Setting Up Irrigation

Setting up your controller:

Most sprinkler systems use a Rain-Bird or Hunter Controller, however there are many more available on the market today.

We will go over the Rain-Bird controller as it is the most common and many of the other manufacturers have similar adjustments.

To get your yard watered, you really just need to follow these five core steps. Think of it like setting an alarm clock: you need to tell it what time it is, when to wake up, and how long to work.

1. Set the Date and Time

Before the controller can follow a schedule, it needs to know the current time.

* Turn the dial to Date/Time.

* Use the Left/Right Arrows to move between the month, day, year, and time.

* Use the + and - buttons to change the numbers.

* Pro Tip: Make sure the AM/PM is correct so your sprinklers don't go off in the middle of your backyard BBQ!

2. Set the Start Times

This is when the entire watering cycle begins.

* Turn the dial to Start Times.

* The screen will show "1" (your first watering cycle). Use the + or - to set the time you want the water to turn on.

* Note: You don't need a start time for every zone. One start time will run all your zones in sequence, one after the other.

3. Set the Run Times (Duration)

Now you tell the controller how many minutes each area (zone) should run.

* Turn the dial to Run Times.

* The screen will show "Station 1." Use + or - to set the minutes.

* Press the Right Arrow to move to "Station 2" and repeat until all your zones have minutes assigned.

4. Select Water Days

Decide which days of the week you want to water.

* Turn the dial to Water Days.

* Use the Arrows to move through the days of the week.

* Press + to keep a day (it will show a droplet icon) or - to skip a day (it will show an "X").

5. Set to "AUTO"

This is the most important step!

* Turn the dial to AUTO.

* If the dial stays anywhere else, the system will not run automatically. In "Auto," the screen will just show the current time and day.

Quick Troubleshooting & Features

* Manual Watering: If you just want to run a zone right now, turn the dial to Manual Watering, select the station, and hold the Right Arrow button to start.

* Programs (A, B, C): You might see a "PGM" letter on the screen. Most homeowners only need Program A. If you see B or C, you can use the "Program Select" button to toggle back to A.

* Seasonal Adjust: This is a shortcut to increase or decrease watering by a percentage (like 50% in the spring) without changing every zone individually.