Some water management problems require high-tech solutions.
Rain Bird Central Control Systems combine the latest technology
and Rain Bird reliability for the ultimate in flexibility
and control for your water management solution.
What is Irrigation Central Control?
Irrigation central control enables the programming, monitoring,
and operation of irrigation systems from a central location. Central
control systems are designed to allow a user to control
a single site or a set of sites from a single computer. Central
control software allows the water manager to set up programming
to automatically control satellite controllers or two-wire
decoders which operate the irrigation valves. A central control system
can monitor and adapt system operation and irrigation run times in response to
conditions in the system or surrounding area. (weather conditions, pipe breaks,
etc.). The system will also provide historical data to allow analysis and
reporting of what ran when, how much water was used, and field problems.
Rain Bird Central
Control
Rain Bird developed the original computer-based
central control system in the 1970’s and today has
thousands of systems installed worldwide.
Satellite Controllers
and Decoders
Rain Bird offers a variety of systems to match
the needs of the customer, budget, site, or application.
Select from systems that are designed specifically for
single sites, multiple sites, small, or large sites. Rain
Bird central control systems can utilize satellite controllers,
two-wire decoders, or a combination.
What are the Benefits?
Water Savings
Effective Evapotranspiration (ET) based system management
can ultimately result in water savings of 25-45% per year,
depending on current management practices. As
an additional source of savings, pipeline breaks are automatically
detected and isolated, preventing excessive water loss.
A Healthier Landscape
A central control system helps ensure your landscape receives
the right amount of water. Good irrigation management
can reduce leaching and run-off, and healthy plants will
reduce pest infestation and disease.
Reduced Labor Costs
By managing all irrigation programming from a PC, the user
no longer needs to travel to each site to make adjustments
at each controller. System shut-downs
for maintenance occur quickly, allowing more effective
use of time.
Damage Prevention
The system monitors current hydraulic conditions and takes
action to prevent washout in the event of pipeline breaks. Detection
and isolation of breaks occurs in minutes instead of hours.
Gas and Vehicle Wear Savings
The user no longer has to drive around to all the controllers
to make programming changes.
Non-Irrigation System Controls
Lighting, fountains, security gates, and pumps can be controlled
and monitored though the system.
Key Features
System Monitoring
System monitoring can incorporate many different sensors
such as weather stations, flow meters, rain gauges, and
wind sensors. These sensors monitor site
conditions and report to the central computer. The
central system automatically responds if any field conditions
are outside the pre-defined limits set by the system operator.
System Control
A central control system allows all actions to be carried
out easily and efficiently from a central location. Control actions such as adjusting watering or
stopping irrigation in the event of rain or high wind can be automatically accomplished
without requiring a technician to visit individual sites or controllers. A
weather station can be connected to the system to precisely calculate the amount
of water required based on climatic conditions. Rainfall
intensity is monitored and compared to the soil infiltration
rate to determine how much rain actually makes it to the
plant root zone, thus optimizing irrigation.
System Communications
A central control system consists of a central computer,
satellite controllers or decoders, sensors, weather stations,
and a communication system to connect them all. Communication
methods will depend on whether a computer is located on-site
or remotely located, and can include direct-connect, hardwire,
phone, cellular, radio, fiber-optics, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi.
If you’re
in charge of multi-site commercial or industrial irrigation,
you know the challenges of water management. And, if
you’re like other irrigation professionals, you’ve
wanted a “smart” irrigation system that lets
you control multiple sites to your exact specifications.
Maxicom2 makes irrigation management a simple, accurate,
and labor-efficient task. It’s a central control
system that helps you achieve superior water management
effectiveness – at up to hundreds of locations.
Maxicom2 is ideal for municipalities, school districts,
universities, and park and recreation departments.
Smaller commercial and
even residential sites can also receive the benefits
of central control with the IQ system. IQ is the perfect
tool for the Landscape Maintenance Contractor, Property
Manager, or Public Agency managing multiple, single irrigation
controller sites. IQ is a modular, simple to program
and install, cost-effective system that can grow over
time with your needs. IQ lets you do anything you could
do standing at the controller from the computer, including
manual operation, program adjustment, and even controlling
the dial and switch settings. It has powerful water management
features like ET Adjust, Seasonal Adjust, and Cycle+Soak™ to
help you save water while you’re saving time.
If you need powerful
central control for a large, single contiguous site,
SiteControl provides dynamic map-based control and real-time
communication between the field and central computer.
With customized site graphics, multiple mapping options,
and the ability to “see” the placement and
real-time operation of individual controllers, decoders,
valves, and sprinklers, SiteControl makes controlling
your landscape irrigation fast and intuitive. Plus, the
system is modular, allowing you to invest in only what
your need and expand at a later date. Offering both satellite
controllers and two-wire decoder solutions, SiteControl
provides unmatched features and expandability. It is
ideal for college or corporate campuses, housing communities,
cemeteries, sports fields, resorts and hotels.
MDC is a single-site,
two-wire decoder system offering unmatched expandability
in a cost-effective system that provides fast and easy
installation. High flow shut-off, alarms, sensor inputs,
modular expandability, and diagnostic tools are just
some of the features of the system. Programming software
allows you to remotely download the irrigation schedules
from the controller, review system data, make changes,
and then upload the new schedules. MDC is ideal for corporate
sites, apartments or condominiums, median strips, and
other commercial site applications.
TWI Two-Wire Interface
units serve as an interface between the central computer
and the sites ESP-SAT Satellites Controllers on the SiteControl
system.
SDI/LDI Two-Wire Decoder
Interface units serve as an interface between the central
computer and the sites FD-TURF Two-Wire Decoders on the
SiteControl system.
ESP-SAT-Module Kits enable
the ESP-SAT controller to be installed directly into
older Rain Bird stainless steel pedestals for upgrading
existing ISC, PAR or SBM satellite controllers.
ESP-SITE-SAT Satellite
Controllers combine the capabilities of the CCU and ESP-SAT
Satellite Controller in a single enclosure. Ideal for
sites with single satellite controllers.
LXM-DTC Satellite Controllers
provide both a communication link to the central computer
and controller functionality for the IQ Central Control
System.
MDC Two-Wire Decoder Controllers provide
both a communication link to the central computer and
Two-Wire Decoder control interface on the MDC Central
Control System.
FD-TURF Two-Wire Decoders provide an interface
between irrigation valves and MDC Decoder Controller
on the MDC System or SDI/LDI Central Interface on the
SiteControl Central Control System.
Monitors solar radiation,
relative humidity, air temperature, wind run and direction,
and rainfall sensors for Evapotranspiration and Effective
Rainfall calculations for the Maxicom2 and
SiteControl Central Control Systems. The data is used
for the automatic adjustment of irrigation programming
based on current weather conditions and site plant water
requirements.
Provides site specific
rainfall data (separate from the weather station) for
use with the RainWatch™ feature of the Maxicom2 and SiteControl Central Control Systems.
Provides reliable
and accurate flow rate data for use with the FloWatch™ feature
of the Maxicom2 and SiteControl systems,
and high-flow shut-off systems for the IQ and MDC Central
Control Systems.
Easy-to-use remote control
system designed specifically for Maxicom2 and
SiteControl Central Control Systems. Lets you control
your irrigation system from a hand-held radio, cellular
or land-line telephone.
