Step-by-Step Guide

Understanding WeatherTRAK Rain Response

WeatherTRAK manages rain response through three distinct systems that work together to optimize irrigation and prevent watering during or after rain events. Understanding how each system functions is essential for effective site management, especially when managing diverse portfolios across different geographies.

The three key factors in WeatherTRAK's rain response are:

• The physical rain sensor installed on-site
• The Climate Center rain pause (automated weather-based suspension)
• The user rain pause (manual override capability)

It's important to remember that WeatherTRAK provides once-a-day weather updates, not streaming real-time weather data. The controller can tell you it has rained, but it cannot tell you it is currently raining. This is why the physical rain sensor remains a critical component of the system.

Rain Sensor: Real-Time On-Site Response

The rain sensor serves as your first line of defense in on-site rain response. While WeatherTRAK does not manufacture its own rain sensor, the system is designed to work with industry-standard rain sensors that you attach to your WeatherTRAK controller.

The rain sensor provides real-time response to active rain events. When rain begins falling, the sensor accumulates water on a small surface (approximately nickel-sized). Once enough water accumulates, the sensor interrupts the common wire and sends a signal to stop any irrigation currently in progress.

This real-time capability is crucial because a significant part of water management—and the perception of good water management—is ensuring your system does not run while it's actively raining. The rain sensor fills this gap that the once-daily weather update cannot address.

Proper Rain Sensor Installation

Proper installation of rain sensors is critical to their effectiveness. Common installation errors include:

• Placing sensors under trees where they won't receive adequate rainfall
• Installing them under awnings or other overhead structures
• Positioning them in areas affected by irrigation spray (which can cause false triggers)
• Locating them in areas prone to vandalism

For optimal performance, rain sensors should be:

• Fully exposed to the sky
• Within the required distance from the controller (typically around 100 feet, depending on the model)
• In a location that meets line-of-sight requirements
• Protected from vandalism as much as possible
• In a representative area that accurately reflects rainfall for the site

RainShare: Networked Rain Sensor Technology

RainShare is a WeatherTRAK feature that leverages cloud technology to minimize costs and simplify rain sensor management across multi-controller sites. Instead of requiring a separate rain sensor for each controller, RainShare allows you to attach a single rain sensor to one controller and have that sensor's signal shared across all controllers on the site through the cloud network.

When the designated rain sensor activates, it uses the cloud network to shut down the entire network of controllers you're managing. This approach offers several significant advantages:

• Reduced equipment costs (one sensor instead of multiple)
• Simplified installation process
• Fewer potential points of failure or vandalism
• Easier maintenance and auditing (only one sensor to check)
• Elimination of the challenge of finding suitable installation locations for multiple sensors

RainShare is particularly valuable for properties like apartment complexes, schools, or city parks where rain sensor components are frequently targets for vandalism. Minimizing the number of exposed sensors reduces the risk of damage affecting your irrigation system.

Setting Up RainShare

1. Navigate to the Sites tab in your WeatherTRAK account at weathertrak.net.

2. Go to the Manage Site page for the site where you want to enable RainShare.

3. Click Edit to access the site details.

4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to locate the RainShare option.

5. Select the controller that has the physical rain sensor wired to it from the dropdown menu. This tells the cloud which controller to listen to for rain sensor signals.

6. Click Save to activate RainShare for the site.

Once configured, when the designated controller receives a rain sensor pause, it will automatically share that pause signal across all other controllers on the site.

Selecting the Best Controller for RainShare

When determining which controller should have the physical rain sensor attached, consider these factors:

• Which controller location offers the most feasible rain sensor installation site
• Which location provides the best exposure to open sky
• Which area is least prone to vandalism or damage
• Which controller is nearest to an ideal sensor location that meets all installation requirements
• Which location is easiest to access for maintenance and auditing

In many cases, sites that previously had multiple rain sensors can remove sensors from problematic locations and rely solely on the one sensor designated for RainShare, simplifying the overall system.

Using RainShare with Additional Rain Sensors

RainShare does not prevent you from using additional physical rain sensors if needed. If you have one rain sensor designated for RainShare across five controllers, you can still add a physical rain sensor to another controller in a problematic area. That additional sensor will act independently for its own controller while the RainShare sensor continues to affect all controllers on the site. The two systems work in addition to each other, not in conflict.

Climate Center Rain Pause: Automated Weather-Based Suspension

The Climate Center rain pause is WeatherTRAK's automated system for suspending irrigation based on local rainfall data. This feature is separate from the ET (evapotranspiration) calculation and works independently to manage rain response.

While ET measures all the ways water evaporates from a site—including factors like wind, temperature, and humidity—rainfall is an addition to that equation and is tracked separately. Every day, each controller receives an ET number, but the rain signal is sent as a separate signal only to controllers that meet specific rainfall requirements.

Usable Rainfall Threshold

The Climate Center rain pause activates only after an eighth of an inch (0.125") of usable rainfall has been recorded. This threshold is critical to understand because usable rainfall is different from total rainfall.

Usable rainfall takes into account multiple factors:

• Total amount of water that fell
• Duration of the rain event
• Distribution pattern of the rainfall
• Other environmental factors affecting water absorption

WeatherTRAK measures not just how much water fell, but how effectively that water can be used by the landscape. This prevents the system from pausing irrigation for brief, light rain events that don't provide meaningful moisture to the soil.

Rain Pause Duration

Once the usable rainfall threshold is met, the Climate Center sends a rain pause to the controller. The duration of this pause ranges from 2 days to 14 days, depending on the amount of usable rainfall received.

The rain pause duration is recalculated daily based on current conditions. For example:

• If you receive two inches of rain and get a 14-day pause initially, the system continues monitoring weather conditions
• On day two, that 14-day pause might tick down to 10 days based on updated conditions
• In extreme heat (100-degree temperatures), a 14-day pause could drop to just 3 days as the landscape dries out more quickly
• The system constantly adjusts to stay on top of ever-changing conditions

This dynamic recalculation ensures the pause duration remains appropriate for current site conditions rather than being locked in based on a single rainfall measurement.

Rain Signal Timing and Delivery

The rain signal is sent out once per day, similar to the ET signal. The signal begins transmitting at 4:00 PM in each time zone. The timing of when a controller receives the rain pause depends on several factors:

• When the rainfall occurred during the day
• When the data collection period closed
• The time required to calculate usable rainfall and distribute the signal

Depending on these factors, an earlier-in-the-day storm might be reflected in that same day's 4:00 PM signal, or it might not be processed until the following day's 4:00 PM signal. This is why the physical rain sensor remains important for real-time response during active rain events.

How Rain Pause Counts Down

The WeatherTRAK rain pause operates differently than rain pause features on other controller brands. It is not a strict 24-hour pause. Instead, the pause counts down at the Program A start time.

Here's how it works:

• When the controller receives a 2-day rain pause, it immediately suspends all scheduled irrigation
• Manual irrigation and system testing are not affected—you can still operate the system manually
• At the next Program A start time, the 2-day pause counts down to a 1-day pause
• All scheduled irrigation remains suspended for that day
• At the following Program A start time, the 1-day pause counts down to zero
• Irrigation resumes on its normal schedule

This means the pause duration is tied to your irrigation schedule rather than being a fixed number of hours from when the pause was initiated.

Interaction Between Different Pause Types

All pause types work in tandem—they do not override each other. If the Climate Center sends a 2-day rain pause and you manually add a 4-day user rain pause, the controller will honor both pauses. The pauses work together to ensure irrigation remains suspended for the appropriate duration.

The key difference is that Climate Center rain pauses recalculate daily based on changing conditions, while user rain pauses do not recalculate—they count down at a fixed rate regardless of weather changes.

Disabling Climate Center Rain Pause

Some water managers prefer to maintain complete manual control over rain response and may not want the automated Climate Center rain pause feature. If you don't understand, don't trust, or simply prefer to manage rain pauses yourself, the Climate Center rain pause can be disabled.

This setting can be adjusted either at the controller or online, allowing you to prevent Climate Center rain pauses from affecting your scheduled irrigation while still maintaining the ability to use manual user rain pauses and physical rain sensors.

User Rain Pause: Manual Override and Proactive Management

The user rain pause is the management tool that allows you to manually suspend irrigation when you need direct control. This feature is essential because WeatherTRAK never predicts weather—it only acts on reported data.

WeatherTRAK will never pause your irrigation because rain is in the forecast. The system only responds to rainfall that has already occurred and been measured. As a manager, you can look at weather forecasts and proactively suspend irrigation to take advantage of predicted rainfall, but the system will not do this automatically.

Accessing User Rain Pause

User rain pause can be initiated from three locations:

• At the physical controller
• Online at weathertrak.net
• Through the WeatherTRAK mobile app

The pause duration can range from 1 to 200 days, giving you extensive flexibility for both short-term and long-term irrigation suspension.

Sending a User Rain Pause via Mobile App

1. Open the WeatherTRAK mobile app and navigate to the Controllers page.

2. Locate the Pause option in the same area where you find controller alerts.

3. Tap the Pause button.

4. Select the number of days you want to pause irrigation (1-200 days).

5. Confirm the pause to send it to the controller.

The pause takes effect in real-time, immediately shutting down all scheduled irrigation and preventing any additional scheduled irrigation until the pause expires.

How User Rain Pause Counts Down

Like the Climate Center rain pause, the user rain pause counts down at Program A start time, not in strict 24-hour increments.

For example, if you send a 1-day user rain pause:

• The pause goes out immediately and shuts down all scheduled irrigation in real-time
• All scheduled irrigation is prevented until the next Program A start time
• At the next Program A start time, the 1-day pause counts down to zero
• Irrigation resumes on its normal schedule

This means a "1-day pause" might actually last anywhere from a few hours to nearly 24 hours, depending on when you send it relative to your Program A start time.

Using Weather Forecast Data for Proactive Pausing

WeatherTRAK provides weather forecast information on the Manage page to help you make informed decisions about proactive pausing. You can view the upcoming weather forecast and send rain pauses based on predicted rainfall.

For example, if you see rain forecasted for Saturday and Sunday and you don't want the system to run until Monday or Tuesday, you can send a 5- or 6-day rain pause to ensure irrigation remains suspended through the predicted rain events and the appropriate recovery period afterward.

Sending User Rain Pause to Multiple Controllers

When managing sites with multiple controllers, you can send a user rain pause to multiple controllers simultaneously rather than pausing each one individually.

1. Navigate to the Controllers page in your WeatherTRAK account.

2. Use the checkboxes on the left side of the controller list to select the controllers you want to pause. You can select controllers individually or use the select-all option.

3. Once you've selected all desired controllers, choose the rain pause option from the bulk actions menu.

4. Specify the number of days for the pause.

5. Confirm to send the pause to all selected controllers simultaneously.

This bulk pause capability can save significant time, especially on large sites. For example, sites that previously required 40 man-hours to manually turn off all controllers during rain events can now complete the same task in just minutes.

When to Use User Rain Pause

In practice, if you have both a properly functioning rain sensor and the Climate Center rain pause enabled, you may rarely need to use the user rain pause feature. The combination of real-time rain sensor response and automated Climate Center pauses handles most rain events effectively.

Common scenarios where user rain pause is valuable include:

• When a rain sensor is temporarily down or malfunctioning
• When you want to proactively pause before a forecasted storm event
• When you're fine-tuning a new system and need to skip irrigation while adjusting settings
• When you need to keep areas dry for scheduled maintenance, mowing services, or other activities
• When you're troubleshooting wet areas or overwatering issues
• During extreme weather events like hurricanes when you want manual control

The user rain pause is particularly useful during the initial setup and optimization phase of a new WeatherTRAK installation, when you may need more frequent manual intervention while dialing in station settings.

User Rain Pause and Extreme Weather Events

During major storm events like hurricanes, you might be tempted to proactively pause controllers based on forecast models. However, forecast accuracy can vary significantly, and storms don't always track as predicted.

If your system is properly configured with a well-placed rain sensor and RainShare enabled, the combination of on-site rain sensor response and Climate Center rain pause will typically handle even extreme weather events appropriately without manual intervention. Sites that were forecasted to receive heavy rainfall from hurricanes have sometimes received zero rain or only minimal precipitation, making proactive pausing unnecessary and potentially detrimental to landscape health.

The responsive nature of the rain sensor and Climate Center pause means the system will react appropriately to actual conditions rather than predictions that may not materialize.

Station-Level Usable Rainfall Settings

All three pause types—rain sensor, Climate Center rain pause, and user rain pause—can be overridden on a station-by-station basis using the Usable Rainfall setting in the station programming.

The Usable Rainfall setting allows you to control how each individual station responds to rain information. This setting is found in the station program settings for each zone.

Usable Rainfall at 100%

When Usable Rainfall is set to 100%, you're telling the system: "I want this station to use 100% of the rain information the controller receives." This means:

• If any pause is sent to the controller (rain sensor, Climate Center, or user), irrigation will be suspended for this station
• The station will respond normally to all rain-related pauses
• This is the default and most common setting for typical landscape zones

Usable Rainfall at None (0%)

When Usable Rainfall is set to None, you're telling the system: "Even if it rains, I want this station to irrigate anyway." This means:

• Even if the rain sensor activates, this station will still run on schedule
• Even if the Climate Center sends a rain pause, this station will still run
• Even if you send a user rain pause, this station will still run
• The station essentially ignores all rain-related pause signals

When to Use Usable Rainfall Override

The Usable Rainfall override is most commonly used in these scenarios:

Covered or Protected Areas: Stations that irrigate areas that won't receive natural rainfall should have Usable Rainfall set to None. Examples include:

• Greenhouse plantings
• Areas under building overhangs or awnings
• Landscaping under highway overpasses or bridges
• Covered courtyards or atriums

Plant Establishment: New plantings that require consistent irrigation regardless of rainfall should have Usable Rainfall set to None. Examples include:

• New sod zones that need daily watering during establishment
• Recently planted trees or shrubs with specific establishment watering requirements
• Seeded areas that require consistent moisture
• High-value plantings where establishment success is critical

High-Priority Gardens: Specialty gardens or high-visibility areas where you want complete control over irrigation timing may benefit from having Usable Rainfall set to None, allowing you to maintain your irrigation schedule regardless of rain events.

Usable Rainfall Percentage Settings

The Usable Rainfall setting operates on an all-or-nothing basis in current WeatherTRAK systems. While you can technically set values between 0% and 100%, the system treats anything less than 100% as None (0%).

In earlier versions of WeatherTRAK, intermediate percentage values were used to represent canopy coverage—the concept that stations under tree canopies might only receive a portion of the rainfall. However, this functionality has been simplified in current systems to either 100% (full rain response) or None (no rain response).

Rain Pause and ET Depletion

An important technical detail about how rain pauses interact with the ET system: when a controller is paused due to any rain-related pause (rain sensor, Climate Center, or user), the system suspends depletion calculation for those stations.

Here's how this works:

• Normally, stations accumulate depletion daily based on ET calculations
• When depletion reaches 50% of Maximum Allowable Depletion (MAD), the station irrigates
• During a rain pause, stations do not continue to accumulate depletion
• This prevents stations from becoming progressively "thirstier" during the pause period
• As soon as the pause is lifted, stations resume accumulating depletion normally
• Stations will irrigate when they reach 50% MAD based on the depletion that accumulates after the pause ends

This approach effectively removes the paused days from the ET equation, ensuring that rainfall-related pauses don't create an artificial water deficit that would trigger immediate heavy irrigation once the pause expires.

Manual Operations During Rain Pause

All rain pause types—rain sensor, Climate Center rain pause, and user rain pause—only affect scheduled irrigation. Manual operations are never interrupted by rain pauses.

This means:

• You can manually test stations even when a rain pause is active
• You can run manual irrigation cycles for maintenance or troubleshooting
• System diagnostics and testing are not affected by any pause status
• Only the automated, scheduled irrigation programs are suspended

This design ensures that rain pauses don't interfere with your ability to maintain, test, or troubleshoot the irrigation system when needed.

Video Walkthrough

Video originally published April 2021.

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.