iGrow 1800 Installation Guide
Page43
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Expansion Units & Multi-Zone Network
Expansion Unit 2
Expansion Unit 1
Site Master
Expansion Unit 2
Expansion Unit 1
Zone Master
Expansion Unit 1
Zone Master
Zone Master
Zone1
Zone2
Zone3
Zone4
Whether you need to setup multiple zones, add expansion units, or both, creating a network of iGrow 1800™’s
is simple. However, there are a few important details to note. The cornerstone to connecting multiple
Grow1800s™ together is choosing one unit to be setup as the
Site Master
.
The Site Master performs several important tasks:
•
It Controls all communications within the network
•
It is the only unit that can broadcast Weather Station data to other iGrow1600/1800™’s
•
It is the only iGrow1600/1800™ in the network that can be connected to a computer for remote
management.
•
It sets the time & date for all iGrow1800s in the network
Wiring
- Plan for the first installed iGrow 1800™ to be the Site Master. Once all units are installed in their
proper locations and all sensors tested, you are ready to connect the serial cable Regardless of which units will
be Zone Masters or Expansion units, all units must be wired together in a serial fashion as shown in figure 4.21.
Jumper Settings
- Make sure to remove the blue jumper on the Site Master and any following controllers,
except for the last controller in the serial network chain. On the last unit of the network chain, the blue jumper
must remain installed, or the network won’t function properly. If you’re only connecting two iGrow1600/1800s™
together, remove the jumper from the first Site Master unit and leave it installed on the second unit.
Programming
- The last step in setting up the network is programming each unit to be a Site Master, Zone
Master, or Slave (Slave units are also called Expansion units). Zone Masters and Slaves also need to know
which data to pull down from the network (such as weather station, temp probes, and zone setpoints). For
instructions on how to do this, please refer to “COMMUNICATIONS (Network Programming)” section of this
manual.
