Step-by-Step Guide

Baseline WaterTec S100 soil moisture sensors help eliminate unneeded irrigation cycles by interrupting the signal between the irrigation controller and the valve if the soil is already hydrated from a previous irrigation cycle or recent rainfall. It's compatible with just about any irrigation controller and can help reduce outdoor water waste significantly.

Determining Sensor Placement

1. Choose a zone in your system that requires the most frequent irrigation.

2. Within that zone, place the sensor in an area that receives average to slightly less than average water from the irrigation system. A spot midway between two sprinkler heads is usually ideal.

3. Verify that the distance from the sensor to the control unit does not exceed 500 feet. This includes the length of the wires running from the valve to the irrigation controller.

4. Make a note of the sensor location for future reference in case you need to find it later.

Preparing the Installation Site

1. Dig a hole for the sensor deep enough to bury it on its long edge with the top two to three inches below the soil surface.

2. Dig a small channel for the communication wires that leads back to the valve. The channel should be deep enough to avoid any damage from future aeration.

Connecting the Sensor to the Valve

1. Run the sensor's wires back to the valve that feeds the zone where the sensor is located.

2. Determine which of the valve wires is hot and which is common.

3. Splice the appropriate sensor wire to each connection:

• Connect the white wire to the common connection
• Connect the red wire to the hot wire that controls the valve

4. Secure both sides with standard wire nuts. These will be replaced with waterproof wire connectors after testing is complete.

Mounting the S100 Control Unit

1. Mount the S100 control unit next to your irrigation controller.

2. If mounting outdoors, ensure the unit is protected from direct contact with water. The unit is water resistant but not waterproof.

Wiring the S100 Control Unit to the Irrigation Controller

1. Disconnect the wire currently connected to the common terminal on the controller. Connect that wire to the white wire coming from the S100 harness. Then connect the black wire from the S100 to the common terminal on the irrigation controller.

2. Locate the terminal for the valve wire for the sensor zone. Disconnect the wire and connect it to the red wire from the S100. To complete the circuit, connect the green wire from the S100 to the same valve terminal.

3. Connect the orange wire from the S100 to an available 24V terminal on the irrigation controller. Touch the end of the orange wire to each of the available terminals while observing the S100 control unit for an indication light. Attach the orange wire to the terminal that triggers the light.

Bypassing Zones (Optional)

If you have irrigation zones that you do not want to be affected by the sensor, you have the option to bypass two of them.

1. Connect either the blue or brown wire from the S100 harness to any valve terminal that you would like to bypass.

2. Do not remove the existing valve wire when making this connection.

Running the Communication Test

1. Press and hold the plus, minus, and read set buttons simultaneously for three seconds, then release.

2. Wait approximately two minutes as the communication test triggers the sensor to take one hundred readings.

3. When the test is complete, the display will show the number of errors received. A reading of 000 means there were no errors.

4. If you receive an error, verify that all of your connections are correct and test again. Refer to the manufacturer's manual for details if you continue to see errors.

Completing the Installation

1. After completing a successful test, bury the sensor. Make sure that it is not tilted at an angle, as this can lead to incorrect readings due to water pooling on the surface of the sensor.

2. Ensure good soil and sensor contact by packing the soil down tightly around it. Air pockets, rocks, or gravel resting against the sensor can negatively affect readings.

3. Bury the communication wires and reconnect them to the valve using waterproof connectors.

4. Saturate the soil around the sensor with a garden hose or a bucket of water. This will allow the soil to settle and provide the hydration required for the calibration process, which is covered in a separate video.

Video Walkthrough

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.