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SMRT-Y Soil Moisture Sensor

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Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of the Rain Bird SMRT-Y Soil Moisture Sensor kit, utilizing the the most 

advanced technology available on the market.  You have joined those interested in conserving water, Earth’s 

most important resource, while optimizing the root health of your turf and trees.

Items Needed

Before you start installing your new Rain Bird Soil Moisture Sensor:

for Sensor Installation (SMRT-SMS)

for User Interface Installation (SMRT-Y)

• 

Use 18 AWG wire or equivalent for 

splicing and burial

• 

Grease caps or equivalent waterproof 

connectors (3)

• 

Flat blade shovel

• 

Wire strippers/pliers

• 

7” valve box (optional)

• 

Medium Philips screw driver

• 

Drill

• 

Wire strippers/Pliers

• 

Connect to a UL listed irrigation controller  

or equivalent

Panel Description

LCD Display Displays soil moisture, soil temperature, electrical conductivity. It also 

displays Watering history (see page 20).

Read

Sensor

Read Sensor Read sensor displays and sets the moisture threshold.  This threshold is the 

soil moisture level at which the SMRT-Y disrupts irrigation.

Soil

Temp

Soil Temp

Displays soil temperature.  Increments up when “Read Sensor” is depressed.
Press and toggle “Soil EC” to display Fahrenheit or Celsius

Summary of Contents for SMRT-Y

Page 1: ...SMRT YSoilMoistureSensor User Manual Manual del usuario Guide de l utilisateur...

Page 2: ...ENG ESP FRA p 1 p 31 p 61...

Page 3: ...Xeriscape or flower beds 25 How to connect them 25 Special Notes 26 Troubleshooting 28 Introduction 2 Items Needed 2 Panel Description 2 How it Works 3 Preparation 4 SMRT SMS Soil Moisture Sensor Ins...

Page 4: ...valent for splicing and burial Grease caps or equivalent waterproof connectors 3 Flat blade shovel Wire strippers pliers 7 valve box optional Medium Philips screw driver Drill Wire strippers Pliers Co...

Page 5: ...hepowertoyoursolenoidvalves This power is restored after 30 minutes of controller inactivity NOTE Taking a manual reading during a controller cycle or within 30 minutes after the end of a cycle will n...

Page 6: ...drip vs sprinkler and where it is located on the property For the turf zones record whether the zone is full sun partial sun or shade Finally record each zone s current controller settings 3 Ensure ea...

Page 7: ...5 SMRT YSoilMoistureSensor Sensor Location Selection Figure1 Too shady Heavy foot traffic Too shady trees house etc Low point Too shady...

Page 8: ...MRT YSoilMoistureSensor 6 Separated by walkway Too shady Too close to walkway Susceptable to over spray from car wash and potential foot traffic Too close to tree Unacceptable Sensor Locations Figure2...

Page 9: ...n an area that is irrigated by only the one selected zone 3 Locate the nearest valve box to the chosen sensor installation spot Identify and mark both ends of a zone wire in the valve box and at the c...

Page 10: ...o accommodate a 7 valve box This valve box wiring box will be used to splice additional wire from the sensor to the zone wire identified in Step 3 Dig a slit trench from the 7 wiring box location to t...

Page 11: ...9 SMRT YSoilMoistureSensor Figure4...

Page 12: ...n the valve box disconnect the marked zone wire from the valve and connect it to the extension cable wire previously attached to the Red sensor wire No other wires should be attached to this connectio...

Page 13: ...oilMoistureSensor Figure5 Wires to Controller Controller Zone Wire Controller Common Wire Solenoid Valve Solenoid Valve Wires to Sensor Sensor Red Wire Sensor White Wire Sensor Black Wire Valve Box Co...

Page 14: ...f connectors Rain Bird direct bury connector DBTWC25 Use 18 AWG direct burial polyethylene insulated wire or equivalent for splicing and burial 8 Finally pour a five gallon bucket of water slowly over...

Page 15: ...ire to the common terminal on the controller Disconnect the marked zone wire from its terminal and connect it to the Red SMRT Y wire Connect the Green SMRT Y wire to the terminal from where the zone w...

Page 16: ...ch activates the SMRT Y display see Figure 8 NOTE Be sure to unplug the power once you determine the correct 24V terminal Do not disturb the power supply wires connected to these terminals Leave them...

Page 17: ...ed and the other adapter wire connects to the Orange wire coming from the SMRT Y 3 Connect the wire or wires you disconnected from the COM terminal to the White wire from the SMRT Y cable using a wire...

Page 18: ...turereading The reading should appear in the display after 4 5 seconds If the reading is zero the wiring to the sensor is not correct and will need to be reviewed and corrected If the reading is not z...

Page 19: ...the Moisture Threshold To set the moisture threshold press and hold Read SensorthentoggletheSoilTempbuttontoincrease the threshold or the Soil EC button to decrease the threshold see page 23 SMRT Y O...

Page 20: ...erature Format To change from degree Fahrenheit to Celsius hold SoilTemp and toggle SoilEC VIEW THRESHOLD HOLD INCREASE DECREASE TEMP F or C HOLD PRESS Read Sensor Soil Temp Soil EC Bypass Sensor VIEW...

Page 21: ...terrupt the power to your valves In order to do this press the BypassSensor button The BYPASSSENSOR icononthedisplaywillslowly turn on and off While in this mode actions from your controller will not...

Page 22: ...t current watering cycle The history updates 30 minutes after each cycle Suspending Watering When the moisture in the soil is above the moisture threshold the Suspended Watering icon appears Your syst...

Page 23: ...inches If you know the effective precipitation rate of your sprinklers then the watering time is given by Run time minutes 60 Inches Effective Precipitation Rate If your Effective Precipitation Rate f...

Page 24: ...your total run time is 23 minutes Set your controller to irrigateatotalof23minutes usingasoakcyclewithamaximum on timeof7minutesandaminimum soak time of 25 minutes 45 36 58 11 25 29 5 25 95 15 25 40...

Page 25: ...keamoisturereadingbypressingthe ReadSensor button This reading is your soil s Field Capacity Your ideal moisture threshold setting should be 80 of Field Capacity Automatic Moisture Threshold Method Ne...

Page 26: ...the sun shines on the sensor area This interval defines the auto set period 5 Ensure Bypass Sensor is not flashing in upper left corner of the LCD display If flashing press Bypass Sensor button to al...

Page 27: ...nal as the zone wire NOTE There will now be two wires connected to this terminal a Blue wire going to the SMRT Y user interface and a zone wire going to the valve 4 If you have a second zone to run in...

Page 28: ...ntherainsensorisactivated thecommonwirewillbedisruptedandthepowertotheSMRT Yuser interface may be disabled If this occurs the display will go blank and the user interface will cease to function until...

Page 29: ...27 SMRT YSoilMoistureSensor SMS Cover Figure12...

Page 30: ...view the SENSOR INSTALLATION section Check all connections to the sensor and from the SMRT Y user interface to your controller The system is not watering Your controller is not set The soil moisture i...

Page 31: ...nom EN50419 2005 this device must not be thrown away with household garbage The device must be the object of an appropriate selective removal procedure in order to recuperate it Yourcooperationwillcon...

Page 32: ...rrigation Corporation Accessories Division 6991 Southpoint Road Tucson AZ 85756 www rainbird com 2009 Rain Bird Corporation Registered trademark of Rain Bird Corporation Marca registrada de Rain Bird...

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