Stations can be assigned to one of four different Station Modes.

Auto
User no ET
User
Off

Programming in Auto Mode (Automated by WeatherTRAK) automatically modifies user-defined cycle times based on current ET and reference ET values.  

1.  Press the STATIONS button. The SELECT STATION screen displays.

2.  Press + or – to select the desired station.

3.  Press → to continue to assign a station mode.

4.  Press the + or – button to select Automated by WeatherTRAK Mode.

5.  Press the → button to continue to assign a station to a program.

Assigning a Station to a Program

Stations are assigned to a program that manages the start time and water day mode. The program start time and water day mode are completed in the DAYS/TIMES menu, see Setting Start time and Water Window Length. Note: To run multiple stations simultaneously, see Setting the Stack or Overlap Mode.

1.  Press the + or – button to assign a station to a selected program.

2.  Press the → button to continue Selecting Water Window Usage (only available for non-OptiFlow controllers using 7.x firmware)

Selecting Water Window Usage

Within DAYS/TIMES,  a Program's Water Window was established based on the Start Time and Water Window Length. For each station, you can decide if it will water within the Program's defined water window or ignore the Program's defined water window. (only available for non-OptiFlow controllers using 7.x firmware)

1.  Use the + or – button to perform one of the following options:

• To set the controller to not use the water window, select NO.
  
  
• To set the controller to use the water window, select YES.
  
  

2.  Press the → button to continue with Configuring Usable Rainfall.

Configuring Usable Rainfall for Specific Stations 

The WeatherTRAK controller has the Usable Rainfall feature to enable stations covered by eaves or other structures to still irrigate when the controller is paused by a rain switch, user, or WeatherTRAK rain pause. You can configure the controller to ignore the rainfall data gathered on a station-by-station basis. This is especially useful in situations where specific stations or valve zones are located under a roof or a porous overhead where little or no rainfall is usable. This function is available in all station modes except OFF. If a rain switch, user rain pause, or WeatherTRAK rain pause is active and specific stations are selected to use NONE of the usable rainfall, scheduled irrigation will continue to be applied. If usable rainfall is configured to anything other than NONE, the controller will pause that station's irrigation during a rain switch or pause.

1.  Use the + or – button to perform one of the following options:

• To set the controller to use 100% of the usable rainfall select 100%
  
  
• To set the controller to NOT use the rainfall, select None.
  
  

2.  Press the → button to continue selecting sprinkler type.

Selecting Sprinkler Type 

The irrigation industry has categorized various sprinkler head types into several types based on their design and usage. The Auto Mode (Automated by WeatherTRAK) incorporates these sprinkler categories along with associated default precipitation rates and sprinkler efficiencies. Selections are Spray head, Full circle rotor, Part circle rotor, mixed rotors, full circle impact, part circle impact, mixed impacts, stream rotors, bubbler, drip emitter, stream spray, high-efficiency spray head, and subsurface drip tubing.

1.  Press the + or – button to select the sprinkler type you are using.

2.  Press the → button to continue to set the precipitation rate.

Setting the Precipitation Rate 

The WeatherTRAK controller automatically attaches a default precipitation rate and efficiency value to each sprinkler type that you select. The precipitation rate is an approximation that can be changed if necessary.

1.  Press the + or – button to set the value to the left of the decimal.

2.  Press the → button to continue setting the value to the right of the decimal.

3.  Press the + or – button to set the value to the right of the decimal.

4. Press the → button to continue to setting sprinkler efficiency.

Setting Sprinkler Efficiency 

Sprinkler efficiency represents how evenly a sprinkler head applies water to the landscape. Each sprinkler type commonly represents a different efficiency based on the nozzle design and delivery pressure. The default value is based on the selected Sprinkler Type and can be modified from 10% to 95% in 5% increments.

1.  Press the + or – button to set the desired value.

2.  Press the → button to continue selecting soil types.

Selecting Soil Type

Select one of five soil types that best represents the zone you are programming your station for. Your choices are sandy, sandy loam, loam, clay loam, and clay. The soil types represent soil texture classifications determined by the USDA with corresponding infiltration rates. 

1.  Press the + or – button to choose the soil type. 

2.  Press the → button to continue selecting plant type.

Selecting Plant Type 

Different plant types have different water needs. The WeatherTRAK controller allows you to program each station to best match your zone’s watering needs. Each plant type has a set root depth that can be edited as needed for specific site conditions.

1.  Press the + or – button to select the desired plant type.

2.  Press the → button to continue selecting root depth.

Setting Root Depth

Each plant type has a set root depth that represents established plant material. Root depth can be adjusted for each station as needed. For zones with a combination of deep and shallow-rooted plants, use a shallow root depth value. Root depth values range from 2” to 36” and are modified in increments of 1”. If using the station mode Auto (Automated by WeatherTRAK) on a new landscape, you may want to lower the root depth for the first several months until the landscape is established. To encourage improved plant health and resiliency against prolonged heat spells, remember to increase the root depth when the plants are firmly rooted.

For shrubs in clay or clay loam soil, you may want to adjust the default setting of 12” to 6” or 8”.

1.  Press the + or – button to set the root depth value.

2.  Press the → button to continue selecting microclimate.

Setting the Microclimate 

It is not uncommon to have some valves in full sun while others are in deep shade on the north side of a tall building. These exposures or microclimates will impact station run times, cycle, and soak periods that a conventional controller cannot address. You can choose from the following options: sunny all day, sunny most of the day, shady most of the day, shady all day.

1.  Press the + or – button to set the microclimate type of your landscape. 

2.  Press the → button to continue to select the degree of slope.

Setting the Degree of Slope 

The steepness of a slope can impact a station’s maximum cycle time. The WeatherTRAK controller allows you to adjust for slope type which will help minimizes run-off.

1.  Press the + or – button to set slope type.

2.  Press the → button to continue selecting the sprinkler location on the slope.

Selecting Sprinkler Location on the Slope 

Typically, sprinkler heads at the bottom of a slope require less run time than those at the top of a slope, because of the additional water the bottom of the landscape gets from natural water migration. The WeatherTRAK controller provides four options for identifying sprinkler head locations within your zone. You must adjust your schedules to account for the sprinkler head location.

1.  Press the + or – button to set the sprinkler location type.

2.  Press the → button to complete station programming.

After going through all the options for programming and making your choices, the controller will display a Station [station #] Complete.

The WeatherTRAK controller will now automatically calculate station water days, run times, cycle and soak periods for each station in Auto mode, independent of the other. This irrigation schedule is then updated daily via ET Everywhere.  Remember, that you can easily see what you just programmed by pressing the * button while in the STATIONS menu. You are now ready to program your other stations that correspond to each zone of your landscape. To reduce many of the repetitive steps for each individual station, use the copy function. For more information, see Copying Programs from Station to Station.