RAIN CLOCK OWNERS MANUAL

SPRINKLER SYSTEM CONTROLLER
RAIN CLOCK MODELS PC-104 PC-106 PC-104-PS PC-106-PS 4 Station 6 Station 4 Station with Pump Relay Circuit 6 Station with Pump Relay Circuit
Rain Bird Sales, Inc. Customer Support Center 6991 E. Southpoint Rd., Bldg. #1, Tucson, AZ 85706
PC-104/106 SPRINKLER SYSTEM CONTROLLER
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Rain Bird Rain Clocks are designed for use with all standard residential 24 volt AC electric valves regardless of brand. However, some older brass electric valves and commercial duty plastic valves may have power requirements higher than this series is designed for

STEP 1: MOUNT THE TIMER

Location: Select a location inside a building, and within six feet of a grounded electrical outlet. This is not an outdoor timer. Do not mount it where it is exposed to any of natures elements. If it must be outside, be sure to use an outdoor enclosure and a weatherproof electrical connection. Cover Removal: Remove the front cover of the timer by depressing the bottom tab and lifting as shown in Figure 1.

Press Here

FIGURE 1
Mounting: Mount the timer to a wall using two #10 screws installed at centers /16" apart at eye level. Use plastic anchors to secure screws if the wall is plastic or masonry. Leave the screw heads extended " and hang the Rain Clock using the keyhole slots on the back. Install a third screw through the mounting hole (located below the battery area) to secure the timer to the wall.

Mounting Holes

/2A 250V 3AG OR

YELLOW RED

/4A 250V 3AG
BLUE 3 Station Output Terminals
AS INDICATED ON THE UNIT Plug Transformer into 120 volt AC electrical outlet
ONLY ON SIX STATION MODELS

6 Key Pad MV

ONLY ON PUMP START MASTER VALVE MODELS

9 Volt Battery

Mounting Hole To Control Valves
ATTENTION Battery must be installed to ensure proper operation.

FIGURE 2

STEP 2: CONNECTING THE WIRING
How to choose the right type of sprinkler wire: Use 18-gauge bell, thermostat or underground burial wire for the sprinkling system. Bell wire is available in single strands or twisted in 2 or 3 wire sets and can only be used indoors. Thermostat wire, the most common sprinkling system wire, is typically available with up to 7 wires twisted inside a brown PVC jacket (about in diameter), and is suitable for most indoor and conduit installations. Direct Burial cable is similar to thermostat wire, except the jacket is made of a black Poly UV resistant material, and is suitable for any indoor or outdoor installation, including sunlight exposure. Each individual wire is color-coded. Note: Some areas require by code the use of UL approved cable only. Most Direct Burial Cables have this approval. Most thermostat and bell wires do not. Important: 18 gauge wire or /larger is recommended for sprinkler system wire, allowing cable to be run up to 600 without problems. Some thermostat wire that is referred to as sprinkler wire may actually be a smaller gauge (#19 or #20) and will not have the UL listing or the capacity to run long distances. The number of wires needed is determined by the number of valves being wired, plus a common wire. For example, three valves in a grouping require a 4-wire cable since the 4th wire serves as the common wire. If a system had two valves in the front yard, and four in the back, the wiring could be run in one of two ways: 1) Use a single run or 18/7 (18 gauge, 7 wires) cable connected in-series from the front valves to the back valves to the timer; 2) Use one run of 18/3 cable from the timer to the front valves, and one run of 18/5 cable from the timer to the back valves. All wiring connections should be sealed with a water-tight connector. Cables that are run indoors should be properly secured with a staple or clip. How to connect the valves: Each valve connects to the timer through two wires. One wire from each valve solenoid must connect to the output terminal of the timer. This is the HOT connection. The second wire of each solenoid must connect to the (COM.) common terminal of the timer. This is the COMMON connection. If the valves are grouped together, it is easier to join the common from all valves and just run one wire to the timers (COM.) common terminal. Note: Only one valve may be connected to each station output terminal.
STEP 3: CONNECTING THE TRANSFORMER
Refer to Figure 2 and connect the yellow wire to the terminal marked "YELLOW," and red wire to the terminal marked "RED" and the blue wire to the terminal marked "BLUE." Caution: Always connect the wires before plugging in the transformer. If not, you run a risk of short circuiting the transformer and/or clock.
STEP 4: USING THE PUMP START CIRCUIT
Pump start or master valve capability is available only on the PC-106-PS and PC-104-PS models. This circuit allows the timer to be used in conjunction with a "pump relay switch" (Rain Bird model PCR-1) which when activated by the timer, will in turn activate the pump. The pump start circuit can also be used to operate a standard 24-volt "master valve." The hot wire of the relay switch connects to the terminal marked "MV" The common wire connects to the regular system common wire or terminal. See the pump relays instruction booklet for details. Caution: Be sure the total current draw of the relay switch plus the station valve doesn't exceed 650 milliamps. Important: To avoid pump damage caused during a "default schedule," wire each unused station terminal to a terminal that is being used. This prevents the pump from operating against closed valves if the default program kicks-in during a power failure.

STEP 5: INSTALL A BATTERY
To ensure proper timer operation, install a 9-volt alkaline battery (not included) to the snap connector near the bottom edge of the control panel. In the event of a power failure the battery will maintain the programmed watering schedule in memory for up to 24 hours. The battery will not allow the timer to open any valves, but the timer will remember the approximate time of the power failure. When the power resumes, an uncompleted watering cycle will be completed. If a watering start was missed during the outage, it will be initiated once the power resumes. After a power outage, reset the exact time of day. If the battery is dead or doesn't have enough power left, none of the programming will be retained. In this event, the timer will revert to its "default program," which waters once per day, 10 minutes per station, 8 hours after the power is restored. All programming steps must be repeated.

PROGRAMMING INSTRUCTIONS

Use to set the days to water Use to set current time

SET CLOCK WATER DAYS

WATER TIMES PER DAY
Use to set the daily start times Adjust time up and days to on

ON OFF

Use to set length of watering

STATION TIMING

MANUAL START &

ADVANCE

AUTO OFF
Adjust time down and days to off
Use to operate system manually
Use to put timer in rain shut down mode
STEP 1: SET THE CURRENT TIME AND DAY
The PC-104/106 Series holds a 7 day program which repeats after the seventh day. The days of the week relate to a number as follows. Actual Days >>> Day Number>>> Sun 1 Mon 2 Tue 3 Wed 4 Thu 5 Fri 6

SET CLOCK

This timer displays in military time. To convert from AM/PM time to military time, see the reference chart on the next page. 1-A: Enter Todays Day Number

Adjust day setting with:

OFF ON

Display Shows:

OR Day Tues. Setting :d 3

Example:

To set Tuesday = Day 3

First Press

Enter the Current Hour in Military Time

Adjust the hour with:

OR Hour 2:00 pm Setting :h 14

2:00 PM = 1400 Hrs

Enter the Current Minute

Adjust the minutes with:

OR Hour Setting :n 20

20 minutes past the hour

To display the Current Time
The above setting of 2:20 PM = 1420 military time
You can also press the SET CLOCK button during any other programming operation to return it to the time of day display.

STEP 2: SET THE DAYS OF THE WEEK TO WATER
When shipped from the factory, the PC-104/106 Series is pre-set to water every day of the week. Since this is a single program timer, all stations will water on the same program of watering days. The clock can water either on (A) specific days of the week, or (B) an interval or cycle of days (i.e. every third day, every fourth day, etc.). 2-A:
Watering on specific days of the week

Then turn on/off with:

Display Should be:

OR Day

If Monday should be off, display
Repeat this process for each day of the week
REFERENCE CHART #1: Military Time Conversion Table
Normal 12:00 Midnight 1:00 AM 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 Military Normal 12:00 Noon 1:00 PM 2:00 3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 Military 2200 2300
Watering on an Interval of Days (i.e. every 3rd day)

Display changes to:

Now Press Adjust Day 1 to ON with:

WATER DAYS

Now Press
Adjust Day 2 to OFF by pressing:
Adjust Day 3 to OFF by pressing:
Then adjust Day 4 to - - by pressing and holding

for 3 seconds.

This means day 4 through 7 have no program, and the cycle will return to Day 1 after Day 3 has watered. The same procedure is used to adjust watering in cycles of every day, other day, 4th day, 5th day, and 6th day (see reference chart #2 below). To return to a 7-day cycle
First Press Adjust the day showing - - to ON by holding Display changes to:

for 2 seconds.

All days are now operable again, selectable by days. If you are in a cycle other than every fourth day, use the same process and change - - into ON on the first day shown to be - -.
REFERENCE CHART #2: Day Settings for interval watering

Desired Watering Cycle

Day Number Every Day Every Other Day Every Third Day Every Fourth Day Every Fifth Day Every Sixth Day Every Seventh Day
Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7

ON -------

ON OFF ------

ON OFF OFF -----

ON OFF OFF OFF ----

ON OFF OFF OFF OFF ---

ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF --
ON OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF
STEP 3: SET THE TIME OF DAY TO WATER
This button determines the time of day when the cycle will start watering. The timer can be set to water once, twice, or three times per day. All stations will start in sequence at each start time (for example, if this is a four station timer, and the start times are set at 8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM, all four stations will go on sequentially at 8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM). Start #1 is preset at 8:00. Starts #2 and #3 are blank unless programmed. Start times can be programmed to start on the hour. The clock can water either on (A) specific days of the week, or (B) an interval or cycle of days (i.e. every third day, every fourth day, etc.). 3-A:

Display shows:

Adjust Start Time 1 with:

First Start Time

Watering will start at 8:00 AM

Watering Twice Per Day

Display shows: Adjust Start Time 2 with:

i.e. 6:00 PM

Watering Three Times Per Day
Display shows: Adjust Start Time 3 with:

To remove a Start Time

Adjust the digits with:

Until the display shows:

When the two right digits change to - - between 23 and 00 hours, the start time is eliminated. Note #1: If 00 shows the timer will start a cycle at midnight. Note #2: Start time indicates the the starting time for the entire cycle, all stations operate sequentially after the programmed start time. The stations do not have separate start times; e.g., does not mean station two starts at noonit means station one will run a second time at noon, and when it is done, station two will run, etc. Note #3: Dont confuse this button with station timing-the displays look alike.
STEP 4: SET THE WATERING TIME FOR EACH STATION
This button sets how long each station (zone) will run. Each station can be separately adjusted between 0-99 minutes in one minute increments. This watering time is always the same for that station, every time the system waters. The PC-106/106 series is preset to water each station for ten minutes.

Display will show:

Adjust the time using:

Station min-

To repeat for station #2 to station #6, push Station Timing again and repeat adjustments. 4-B:

To skip a station

Display will show: Adjust the time to 00:

Station minutes

After programming the last station,
Press Set Clock to return to the normal time of day display.
STEP 5: START A WATERING CYCLE MANUALLY
MANUAL START & ADVANCE
To start an entire watering cycle

The display will show:

Station 1 Blink
Each station will run sequentially for its programmed time. 5-B:

To advance to the next station

Station 2 Runtime

The clock will stop the manual operation after last station has run or you touch the AUTO/OFF button.
STEP 6: TO INTERRUPT WATERING FOR RAIN
The AUTO/OFF button allows the watering and programming to be interrupted until pressed again. it does not affect the program, but it does prevent power from going to the valves.
Display will show: The Current Time

Last Digit Blinks

i.e. the current time is 8:00 a.m.
Press AUTO/OFF again to return to normal.

TROUBLE-SHOOTING

Sometimes when problems occur they can be easily solved by rechecking some often overlooked possibilities. So check here before you call your dealer or contractor. It could save you time and money IF YOU'RE HAVING THIS PROBLEM:
Automatic Cycle doesn't turn on and the Manual Start wont operate:

CHECK FOR THESE THINGS:

-If the display is blank, check the fuse. -Check the wire connections for improper wiring or shorts. -Check the valve and valve solenoid for proper operation. -If the last digit blinks, the timer is in the Rain Shutoff Mode. Press 'Auto/Off" for normal operation. -Check the wiring for a short or a crossconnection. -This is probably not a timer problem, but a valve problem. Check the solenoid and the inside of the valve for obstructions. -Check the fuse and transformer -Circuit problem/replace timer -9 volt battery needs replacing and the timer needs reprogramming. -Timer is in Rain Shutdown Mode. Press "Auto/Off" for normal operation. -Timer is counting down time remaining on the station currently watering. -Caused by intermittent power fluctuations. Nothing can be done except to correct time. -There is a short in the wire between the timer and valve. Make sure connections are watertight and no bare wires are exposed. -Maximum current is being exceeded. Check amperage draw of solenoid (especially older models and brass valves). On pump start models, check combined amperage draw of pump relay and valve.
Automatic Cycle doesn't operate but the Manual Start does: Automatic Cycle doesn't turn off:
Entire Display is blank: Some of the display wont appear: Entire Display blinks: Last Digit blinks: Last Two Digits blink: Timer gains/loses a few minutes/week:
Fuse Blows too often/display goes blank:
Programming limitations of this timer The PC-104/106 series are very flexible timers available at a very economical price. However, there are some things it will not do:
-It will not run more than one valve per station (i.e. two valves can't be connected to one terminal/station); -It will not run some stations on one set of days and some stations on another set of days. This feature is called dual programmability. -It will not run stations on separate start times. All stations will start on the same schedule. -It is not designed for outdoor installation. -It is not in a waterproof case, and will therefore be adversely affected by the climate, nor is it electrically prudent to plug the transformer in an exterior outlet.

If you need any or all of these features, Rain Bird manufactures a variety of additional models incorporating these and other features. Please contact your dealer for details.

GENERAL INFORMATION

What happens during a power failure? In the event of a power failure, the emergency battery back-up will maintain the watering program in memory for up to 24 hours. However, the battery will not operate the valves. If the power is off for longer than the battery will last, the entire program is lost and the entire display will blink after power is restored. The timer is now operating in the default mode: eight hours after the power came back on, each station will water for 10 minutes, every 24 hours. To change this, just reprogram. When is the best time to water? The early morning hours -between 2 and 6 a.m. - are the best hours to water. There is low evaporation very little wind, and water pressure is usually highest then. Watering in the middle of the day tends to "scorch" the grass, and watering in the late evening tends to "mildew the grass before sunrise. How long should the system water? During hot weather, most lawns require water every other day, or about an inch and a half of water per week. Hotter climates require more and cooler climates require less. Sandy soils need frequent and greater amounts because of excess drainage but clay soil needs lesser, more infrequent amounts to prevent runoff. New lawns require frequent but short burst of water. See our special "Watering Tips" brochure at your dealer, or check with your garden center for local conditions. Different sprinklers water at different rates. Sprayheads and bubblers water fast (usually 5-15 minutes will put down ), but impulse sprinklers and rotors water slow (usually 45-90 minutes will put down "). To check your watering rates, place a flat bottom pan and measure the time takes to fill it.
What should be done in the winter? If you live in an area where you don't use the timer for an extended period of time, we recommend unplugging and possibly storing the timer. The "Auto/Off " rain shutdown mode is a short-term shutdown only, not a winterization mode. In addition, if you're in a freezing area, be sure your sprinkler lines don't have any water left in them.
NOTE: This Rain Clock Timer generates radio frequency energy and may cause interference to radio and television reception. It has been type tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B computing device in accordance with the specifications in Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interference in a residential installation. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: -reorient the receiving antenna -move the timer away from the receiver -plug the timer into a different outlet so out timer and receiver are on different branch circuits. If necessary, the user should consult the dealer or an experienced radio and television technician for additional suggestions. The user may find the following booklet prepared by the Federal Communications Commission helpful: "How To Identify and Resolve Radio-TV Interference Problems." This booklet is available from the US Government Printing Office, Washington D.C. 20402, Stock No. 004-000-0034504. (Price is $2.00 postpaid.)

Rain Bird Sales, Inc. Customer Support Center 6640 S. Bonney Ave. Tucson, AZ 85706 1-800-RAIN-BIRD (520) 434-6289 FAX Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.

RAIN BIRD NATIONAL SALES, Inc. Customer Support Center 6991 E. Southpoint Rd., Bldg. #1, Tucson, AZ 85706 1-800-RAIN-BIRD (520) 434-6290 FAX
HOMEOWNER'S GUIDE TO WINTERIZATION
In a freezing climate it is advisable to "winterize" the sprinkler system in order to avoid damage. Special attention should be given to removing water from the pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads, before freezing occurs. This may be accomplished using three techniques; the manual drain valve method, the automatic drain valve system, or the air blow-out practice. Caution! Please refer to the How to Winterize System Components section to fully complete the winterization process for your system. MANUAL DRAIN VALVE DESIGN AND PROCEDURE Design: The manual drain valve should be installed on the sprinkler system mainline at the lowest point of the system. Additional manual drain valves must be installed if there are multiple low points along the run of pipe where water collection might occur. A ball valve, gate valve, "Stop and Waste" valve, or a simple threaded pipe with a cap may be used to provide drainage. Piping should be sloped properly to allow water to drain out. If the valve is located outdoors, it should be installed over a "dry-well" (underground pit filled with gravel to drain water away from the piping) to allow the amount of water that is drained to percolate into the soil. If the valve is installed indoors, make sure the volume of water can be collected or drained without the risk of overflow or flooding.

Meter In House

Service to House Compression Tee
Slope Downward for Drainage
Shutoff Valve To Control Valves
Drain Cap Water Meter Shutoff Shutoff

Sevice Line from Street

Procedure: Wear proper eye protection. The manual drain valve or drain cap is pressurized at this time and could cause physical injury if opened before the pressure is first relieved. Please follow the steps below carefully. 1. Turn off the sprinkler system mainline shut off valve. ( A ) 2. Open one of the sprinkler system control valves, either manually, or electrically from the timer, to relieve pressure on the sprinkler system mainline. 3. Slowly open the manual drain valve. ( B ) 4. Repeat this procedure for all manual drain valves on the sprinkler system mainline. 5. Caution! Please refer to the How to Winterize System Components section to fully complete the winterization process for your system. AUTOMATIC DRAIN VALVE DESIGN AND PROCEDURE Description: Please refer to the Manual Drain Valve section for mainline winterization. Caution! Do not install automatic drain valves on the sprinkler system mainline! The automatic drain valve, model 16A-FDV, is a spring loaded device which is installed on the sprinkler pipes or heads. It is a convenient and efficient product for removing water from the lateral pipe network running from the sprinkler system control valves to the heads. Automatic drains should be installed after or downstream of the sprinkler control valves. They are not designed or engineered for use on mainlines. The drain valve will open every time the system is shut off. This will drain all the water out of the pipe providing the valve is installed at the proper location, which is the low point on the line. When the system is pressurized, the water shuts the valve off by pressing against the sealing mechanism, allowing water to flow through the pipe and on to the sprinklers in proper fashion.

16 A-FDV Drain Valve Clean Gravel
Design: Install automatic drain valves at the low points in the sprinkler lines. Generally speaking, one or two drains per line are adequate to do the job. The drain valves have either /2or /4 male pipe threads. Use two or three wraps of PTFE tape around the threads to ensure a proper seal. Simply screw the drain valve into a threaded fitting positioned downward. If you have a soil condition which drains poorly, we suggest digging a small hole directly beneath the drain and filling it with clean gravel to assist drainage. Procedure: Automatic drain valves remove water from the system every time it is shut off. No manual intervention should be required. Check for excessive puddling on the soil surface should one of the drains become stuck open during sprinkler operation.
HOW TO BLOW WATER OUT OF THE LINES USING COMPRESSED AIR CAUTION! WEAR PROPER EYE PROTECTION! Extreme care must be taken when blowing out the system to avoid excessive pressure which can damage valves or sprinkler pipe or cause physical injury due to flying debris. Do not stand over any irrigation components (pipes, sprinklers, and valves) during air blow out. Air pressure must not exceed 50 pounds per square inch (psi). Local irrigation contractors usually offer this service for a reasonable fee which may also include start-up in the Spring. Depending on how extensive your system is and what type of equipment you have installed, you may want to choose a professional who is fully equipped to provide this service. Description: Compressed air is used to force water through all of the irrigation system components including the mainline pipe, sprinkler control valves, lateral pipes, and out through the sprinkler heads. To obtain proper air volume, you will need to rent or buy a compressor capable of providing 10 to 25 cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air volume. Air pressure must not exceed 50 pounds per square inch (psi) during the blow -out procedure. A pressure regulating valve must be used to avoid overpressurization of the system. Air volume should be high and air pressure low. This combination of high volume and low pressure will minimize the damage that can occur during the winterization process. It is very important to select the right air compressor for the job. Some small shop compressors (2 hp) may not be adequate to complete the winterization procedure properly. If the appropriate air compressor is not available, please call an irrigation contractor. Do not try to use an air compressor with high pressure (120 psi) and low volume to evacuate water from the system. It is not an acceptable practice to allow the compressor to fill the holding tank of the compressor and the closed mainline with high pressure air, hoping the surge of excess pressure will compensate for the lack of compressor size and blow the line clean upon opening the sprinkler control valve. This is a dangerous practice that places very severe stresses on all of the components of the system. Do not run the compressor without at least one sprinkler control valve open. This lessens the chance that the system could overpressurize. It is a common misbelief that if the system can withstand 120 psi of water pressure, similar air pressure will not damage the system. This is not true! The viscosity of air is much lower than water, generating much higher stresses that can cause severe damage to the system. Design: There should be a separate provision on the sprinkler system mainline for booking up the air hose (see item C in the diagram on the next page). This could be a quick connect fitting, a manual gate valve, a plugged "tee", or simply a capped pipe in the line. This adapter should be located as close to the water source as possible. Check with your air compressor manufacturer for the correct procedure and equipment to hook up to the sprinkler system.

Slope Downward for Darinage

To Control Valves

Shutoff Valve
Drain Cap Water Meter Shutoff Valve Shutoff Valve

Service Line from Street

Procedure: Wear Proper Eye Protection! Do not stand over any irrigation components (pipe, valves, or sprinklers) during air blow out. Do not run the air compressor without a sprinkler zone control valve being open first, from start up to compressor shut down. Air pressure must not exceed 50 pounds per square inch (psi). Blow out procedure activating sprinkler control valves from the timer: 1. Close mainline sprinkler shutoff valve. ( A ) 2. Relieve the water pressure on the mainline by activating a circuit, or zone, from your timer. Activate the circuit that is furthest from the air connection before introducing air into the piping. 3. Attach the compressor hose to the blow out adapter. ( C ) 4. Set the pressure regulating valve on the compressor to 50 psi. 5. Turn on the compressor. Gradually increase the flow of air until the sprinkler heads pop up. The amount of flow or volume required will be dependent upon the length of the pipe run and the number of heads. 6. Sustained heat from the compressed air may damage pipe and other components. Do not blow any circuit more than 2 minutes at a time. Switch to another station, or zone, by advancing the timer to the next circuit. Do not turn the timer off at any time during this operation until the compressor is first shut off. 7. In order to ensure adequate drainage of lines, repeat the cycle two or more times, activating each zone from the timer, until nothing more than a fine mist appears from the heads. Many sprinklers that use plastic gears in their drive mechanisms also use water for lubrication and cooling. If a circuit is allowed to run with nothing but air for extended periods there is a significant risk of damaging the drive mechanism of the sprinkler. 8. After blowing out all the zones, leave one zone on while shutting down the compressor. Turn the compressor off at this time. 9. Unhook the compressor from the adapter to the sprinkler system mainline.
10. Turn the timer to "Off".
11. Caution! Please refer to the How to Winterize System Components section to fully complete the winterization process for your system.
Procedure: Wear Proper Eye Protection! Do not stand over any irrigation components (pipes, valves, or sprinklers) during air blow out. Do not run the air compressor without an irrigation control zone valve being open first, from start up to compressor shut down. Please refer to Blow Out Procedure Activating Valves from Timer section before considering this alternative. Activating the valves from the timer offers an additional margin of safety to the procedure since you would not be placed in close proximity to the irrigation components during the blow out. Use this section only if your system does not have electric remote control valves. Blow out procedure activating valves manually: 1. Close main sprinkler shutoff valve. ( A ) 2. Relieve the water pressure on the mainline by slowly opening the manual shutoff handle on one of your irrigation zone control valves. 3. Attach the compressor hose to the blow out adapter. ( C ) 4. Set the pressure regulating valve on the compressor to 50 psi. 5. Turn on the irrigation station you want to blow out. 6. Turn on the compressor. Gradually increase the flow of air from the compressor flow valve (not from the sprinkler control valve) until the sprinkler heads pop up. The amount of flow or volume required will be dependent upon the length of the pipe run and the number of heads. 7. Sustained heat from the compressed air may damage pipe and other components. Do not blow any circuit more than 2 minutes at a time. 8. After 2 minutes, turn the compressor off, and allow all of the air to completely purge from the compressor tank and the sprinkler system. 9. Turn on the next irrigation control valve you wish to winterize. 10. Turn off the last irrigation control valve you have just blown out. 11. Repeat Steps 5 through 10 until you have completed 2 or more blow out cycles per zone. There should only be a fine mist blowing from each station if the winteriza-tion procedure was successful. Cycle again as needed. 12. Turn the compressor off. Allow any air in the storage tank or irrigation components to disperse before approaching the air hose or valves. 13. Unhook the compressor from the adapter to the sprinkler mainline. 14. Caution! Please refer to the How to Winterize System Components section to fully complete the winterization process for your system. HOW TO WINTERIZE SYSTEM COMPONENTS Valves: Gravity draining of the system will not remove water captured inside the valves. Activating the valves manually or electrically from the timer is not an effective way to drain then. Valves that are not blown out with air must follow this procedure: Any diaphragm style such as the DAS-075, DAS-100, CP-075, CP-100, CPF-075, CPF-100, and EV-100 should be disassembled and drained. Remove the bonnet, solenoid, and diaphragm assembly and drain or sponge any standing water, then reassemble. Leave solenoid in open position for winter.

Actuator type valves such as the APAS-075, APAS-100, AVG-075, and AVG-100 require removal of the stem and solenoid assembly, check for any standing water in the pipe. Manual valves such as the PAS-075 and PAS-100 may simply be left in the open position for the Winter. Valves that are winterized using the blow out method with compressed air do not require disassembly to remove standing water. Leave the valves in the manual open position to prevent possible repressurization during the Winter. This is accomplished by turning the bleed screw or solenoid counterclockwise, to the open position. Sprinkler Heads: If your system uses automatic drain valves (Model 16A-FDV) installed properly at the low point of the system, the sprinkler lines will drain automatically each time the system is shut off. This should drain the water from the sprinkler heads also. Some sprinklers have both side and bottom pipe inlets. If you use the side inlet, install a drain valve on the bottom inlet to prevent the case from freezing. Sprinkler heads containing built in check valves to prevent low head drainage require disassembly, or must be blown out with air to achieve proper winterization. These types of heads are usually found only on commercial installations. Sprinklers that have been blown out with air generally do not require and additional treatment. Timers: Several methods for winterizing timers are available. Some may be more appropriate for your particular application, depending on the model you own, systems utilizing water pumps require special attention here. Read the entire section before deciding which method is correct for you. 1. If your sprinkler system does not have a water pump and your timer has a programming dial or a mechanical on/off switch: Turn the timer to the "OFF" position. Leave the timer plugged in. The program you set will remain intact. You may leave the back up battery plugged in on electronic models. Leaving the timer plugged in keeps some heat inside the unit, warding off condensation which may be harmful to the circuit board. Timers such as the ISA-304, ISA-406, ISA-408, PC506, ESP-12LXi, ESP-16LXi, or any mechanical timer like the RC-7C series (the type that has pins and dials), may simply be turned to OFF, RAIN, or RAIN/OFF to achieve proper winterization. 2. If your sprinkler system does not have a water pump and your digital electronic timer has a "keypad" only: Press the "SYSTEM/OFF" or "AUTO/OFF" key. This will turn the system off, leaving the program in the memory. A single digit flashing in the display indicates the system is interrupted, giving visual confirmation. Caution! A power surge or prolonged power failure could cause the timer to default back to the automatic mode, sending a signal to the irrigation control valves or pump to come on. This will not hurt the valves, but could do serious damage to a "dry" running pump. Examples of this type of timer are the PC-104, PC-106, PC204, PC-206, TSC-7, EZ-1, and the CRC-4/6/8.

3. If your sprinkler system has a water pump and your timer is in an indoor digital electronic or mechanical model: Unplug the timer. Turning the timer off from the keypad does not guarantee complete security from the timer coming on again in case of a power surge or power failure. Mechanical models turned off from the switch can just as easily be reactivated. Indoor models have a power cord attached to a transformer style plug. Simply unplug the transformer from the power source. The transformer is a small black box that is usually warm or hot to the touch. Warning! Grabbing a hot transformer could cause burns. Use gloves to protect your hands. Next, remove the backup battery (digital models) to prevent it from discharging over the Winter. Be advised that this method causes the program to disappear on digital models. You will have to reprogram the timer next spring. Examples of this type of timer are the PC-104-P/S, PC-106-P/S, PC-204-P/S, PC-206-PS, TSC-7, EZ-1, and RC-7Bi (or any Rain Bird RC-Bi or RC-I series). 4. If your sprinkler system has a water pump and your timer is an outdoor digital electronic or mechanical model, follow these steps carefully: Turning the timer off from the keypad does not guarantee complete security from the timer coming on again in case of a power surge or power failure. Mechanical models turned off from the switch can just as easily be reactivated. To correctly winterize these types of timers, the common wire(s) running to the pump start relay and the valves must be disconnected from the timer. Turn the power source to the timer off at the main circuit breaker panel for your home or garage first. These timers are "hard wired" directly into the high voltage circuit of your electrical system. The power wires run directly through conduit pipe to the timer. Warning! Touching high voltage wires can cause electrical shock and burns. Do not attempt to disconnect these wires to de-power the timer. The power may only be turned off at the main circuit breaker panel. Verify that the power is completely off by removing the backup battery. Wait for 2 minutes. If the digital display on the timer has not gone blank, please call Rain Bird, or an irrigation contractor to assist you. If you have verified that the power is off to the timer, proceed to disconnect the wire or wires marked "Common", "Com", or "C", on the timer terminal strip. This is the location in the timer where the valve wires connect. Usually there is a row of screws that are labeled and numbered. Locate the terminal designated as COMMON, COM, or C. In some cases there may be 2 terminals marked for the common wire. Disconnect all of the wires from the common terminal. Twist a wire nut or place a piece of electrical tape over any loose wire ends to prevent the wire(s) from touching and causing a short circuit. Reconnect the backup battery on digital models. Mechanical models: Many Rain Bird mechanical timers have a valve wiring harness that may simply be unplugged to disconnect the common and station wires altogether. This is usually a white multi-pin "snap" connector (Molex type) located behind the face panel, inside the cabinet. Close the timer access panel. Turn the power source back on to the timer. Be sure to go ahead and program the timer to the "OFF" setting on the keypad or switch. Set the station timing to zero minutes for all of the stations to prevent any operation. In the Spring, reconnect the common wires and reprogram the timer.

Backflow Preventer: Please check with the manufacturer for specific winterization techniques. Leave the shutoff valves open after draining the unit. Ball type shutoff valves should be left at a 45 degree angle to prevent water from entering the seal. Under extreme conditions, insulate the device or use heat tape to prevent damage. Pump: Please check the pump manufacturers instructions for winterization. See timer section regarding pumps.