Step-by-Step Guide

Single Station Decoder Overview

The single station decoder is by far the most common decoder used on the WeatherTRAK H2O 2-wire system because every station, zone, or valve on the system must be accounted for by a decoder. The single station decoder is designed to handle one valve and is wired between the 2-wire path and the valve in the field to manage all operation of that valve on the 2-wire system.

It's important to note that 2-wire decoders are proprietary, meaning the decoders must match the control system they're being used with. If you are replacing an existing system with a WeatherTRAK H2O 2-wire system, you must also replace all existing decoders from the previous system. Any 2-wire controller is only capable of managing its own type of decoders, so when installing a WeatherTRAK controller, you must also install WeatherTRAK decoders on every station.

Single station decoders can be ordered pre-programmed with station numbers already assigned to save installer time in the field.

Single Station Decoder Tips and Best Practices

Labeling your decoders is critical. Always immediately and clearly label your decoders to avoid duplicate decoders with the same address on the system. Having two decoders with the same address will create a conflict that takes time to troubleshoot.

Properly document where the decoders are located to minimize troubleshooting in the future. Download the WeatherTRAK 2-Wire Installation Guide, which includes a handy worksheet to document each decoder, its serial number, and other vital information.

Single Station Decoder Installation and Programming

The single station decoder part number is WT2W-H2O-1. The installation instructions are printed on the back of the packaging, including the wiring diagram and a warning to always use the right wire nuts. The decoder package includes the decoder itself and all proper wiring connections.

The single station decoder has red and black wires that connect to the 2-wire path and white and orange wires that connect to the station valve.

1. Plug the decoder into the terminal located on the mini chassis board. Look on the terminal board for the block labeled Station Program and locate where the red and black wires connect.

2. Plug the red and black wires into the terminal located on the mini chassis.

3. Press Setup and use the forward arrow until you reach Setup 15, which displays Configure H2O 2-Wire.

4. Press the plus button until the screen reads Program Decoders.

5. Press Select.

6. Press the Star button. The controller will read the decoder.

7. Press the plus or minus button to assign the decoder to the correct station number.

8. Press the Star button. The next question asks if you want to change the power level for the decoder. For most stations, leave this on Low unless you know you have a high current valve.

9. Press the Star button to configure the decoder. The screen will read Programming Successful and display a small orange indicator showing the decoder wire color associated with that valve. The orange wire is associated with that station.

10. Label the decoder immediately and clearly, then unplug it from the station program terminal.

Two-Station Valve Decoder Overview

The two-station valve decoder (also called the dual decoder) shares all the same characteristics as the single station valve decoder: every station must be accounted for by a decoder, decoders are proprietary to WeatherTRAK controllers, and two-station valve decoders can be ordered pre-programmed with station numbers already assigned.

The key difference is that the two-station valve decoder operates two valves in the field. This offers two advantages: first, from an economic standpoint, a dual valve decoder costs slightly less than two single station decoders. Second, by operating multiple valves on a single decoder, you limit the number of cuts made into the 2-wire path and therefore limit potential points of failure on the system.

Two-Station Valve Decoder Tips and Best Practices

Just like with single station decoders, labeling is critical. Avoid duplicate decoders programmed to the same station by keeping your stations straight, even on dual decoders.

You can order dual decoders pre-programmed from the factory, but if you do this, be very specific while ordering and identify which two stations you want the dual decoder to share so the decoders can be formatted correctly to save time in the field during installation.

Two-Station Valve Decoder Installation and Programming

The two-valve decoder part number is WT2W-H2O-2VD. Installation instructions are printed on the back of the packaging. This single decoder wires to two valves in the field. The package includes the decoder with proper wire connections and 3M DBRY-6S wire nuts.

The decoder has LED diagnostics, black and red wires that connect to the 2-wire path, and white (common), orange, and yellow wires that connect to the two valves in the field.

1. Plug the decoder into the terminal located on the mini chassis. Locate the red and black valve wire terminals on the Station Program tool on the valve wire terminal board.

2. Press Setup and use the forward arrow until you reach Setup 15, which displays Configure H2O 2-Wire.

3. Press the plus or minus button until the screen says Program Decoders.

4. Press Select.

5. Press the Star button to assign the stations to the decoder.

6. Use the plus or minus buttons to assign the first station in sequence. The second station on the dual valve decoder will automatically be the next station in sequence, so by assigning the first station you're assigning both station numbers.

7. Press Star. In the upper right corner, you'll see the station addresses for both the first and second valve on that station decoder.

8. After the first press of the Star button, you can adjust the power level on the decoder. The default is Low.

9. Press the Star button again to configure the decoder. You'll see the Programming Successful message. The display will show that the assigned station will use the orange wire on the decoder and the next station will use the yellow wire on the decoder as the hot wire that connects to the field valve.

10. Label the decoder and unplug it from the station program terminal.

Master Valve Decoder Overview and Connection Options

When dealing with a master valve, you have two different options for connecting it to the controller. The first and preferred option is to direct wire the master valve to the controller—connecting the master valve using its own specific wire path just as you would on a conventional wire system. This method is preferred and recommended because if your master valve is wired to the 2-wire path and something happens to that 2-wire path, the issue can create enough interference that the controller won't be able to activate the master valve. The direct wire method is the safest way to ensure your master valve works when you need it most.

The H2O 2-wire controller has a valve wire terminal block that provides the ability to direct wire as many as four separate master valves and/or four separate flow sensors directly to the controller.

However, sometimes the direct wire method isn't convenient or realistic on retrofit controllers, so the H2O gives you the option to put the master valve onto the 2-wire path using a master valve decoder. You can also mix and match—some points of connection can be direct wired while others are wired to the 2-wire path.

To be clear, the direct wire option does not require a decoder at all. Only when you are putting the master valve onto the 2-wire path will you need a master valve decoder.

Master Valve Decoder Installation and Programming

The master valve decoder part number is WT2W-H2O-MV. Installation instructions are on the back of the packaging, including the wiring diagram and warning about using proper wire nuts. The device comes with all necessary wire connectors (DBRY wire nuts).

The master valve device has black and red wires for plugging into the 2-wire path, orange and white wires for wiring the master valve in the field, and LED diagnostics on the device.

1. Plug the black and red wires of the decoder into the terminal located on the mini chassis board labeled Station Program (also labeled black and red).

2. Press the Setup menu and use the forward arrow until you reach the screen that says Configure H2O 2-Wire on Setup 15.

3. Use the plus and minus buttons until the screen display reads Program Decoders.

4. Press Select.

5. Press the Star button to begin the programming process. When the controller reads the decoder, Master Valve will automatically appear.

6. If this is the decoder for the second master valve on the system (or POC2), use the plus or minus buttons to assign this to Master Valve 2. Once you have the proper device address displayed, press the Star button.

7. Select the power level for the decoder. The default is Low.

8. Press the Star button again. You'll see the message Programming Successful and a reminder on the screen of the hot wire for your device in the field.

9. Label your decoder and unplug it from the station program terminal.

Configuring Master Valve Decoder Settings in the Controller

There is specific programming for the second, third, and/or fourth master valve you put on a system. If you're programming the decoder for your second master valve, make sure to program it as MV2.

The WeatherTRAK H2O will assume that master valves are directly wired to the controller, so you must program the controller specifically to look for the master valve decoder on the 2-wire path.

1. Go to the Setup menu and press the forward arrow until you reach Setup 15, which displays Configure H2O 2-Wire.

2. Use the up and down arrows until you reach a screen called Configure Direct Connect.

3. Press Select. You'll see the ability to assign all four master valves either to DI (Direct Installation) or, by pressing plus or minus, change it to 2W, which tells the controller to look for that master valve decoder on the 2-wire path.

4. To demonstrate a mixed scenario where the first master valve is directly wired to the controller but master valves two, three, and four all live on the 2-wire path: leave master valve one as DI, then use the forward arrow button to advance to the second master valve and press plus to change that to 2W. Press forward and plus to change master valve 3 to 2W, then forward again and plus to change master valve 4 to 2W. This way the controller knows that master valve 1 is a direct installation but 2, 3, and 4 all exist on the 2-wire path.

Flow Sensor Decoder Overview and Connection Options

Just like with the master valve, when wiring a flow sensor to the WeatherTRAK controller you have the option to either wire the device directly to the controller or add the device to the 2-wire path. WeatherTRAK prefers the security of the direct wire installation, as adding a specific wire that runs between the controller and the point of connection is the most secure way to reliably transmit data.

When you direct wire your flow device to the WeatherTRAK controller, you don't need a flow sensor decoder. The valve wire terminal board has wire ports where you can plug in a direct connection for flow sensor one, and you can direct connect as many as four separate flow sensors onto the WeatherTRAK system.

Only when you want to add the flow sensor to the 2-wire path and have the 2-wire path manage the information and operation of the flow sensor will you need a flow sensor decoder.

Flow Sensor Decoder Installation and Programming

The flow sensor decoder part number is WT2W-H2O-FS. The back of the packaging has the installation guide, wiring diagram, and warning about using the right wire nuts. The device comes with specified wire connectors (DBRY wire connectors).

The flow sensor decoder has black and red wires that connect to the 2-wire path and white, yellow, and blue wires used to wire up the flow sensor in the field. It also has LED diagnostics—a power and activity light—which make it easy to troubleshoot this decoder in the field.

The flow decoder programs similarly to the station decoder.

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

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

3. Press the plus or minus button to select the option Program Decoders.

4. Once you see Program Decoders, press Select.

5. Press the Star button. The controller will read the decoder and show you the assigned address, allowing you to change it if you choose. When you install a flow decoder, the controller immediately recognizes it as such and the option that appears on the display is to program this as a flow decoder or FS1.

6. If you manage multiple points of connection on your 2-wire path, the flow decoder for point of connection 2 should be programmed as FS2. Once you've selected the proper device name for the decoder, press the Star button.

7. Press the Star button again. You'll see the message Programming Successful.

8. Unplug the decoder from the station programming terminal.

Configuring Flow Sensor Decoder Settings in the Controller

Just like with the master valve decoder, by default the decoder will be programmed as FS1, and you'll need specific programming if you want to change that to FS2, 3, or 4 if you're managing multiple points of connection.

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 2-wire path.

1. Press the Setup menu and use the forward arrow until you reach Setup 15, which displays Configure H2O 2-Wire.

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

3. When you see the message Configure Direct Connect, press the Select button. This is where you program how your master valves and flow sensors are wired.

4. Following the earlier example with a direct installation on master valve one and master valves two, three, and four all in 2-wire configurations, press the forward arrow to advance to the flow sensor settings.

5. Set up the first flow sensor as a direct installation, then configure flow sensor 2, flow sensor 3, and flow sensor 4 on the 2-wire path as needed.

Pump Start Decoder Overview

If you have an electrically activated pump start, you're going to need a pump start decoder. The H2O pump start decoder is like a light switch that works in combination with a 24-volt power source to operate the pump station.

As shown in the installation instructions, the pump start decoder sits on the 2-wire path and then dictates when it passes the 24 volts from the transformer onto the pump relay. It's important to note that you're going to need power at the pump as part of the installation.

Pump Start Decoder Installation and Programming

The pump start decoder part number is WT2W-H2O-PS. The installation guide includes the wiring diagram and warning about using proper wire connectors. The bag contains all proper wire connectors (DBRY-6 wire connections) that should be used on every connection on the device.

The pump start decoder has black and red wires that connect to the 2-wire path. On the other side, the three wires are gray, white with black stripes, and gray with black stripes.

1. Plug the decoder into the station programming module on the board of the 2-wire controller. Plug the red wire on the decoder into the port labeled Red and the black wire into the port labeled Black.

2. Press the Setup button and advance with the forward arrow until you reach Setup 15, the screen called Configure H2O 2-Wire.

3. Use the plus and minus button until the screen displays the message Program Decoders.

4. Press the Select button.

5. Following the directions on the screen, press Star. The controller will read the decoder plugged into the programming port. The controller automatically identifies this as a pump start decoder and you'll see the address PS1 appear as your first option.

6. If you are managing multiple pumps on multiple points of connection, you might need to use the plus or minus key to identify this decoder as PS 2, 3, or 4. For this demonstration, assign this decoder as pump start 1 or PS1.

7. When PS1 is displayed on the screen, press the Star button. This allows you to select the power level for this decoder. The default is Low and should work in most applications.

8. After selecting the power level, press the Star button one more time to assign that address to the decoder.

9. You'll see the message Programming Successful and the screen will display the color code for the wiring of the pump start decoder.

10. Disconnect the decoder from the controller and label it. It's now ready to be installed in the field.

Configuring Pump Start Station Assignment

The pump start decoder will come with the default programming of PS1 for the first pump start, and you'll have specific programming to program in the second, third, or fourth pump start if you have multiple points of connection that you manage.

You also need to program the controller with which station operates the pump start. This is where there's a very distinct difference between the WeatherTRAK conventional wire systems and the WeatherTRAK H2O 2-wire systems. With a conventional system, you're allowed to select any station and assign it as your pump start. In contrast, the H2O 2-wire system requires a specific station to be programmed as your pump start.

With a conventional wire system you can choose whatever station you want, but on an H2O 2-wire system, if you want to assign the pump start to the first point of connection, you have to assign that as station one. Station one will be the pump start for POC one, and station 2 will be the pump start for POC2.

You can change this either on the program page at WeatherTRAK.net or standing at the controller.

1. If you're standing at the controller, go to the Flow menu.

2. Press the forward arrow one time to reach Flow Options.

3. On Flow Options, use the plus and minus button to look for a flow option called Points of Connection.

4. When Points of Connection is displayed, press the forward arrow. This takes you to where you manage the components for the individual points of connection. You'll see that you're managing POC1 and all the different components on this POC.

5. Press the forward arrow one time to advance the cursor underneath Master Valve. You can select the normally open or normally closed master valve.

6. Advance to under FS1 (Flow Sensor 1). This is where you can turn on or off the flow sensor.

7. One more press of the forward arrow brings the cursor underneath PS1 (Pump Start 1). This is the setting to assign station one as the pump start for POC1 on your 2-wire path.

Surge Arrester Decoder Overview and Grounding Requirements

As with any 2-wire system, grounding on the H2O controller is incredibly important. You're going to need to ground the 2-wire path with a surge arrester at key locations in the system to ensure the 2-wire path is grounded.

Surge arresters are required in the following locations:

• Somewhere within 25 feet of the controller
• At the end of every branch on the 2-wire path that's 50 feet or greater
• At least one grounding location every 600 feet
• Additional grounding is recommended in high lightning areas. For instance, in Florida it's recommended to have grounding every 300 feet along the 2-wire path

If you want to test the grounding on your 2-wire path, look for an earth-to-ground resistance of less than 25 ohms to go by the books. Ideally, aim for less than 10 ohms.

Surge Arrester Decoder Installation

The WeatherTRAK surge arrester part number is WT2W-H2O-SA. The back of the bag has installation instructions and the wiring diagram showing how to attach the surge suppressor both to the 2-wire path and to the grounding device in the field (like a grounding rod), along with warnings about using proper wiring connections.

The package includes proper wire nuts and the WeatherTRAK H2O surge arrester decoder, which has red and black wires that attach to the 2-wire path and a green wire that runs to a grounding source.

1. Calculate how many grounding locations you'll need along your 2-wire path.

2. Attach the surge arrester decoder onto the 2-wire path.

3. Use a split bolt connector to attach a surge arrester to the number six bare copper wire.

4. Attach your number six bare copper wire to a grounding point, usually a grounding rod or grounding plate.

When choosing a good grounding location, make sure to select a location where your grounding source is far enough away from the 2-wire path so that the sphere of influence—the area where a grounding event would occur—does not intersect with the 2-wire path. If you have an eight-foot grounding rod, the sphere of influence would be eight feet in all directions off of that grounding rod. Position your 2-wire path further than eight feet from where that electricity is going to ground to ensure it doesn't intersect with the 2-wire path where it could pick back up and continue down the line.

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.