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ESP-LXD 2-Wire Decoder Control System Installation & Troubleshooting Guide

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2-Wire Decoder System Overview

A Rain Bird ESP-LXD 2-Wire Decoder Control System provides modular control of small to large 
irrigation systems.  Unlike traditionally-wired controllers that power the valve solenoids directly 
through individual valve wires, a 2-wire decoder controller uses a 2-wire cable to interconnect 
decoders that in turn control the valve solenoids.

An ESP-LXD controller is programmed similar to a traditional-wired controller.  The difference 
is factory assigned decoder addresses are assigned to stations, master valves, and sensors.  As 
irrigation programs execute, the controller sends commands via the 2-wire path cable to the 
decoders located at each valve and sensor. The decoders directly activate the solenoids on the 
valves and monitor the sensors. 

Typical 2-Wire Decoder to Valve Connections

Summary of Contents for ESP-LXD

Page 1: ...ESP LXD 2 Wire Decoder Control System Installation Troubleshooting Guide...

Page 2: ...Decoder System You may also send an email with questions to www spechotline rainbird com For information contained in this guide related to troubleshooting please contact GSP support see above Specif...

Page 3: ...r controller uses a 2 wire cable to interconnect decoders that in turn control the valve solenoids An ESP LXD controller is programmed similar to a traditional wired controller The difference is facto...

Page 4: ...eal solution to the problem of vandal damage on an irrigation system On a site where vandalism is a concern a 2 wire decoder system allows all of the field components to be put underground and out of...

Page 5: ...tions Depending upon the design of the site it is preferable to separate the 2 wire paths into multiple wire runs rather than install a single 2 wire path throughout the site These wire paths can be c...

Page 6: ...lowing the 2 wire path around the loop out to the farthest decoder and back to the controller The maximum distance for the Critical Path for a LOOP configuration is 6 61 miles for 14 AWG Maxi Cable an...

Page 7: ...OTE For secondary wire run the distance between the field decoder and the solenoid valve can not exceed 450 feet 137 meters using 14 gauge wire Valve Types The ESP LXD 2 Wire Decoder Controller is com...

Page 8: ...SM75 75 Station Expansion Module Adds an additional 75 stations in the ESP LXD and snaps onto the controller backplane One ESPLXD SM75 module increases the station capacity to 125 stations and two inc...

Page 9: ...feet FS050P Slip x Slip PVC Tee Flow Sensor FS075P Slip x Slip PVC Tee Flow Sensor FS100P 1 Slip x Slip PVC Tee Flow Sensor FS150P 1 Slip x Slip PVC Tee Flow Sensor FS200P 2 Slip x Slip PVC Tee Flow...

Page 10: ...RSDBEX Wired Rain Shutoff Sensor Bracket Mount Configure as Rain Sensor RSDCEX Wired Rain Shutoff Sensor Conduit Mount Configure as Rain Sensor WR2RC Wireless Rain Shutoff Sensor Configure as Rain Se...

Page 11: ...s include LXMM Painted metal locking wall mount enclosure NEMA 3R LXMM PED Painted metal locking pedestal for LXMM enclosure NEMA 3R LXMM SS Stainless Steel locking wall mount enclosure NEMA 3R LXMM P...

Page 12: ...factory programmed with a unique three four or five digit address that is utilized to associate with a station or master valve There are five types of field decoders Rain Bird Field Decoder Models De...

Page 13: ...re Decoder Control System Installation Troubleshooting Guide 13 FD 101 One address controlling one valve FD 102 One address controlling two valves simultaneously Notes Example Address 12345 Example Ad...

Page 14: ...14 ESP LXD 2 Wire Decoder Control System Installation Troubleshooting Guide FD 202 Two addresses each controlling two valves simultaneously Example Address 12348 Example Address 12347 Notes...

Page 15: ...Wire Decoder Control System Installation Troubleshooting Guide 15 FD 401 Four addresses each controlling one valve Example Address 12352 Example Address 12351 Example Address 12350 Example Address 12...

Page 16: ...ntrol System Installation Troubleshooting Guide FD 601 Six addresses each controlling one valve Example Address 12365 Example Address 12364 Example Address 12363 Example Address 12362 Example Address...

Page 17: ...as been installed at a site in the U S where the incoming power is 120 VAC 60 Hz When the controller is powered it will automatically be configured to operate FD TURF Grey Field Decoders 2 The ESP LXD...

Page 18: ...could result in failure of your controller and voiding the warranty Refer to page 24 of this guide for recommended location and quantity of LSP 1 Lightning Surge Protectors 2 Wire Cable Splices MAXI C...

Page 19: ...Decoder Module LSP 1 Lightning Surge Protector SD 210 Sensor Decoder FD 401 Field Decoder FD 601 Field Decoder Notes 1 Each installed grounding system shall maintain a maximum ground resistance of 10...

Page 20: ...th shall be surge protected and grounded with one LSP 1 Line Surge Protector every 500 feet or every 8 decoders whichever is smaller 3 Termination of 2 Wire Path An LSP 1 Line Surge Protector shall be...

Page 21: ...lable on ESP LXD and ESP LXD models Manages the total system flow rate by dynamically selecting one or more stations that operate simultaneously to use the full capacity of the water source Operating...

Page 22: ...XD 2 Wire Decoder Control System Installation Troubleshooting Guide FloZones The following example designs represent the capabilities of the ESP LXD controller to manage the FloZones of the irrigation...

Page 23: ...s outside the operating range of a single sensor a dual bypass flow sensor system is recommended Model Suggested Operating Range Gallons Minute Suggested Operating Range Liters Minute Suggested Operat...

Page 24: ...Flow Bypass Design A Low Flow Bypass design is where two 2 flow sensors are utilized to accurately measure both low high flow rates on a single water source The larger master valve s pressure regulato...

Page 25: ...aster Valve A specialty valve that is powered to close and will only close when a flow problem is detected by the controller Normally open master valves are popular for systems with quick coupling val...

Page 26: ..._____________________ Contractor______________________________________________________________________ 2 Station Capacity 50 125 200 ESPLXD SM75 Expansion Module 0 1 2 50 Stations are provided with th...

Page 27: ...y _______ FD 202 Quantity _______ FD 601 Quantity _______ FD 102 Quantity _______ FD 401 Quantity _______ 7 Grounding Surge Protection Grounding Rod Quantity _______ Grounding Plate Quantity _______ L...

Page 28: ...0 to 1 000 000 Ohms A Clamp Meter for measuring AC current with a precision of 1 0 mA milliamp Wire tracing and fault finding equipment Spare system components and tools including spare FD Series Deco...

Page 29: ...cable conductors at the last working decoder and the first non working decoder Note any discrepancies in the readings You must know the number and type of each decoder downstream to know what the mA r...

Page 30: ...e Milliamp mA reading The mA reading will be higher than normal when current is leaking to ground You must know the number and type of each decoder in the system to know what the mA reading should be...

Page 31: ...Path Off Someone has manually turned the 2 wire path Off Turn dial to Off press the 2 Wire Path button and turn the 2 wire path On Controller alarm Duplicate Decoder Address Duplicate decoder addresse...

Page 32: ...and Smart Module Module Status select Flow Smart Module View Flow Alarms and review the posted Station and or FloZone mainline flow alarms Note the station s or FloZone s that were identified If you...

Page 33: ...transformer The display is being powered by the 9v backup battery Front panel ribbon cable is disconnected Check both ends of the ribbon cable to make sure it is firmly connected to the backplane and...

Page 34: ...itch to select the program Check for multiple start times on an individual program In some cases users mix up start times and stations and can inadvertently program the system to start multiple times...

Page 35: ...lve types configure the decoder inrush amps and duration for opening a valve solenoid The ESP LXD Valve Types are preconfigured for Rain Bird commercial valve models Information for configuring Valve...

Page 36: ...issue is fixed Pump Start Relays The controller cannot close the pump start relay that is connected to a Decoder Amp draw of the pump start relay is more than the Decoder can provide Use a Rain Bird...

Page 37: ...LXD s with a date code of January 2011 or later Contact Rain Bird Technical Services or Global Support Plan for assistance Weather Sensors Weather sensor is not preventing controller manual operation...

Page 38: ...technologies that use water efficiently Our commitment also extends to education training and services for our industry and our communities The need to conserve water has never been greater We want to...

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