RKD Application Guide
Contents
1. B eae ce Suge E ow 2 E a E 4 Garros ee wh SUES Je EM UO mt ry him J uds 7 B az F See 3 E i CUI E O ua kw 7 a cd 5 i ger ae 7 Uh L a 1 a we Z oe c t gt z eS oS Scr MS x 8 3 dn fui mm Due Lj 1 lt E fa v3 s 3 RKD Application Guide WIRE PATH 1 WELL PUMP WITH BOOSTER TYPICAL APPENDIX b TUCOR RKD CONTROL SYSTEM SPECIFICATIONS The Automatic Irrigation System Controls shall be the RKD Control System as manufactured by Tucor Inc of Wexford Pennsylvania and hereinafter specified The RKD Control System shall be comprised of the Tucor RKD Controller RKLDO50 Programmable Decoders Tucor 16 2 Communication Cable Tucor SP 100 Line Surge Protectors Tucor HCP 100 Portable Decoder Programmer Optional and all other equipment required for a complete system RKD CONTROLLER The Tucor RKD Controller shall be a standalone controller capable of operating one hundred 24V AC solenoid valves along a two wire path The controller shall be capable of simultaneously operating four valves one master valve and two booster pumps from the two wire path The controller shall be capable of operating a single valve connected to the two wire path up to 6 100 feet away u2. E AUDA 350 Ww Fame m SML IF NolLVILS E M our H Ww m u MOS _ JAYA T1DLLIND2 ur DL 71 9 E C 300030 96 k 2 8 5 Y W HOSS MVA 3 E ING 6115606 OL i L X3 75 0631 7 05 MINNA SaN nd M3ISDCH OM Pe i ONY 3A14A N3lsvM INC SAYA NO 115 8 281 3 5 qu ce 1334 OSL 31984 DL MX 0230 JONVLSIO 1 F jM SIN Od 321115 IW THLE 30 AFI E JANA NI SIDI dS HIM INA 506133007 380 08 80011 HL 3CY 38 TIVHS NOLLO3NMOO 380 TIY 51 01 avid _dYls dHId 36 RKD Application Guide a RAIN SENSCR 3 c 2 HEr li ES gt th En 9 i i nc Ll i i a zt 3 y ji az B J cn 2 L cL T 1 21 EL 2 il 21 1 1 LE e x 2 x b 0 DECODER CN N A I L C 5 4 EN ma i i i 7 mz 7 yh fi a E rg 3 T I SAN NS I m 7 i jl Eur E t i w E eu en 1 k B iS ge WN i H x EE 0 en Qi e Hm T xx Sa hs H
3. er 7 62 TEL vaL E ME AEE 7474 L Ut EAN 3 P NS gt SS WIE AT 9 ML coetum Me Que er 1 HELE LIEU oF 0 52 RKD WITH BOOSTER PUMP RKD Application Guide 21 Note The decoder can supply about 100 ma of continuous current to a motor relay If the pump start relay requires more than this an intermediate low power ice cube relay will be required Note All wire connections must be made in valve boxes with waterproof splice kits Installation Tips RKD Application Guide DO NOT ATTACH MORE THAN ONE VALVE TO A DECODER Use caution when stripping insulation from the Tucor wire Nicks in wire and insulation can lead to problems Lightly score the outer jacket bend and pull off exposing the two inner conductors Strip insulation from the black and red conductors Be careful not to score the copper wire when stripping insulation Use the waterproof wire splices that are shipped with the decoders Make all splices in valve boxes Mark the location of all decoders splices and surge protectors on the plans Leave 12 of wire coiled at all splices for easier servicing Keep splices upright and high in the valve box to avoid submersion 22 6 GROUND THE SYSTEM For protection from electrical surges the RKD control system requires proper earth grounding using SP 100 surge protectors and ground rods
4. path install a decoder and wire the new valve to it h Tem 4 eV Y Ta VITA zl Y T IN 8 WEIL EM WI RKD Application 6 4 3 EXTENDING THE SYSTEM IS SIMPLIFIED The two wire path can be easily extended into new areas of the landscape By connecting anywhere into the two wire path and extending the wire the system can be expanded Again there is no need to run wires back to the controller Existing two wire path J Two wire path extended to new area New wire spliced into existing wire path YR o rece Note Wire splices should always be made in valve boxes HA THE CONTROLLER CAN BE EASILY RELOCATED The controller can be relocated anywhere along the two wire path The location of the RKD does not have to be permanent Le LIII RKD Application Guide 5 The previous illustrations have shown valves connected to the RKD via a single two wire path The RKD actually has two sets of terminals labeled 1 A B and 2 A B These two sets of terminals allow the use of two separate two wire paths from the controller 1 Wire Path Terminals 2 Wire Path Terminals Green Tucor Wire Blue Tucor Wire In larger installations where possible it 1s a good practice to locate the controller near the control
5. Install grounds every 600 feet along the two wire path and at every dead end that is 25 feet or longer SP 100 Surge Protector with ground rod Ground points should be tested for earth to ground resistance of 50 Ohms or less Additional grounding may be required to decrease resistance to 50 Ohms or less SP 100 surge protectors are shown in separate valve boxes for clarity They may be installed in the same valve box as the nearest decoder Note All wire connections must be made in valve boxes with waterproof splice kits 7 TESTING THE SYSTEM The RKD has built in diagnostic test features that will aid you in monitoring and checking the electrical condition of the system Having a basic understanding of the electrical characteristics of the RKD system will greatly enhance your troubleshooting skills and cut down on service time BASIC ELECTRICAL FACTS e The controller continuously puts out approximately 36 volts AC so the two wire path is always energized unless the control dial is in the IRR OFF position e Current in the two wire system Is measured in milliamps ma e With no decoders and valves connected the controller puts out approximately 36 volts at 2 milliamps RKD Application Guide 23 When connected to the two wire path each decoder draws approximately milliamps in standby mode 1 e no valves open 0 5 e As decoders are connected to the system the standby current
6. 0 250 in 1 min increments Active amp Passive Auto Manual by program or station Monitors active programs run times and line condition Programmable and testable at the controller Decoder pass fail short test Rain sensor alarm ET PC connection for firmware updates 26 For advanced features see the RKD User Manual HOW IS THE RKD DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TUCOR CONTROLLERS The RKD was developed to simplify two wire technology and to make it economically feasible for smaller scale projects of up to 100 valves Many of the advanced features found in Tucor s Flowmaster Series of controllers TWC Com ProCom etc were eliminated or scaled down in design of the RKD The following comparison chart illustrates some of the differences between the RKD and the TWC controller This chart should help you in deciding if the RKD 15 the right choice for your project or perhaps you will need the greater capabilities of the TWC controller RKB TW 5 0 560508 0 Alarm amp ReacttoFlow YS Remote Software N Yes On Line Monitoring NA Ys Short Circuit Tet ve Yes Yes Yes The other major difference between the RKD and TWC control systems is in the decoders that are used The RKD controller requires the RKLD 050 decoder that is different from those used with Tucor Flowmaster controllers The RKLD 050 decoder is designed to operate a single valve
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8. Note 4 SURGE PROTECTORS All electrically controlled irrigation systems should have proper grounding installed to protect against potentially damaging electrical surges Tucor two wire control systems utilize SP 100 surge protectors to provide this protection SP 100 surge protectors are installed at regular intervals along the two wire path and connected to a ground rod at each ground point GREEN YELLOW GROUND WIRES TO GROUND ROD CLAMP BLUE WIRES TQ TWO WIRE PATH GROUND ROD CLAMP PATH sP 1D0 LINE SURGE PROTECTOR 5 8 X GROUND ROD NOTE INSTALL ALL GROUND ASSEMBLIES IN ALVE BOXES RKD Application Guide WHY USE THE RKD TWO WIRE SYSTEM 1 LESS WIRE IS NEEDED The RKD can operate up to one hundred valves from a 16 2 wire The decoders along the two wire path eliminate the need for multiple wires and multiple station terminals at the controller Using RKLD 050 decoders valves are connected in series along the two wire path like a string of ornamental lights EI Note This system does not require special valves and will work with most 24 volt AC solenoid valves on the market e c D Tucor wire to next valve a Existing valve amp decoder Existing valve amp decoder Existing two wire path Valves can be easily added to a two wire system without running new wires back to the controller Anywhere a valve is needed it is simple to splice into the two wire
9. BE ABSOLUTELY WATERTIGHT WITH NO LEAKAGE TO GROUND NOR SHORTING BETWEEN CONDUCTORS SURGE PROTECTION All surge protection grounding and installation of equipment specified shall be installed in strict compliance with the manufacturer s recommendations and in accordance with Local State and Federal requirements Primary Power Surge Protection Furnish and install surge protection on the power circuit that will supply power to the controller Field Surge Protection SP 100 surge protectors shall be installed at every line termination point Additional SP 100 s shall be installed at every 600 foot interval along the two wire path located at the nearest line decoder Connect SP 100 ground wires to a single 8 foot ground rod If the valve is metallic or the solenoid has a metallic center pin one of the SP 100 ground wires shall be connected to it RKD Application Guide 4 All SP 100 ground rod assemblies shall be installed In valve boxes Mark the location of all ground points on the as built plans All grounds shall be tested for earth to ground resistance Readings of 50 Ohms or less are acceptable Resistance readings of 50 Ohms or greater shall necessitate the installation of additional grounding materials to reduce the ground resistance to acceptable levels RKD Application Guide 42
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11. per station It was designed to be user programmable at the RKD controller or with the HCP 100 hand programmer The user can easily program or re program a decoder to operate a given station Flowmaster decoders are available in single and multiple valve models These decoders are not programmable at the controller but can be reprogrammed with the HCP 100 hand programmer Flowmaster decoders are shipped with predetermined identification RKD Application Guide ZI numbers addresses These addresses must be associated with valve locations and entered into the controller database It 15 the ability to create this database that gives the Flowmaster controllers powerful operating flexibility Most notably the user can program the sequence that valves turn on off by schedule program The RKD controller uses a much simpler operating arrangement than the Flowmaster controllers and decoders Valves turn on off in sequence 1 through 100 just like a conventional controller The RKD will only operate with the RKLD 050 decoder This decoder is a single valve programmable decoder that is shipped in a blank state without any programming Since the RKD uses the concept of stations instead of addresses as in the Flowmaster programming is very easy for a newcomer to two wire control systems This decoder can be programmed with a station number 1 through 100 right at the controller by connecting it to the designated terminals and followin
12. x 9 5 EH 3 JA 1 LUE 7 7 N i l T w 1 7 i 7 oz ad 2 B P c3 ca mt if 3 oues ETT N N y m gt 1 EN 9 VIN M E J 1 A i IA Ej Ey e utn ya l m li A f if tif bis Wh 2 pn x 5 i i i i M 7 m Ha 7 e d 1 UI N 2 i Hf Ho ae EV Jh j r AAA i T y 150 FEET FAYE A MINIMJM OF 1 FXTRA WIRF AT Ali 5 1 ALL WIRE CONMECTION SHALL BE WAJE WITH TUCOR TWO WIRE CONNECTORS MAXIMUM DISTANCE FROM CELO HR TO VALVE MAKT All WIR SP IZFS IN WAIVE BDXFS MAXIMUM WIRE LENGTH BASED ON FOUR VALVES ONE MASTER VALVE AND TWO BOOSTER PUMPS UMNING SIMLLTAMEQUSLY NOC F A 4 5 RKD Application Guide 4 400 FT TWO WIRE PATHS MAX WIRE LENGTH z RAIN SENSO 3 SPLIT AT WIRE PATE ALL WIRE CONNECTION SHALL BE WAJE WITH TUCOR TWO WIRE CONNECTORS MAKT All WIR SP IZFS IN WAIVE BDXFS MAXIMUM WIRE LENGTH BASED ON FOUR VALVES ONE MASTER VALVE AND FAYE A MINIMJM OF 1 FXTRA WIRF AT Ali 5 1 TWO BOOSTER PUMPS UMNING SIMLLTAMEQUSLY MAXIMUM DISTANCE FROM CELO HR TO VALVE 150 FEET NOC F A 4 5 RKD Application Guide FOUR WIRE PATHS MAX WIRE LENGTH 6 00 FI 33 CWWIIdAL NOILVTIVISNI 0 8 y L
13. 50 decoders shall be double jacketed two 2 conductor cable specifically designed by Paige Electric for use with Tucor control systems The cable shall be suitable for direct burial or for installation in ducts or conduits The conductors shall be 16 AWG tin coated soft drawn annealed solid copper conforming to ASTM 33 with 4 64 thick PVC polyvinyl chloride insulation conforming to UL Standard 493 for thermoplastic insulated style UF Underground Feeder rated at 60 degrees C The two insulated conductors shall be laid parallel and encased in a single outer jacket of 3 64 thick high density sunlight resistant polyethylene conforming to ICEA S 61 402 and NEMA WC 5 having a minimum wall thickness of 045 The outer jacket shall be pressure extruded so as to completely fill the interstices between the two insulated wires or may have tube jacketing or form an envelope over the two insulated UF conductors lying in parallel at the discretion of the manufacturer The two conductors shall be color coded with one conductor black and the other red Both conductors shall be the SAME SIZE All splices and connections in this wiring shall be made using the waterproof splice connectors provided with the RKLD50 decoder 3M DBY wire connector kits may also be used Any other type of wire connector will NOT be accepted Care shall be taken with each wire connection to assure a tight waterproof connection IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT ALL CONNECTIONS
14. HE DECODERS Program the decoders to the desired station number Don t forget to label the decoders as you program or re program them Decoder programming can be done at the controller or in the field using the HCP 100 Important Decoders can be reprogrammed to new station numbers There is no limit on the number of times a decoder can be re programmed amp e eoo eO Oe mc RKD Application Guide 20 5 INSTALL THE DECODERS The following illustrations show typical wiring scenarios Refer to the RKD Application Drawings in the appendix for more details RAIN _ FKLDS0 DECODER RED GS g ADDRESS ST2 RKLD50 DECODER ADDRESS STI CONTROL VALVE 1 5 WIRE PATH 1 STATION 1 MASTER VALVE PKLD50 DECODER ADDRESS MV RKD WITH MASTER VALVE RAIN 2 x 1 i ADDRESS e aT RH m Psi gt n ys 1 a n i o ae T 5 n PA FELISO LECUJER a E es aks E ADDRESS 9 UM DAC zu N Be Ezz L Fs is m id S z aT PUF 7 z J Lg a i EIS HE x AAT COHT2OL ADI xz 5 I UM d NW STIs 21 Og vamee 2 TT ua Ld ey 0 EP nis Ley UC lt E 2 2m Ee RE 3 2 TO id Teese per a d iuc SE E E 2 VITA r DEN E
15. IN y ef 0 437 00730 UX LE 1 i 2 HINO Z s 4 ae 300337 Fo Pe Z NOLLIS J TF 3 WANG 580 23 8 1981001 011 2011 HUM 30 8 38 TIYHS 33181800 0 TH S310N oO 5 a 2 5 zie SIY 5 43 003 320 Xd CM Y fee HOUVIS O 8 1501108 NAGS DHNINNE Sd d 101311951 10727 L 1 J EF JATA ONY 3717 SRO SAMIYA 103 MC 03598 HIEHSTI 3HIM m ELS 77 1331 Si ATA Ol 1300030 4 1591 6 F 5 300230 1 S HKd 351 25 Te JF JIM WH JO AWHINA SANT lt SIKON TATA NI 512015 TU TY TAYA 7 2 Y x cs e 3 F P z lt LL 2 E k P Kl a L B c ty x 2 Bc v OM e EEE Ei A iL EID 25 5 23 a Ez 9 ey E Qr c3 gt Z EE Ya Aint z zii E p vim tiM i 8 t 2 ED mier fast st HO ES 1 A 4 5 RKD Application Guide PATH SINGLE WIRE MAX WIRE LENGIH 5 100 FI 3l gt
16. TUCOR RKD CONTROL SYSTEM In 1995 TUCOR was the first company to bring proven two wire control technology from Europe to the American landscape irrigation industry For over ten years now Tucor has been developing and introducing new products to satisfy a broad variety of high end irrigation control requirements Now with the new Tucor RKD Controller two wire control has been simplified It is now much easier for contractors who have not made the transition from conventional control systems to two wire systems There is now an opportunity to take advantage of the many benefits of this technology WHAT IS TWO WIRE CONTROL Two wire irrigation control is a low voltage irrigation control system that utilizes a two conductor wire to power all of the valves in an irrigation system All valves are connected to the same pair of wires so the need for multiple control wires is eliminated There are four major components of a two wire control system 1 THE CONTROLLER The controller in this case the RKD provides the power and programming to operate the valves It requires 120 volts AC like most other controllers RKD CONTROLLER Door Closed View Door Open View Internal View Internal Transformer Power Wire 120 1 2 THE TWO WIRE PATH The two wire path carries the power from the controller to the valves This two wire path is simply a two conductor wire Tucor 16 2 that all valves are con
17. all be connected to the RKD controller decoder terminals and programmed with the desired station address Decoders shall be programmable as station numbers one through one hundred ST1 through 9100 master valve MV booster pump 1 BOI or booster pump 2 BO27 Decoders shall have the ability to be reprogrammed to other station addresses The controller shall have a decoder test function that will give a decoder pass fail test result Each decoder shall be epoxy sealed and completely waterproof Each decoder shall have built in surge protection as an integral part of the basic decoder The decoder shall have two 2 blue colored wires for connection to the two wire path communication path and two 2 white colored wires for connection to the valve solenoid wires Each decoder shall be labeled with the station address that was programmed into it A programmed decoder shall be installed with the valve that corresponds to the programmed station number In most cases the decoder shall be installed in the same valve box as the valve it operates For remote installation the decoder to valve distance shall not exceed 150 feet using 14 wire Decoder out put shall be 24 VAC Each RKLDS50 decoder shall be capable of operating one valve solenoid THE LOCATION OF EACH DECODER SHALL BE MARKED ON THE AS BUILT PLANS RKD Application Guide 40 TWO WIRE PATH All wire used for communication between the RKD controller and the RKLD
18. asily changed RKD Application Guide 12 The number of controllers increases service time even for minor changes No coordination between controllers makes it difficult to program within water windows and conform to local water regulations The quantity of buried wire increases the possibilities for damage by landscaping activities As more buildings are constructed in future phases all control problems are multiplied TWO WIRE CONTROL ldg 4 LEN EN L mn II s T 1 r r F jJ TY 16 2 Tucor Wire With the Tucor two wire system design installation and service problems are solved Requires only one controller Just one power source required Controller access and service time is reduced Programming is simplified Water window requirements can be met with sufficient hydraulic capacity RKD Application Guide 13 Extending the control system is simple splice Into the two wire path anywhere and add valves or extend wire as needed e Adding new buildings to the system is easy e Controller location is not permanent can be moved anywhere along the two wire path e Uses much less wire about 1 3 as compared to a conventional system e Less buried wire reduces exposure to damage e Troubleshooting two wires is much simpler than conventional wiring 3 SPORTS FIELD COMPLEX CONTROL RETROFIT In this example several athletic fields have been built over tim
19. ding current to solenoid Your values may differ depending on the solenoid If the test failed DISPLAY SHOWS Test of Station ST1 FAILED Station 664ma 9ma Line 36v Xma Station readings indicate a short at solenoid OR Test of Station STI FAILED Station 12ma 12ma Line 36v Xma RKD Application Guide 25 Station readings indicate an open 1 e broken wire at solenoid PROGRAMMING Once the decoders have been programmed and installed and each station tested the controller can be programmed The procedure for programming the RKD is very similar to other irrigation controllers I 2 9 Set DATE amp TIME select a PROGRAM 1 4 Select a STATION 1 100 Enter a RUN TIME 0 999 min Repeat Step 14 for each station Select program WATER DAYS S M T W etc Enter program START TIMES 1 6 Set program WATER BUDGET 0 250 Set program as ACTIVE OR PASSIVE Repeat steps for the next program The capabilities of the RKD controller are as follows Station Capacity Max Active Valves Master Valves Pump Starts Programs Concurrent Programs Start Times Calendar Station Run Times Water Budget Program Modes Start Methods Display Decoders Diagnostics Terminals Serial Port RKD Application Guide 100 valves 4 Master Valve I 2 4 1 test program 4 6 per program 14 days 0 999 min in 1 min increments
20. draw increases by approximately 0 5 milliamps per decoder e Theoretically an RKD controller with sixty decoders attached should draw approximately 32 milliamps 60 decoders x 0 5mA 2ma for the controller e Full load output from the controller is approximately 600 700ma e When a single valve solenoid is energized the current draw is approximately 40 50 milliamps depending on the solenoid s characteristics Multiple valves operating simultaneously will draw more current as follows 1 valve 40 50 ma 2 valves 80 100 ma 3 valves 120 150 ma 4 valves 160 200 ma 10 valves 400 500 ma Note Master valve and pump start current not included CHECKING LINE CONDITION LineV MA values referred to in this section are enabled under Advanced Setup options see your User s Manual When enabled the time of day is not displayed on the screen Steady alternating red and green LED s indicates normal line condition With no active valves the line display should read approximately 36 volts x ma ma will depend on the 66 99 x number of decoders connected to the system see Basic Electrical Facts above Hesitating red and green flashing LED s indicate a problem in the two wire path Check the 1 wire path by disconnecting the 2 line and vice versa to isolate the faulty wire But also note that the LED s will quickly flash for a few seconds from time to time as for instance when valves are t
21. e each with a separate controller Programming has been complicated by insufficient hydraulic capacity Scheduling was not coordinated and hydraulic capacity was exceeded resulting in poor coverage poor field conditions and excessive water use The solution is to retrofit the existing controls with a new two wire control system that requires only one controller CONVENTIONAL CONTROL SYSTEM 14 1 Control Wire 12 1 Common Wire RKD Application Guide 14 Separate controllers for each field present problems Individual controllers make coordination of programs difficult Bad irrigation practices since hydraulic capacity isn t managed Poor irrigation poor field conditions Water use 1s excessive because of lack of controller coordination watering time rain shut off etc TWO WIRE CONTROL 16 2 Tucor Wire With the Tucor two wire system irrigation practices are improved and operating costs are reduced Single controller allows easier programming Scheduling of water use is now managed Operating costs reduced less labor less water Easy to extend the system to new fields in the same complex without adding controllers Uses 1 5 wire of the conventional system RKD Application Guide 15 4 ROADWAY PROJECT In this example a highway beautification project requires irrigation for landscaped medians and roadside buffer areas CONVENTIONAL CONTROL SYSTEM 14 1 Control Wire 12 1 Common Wire Long linea
22. enges e Large conduits are required to accommodate the mass of control wires Large wire bundles are difficult to pull through conduits Multiple wires are difficult to track and troubleshoot Wire sizes may need increased because of distance to valves Extra wires must be installed to accommodate future expansion Wire bundles are subject to damage by landscaping work RKD Application Guide 10 TWO WIRE CONTROL OFFICE li l BUILDING 16 2 Tucor Wire With the Tucor two wire system design installation and service problems are solved e Less wire about 4 vs conventional wiring Use smaller conduit since there is less wire Easier installation with only one cable required Less wire means less exposure to potential damage Only two wires to track and repair Expanding the system is simple RKD Application Guide 11 2 PHASED PROJECTS In this example a multiple building site such as an apartment complex is shown The buildings are constructed in phases as numbered which presents challenges in design installation and service CONVENTIONAL CONTROL SYSTEM We tI Bldg 2 5 14 1 Control Wire 12 1 Common Wire As a result of phased in construction each building has its own irrigation controller which creates a set of problems e Each controller requires its own power source e Multiple controllers in limited access areas increases service time e Controller locations are fixed and not e
23. g the on screen steps The decoder ts labeled as station and wired to the valve where you want that station number If you want to change the station number for a valve you can re program the decoder to the station number that you want An optional handheld decoder programming unit is available for programming or re programming decoders in the field RKD Application Guide 28 APPENDIX A 30 IVOIdAL 9NIMIM 3i n ate e CET 7 a a3 P 3af 1 SS ALE ee p E SR St TLF gl Li 5538010 7 Ec d i ve O ORT SUE xx E NS bos PM po UE PROC U MEME E 1r S Mea aa x pm EEE i wm S I 2 TER PES asa 7 MNT gw AN ET ili TE S15 55 d 0 wi org ot osa E ATI 500030 Ded m PT x M JA t i Y Sil 1 zer t Ff 5 w i L w P e 5 E j 31 1011 OX F as y H eo ris SSC 29 OST TE 8 J 3215 371 __ 6 m Mid r ge he ae P d a E Z WSISAS JHL 13 1 pe TE lt E Ed p di 8 NL i ALL i Mer rc e M m UNS 1 ae Us Ds yt gt of NCIS EC NW I NANS A Ceg A
24. lectric Service Service Service Electric Meter Controller k LYF F p P sp sp Ur F sp Z F Op j s F p s FT With the RKD controller valves can be operated over great distances with 16 2 wire Therefore one controller can be used saving on electric service costs RKD CONTROL SYSTEM es AREA 2 electric service is eliminated electric service is eliminated New Electric The need for a new pa The need for a new Two wire path replaces m Two wire path replaces multiple control wires i multiple control wires The RKD offers great advantages in this situation All valves can be operated from one controller up to 6 700 feet away Only one electrical hookup is needed Electrical contractor installation costs are reduced Utility company installation and monthly operating costs are reduced 2 2 2 RKD Application Guide 9 APPLICATIONS FOR THE RKD CONTROL SYSTEM Now that we ve reviewed the principles and advantages of two wire control let s look at some practical applications for the RKD 1 COMMERCIAL SITES In this example a typical commercial site 1s shown with an office building The irrigation system is to cover foundation plantings landscaped parking lot islands and roadside buffer areas CONVENTIONAL CONTROL SYSTEM E BUIL DING 114 1 Control Wire 12 1 Common Wire Conventional wiring in this scenario presents many chall
25. midpoint of the entire system and use both sets of terminals In this way approximately one half of the valves would be connected to wire path 1 while the other half is connected to wire path 2 It is also recommended that a different color of Tucor wire be used for each wire path These practices make wire tracking and troubleshooting much simpler The following illustration shows the controller located at the center of the system with the valves divided between the two wire paths RKD Application Guide 6 5 VALVES CAN BE OPERATED AT GREAT DISTANCES WITH SMALL GAUGE WIRE With the RKD multiple valves can be operated at much greater distances with smaller wire than conventional systems The RKD can operate valves over one mile away with 16 2 wire Also multiple valves can be operated simultaneously with much smaller wire than conventional systems allow The RKD can simultaneously operate twelve valves one master valve and two pump starts using one 16 2 wire RKD MAXIMUM WIRE LENGTHS RKD Max wire length with 1 active valve per wire path 6 200 ft RKD Max wire length with 2 active valves per wire path 5 600 ft RKD Max wire length with 3 active valves per wire path 4 900 ft RKD Max wire length with 4 active valves per wire path 4 300 ft Wire lengths shown are based on 16 2 Tucor wire with all the decoders at the end of the wire worse case For other more typical arra
26. nected to Valves can be connected to the two wire path in series like a string of ornamental lights There is no polarity between the conductors in a two wire system Tucor Wire 120 Volt Power Wire Note Tucor Wire is a double insulated two conductor wire made by Paige Electric specifically for Tucor Inside a high density polyethylene jacket are red and black insulated conductors These conductors are color coded for ease of troubleshooting 3 DECODERS A decoder is installed at each valve solenoid and connected to the two wire path The decoder acts as a switching device that turns a valve on off with a signal from the controller E x S 1 1 Blue wires to two wire path 1 White wires to valve solenoid 5 cU 1 Note Solenoid wire 150 feet max with 18 wire RKLD 050 DECODER RKD Application Guide 2 Decoders are usually installed at the valve they control in the same valve box If necessary the decoder can be installed up to 150 feet away from the valve using 18 2 wire RKD Controller Note Waterproof wire connectors are required T J Tucor Wire 120 Volt Power Wire _ gt a NN A m p 12 RKLD 050 Decoder T The RKD Control System requires the RKLD 050 decoder Tucor Flowmaster decoders are not compatible with the RKD system Control Valve 24 volt AC
27. ngements see the chart below RKD Application Guide 7 Number of simultaneous valves Worse case all valves at end of 2 wire ft Valves evenly distributed along 2 wire ft AWG AWG AWG AWG AWG AWG 18 16 14 18 16 14 7 000 11 000 17 800 3 900 6 200 9 900 0 30 2 700 Ley 0007 Note distances given using default valve power settings if a higher power setting is used distances are shorter 1 2 3 o zaw eol RO 4 800 eem 6 I WE 8 M 9 NE fO s 2 Chart of the maximum distances in feet of the two wire path that 1s from the RKD controller to a valve for a given wire gauge and the number of simultaneously active valves RKD Application Guide 6 REDUCED UTILITY COSTS With the RKD many valves can be operated over greater distances with small gauge wire In many situations multiple controllers and power sources can be minimized reducing the cost of electrical contractors utility connections and ongoing electric company billings The following example illustrates this point In this example control valves are spread around a large site Because of the distances between valves and the need for large gauge wire multiple controllers are being considered CONVENTIONAL CONTROL SYSTEM MITES ee T Z w PESE AREA 1 nis AREA 2 a AREA 3 5 5 New Electric New Electric New E
28. r projects such as this present unique challenges e Heavy gauge wire 14 12 10 and larger is needed to overcome voltage loss over great distances from the controller e Large conduits are needed for massive wire bundles e Large wire bundles are difficult to pull through conduits e Multiple wires are difficult to track and troubleshoot and are subject to damage by landscaping work e Extra wires must be installed to accommodate future expansion TWO WIRE CONTROL SYSTEM 16 2 Tucor Wire RKD Application Guide 16 With the two wire system design installation and service problems are solved Less wire needed requires approximately 4 the total wire vs conventional control systems Smaller wire is required valves can be operated over greater distances with small gauge wire like 16 2 Reduced cost of road crossings since smaller conduit can be used Only one cable needed o easier installation o easier tracking amp troubleshooting o less exposure to damage Easy to extend the system for future phases simply splice into two wire path anywhere and extend RKD APPLICATIONS Sports field complexes School districts Municipalities Homeowners associations Real estate developers Nurseries tree farms orchards Small agricultural RKD Application Guide 17 INSTALLING THE RKD CONTROL SYSTEM STEP 1 SELECTING THE CONTROLLER LOCATION Electric Motors e Pumps ee 0 l
29. sing 16 2 Tucor communication cable The RKD shall have a locking metal NEMA rated cabinet with internal transformer requiring 120 VAC electrical input and 24 VAC output Two wire path output from the controller shall be 34 VAC The controller shall have built in lightning protection The RKD shall have four independent programs plus one test program Programs shall run concurrently with six start times per program over a fourteen day calendar Station run times shall be adjustable from 0 999 minutes in one minute increments Stations will operate in sequence from 1 100 The controller shall have a water budget feature that will adjust the water budget of each program independently from 0 250 in one percent increments Programs shall have both active and passive modes The controller shall have the capability to start programs and stations automatically or manually Manual start of programs and or stations shall be accomplished without the need to pause or cancel currently running programs The RKD shall have a backlit display with brightness adjustment The display shall be capable of showing the operating status of the system Active programs run times and the current time shall be displayed The controller shall have an option to monitor and display the electrical conditions of the two wire path including current in milliamps and voltage The controller shall have built in diagnostics that will test for station individual station opera
30. t M pu gt AC Units ae Compressors Refrigerators vir Etc When selecting a location for the RKD controller choose a mounting point at least 15 feet from away from high current drawing electric motors such as pumps AC units compressors etc to avoid electromagnetic interference STEP 2 CONNECT THE POWER SUPPLY The RKD has an internal transformer that requires a 120 volt AC power supply For ease of service 1t 1s best 1f the controller is connected to a dedicated electrical circuit s All electrical work should be done in accordance with local codes RKD Application Guide 18 STEP 3 CONNECTING THE TWO WIRE PATH SEI E ums 00222 LLL H ILLI 1 28 18 1 8 1 1 There are two sets of terminals for the two wire path 1 and 2 It is recommended that both wire paths be used dividing the valves between them This makes future trouble shooting easier EE oa a The wire paths can also be split at the ee controller to further divide the system All splices should be made in weatherproof junction boxes as shown IF THE WIRE PATHS MUST BE SPLIT BELOW THE GROUND ALL WIRE SPLICES MUST BE MADE WITH TUCOR WATERPROOF SPLICE KITS IN EASILY ACCESSIBLE VALVE BOXES Note Tucor wire has red and black insulation on the two conductors for easier identification The two wire path is not polarized RKD Application Guide 19 STEP 4 PROGRAM T
31. tion decoder pass fail and electrical shorts In the two wire path The RKD shall be capable of operating two booster pumps Booster operation shall be assignable to individual programs Valve output power shall be adjustable through menu options that allow for four different power levels The controller shall have separate terminals for connection to a rain sensor alarm and ET input ET input shall be provided by an optional WR 7 or WR 1001 weather sensor RKD Application Guide 39 The controller shall include a special circuit for monitoring on a continuous basis the line voltage condition In the event of an electrical short the controller will automatically switch to 50Hz mode at reduced current The controller shall also have terminals for connection of decoders for the purpose of programming reprogramming and testing decoders The optional HCP 100 hand programmer shall have the same decoder programming capabilities as the RKD50O controller Install the RKD controller in accordance with local electrical codes and with a proper electrical ground The controller should be mounted in an easily accessible location and at a height that allows convenient operation of controls LINE DECODERS RKLDSO decoders shall provide the interface between the 24 VAC valves and the two wire communication from the RKD controller RKLD50 decoders shall be shipped in a blank state with no programming information For programming decoders sh
32. urned on or off This is normal communications on the two wire If the LED s are not lit with power on this indicates a dead short in the two wire path In this state the line display will read less than 22V and 150 20000 If so check for crossed wires or physical damage to the two wire path Disconnecting the two wire path at the controller should cause the LED s to flash as normal This confirms a two wire path problem Line condition is also tested when performing a Station Test RKD Application Guide 24 PERFORMING A STATION TEST Once installation is complete a simple station test should be run This will check decoder and valve electrical operation USER SET DIAL POSITION TO SETUP TEST DISPLAY SHOWS Setup and Test Functions Choose action from buttons below USER PUSH BUTTON WATER BUDGET STATION TEST Red light next to button will flash DISPLAY SHOWS Station Test Start from ST1 Line 36v X m X varies depending upon total decoders connected USER PUSH ENTER YES BUTTON TO TEST ST1 Station 1 or SELECT ANOTHER STATION TO TEST WITH THE UP DOWN ARROWS THEN PUSH ENTER YES DISPLAY SHOWS Testing Station STI Please Wait If the test was successful DISPLAY SHOWS Test of Station ST OK Station 656ma 53ma Line 36v Xm Station readings indicate normal current situation The 656 Inrush current to solenoid The 53 Hol
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