An irrigation controller is the control center of a garden irrigation system, determining which parts of the system activate and when. It can be simple or complex, with pre-programmed information or inputs from moisture sensors. It simplifies watering needs and can consist of a distribution manifold with valves. User interfaces vary, and solenoid valves are located close to the controller. Larger systems run from a computer in a central control facility with increased functionality.
An irrigation controller is the brain or control center of any dedicated garden irrigation system. This device is typically installed as the first point in an irrigation layout and determines which parts of the system will activate and when. This control can be achieved through pre-programmed information stored in the irrigation controller or from inputs from moisture sensors in the garden itself. Controllers can be simple devices that have a single water line with a couple of sprinkler points or extremely complex systems with miles of water lines and hundreds of outlets. Depending on the type of installation, the irrigation controller can be a small, unobtrusive enclosure connected to a garden faucet or a sophisticated computer-based setup such as those used to irrigate golf courses and estates.
Most garden enthusiasts find walking through their garden in the evening while watering their flower beds to be a relaxing and enjoyable experience. The picture is a little different for busy homeowners who don’t have the time to tend their gardens every day or for landscape managers with large areas to tend to. The irrigation controller can simplify the task of keeping up with the watering needs of larger or smaller gardens with minimal operator intervention. These regulators usually consist of a distribution manifold that sends water to specific points through a series of valves. A controller determines which valves will activate and when to water different areas or zones of the garden.
While most irrigation controllers work on a common basic principle, user interfaces differ greatly between models. The smallest controllers consist of a single cabinet which will typically have a number of controls and a liquid crystal display (LCD). The controls allow the user to pre-program which areas of the garden to water, on which days and for how long. The simplest of these may feature a single zone output, although most allow control of at least three or four different areas of the garden. The irrigation pipes proper run through solenoid valves to these areas where they are terminated with drip points, spray heads or mechanical pop-up sprinklers.
Solenoid valves are typically located close to the irrigation controller cabinet to avoid the need for long cable runs. The valve switching outputs are then handled by the controller to the valves. When the controller program or timer reads a zone watering flag, it will send an electrical signal to the appropriate valve and the area will be watered until the controller turns the valve off again. Run Time flags or signals can be a simple tab on a mechanical timer, part of a built-in program, or even an external input. These external inputs are often provided by humidity sensors placed in the different irrigation zones.
Larger systems such as those used on estates and golf courses are much more complex and often run from a computer in a central control facility. The basic principle remains the same, although user inputs or external sensor readings control a series of valves to water specific zones at specific times. The main difference between these and smaller systems is the amount of peripheral functionality. These features can include diagnostic reports, graphical representations of zone status, increased flexibility regarding zone control, and even online weather service integration.
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