Toro Precision Soil Sensor User's Manual
Contents
1. Press Menu Gg button to return to the Normal Operating mode Advanced System Operations Menu The Advanced System Operations Menu lists a variety of operational set System Calibration Mode tings and system status indicators For most residential landscape appli Enables the sensor system to be manually calibrated for cations the default settings will provide good results Each setting has a current maximum soil moisture content range of adjustment enabling its function to be tailored as preferred Watering Completion Time 0 24 Hours Determines the amount of time allowed for a watering cycle to be completed before the Watering Restricted Note If you step past a specific menu item continue pressing the Menu mode takes effect button to repeat the menu sequence e Press and release the Menu button to step through the menu sequence shown in the table below Smart Bypass Timer 1 199 Hours Precision System Menu Item Default Setting Range Determines the amount of time the system remains in FA Manual Reset Smart Bypass mode and after Freeze Shut off mode lo before returning to the Normal Operating mode RP 1 199 Hours Freeze Shut off Mode Temp 35 45 F or 2 7 C f 35_45 F 2 7 C Determines the temperature that initiates the Freeze Shut off mode to suspend watering operation 0 0 10 0 Signal Strength id Sensor Identification Code Review Only 00 00 00 99 9999 Indicates signa2. oooooooooomooooo Watering Completion Time ooooooooooooo o SIGN al SUENO eccere cecen EEEE EEEE OEE EEEE h Battery Voltage ssssssssesessososossssssssssees Sensor ID COde eure anne Air Temperature essessessescecceeseecoesosesoee Temperature Format oooooooooooomomm ooo Calibration Mode oooooooooooocmommommo o oo System Calibration and Learn Modes 7 e System Calibration Mode oooooooommmmmmo o 7 e Sensor Learn Mode ccc cece teen eee ee eens 7 Installation and Setup Procedures 8 e Install Receiver 0 0 ccc ccc cece cnet eee e eens 8 e Connect Receiver to TiMer oooooooomm mo o 8 e Select Sensor Installation Site 8 e Install Sensor Batteries oooooooooooo 8 e Install Sensor o ooooooococoooorocccnnr rr 8 e Adjust the Automatic Watering Schedule 9 Troubleshooting ooooooooooocccrornnmmo o 10 o og III 11 Toro Commitment to Quality 11 Warranty AA a nans 11 PES POR IS BUCS ne ans een EE ets 12 System Operations Menu Quick Reference 12 System Component Overview Receiver 1 Antenna 2 Bypass Sensor Button 3 Bypass Sensor LED Indicator 4 Setup Menu Access Button 5 Cover 6 Connection Wire Cable 7 Setup Menu Adjustment Buttons 8 Waterin
3. A Caution For close cut turf varieties such as Hybrid Bermuda the top of the sensor must be installed at grade level to prevent damage by mowing equipment e Applying even downward pressure on top of the sensor insert the sensor probes and retention spikes completely into the soil At the receiver press the Bypass 9 gt to place the Precision Soil Sensor in the Normal Operating mode Troubleshooting Solving Reception Problems The Precision Soil Sensor system operates under Part 15 of the FCC rules This means that it has to comply with certain standards and is only allowed to transmit up to a certain power level In rating transmitters of any form typically a Line of Sight LOS value is used to show the relative effective ness of a transmitter and allow a transmitter and receiver to be compared to one another using a fair apples to apples method The Precision Soil Sensor has an effective operating range up to 500 feet LOS meaning in an open field with no obstructions the system will have a successfully communica tion range of up to 500 feet However in almost all installations there are obstacles between the sensor and receiver such as walls floors etc These obstacles will affect the signal reception and typically reduce the radiated signal strength sent to the receiver Different objects affect the transmitted signal differently depending on the construction material geometry and size Typically most reside
4. following characteristics e Is representative of the overall soil type and condition Is the highest elevation e Is not over a septic tank or drain field e Is well within receiver communication range 500 line of sight e Is at least 4 feet away from a driveway roof overhang or downspout e Is not in a footpath or recreational area Is not exposed to overspray from nearby watering zones Install Sensor Batteries e Remove four stainless Phillips screws securing the sensor battery compart ment cover Place cover aside Note The sensor requires three size AA alkaline batteries for operation Batteries are not included Install the batteries as shown Install the battery compartment cover Note When the sensor batteries are initially installed the LED signal indica tor is Red When the receiver links with the sensor the LED changes to Green The LED will remain on for 30 minutes to facilitate sensor installation Install Sensor e Move the sensor to the proposed installation site Signal strength is indi cated by the LED color as follows Green Excellent O Yellow Acceptable Red Not Acceptable Relocate Sensor LED Signal EG Indicator NECISION i SOIL SENSOR e With a suitable installation site selected thoroughly irrigate the sensor location and surrounding landscape area by running a manual watering cycle e Trim the grass close to ground level where the sensor will be placed
5. 1 800 367 8676 Operating Temperature 14 F 140 F Receiver Connection Cable 36 24 AWG 5 conductor color coded cable e Receiver Power Input 22 28 VAC VDC 100mA from existing timer with Class 2 UL approved transformer Warranty Output Relay Contacts Normally Open NO and Normally Closed NC The Toro Company and its affiliate Toro Warranty Company pursuant to an pen Ao agreement between them jointly warrants to the owner against defects in e Receiver Material High impact ABS material and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase e Operating Frequency 915Mhz DSSS Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum Neither The Toro Company nor Toro Warranty Company is liable for failure of e Agencies Approvals UL and FCC products not manufactured by them even though such products may be sold or used in conjunction with Toro products During such warranty period we will repair or replace at our option any part sensor found to be defective Power Supply 4 5 VDC supplied by three size AA alkaline batteries Return the defective part to the place of purchase e Housing Material High impact ABS Our liability is limited solely to the replacement or repair of defective parts There e Moisture Protection Electronic circuitry encased in solid epoxy battery are no other express warranties compartment sealed by O ring This warranty does not apply where equipment is used or installation is performed in any manner c
6. Precision Soil Sensor System User s Guide TORO Count on it Introduction Leveraging the same Toro soil sensing technology used on high end commercial s tes and world class golf courses the Toro Precision Soil Sensor continuously monitors the soil moisture and determines when watering is actually needed greatly increasing the efficiency of your sprinkler reducing wasteful over watering while promoting the over all health and beauty of your landscape The Precision Soil Sensor system consists of a wireless soil moisture sensor and digital receiver making installation quick and simple The compact receiver installs alongside the timer either indoors or out and connects directly to the timer s power and sensor terminals or simply taps into the valve common wire circuit The sensor 1s placed in a suit able lawn area where it sends soil moisture and air temperature read ings to the receiver every 10 minutes When automatic watering 1s scheduled to start the Precision Soil Sensor allows the sprinklers to run only if the soil moisture has dropped below the minimum moisture setting and the air temperature 1s favorable for watering The sensor simply plugs into the soil so there s no holes to dig or wires to bury All you ll need to complete the installation is a small Phillips screwdriver three AA alkaline batteries and a bit of do it yourself enthusiasm Q The Precision Soil Sensor system is desig
7. Setup continued 4 Attach the Red wires to the timer s 24 VAC power terminals A Caution The receiver requires a source of 24 VAC continuous power for operation Severe damage will result if wired directly to 110 120 VAC Timer without Sensor Terminals PUMP wy COM 24 VAC blelelelelelele Common L To Valves and Pump MV 5 Apply power to the timer Note When the receiver is initially powered up the green LED will light and the display will show two bars with alternating Signal e and Battery symbols Adjust Watering Program Review the timer s automatic watering program and adjust as necessary to provide the following watering schedule Set watering to run every day of the week with the exception of restricted watering days e Seta run time duration for each zone that will provide thorough watering without causing pooling or runoff e Ensure an automatic watering cycle will run within 16 hours after initial installation of the Precision Soil Sensor Select the Sensor Installation Site 6 Choosing the right location for the sensor is very important for the overall effectiveness of the Precision Soil Sensor system The illustration below represents a typical residential landscape The blue sections indicate the areas that will receive the most direct sunlight throughout the day may be considered for sensor placement From among the prospective lawn areas select an installation site with the
8. aste is to water thoroughly only when it s needed The Precision Soil Sensor is preset to restrict watering until the soil mois ture level drops to 50 of capacity or 1 2 of the total moisture that can be retained in the soil If you were to draw a comparison to a car s fuel tank 50 of the soil moisture capacity would be similar to using 1 2 of the fuel in the tank before stopping to refill A 50 setting restricts the sprinklers from refilling the soil to capacity until 1 2 of the moisture has been lost caus ing the roots to go deeper for water With the capability to adjust the setting incrementally from 0 to 100 the Precision Soil Sensor can be fine tuned for virtually any soil condition S p 4 l gt l 0 AAA AA NM N Y IR F MAVA IN AN A 1 3 J a7 gt AS y ie Xx Fine tuning the Moisture Level Changes to the 50 setting should be made initially in 5 increments in order to see results within a few days The objective is to find the moisture setting that results in a mild stress condition in the lawn indicated by slight wilting and dryness At that point adjust the setting 5 in the opposite direction This should result in moisture maintenance level that s very close to optimum Press and release the Plus button to display the current setting 50 by default e Press the Plus gt button to increase or the Minus Sutton to decrease the setting
9. ccur automatically the next time a signal is sent from the sensor within 10 minutes The receiver will automatically return to the Normal Operating mode when communication is established If the sensor batteries have not been installed automatic pairing will occur upon battery installation Press the Bypass MW gt button to return to the Normal Operating mode Installation and Setup Procedures Install Receiver Position the receiver next to the timer on the side opposite the timer s hinged cover The receiver can be installed indoors using the mounting tape provided For outdoor installation attach the receiver using the two stainless steel screws provided e When installed outdoors the receiver cover should remain closed when access is not required 1 Drive the top mounting screw into the wall leaving about 1 8 from flush 2 Place the receiver on the screw using the key hole slot 3 Install and tighten the lower mounting screw 4 Route the connection cable through the bottom of the timer into the wire connection area Mounting Tape Indoor Option P Connect Receiver to Timer Note If the timer is equipped with sensor terminals continue at Step 1 below If the timer is not equipped with sensor terminals continue at Step 1a Refer to your timer s user guide for specific information regarding sensor installation and Sensor control switch operation Note When t
10. ergy and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions may cause harmful interference to radio communications However there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation If this equip ment generates interference to radio or television reception which can be determined by turning the equipment on and off the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures 1 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna 2 Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver 3 Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected 4 Consult the dealer or an experienced radio TV technician for help The user may find the following booklet prepared by the Federal Communications Commission helpful How To Identify and Resolve Radio TV Interference Problems This booklet is available from the U S Government Printing Office Washington DC 20402 Stock No 004 000 00345 4 6 The table below is provided to use as a quick reference guide for the various Precision Soil Sensor menu options Simply clip out and tape next to receiver or inside the timer cover if applicable Press and release the Menu button to step through the menu sequence Precision System Menu Item Default Setting Range Selm Omas Timer zer f1 o ous af Freeze Shutoff ModeTemp 39 F 3545 FR7O id Sens
11. g Status LED Indicators 9 LCD Display Symbols A Soil Moisture Control Indicator B Watering Suspended C Watering Completion Time D Smart Bypass Mode Active E Warning Mode communication error F System Setup Mode G Freeze Setting Indicator H Temperature Display Format Indicators Alpha numeric Display Characters J Battery Status Indicator K Signal Status Indicator L Bar Graph Status Indicator Sensor 10 Sensor Signal LED Indicator 11 Soil Moisture Probes 12 Size AA Alkaline Batteries not provided 13 Battery Compartment Cover w Screws Receiver Sensor System Operating Modes Note If installation of the Precision Soil Sensor system has not been completed or the system is not yet operational refer to System Installation and Setup procedures beginning on page 8 Normal Operating Modes Watering Permitted amp When the Precision Soil Sensor is in the Watering Permitted mode the current soil moisture value is displayed and the Green LED is on In this example the current soil moisture level is 42 which is below the 50 soil moisture maintenance level and watering is allowed Watering Restricted amp When the soil moisture is above the 50 soil moisture maintenance level the Precision Soil Sensor switches to the Watering Restricted mode A delay period of 4 hours begins counting down before watering is actually shut off The delay period allows any remain ing
12. he receiver is connected to the timer s sensor terminals Rain Hold will be indicated when the Precision Soil Sensor is actively restricting irrigation The Precision Soil Sensor does not replace or function as a Rain Sensor A Caution Ensure the timer s power source is disconnected prior to con necting the receiver wires Setup for Timer With Sensor Mier se Lele kee MW itemise hie am Kelana are 1 Locate the Sensor connec tion terminals If the timer has or requires a jumper wire on the Sensor termi nals connect the receiver for Normally Closed NC operation If a jumper wire LT Sprinkler Valves is not required connect the receiver for Normally Open NO operation Remove Jumper Wire 3 4 om SENSOR 24VAC Mc lelelolelelelillels el Brown NC Yellow NO 8 2 For a Normally Closed Sensor Remove the jumper wire and connect the Brown and White wires to the Sensor terminals in either position The Yellow wire is not used For a Normally Open Sensor Connect the Yellow and White wires to the sensor terminals in either position The Brown wire is not used 3 Continue to Step 4 below Setup for Timer Without Sensor la Remove the wire s connected to the field Common terminal labeled COM or C 2a Using a twist on wire connec tor attach the Brown wire to the wire s removed from the Common terminal The Yellow wire is not used 3a Attach the White wire to the Common COM terminal Common
13. hours prior to perform ing calibration run an automatic or manual watering operation to thoroughly irrigate the sensor zone Note The objective is to apply as much water as possible to the sensor zone up to the point of runoff then allow the soil drain down 2 to 4 hours to establish the maximum moisture retention capacity Press the Menu amp button to display CA sys tem calibration mode Press the Minus button to display 00 Press and hold the Plus button several seconds until the Green LED indicator and hourglass symbol begins flashing The Red LED will be on e The new calibrated moisture value will be displayed automatically within 10 minutes Sensor Learn Mode The Precision Soil Sensor receiver has been paired matched at the factory to a unique sensor identification code to prevent communication with other sensors that may be installed within reception range If either the receiver or sensor is replaced the frequency pairing procedure is required to enable wireless communication The receiver Learn mode is provided to accomplish the pairing procedure To pair the receiver to the sensor use the following procedure Press and hold the Bypass 4 gt button without releasing until the receiver switches to the Learn mode and the display shows LE The Green LED will turn on and the Red and Yellow LEDs will begin blinking Ifthe sensor is operational batteries installed paring will o
14. ile the Precision Soil Sensor is in the Smart Bypass mode the Green LED will be on and the Yellow LED will blink continuously The display will toggle between the current soil moisture value and the amount of time remaining until the Watering Restricted mode resumes In this example the moisture level is 85 and the Green LED is on There are 24 hours remaining in the Smart Bypass mode Freeze Shut off Mode If the sensor detects that air temperature has dropped to near freezing the Precision Soil Sensor automatically switches to the Freeze Shut off mode to restrict watering When the temperature rises the Freeze Shut off mode is canceled Normal Operation mode will resume after the delay period set by the Smart Bypass Timer In this example air temperature is detected at the minimum setting of 39 F and watering has been canceled The Freeze temperature al and No Watering amp symbols are displayed and the Red LED will blink continuously System Status Indications Soil Moisture Adjustment Warning Mode Indicationo 4 If the sensor does not communicate with receiver within a 24 hour period the Precision Soil Sensor switches to the Warning mode indicated by all three LEDs blinking continu ously Watering will be permitted until the loss of communication has been corrected Restoring Operation Loss of communication can be caused by a damaged sensor relocating the sensor to different area of the yard or a
15. l strength in a digital format 14 F 140 F Battery Voltage Indicates total voltage output of the sensor batteries e Where applicable press the Plus or Minus buttons to adjust the setting value To exit the Advanced System Operations Menu either press the Menu Sensor ID Code button to display the Operating Mode screen or allow the receiver The Sensor Identification Code is displayed in three to idle for 10 seconds and exit automatically number pairs accessed by repeatedly pressing the Plus or Minus button Temperature Format SSS Enables temperature format to be displayed in degrees Fahrenheit or Centigrade Sensor Temperature Indicates the sensor temperature Sensor System Calibration and Learn Modes System Calibration Mode The sensor system will be automatically calibrated within 24 48 hours after the initial installation Calibration is required to establish the maxi mum amount of usable moisture in the soil The sensor system will then recognize this soil moisture level as the maximum capacity From this fixed reference point the sensor system can decide when the soil moisture has dropped enough to allow watering To manually calibrate the Precision Soil Sensor at any time for example if the sensor has been moved to a different location in the landscape or has been replaced since the initial installation use the following procedure e Approximately 2 to 4
16. ned to help grow and maintain healthy landscape vegetation while reducing water use by improving the operation of your sprinkler control timer It cannot improve or remedy a sprinkler system that s improperly designed installed or maintained So to gain the maximum benefit afforded by the addition of the Precision Soil Sensor it is vitally important to make certain your automatic sprinkler system is in good working order capable of providing proper sprinkler coverage where and when it s needed Table of Contents Introduction AAA System Component Overview ccc cece eee e eens System Operating Modes 0c cece cece eee e Normal Operating Modes ooo oooooooooo e Watering Permitted oooooooommmmmm e Watering Restricted oooooooommmmmm e Smart Bypass Mode 0 cece cee eee eee eens e Freeze Shut off Mode ccc cece cece eens System Status IndicatorsS oooooooomoo o e Warning Mode Indicator oo e Restoring Operation ccc cece cette eee ees e Battery and Signal Strength Indicators Soil Moisture Adjustment 0c cece cece eee eees e Fine tuning the Soil Moisture Level Advanced System Operations Menu o o oo e Smart Bypass TiMer o o occccococcccccncn rro Freeze Shut off Temperature
17. ntial construction materials do not reduce the effective transmitted signal enough to pose problems under normal installa tion conditions However there are some indoor installations with very thick walls or where radio frequency interference is high due to a nearby pump motor or large electrical appliance To help resolve wireless communication problems Install the sensor as close to the receiver location as possible to reduce the potential for interference and signal reduction If the signal strength is not good in one location try another appropriate location nearby just mov ing the sensor a few feet can greatly improve signal strength Interior locations where cell phones or cordless phones have trouble with reception may indicate areas with poor RF signal transmission The receiv er can be installed outdoors and connected to the timer with extended wire leads 10 Specifications Toro Commitment to Quality Warranty Receiver Toro Commitment to Quality e Receiver Mounting Options Indoor or Outdoor stainless steel screws Toro is committed to developing and producing the highest quality best and double sided tape provided performing most dependable products on the market Because your satisfaction is our first priority we have provided the Toro Helpline to assist you with any questions or problems that may arise If for some reason you are not satisfied with your purchase or have questions please contact us toll free at
18. ontrary to Toro s specifications and instructions nor l where equipment is altered or modified Stainless steel electrodes Neither The Toro Company nor Toro Warranty Company is liable for indirect e Built in installation anchor stakes incidental or consequential damages in connection with the use of equipment including but not limited to vegetation loss the cost of substitute equipment or services required during periods of malfunction or resulting non use property damage or personal injury resulting from installer s negligence Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you All implied warranties including those of merchantability and fitness for use are limited to the duration of this express warranty Some states do not allow limitations of how long an implied warranty lasts so the above limitation may not apply to you This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may have other rights which vary from state to state e Signal Quality Indicator Tri colored Red Yellow Green LED 11 FCC Part 15 Rules This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency en
19. or Identification Code Review Only 1000000 99999 L Oe ee ee ee ee o ooo JJ 0202TheToro Company www toro com Form Number 373 0604 Rev 3 13 14
20. sprinkler zones in the watering cycle to operate The display will toggle between dis playing the current soil moisture value and the amount of time remaining in the current watering cycle completion period In this example the moisture level is 96 and the Green LED is on since watering will be allowed to continue for 4 hours The Watering Fi Restricted mode will begin immediately following the watering cycle completion period While in the Watering Restricted mode the current soil moisture value with the No Watering symbol will be displayed and the Red LED will remain on Note Ideally one watering cycle should replenish the moisture level to 100 Watering program changes may be required to achieve this condition Refer to your control timer user s guide for information regarding programming options 4 Note A value shown with an asterisk indicates that it is the factory default setting within an adjustable range Refer to Advanced System Operations Menu beginning on page 6 for detailed information regarding system settings and adjustment options Smart Bypass Mode o The Smart Bypass feature enables the sprin kler system to operate while the Precision Soil Sensor is in the Watering Restricted mode Pressing the Bypass 69 button toggles the Smart Bypass feature on and off When switched on the Bypass mode will be auto matically canceled in 24 hours or it can be manually canceled at any time Wh
21. temporary obstruction such as a car or truck parked in the signal path However the most likely cause is the sensor batteries have become too weak to provide adequate signal strength If the sensor appearance and location is unchanged and the signal path is unobstructed replace the sensor batteries with three new AA alkaline bat teries Press the Bypass button to cancel the Warning mode If com munication is reestablished the Precision Soil Sensor will automatically resume normal operating mode within a short time Note If the above measures do not restore normal operation contact Toro Customer Service for assistance at 1 877 345 8676 Battery and Signal Strength Indications The receiver display provides current battery and signal strength status during all normal operating modes The number of stacked bars that appear with the corresponding antenna and battery display symbols indicate the current conditions as shown in the chart below K Signal 6 Bars Excellent m Battery N A A Bars Acceptable 4 K2 Bars Weak Check Sensor won 2 Bars Weak Replace Batteries Landscape plants are the heartiest when their roots become established several inches down where water is stored for the longest period of time Watering often for short periods of time promotes root growth near the top of the soil where the moisture evaporates quickly The key to maintaining healthy plants with minimum water w
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