Your Ultimate Controller

[PurpHaze]

What "bells and whistles" would you like to see on high end residential or commercial controllers? One thing I'd like to see on all controllers would be a "security code" that needed to be entered before anyone could access the controller info. I recall a high end UK controller has this feature. Any of the big US controllers have this?

Being in the process of switching from the Irritrol MC-Plus controller to the Hunter ACC controller there's a slight learning curve as we get acquainted with the ACC features.

There are a couple of features on the MC-Plus I wish were on the ACC:

(1) Program start/end times by pushing the "Cycle Start" button a second time. (I've gotten around this one by developing an Excel program that does just this.)

(2) Scrollable zone watering times by pushing the "Water Time" button twice; easy to check and make sure you didn't forget to program a specific zone.

Features I really like about the Hunter ACC:

(1) Program Save; pretty much like others' contractor save option where the program can be saved and then recalled in the event someone goes in and really jacks the programs up.

(2) No Water Window: programmable time period when the controller will not activate any watering time.

(3) Controller/Program/Zone Information; input specific info into the controller that is easily retrievable. (We have zone maps where this info is immediately viewable but it's nice to have it on the controller.)

(4) Pump Start via Individual Zone; self explanatory and individual zones can have a booster or other pump come on or stay off during watering time.

(5) Programmable Off; can be programmed off for a certain number of days (1-31) and then the automatic program picks up again. Great for us in situations where say a baseball tournament is going on and they don't want any watering for a three day period.

(6) Program Reset or Erase; many controllers have this feature where you can wipe out a controller's programs and start all over with a fresh slate.

[Mike Leary]

Rain Master pretty much has those bells & whistles on their DX-2 Evolution.
We have many programs that are used only at certain times of the year,
they are saved & activated by the percentage feature. Rain-Master can operate non-irrigation functions such as lights & gates also. RM has sep.
pump start/mstr. valve circuits per program. The real cool feature of this
mega clock is flow sensing & electrical monitoring: It can "learn" the operation & shut down/issue warnings should paremeters be exceeded.
We check electrical every season at start-up, so solenoid wear can be known.
Two levels of passwords are included to keep sticky hands off. Wiping the
clock can be done (shudder) tho with 12 programs & unlimited ISCs, it's not
for the faint of heart. The DX will run central software or standalone & with
"Flow Max" run a number of satelite clocks. Most of ours have the permanent
remote reciever so a site # is entered into the transmitter without going to
the clock.

[Mike Leary]

Hardie's "Touch Command" had very cool features before Toro decided to
junk it. Forgot the protocol......rainmaster.com

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

Haven't tried any of those but the WM Smartline has everything I want to do. Covers me for using a weather monitor or presetting each month as a percentage of my watering times at a very reasonable price. Those Rainmaster clocks are very nice but the last time I checked them were pricey. If all my customers were Mark Cuban (he isn't by the way) they would be great but I only want to carry one type of controller that covers all my bases.

[Mike Leary]

Haven't tried any of those but the WM Smartline has everything I want to do. Covers me for using a weather monitor or presetting each month as a percentage of my watering times at a very reasonable price. Those Rainmaster clocks are very nice but the last time I checked them were pricey. If all my customers were Mark Cuban (he isn't by the way) they would be great but I only want to carry one type of controller that covers all my bases.

We settled on the Hardie/Irritrol/Toro ad nauseum "Total Control" for
medium end...we never entered the "bottom feeder" market.
What's wrong with calling Mark?:laugh: Upselling is not a bad thing, you know.

[Wet_Boots]

Orbit is watching this thread and taking notes

[Mike Leary]

Does Pee Wee Herman own Orbit? I wondered what happened to him after the popcorn episode.

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

We settled on the Hardie/Irritrol/Toro ad nauseum "Total Control" for
medium end...we never entered the "bottom feeder" market.
What's wrong with calling Mark?:laugh: Upselling is not a bad thing, you know.

I've always thought of the Total controls, ESP LX as high end Timers and the RM as really high end. I've had very little exposure to anything outside the residential market though. The one RM i installed I had to yank because the maintenance man couldn't learn to program it. I've never been comfortable with the ultra rich. The few that i have had were more trouble than they were worth. I'm sure there is a skill in developing that type of business and making it worthwhile but I just don't like it.

[PurpHaze]

What's wrong with calling Mark?:laugh: Upselling is not a bad thing, you know.

I don't think he's in a very good mood right about now. :)

[bicmudpuppy]

The one feature I would love to see that I think would be easy for them to add is a rain delay that is sensor "triggered". i.e. if the rain sensor is tripped for more than 30 min then the controller enters a rain delay for a user set number of days. Most of the better controllers offer a rain delay feature now, and they have sensor inputs. Should be a matter of programing to get this, but I have actually asked about it and it hasn't shown up yet.
Ultimate controller? I really really hope that when they open up this AM that I get my hands on a "left over". I have a supplier (more equipment than parts) who deals in used/slightly used/spare equipment that has/had a NIB pair of golf controllers. If he still has them today, I recieved approval to purchase over the weekend, one of them to replace my 4 - RC1260's. We are going MODERN. I won't know how to act. I will try to take install pics. Most of the features you asked about are standard on the RB Par+ES. BUT the 16 station base unit w/ pedestal (no wall mounting) would cost me (30% golf matrix) over $1300. The 8 station modules are then $410 each. The just over one year old controller I am hoping to acquire is a Par+48 with a date code that is just over a year old (not much warranty left,but........)

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

The one feature I would love to see that I think would be easy for them to add is a rain delay that is sensor "triggered". i.e. if the rain sensor is tripped for more than 30 min then the controller enters a rain delay for a user set number of days. Most of the better controllers offer a rain delay feature now, and they have sensor inputs. Should be a matter of programing to get this, but I have actually asked about it and it hasn't shown up yet.


The WM smartline does this somewhat. It will automatically keep the controller off two days after the sensor has dried up. It can be easily bypassed if so desired.

[PurpHaze]

Two levels of passwords are included to keep sticky hands off.

I'm envious. :)

Wiping the clock can be done (shudder) tho with 12 programs & unlimited ISCs, it's not for the faint of heart.

Went out today to reset two ACCs that the site guy had jacked the programs up on. It took all of about 30 seconds to recall my saved base programs. (I then added a couple of days watering and resaved the programs due to the onset of summer heat.) He was only supposed to increase watering days or turn the controllers off if needed. He thought he knew what he was doing when he went farther than that.

He wanted a copy of the manual but I refused telling him it wasn't for the faint of heart. Actually, I don't want him knowing all the little hidden features of the controller. If he had the secret decoder ring and had decided to wipe the programs and start all over he would have wiped out all the program/zone info that I have painstakingly set up.

[PurpHaze]

Additionally, both controllers have a "No Water Window" set up where they will not autiomatically fire any zones between the hours of 6:00 am and 9:00 pm. He wanted to change these to 8:00 am and I said, "No... You're not the one that will get the angry call from the principal when students get wet clothing and muddy shoes and are tracking it into all the classrooms."

[PurpHaze]

We are going MODERN. I won't know how to act.

I'm thinking that the only thing that would modernize us would be a central control system. Alas... it won't happen before I leave but with all the pump and other problems the district is continually experiencing the upper bosses are starting to finally (after 12 years of suggesting) listen... a little.

[bicmudpuppy]

Bryan Dominoed! I made the call and I get one of the Par+48's and a new to me recently rebuilt 15HP pump to put my pump station back the way it was intended. The new mechanical seal for my 30HP is on the way. It might be a good summer yet. Now, (I hesitate to say this because of the poor guys on the east coast) if it would just quit raining, my life would be perfect.

[PurpHaze]

Too bad Kansas isn't on the way to WA. I'd drop by and let you caddy for me. Then you could give me the grand tour. :)

Does your boy play golf?

[Critical Care]

What "bells and whistles" would you like to see on high end residential or commercial controllers? One thing I'd like to see on all controllers would be a "security code" that needed to be entered before anyone could access the controller info...

We backwoods boys just enclose the controllers in metal boxes with locks on them.

I'm really thinking about hot-wiring a tesla coil up to a couple controllers if the "Extreme High Voltage" signs don't work.

[bicmudpuppy]

Too bad Kansas isn't on the way to WA. I'd drop by and let you caddy for me. Then you could give me the grand tour. :)

Does your boy play golf?

My brother-in-law bought a new set of clubs and has loaned him the old set. He is "attempting" the game. He has mastered the frustration to this point. He found no comfort in the information that some never get that far.

It needs to stop raining. I am pulling out the stops to dry the greens out some so I can avoid using fungicides. Greens are SOFT. Fast but soft. I need to build a stemp meter, but we are probably rolling about a 9-9.5 Not real fast, but faster than these people are used to. If it would just get a bit drier, we could get to an eleven on good days pretty easy.

[Mad Estonian]

Is anybody using this system with their clients?http://www.rainbird.com/landscape/products/central/IQ.htm. I would love to have something like that one day (and I'm sure all my customers would be thrilled about switching over to a new controller to make this happen)payup

I don't think he's in a very good mood right about now
Why not? After all, he has the league's reigning MVP, right? I'll bet he takes great comfort in that...

[PurpHaze]

Why not? After all, he [Mark Cuban] has the league's reigning MVP, right? I'll bet he takes great comfort in that...

LOL... Bet he'd trade one of his player's accolades for a championship banner to hang from the rafters any time. :)

[FIMCO-MEISTER]

LOL... Bet he'd trade one of his player's accolades for a championship banner to hang from the rafters any time. :)

Dirk for Kobe? We are hearing rumors.

[PurpHaze]

My brother-in-law bought a new set of clubs and has loaned him the old set. He is "attempting" the game. He has mastered the frustration to this point. He found no comfort in the information that some never get that far.

I think it was Arnie or Jack that said they could tell another man's true character after only playing 18 holes with him and that it would never change. Tell him to stick with it. The very first par 4 hole I ever played I scored a 15 on. Since no one was behind us I kept playing rather than picking the ball up and taking a snowman. :laugh:

Greens are SOFT. Fast but soft. I need to build a stemp meter, but we are probably rolling about a 9-9.5 Not real fast, but faster than these people are used to. If it would just get a bit drier, we could get to an eleven on good days pretty easy.

I love fast greens. You only need to get the ball going instead of fighting the green and it always seems that the breaks are a lot truer. Doesn't mean that I putt any better but... :)

[PurpHaze]

Dirk for Kobe? We are hearing rumors.

Dirk prolly has a whole lot less baggage. :)

[PurpHaze]

We backwoods boys just enclose the controllers in metal boxes with locks on them.

We do the same thing in critical areas. However, our new ACCs with the metal cabinets are stronger and thicker than the security boxes we buy. Won't need boxes for them. :)