WARRANTY: The IRROMETER COMPANY warrants its products against defective
workmanship or materials under
normal
use
for
one
year
from
date
of
purchase.
Defective
parts
will
be
replaced
at
no
charge
for
either
labor or
parts
if
returned
to
the
manufacturer
during
the
warranty
period.
The
seller’s
or
manufacturer’s
only obligation
shall
be
to
replace
the
defective
part
and
neither
seller
nor
manufacturer
shall
be
liable
for any
injury,
loss
or
damage,
direct
or
consequential,
arising
out
of
the
use
of
or
inability
to
use
the
product.
This
warranty
does
not
protect
against
abuse,
shipping
damage,
neglect,
tampering
or
vandalism,
freezing
or other
damage
whether
intentionally
or
inadvertently
caused
by
the
user.
The WaterSwitch and Watermark Sensor
is
used to control irrigation
for all valves on a controller.
The WATERMARK Soil Moisture Sensor
is
installed in an
active root system area representative of th
e
plant material which is
being used as the control point for the entire controller
. You should
s
elect the area of greatest water demand
for this control point
. In
selecting the site, factors such as sprinkler distribution, topography,
appearance of the turf or plant material and the amount of sun
exposure should be considered. It would be preferable to locate the
sensor in a drier area, avoiding low spots which may be on the wetter
side due to runoff and drainage. Wires from the sensor are run back
to the location where the WaterSwitch is mounted.
Cool Season Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2'' to 5'' deep (in root system)
Warm Season Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6'' to 8'' deep (in root system)
Shrubs/Ground Cover . . . . . . . . . . . 8'' to 14'' deep (in root system)
Trees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16'' to 24'' deep (in root system)
Step 3 -
Install a splice box (Ametek #182001/2 Econo Box or equal) within
2-3 feet (61-91cm) of the sensor location and cut a trench from the splice box
to the sensor location to bury the sensor wire.
Step
4 -
At the end of the trench,
excavate a hole to the depth required for
the sensor to be installed. Fill the bottom
of the hole with a thick slurry made of soil
removed from the hole and water, then
firmly push the sensor down into the mud
in the bottom of the hole. This will “grout in” the sensor to ensure maximum
surface contact between the sensor surface and the surrounding soil.
Alternately the sensor can be firmly pushed to the bottom of the access hole
as long as it is a tight enough fit to ensure adequate contact; a snug fit is
absolutely necessary. A piece of 1/2'' PVC pipe (class 315) can be used as
an insertion tool to push the sensor in, being careful not to pinch the wires. Be
sure the sensor are installed in the active root system of the turf, shrubs or
trees.
The s
ensor should be installed vertically or to a 45° downward
angle into the soil. For deeper placement, a vertical borehole can be made
with a piece of pipe and the sensor inserted to the bottom of the hole, into the
thick slurry mixture.
The s
ensor MUST be firmly packed in the soil.
Step
5 -
Backfill the sensors firmly to ensure a snug fit and run the sensor
wires to the splice box. Backfill the sensor wire trench.
Step
6 -
Separate the two sensor wires and strip insulation for making
the waterproof splices. Then splice the wire to the wires running back to
the site where the WaterSwitch is located. Refer to
Sensor Wire Sizing
Chart
.
Sensor Wire Sizing Chart
Up to 1000' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #18 AWG-UF Valve Wire
1000' to 2000' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #16 AWG-UF Valve Wire
2000' to 3000' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . #14 AWG-UF Valve Wire
NOTE: The sensor wires can be run in conduit if desired. The top of the sensor
will socket inside 1/2'' (13mm) class 315 PVC or 3/4'' (19mm) SDR 11 CPVC
pipe, and can be attached with a transition solvent PVC to ABS cement.
PLEASE NOTE: Sensors must be installed in the area
irrigated by the last valve to run. Re-sequence valves to
accomplish this as necessary. All valves must have the
opportunity to irrigate before the area where the sensor is
located is watered.
INSTALLATION AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
— 8 —
(
2/21)
#7
25
LITHO U
.
S
.
A
.
1425 Palmyrita Ave., Riverside, CA 92507
951-682-9505 •
FAX
951-682-9501
www.IRROMETER.com
®
SOIL
MOISTURE SENSOR AND SWITCH
WS-
DC
The
WaterSwitch-
DC
Automates
Battery
Powered
Controller/Valve
to Water ONLY when
Necessary
Figure 1.
Step 1
- Soak the WATERMARK
sensor in water before the
installation. Always install a “wet”
sensor.
Step 2
- Install the WATERMARK
sensor beneath the ground with a
sensor in the active root system of
the turf or plant being monitored.
Depth of placement varies with the
rooting depth of the plant material.
Creating a Set Point:
Water Switch default set point is position 3. This should
be adjusted to suit your irrigation needs.
Rotate dial to desired position. Leave in position for at
least 5 seconds. Wait for Long Red LED Flash. This
creates set point.
LED Light Interpretation:
RED LED = Allowing Irrigation (Dry)
GREEN LED = Not Allowing Irrigation (Wet)
During Irrigation Runtime:
2 Quick Red LED flashes = low battery
2 Quick Green LED flashes = Timed Bypass mode
Red and then Green LED Sequence = sensor wire short
Green and then Red LED Sequence = sensor wire open
Timed Bypass:
When the dial is turned to BYPASS, it will switch to
allow irrigation regardless of moisture status for 60
minutes. After it has timed out, then it will operate
according to the previously selected preset position
regardless of whether the dial is rotated back. If left in
BYPASS until the next time a manual operation is
needed, then the dial will have to be rotated to the
preset position until it flashes and then can be turned
back to BYPASS for another 60 minutes. This feature
avoids having the system uncontrolled by mistake.
If
BYPASS is needed for an extended period of time,
such as plant establishment, use your controller’s
sensor bypass feature (if applicable) or the WaterSwitch
wiring will need to be temporarily modified to remove
power from the module. Without power the module will
default to allow irrigation.
Testing Your System:
Set Moisture Control dial to “BYPASS” position. All
valves should operate on a manual controller/time clock
sequence. Set Moisture Control dial to a “DRY” position.
Sensor will override valve (prevent operation) when soil
is wet. Set Moisture Control dial in the “WET” range.
When soil has been allowed to dry sufficiently, sensor
will allow valves to operate on the programmed
controller/time clock sequence. Verify soil water status
in sensor area with a soil probe
— 7 —
— 2 —
Typical Installation Depths:
— 1 —
WATERMARK Sensor Installation