a lower priority number (such as Priority 5).

2. Assign your more important program a higher priority that's still above Priority 1 (such as Priority 3).

3. Configure the zone concurrency settings to allow multiple programs to run at once.

With this configuration, the Priority 3 program has precedence and will interrupt any Priority 5 programs if needed, but because it's not set to Priority 1, it can run concurrently with other programs based on your concurrency settings. The Priority 3 program remains the most important one, but it doesn't force all other programs to pause.

Configuring a Tank Fill Program with Priority 1

For critical programs like tank fill operations, a Priority 1 setting is the most useful approach to ensure the program runs without interference.

1. Navigate to the Schedules tab and select your tank fill program.

2. Click Edit to modify the program settings.

3. Change the Schedule Priority from its current setting to Priority 1.

4. Save the changes to the program.

A tank fill program typically has only one zone and may not have a traditional start time. Instead, it uses a start condition based on a sensor inside the tank that triggers the program to start filling as soon as the water level drops.

If the tank fill program were left at Priority 5, it would have to wait until other Priority 5 programs (such as turf and shrub programs) complete before it could start. This delay is unacceptable for critical operations. By changing it to Priority 1, anytime the sensor starts the tank fill program, all other programs pause until the tank is filled. Once the tank fill program completes, the paused programs automatically resume.

Video Walkthrough

Video originally published September 2020.

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

1. Search within this HydroPoint knowledgebase

2. Visit the HydroPoint support page

3. Call 800-362-8774 or email support@hydropoint.com, hours are Mon-Fri 3:00 AM – 6:00 PM PT and Sat 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM PT.