Step-by-Step Guide
Understanding the Program Paused Pressure Message
The Program Paused Pressure message appears when a pressure sensor detects that the water pressure has reached a configured threshold, causing the controller to temporarily pause watering for a specific program.
The message includes several key pieces of information:
- Program number: Which irrigation program has been paused
- Date and time: When the pause was triggered
- Priority level: Typically shown as "Low"
- Pressure sensor serial number: The specific sensor that detected the pressure change
- Limit versus value: The configured pressure threshold compared to the actual measured pressure (e.g., "45 versus 37.9" means the limit was set at 45 PSI and the actual pressure dropped to 37.9 PSI)
What Happens When This Message Appears
When the controller triggers a program pause due to pressure, the following occurs:
- All watering for the affected program stops immediately
- All zones assigned to that program pause as well
- Watering will automatically resume where it left off once the pressure changes back to acceptable levels and the configured pause period expires
How Pressure Sensors Control Programs
Pressure sensors such as the BL5406 can be configured to influence irrigation programs in multiple ways.
These sensors allow you to:
- Start programs based on pressure conditions
- Stop programs when pressure thresholds are met
- Pause programs temporarily during pressure fluctuations
- Trigger alerts based on set pressure values
The sensors work by continuously monitoring water pressure and communicating with the controller to take action when configured pressure limits are reached.
Common Causes for Program Paused Pressure Messages
This message typically appears due to two main factors:
1. A pressure BiCoder has been set up to influence a program with a start, stop, or pause condition.
2. The water pressure has changed sufficiently to trigger the configured condition and influence the program.
For example, a program may have a pause condition configured using a pressure BiCoder with a specific serial number. If the pressure drops below the set threshold (such as 45 PSI), the controller will initiate a pause for a specified duration (such as one hour) in that program.
Reading the Message Details
When examining a Program Paused Pressure message, pay attention to these specific details:
Program identification: The message clearly states which program number is impacted by the pressure condition.
Pressure measurements: Both the limit and actual value pressures are measured in pounds per square inch (PSI). The message shows two values—the pressure trigger point that was configured (the limit) and the actual pressure reading that caused the controller to react.
For instance, if the pressure trigger point was set to 45 PSI and the controller reacted when the pressure dropped to 37.9 PSI, the message will display "45 versus 37.9" to show this comparison.
Troubleshooting a Program Paused Pressure Message
Troubleshooting this message is straightforward since it is an alert-only notification and requires no immediate action.
However, it's beneficial to review your pressure configuration settings:
1. Review the pressure limit setting to confirm it is set at the appropriate threshold for your system.
2. Determine whether the controller is configured to act on a pressure increase or a pressure decrease, and verify this matches your operational needs.
3. Check the pause time duration that has been configured. This setting determines how long the program will remain paused once the pressure limit has been reached.
Video Walkthrough
Video originally published July 2021.
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.