Step-by-Step Guide

Understanding Flow Sensor Wiring Options

When wiring a flow sensor to the WeatherTRAK controller, you have two installation options: direct wire or two-wire path connection. With a direct wire installation, a dedicated wire runs between the controller and the point of connection. This is the preferred method at WeatherTRAK because it provides the most secure and reliable way to transmit data.

When you direct wire your flow device to the WeatherTRAK controller, you do not need a flow sensor decoder. The controller includes wire ports on the valve wire terminal board where you can plug in a direct connection for flow sensors. You can direct connect as many as four separate flow sensors to the WeatherTRAK system.

You only need a flow sensor decoder when you want to add the flow sensor to the two-wire path and have the two-wire path manage the information and operation of the flow sensor.

Flow Sensor Decoder Package Contents

The flow sensor decoder (part number WTW-H2O-FS) package includes the decoder unit along with specified wire connectors. The package contains an installation guide, wiring diagram, and a warning about using the correct wire nuts.

Always use the included DBY wire connectors that come with the device. The flow sensor decoder has black and red wires that connect to the two-wire path, and white, yellow, and blue wires that connect to the flow sensor in the field.

The decoder features LED diagnostics with a power and activity light, which make it easy to troubleshoot the decoder in the field.

Programming the Flow Sensor Decoder

The flow sensor decoder programs similarly to the station decoder. 

Follow these steps to program the device:

1. Plug the decoder into the terminal board on the mini chassis.

2. Press Setup on the controller.

3. Press the forward arrow until you reach Setup 15, labeled Configure H2O 2-Wire.

4. Use the plus or minus buttons to select the option Program Decoders.

5. Once you see Program Decoders, press Select.

6. Press the star button. The controller will read the decoder and show you the assigned address, allowing you to change it if needed.

7. When you install a flow decoder, the controller immediately recognizes it as such. The option that appears on the display is to program this as a flow decoder or FS1.

8. Select the proper device name for the decoder. If you are managing multiple points of connection on your two-wire path, the flow decoder for point of connection 2 should be programmed as FS2, and so on.

9. Press the star button once you've selected the device name.

10. Press the star button again. You will see the message Programming Successful.

11. Unplug the decoder from the station programming terminal.

Default Programming and Multiple Points of Connection

By default, the decoder will come programmed as FS1. You will need to perform specific programming if you want to change that to FS2, FS3, or FS4 when managing multiple points of connection.

Enabling Flow Sensor Decoders in the Controller

When using flow sensor decoders, you must turn them on in the WeatherTRAK program so the controller knows to look for the flow sensor decoder on the two-wire path. 

Follow these steps:

1. Press the Setup menu at the controller.

2. Press the forward arrow until you reach Setup 15, which is the screen called Configure H2O 2-Wire.

3. Use the plus and minus buttons to select the option Configure Direct Connect.

4. When you see the message Configure Direct Connect, press the Select button.

5. This screen is where you program how your master valves and flow sensors are wired. For example, if you have a direct installation on master valve 1, and master valves 2, 3, and 4 are all two-wire configurations, you would configure those settings accordingly.

6. Press the forward arrow to navigate to the flow sensor settings.

7. Set up the first flow sensor as a direct installation, then configure flow sensor 2, flow sensor 3, and flow sensor 4 on the two-wire path as needed for your system.

Video Walkthrough

Video originally published December 2020.

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

1. Search within this WeatherTRAK knowledgebase

2. Visit the WeatherTRAK 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.