Language »
CI IrriGator Co.
PO Box 2805 Chino, CA 91710  PH: (909) 628-6440   FX: (909) 628-6440 
E-Mail:   cisolar@attglobal.net
CI Product Divisions » CIHome Electro-Serv Investway  CISolar Supplies Satellite Co.   IrriGatorCo.

Solar-Powered
Smart Irrigation
Online Catalog 

IrriGator
SOLAR-POWERED  SMART (ET) IRRIGATION CONTROLS
Several types of smart irrigation systems are emerging as ways to save water. Some methods use:
  • Locally-sensed  weather data (from own weather station)
  • Wireless or networked weather data (from professional weather station)
  • Soil Moisture Sensing
Eeither way, the goal is to adjust or shut off watering schedules in response to actual rain, sun, and wind conditions at the site. These controllers go beyond the simple rain sensor. They are capable of  more accurately maintaining  soil moisture level, using actual weather data and prediction. Large irrigation systems may profit from wireless data that is transmitted by radio. A local weater station (on site) may be more  economical when for smaller systems.

Smart: ET (envirotranspiration) calculations attempt to determine the amount of water needed by plants, based primarily on local temperature. Smart controllers also use rainfall, wind, and humidity data to estimate watering schedules.
Semi-Smart: A more direct method of  smart (semi-smart?) irrigation timing is accomplished using soil moisture sensing; in this case wired or wireless weather data may not be needed.

For starters, information is summarized below on popular smart controllers, from several manufacturers. You ag people, architects, and landscapers out there will have to study the offerings from these manufacturers. Then come back to IrriGator for information on operating the systems on solar power. Buy from your local irrigation equipment distributor. Or from us.

The IrriGator company adapts these off-the-shelf smart controllers for solar operation.  The principal advantage of solar power is saving the cost of powerline trenching. Especially when streets and paving must be cut! The secondary advantage is eliminating the monthly cost of the irrigation electric meter. Some ag applications can also benefit from the engine-starting capability of solar timer/controllers  See here.

How to choose solar panel size: Number of "watering hours per week", given below,  is for siting  latitudes up to 35 degrees. More accurately, this is the rating for any area with 5ESH (equivalent solar hours), such as Southern Calif. A more northerly site such as Winnepeg or a more cloudy site such as Istanbul, with 2.5ESH, will have one-half as many watering hours available.  Likewise, areas of low cloudiness, with an ESH of 7 hours, will provide approx 50% more watering time. Note:  8 zones x 15 min/zone x 5days/wk = 10 watering hours per week (example)

Typical  Smart IrriGator Control,
with 10-Watt solar

ET Weather Station



IrriGator Solar-Powered Smart Controller Systems for Medium-Size Landscapes
Model Number Description Ship Wt. (lbs.) List Price Qty
 2-5		 Qty
 6 up
 (List 1 is under construction. See list of smart controllers below in meantime)









































IrriGator Control with Cover Removed:
Timer at top, battery at bottom, regulator hidden

 
IrriGator Solar-Powered Smart Controller Systems for Farms and Large Landscapes
Model Number Description Ship Wt. (lbs.) List Price Qty
 2-5		 Qty
 6 up





 



























Summary of Available  Smart (ET) Irrigation Controllers Price Qty
2-5
 Qty
6-up
Control
Manufacturer
 Model Number

Mini Pictures


  Weather data source  Station or
zone capacity		 Freeze or high temp shut-off
by remote sensor

 On-site evapor-
ative
atmometer type "Et Sensor"
 On site solar
radiation sensor
 On-site  humidity
Sensor
 Flow  sensors(s) connect-
ivity
 Internet or computer interface
 Remote control device(s) for controller
 Two-way communi-
cation
between server and reciever
Call
 Call
Accurate
WeatherSet
WSR8
WSR12
WSC8
WSC12
WSC16
WSC20
WSC24
On-site solar and rain sensors
  		8-48


Yes

5 Models


8-24 Stations
$170.00-
$440.00
 Call Call
Aqua Conserve






Irrigation
Scheduler

Wired Temp. /
Rainfall Sensor
Wireless Temp. /
Rainfall
Sensor
 ET-6M
ET-6
ET-9
ET-14
ET-8b
ET-12b

1S-1

RTS-2

RTS-1
Historic ET curves with onsite
temperature sensor		 6-66



12 Models


6-66 Stations
$240.00-
$5,630.00
 Call Call
Calsense
ET2000e
ET2000e-M
ET2000e-R
ET2000e-LR
ET2000e-SR
ET2000e-EN
ET2000e-WEN
ET2000e-GR
On-site ET sensor.
Soil moisture sensor		 8-48

Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
8-48 Stations
$1,290.00-
$3,690.00
 Call Call
ET Water Systems

ETwater™ Smart Controller 		ET-SYSTEM
Public and ETWS weather
station data managed by
centralized computer		 1-48





Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

 1-48 Stations
$419.00-
$2,399.00
 Call Call
Hunter Industries
(Add-On Module)

On-site weather station with
full set of sensors
1-48


Yes
Yes


Yes
Not Applicable
$429.00
 Call Call
HydroPoint

WeatherTRAKSmart

IrrigationControllers



Public and Private Weather
stations managed by central
computer and wireless
delivery
 6-48            


    Yes    





Yes



Yes


Commericial Model
 6-48 Stations
$449.00-
$3,675.00
Plus Annual
Signal Fee
 Call Call
Irritrol Systems

 SD600-EXT
SD900-EXT
SD1200-EXT
SD2400-EXT
SD600-INT
SD900-INT
SD1200-INT
SD600-MOD
SD900-MOD
SD1200-MOD
Public weather stations data
managed by centralized
computer server
 6-24







6-24 Stations
$399.00-
$889.00
Plus Annual Fee
 Call Call
Rain Master

Automatic, historic or manually
entered ET or optional on-site
weather station
 6-36

Yes


Yes

Yes

Yes


Yes
6-36 Stations
$640.00-
$4,264.00
 Call Call
Toro Company

 TIS-612
TIS-240
TIS-360
TIS-480
Public weather station data
managed by central computer
server
 6-24







6-24 Stations
$399.00-
$889.00
Plus Annual
Fee		 Call Call
Weathermatic

On-site temperature and rain
sensors and solar radiation
estimated based on location
 8 to 48







4-24 Stations
$300.0-
$817.00
 Call Call
  (Smart controller data compiled by California Urban Water Conservation Council


WeatherTRAK Smart Irrigation Controllers


WeatherTrack Commercial
 WeatherTrak
Residential
 Other Mfrs - - WeatherTrak
 Enabled
  ET Pro2TM
Central		 ET Pro2TM ET plusTM
6,9, & 12 		ET plusTM
18 & 24 		Irritrol®
Smart DialTM		 Toro®
Intelli-SenseTM		 Toro®
Intelli-SenseTM
Pro Series
ET Everywhere TM service yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Irrigation Scheduling Engineâ„¢ software yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Customer service yes yes yes yes yes yes yes
Maximum number of stations 48 48 12 24 24 24 48
Controller hardware list price
(volume discounts available)		 List price as low as $2,466 List price as low as $1,500 List price as low as $340



 List price as low as $835


 Contact Irritrol



 Contact Toro



 Contact Toro
Subscription service
(includes WeatherTRAK ET Everywhere and unlimited toll-free customer service. Multi-year discounts available.)		 As low as $225 annually As low as $120 annually


 As low as $48 annually


As low as $84 annually


 As low as $48 annually


 As low as $48 annually


 As low as $120 annually
Remote Internet management yes Upgrade option          
Multiple controller management yes Upgrade option          
Integrated flow sensing / monitoring yes yes         yes
Flow meter / master valve management yes yes         yes
Flow and runtime reports yes yes         yes
Universal handheld remote ready yes yes         Compatible w/ Toro's TMR-1
Administrative / user account management yes Upgrade option          
Password protection yes Upgrade option          
Enclosure options Wall-mount, pedestal (front & top entry) and anodized aluminum chassis configurations in Light and Heavy-duty stainless steel or Powder-coated cold-rolled steel enclosures. High-impact, locking plastic cabinet for indoor
and outdoor installations. 		Metal Wall-mount Cabinet with optional Pedestal Mount, or Stainless Steel Pedestal
Limited warranty term 5 years 5 years 3 years 3 years 5 years 5 years 5 years


The Intelli_Sense Controller Solution
The Intelli_Sense controller solution includes:
1. Weather TRAK's exclusive irrigation scheduling engine software
2. Weather TRAK's ET Tverywhere service
3. Toro and WeatherTRAK customer support
WeatherTRAK ET Everywhere Service
The WeatherTRAK ET Everywhere service delivers current weather-based ET updates via a two-way wireless communication network. WeatherTRAK's patented ET update service collects weather data from more than 14,000  weater stations, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA ) Network. Proven scientific modeling validates local weather to less than one-half square mile before the data is transmitted to the Intelli-Sense controller.

Irrigation Scheduling Engine
Intelli-Sense feature WeatherTRAK's fully-integrated scheduling engine software that takes the guesswork out of irrigation system programming. The scheduling engine automatically generates an accurate irrigation program for each station based on specific landscape details such as plant type, soil composition, slope and the type of sprinkler used. With the Intelli-Sence Controller solution, your entire landscaped recieves pricisely the water it needs to establish and maintain optimal plan health.


CI Solar Supplies Co PO Box 2805 Chino, CA 91719 (909) 628-6440 jclothi@attglobal.net