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Hi guys,
I have OS3.0 , 9VDC powered, with 7 x 24VAC valves, 6 for zones, 7-th is free. The OS has the latest firmware update. The 8-th zone I’m using as a master to drive a pump via SSR relay.
I wonder can I switch on and off with a button or switch for indefinite time the 7-th valve along with the pump ( 8-th channel ). I tried the second sensor input configured as a switch input, but I have to define a time interval for the 7-th zone. As I’d like to use it when I want for manual watering, I don’t need a pre-programmed time interval.Thanks in advance for the ideas with best regards
NickGenerally, you can create a program and set it to ‘disabled’ (i.e. enabled flag is off). This way it doesn’t matter how you program its day / time, the program won’t run normally, but it’s available to be triggered using buttons or sensor input as switch. To use buttons, you can press and hold button B3, to activate the ‘manual run’ program feature, there you can select any program (including those that are disabled) to run. To use sensor input (which you already know): the second sensor can trigger the second program. Again, if you set that program to disabled, then it won’t run normally, so you can set any day / time as you want.
Hi Ray,
Thanks for the explanations. Using B3 is not a solution because the controller is inside a IP65 box.
Should I understand that using SN2, I can trigger any ‘disabled’ program and if the duration of this program is t1, the valve will shut off after the expiration of t1 ?Best regards
NickHi again,
Yes, tested and it works with SN2, but the program can’t be stopper other way but within the software. Looks like SN2 can not be programmed to have ON/OFF function.
Thanks again.
NickThe solution….for all users.
Add a timer 555 with 1s on and 1s off intervals to SN2. Thus, till the timer is on, the program will be on and on and on……
When you switch off the timer, the program will stop when it expires.Best regards
NickYou are correct that the sensor input is only used to trigger the start of a program, not to stop it. In fact, the way it works is that when the sensor input is activated, it stops whatever is running currently, and runs the designated program. So let’s say you activate the sensor input, that runs the second program, then you activate it again, that will stop the second program but then immediately start it over again.
The buttons on the controller can be used to stop any running program, but as you said, your controller is inside a box so you don’t have access to the button.
Your 555 timer solution is very clever. Kudos for that.
It’s possible (if you don’t mind soldering) to solder two wires onto the controller’s button (I have to double check the user manual, but I think B1 or B2 is used to stop all running zones when you long press it), then you will have access to that functionality outside of the box. We can also modify the firmware to add a logic where if the sensor input is activated, and that program is already running, we stop it instead of start it.
Thanks Ray!
No problem to solder wires to the tactile button…..I’ve been soldering since 1966, but I’m currently designing hardware for flight controllers.
When you have time to think over some additional functionality, think of a button to manually start/stop the master + a desired valve.
This is useful for manual hose irrigation.
BR
NickNick – We do some manual watering from time to time. Our main water distribution line has some points on it that just have a hose bib – no valve. So to do the manual watering we only need to pressurize the main line. The master valve is on Station 1 and I’ve set a “dummy zone” on Station 3, but there is no valve wired to Station 3. The settings for Station 3 are Use Master and Ignore Rain.
To enable manual watering up to now, we’ve just turned Station 3 on with the iOS app for OpenSprinkler – turn it off when done. Now that I’ve learned about the Program Switch feature, I’ll add the switch to Sn2 and make (and disable) a simple program (set as Program 2) to turn on Station 3 for 30 or 60 minutes. Then a simple press of the switch will pressurize the main line and we can hand water or set a hose and sprinkler and know when it will shut off.
Since our automatic watering is mostly done before dawn or during evening hours, and our manual watering is done during the day time won’t cause any interference with the normal schedule of the other programs.
Just some thought,
Brian
“We can also modify the firmware to add a logic where if the sensor input is activated, and that program is already running, we stop it instead of start it.”
This would be extremely helpfull!
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