Rain Bird ESP-LXD, Installation, Programming & Operation Manual

Page: 9 / 138

3 ESP-LXD Controller
2-Wire Path Overview
The ESP-LXD controller with 2-Wire path has some key
advantages over traditionally wired controllers.
In a traditionally wired system, separate wires are required for each
valve which can be no further than a few hundred yards or meters from
the controller.
The ESP-LXD utilizes a 2-Wire electrical path, upon which decoders can
be attached at any location. This allows greater design flexibility and
significantly greater distances to be supported. Valves in a two wire
system can be managed using up to 3.3 miles (5.5 Km) of total wire
path. Two types of 2-Wire path designs are supported:
Star Pattern
A Star Pattern allows branching as often as necessary without ever
looping the wire back to the controller.
This generally allows more design flexibility but at the expense of some
distance. The distance from the controller to the farthest decoder is
known as the critical path; the greatest distance supported with 14
AWG cable is 1.65 miles (2.66 Km).
b b
NOTE: The ESP-LXD controller has 8 connections for up to four
separate 2-Wire paths.
2-Wire Path Star Pattern Design
Valve Boxes (Typical)
2-Wire splice at branch
take-offs allow easy
breaking of loop for
troubleshooting
Decoders
(Typical)
ESP-LXD Controller
Critical Path
Distance from farthest
decoder back to
controller (maximum
1.65 miles (2.66 Km)
using 14 AWG cable)
First
2-Wire
Path
Second
2-Wire
Path
Branches