Step-by-Step Guide
The Obey Global Conditions checkbox is a program setting that determines whether a specific program will follow the global controller settings. When this option is enabled, the program will enforce global controller settings including:
- Rain delays
- Event dates
- Flow settings
- Rain jumper settings
- Rain sensor/rain switch inputs
The most common use of this setting is to control whether a program responds to a rain sensor. When Obey Global Conditions is checked, the program will respect the rain sensor input and skip watering when rain is detected. When unchecked, the program will ignore these global settings and run regardless of rain sensor status or event delays.
Accessing the Obey Global Conditions Setting
1. Open BaseManager and navigate to the program you want to modify.
2. Click Edit to enable changes to the program settings.
3. Scroll down through the program settings until you locate the Obey Global Conditions checkbox.
4. Click the info button next to the setting to view the description, which explains that this setting allows the program to enforce global controller settings.
Why Unchecking May Appear to Have No Effect
If you uncheck Obey Global Conditions and notice no change in program behavior, there are two likely explanations:
No rain switch installed: If the controller doesn't have a rain sensor or rain switch connected, unchecking this setting won't produce any visible change because there's no rain sensor input to ignore in the first place.
No active delays or rain events: If there are no event delays currently set and it hasn't rained recently, the program would run normally whether or not it's obeying global conditions. The difference would only become apparent when a rain event occurs or a delay is active.
When to Disable Obey Global Conditions
There are specific scenarios where you would want to uncheck Obey Global Conditions so that a program ignores rain sensors and other global settings:
Lighting programs: Programs controlling landscape or security lighting should run regardless of weather conditions.
Door lock programs: Automated door or gate controls need to operate independently of irrigation settings.
Pump or fountain programs: Water features and pump operations are typically non-irrigation applications that should run on their own schedule.
Covered or protected areas: Programs watering areas under atriums, overhangs, or roofs that prevent rain from reaching the irrigation zones should continue watering even when rain is detected, since those areas won't receive natural rainfall.
Any non-irrigation based program: Programs that control equipment or zones unrelated to outdoor irrigation should generally have this setting disabled to prevent interference from weather-based controls.
Video Walkthrough
Video originally published December 2020.
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