Valve Modules

4 Types of Valve Modules

• Type “A” 16 Station – Small

Terminal

• Type “B” 8 Station – Large

Terminal

• Type “C” 16 Station – Large

 Type “A” Valve Module

16 Station – Small Terminal

Premium Surge Protection Standard Surge Protection

• Generally recommended for Commercial use.
•If a Type A valve module is to be used, an intermediate
terminal strip would have to be utilized in order to
reduce the field wiring to a size that would fit in the
 Type “B” Valve Module

8 Station – Large Terminal

Premium Surge Protection Standard Surge Protection

Recommended except for Use only with Hydraulic
Hydraulic Application. controller applications.
 Type “C” Valve Module

16 Station – Large Terminal

Front Board Premium Surge Standard Surge

Protection – Back Protection – Back
Recommended Hydraulic controller
application only.
• A front and back board is required in order to
accommodate the 16
large gauge wires.
Type “C” Valve Module

16 Station – Large Terminal

Front Board Back Board

Installed Installed
Type “D” Valve Module

Decoder Modulator
Decoder Components

◄ Decoder

Decoder Programmer ►
Communication Components

◄ Wireless Internet
Modem

▲Land Line
Modem
◄ Spread Spectrum Radio
 CPU/CSU

Port 1 and Port 2 Communication

Port 3 Wire
Communicatio
Power
Connection
S1 and S2
16-24 sensor
ports

Valve Modules
Connection
 Sensors

▼Evapotranspiration
(ET) Gauge

▼Tipping Rain
Bucket

▼ Quick Clik™ Rain

Sensor
 Irrigation Control Systems
Competitive “Central-Based” Systems

• Intelligence is in PC
• All central programming must be done at the PC
• Local satellite programming can be performed at the satellite
• PC Central will not “see” any program created locally at satellite
• Communications initiated by the PC
• “One-way” communication only
• PC to Controller not Controller to PC
 Irrigation Control Systems
Competitive “Central-Based” Systems

• Sensors Require PC
• The sensors must be connected to the PC
• No micro climate sensor capability
• Sensors are remotely located away from
satellite controllers
 Irrigation Control Systems
Competitive “Central-Based” Systems

• Maintenance Radio requires PC

• PC acts as communications hub
• PC must be functioning for radio to work
• Radio does not communicate directly with satellite controller
 Irrigation Control Systems
Competitive “Central-Based” Systems

• PDA Requires PC
• PDA also requires
maintenance radio to
communicate with PC
• Has same restrictions as Handheld Maintenance Radio
 Irrigation Control Systems
Competitive “Central-Based” Systems

X
• No PC = No communications
X
X
• Controllers (Satellites) revert to
“stand alone” status
• All programming must be done at the satellite
• No PC = No sensor data
• No PC = No remote interface (Maintenance radio or P
Irrigation Control Systems
Competitive “Central-Based” Systems

X
My “central-based”
system requires a PC to

X do anything … I don’t
like it!

X
Irrigation Control Systems

There must be a better

way!!!
 Irrigation Control Systems
Signature“Controller Based” Systems -
Constellation

• Intelligence is located in each

satellite (field) controller
• Programming for the entire network can happen
at any field controller
• No PC required, PC is Optional
 Irrigation Control Systems
Signature “Controller Based” Systems -
Constellation

• “Peer to Peer” Communication

• Each satellite (field controller) acts as a central
• No central required – Any satellite can program and
control any satellite, Central is optional
 Irrigation Control Systems
Signature “Controller Based” Systems -
Constellation
• CIU (Constellation Interface Unit) is
Optional
• Only needed if customer
wants
a controller in their office CON
• Behaves as just another CON
satellite controller
• Allows the customer to
control CON
any satellite from their
office
• No PC needed,
PC is Optional CON
CIU CON

> CIU (Constellation Interface Unit) is optional

 Irrigation Control Systems
Signature“Controller Based” Systems -
Constellation

CON
CON

CON
CIU
•CIU is required for
Central
Control from PC CON
CON
• PC talks to network via CIU
 Irrigation Control Systems
Signature “Controller Based” Systems -
Constellation
•CIU is required for
network
communication in an
GAL
system, or RT System GAL GAL

GAL

CIU

• CIU is used as a
“central” GAL
GAL
device.
• GAL/RT Systems do not
 Irrigation Control Systems
Signature “Controller Based” Systems -
Constellation

• Maintenance radio does

not
need a PC. CON: Maintenance
• Competitive systems require a radio in any
PC to use a maintenance controller.
GAL: Maintenance
radio. radio in any
• Neither CON or GAL/RT controller.
 Irrigation Control Systems
Signature “Controller Based” Systems -
Constellation

• Cell phone
communication
does not need a PC. CON: Cell Phone in
• Competitive systems any
require a controller.
GAL: Cell Phone in
PC to use a cell phone. interface
• CON and GAL systems are (CIU).
 Irrigation Control Systems
Signature “Controller Based” Systems -
Constellation

• eConstellation Mobile
(PDA) does
not need a PC. – (forthcoming CON: eConstellation
product)
Mobile
• Competitive systems (PDA) in any
require a controller.
GAL/RT:
PC and a maintenance radio eConstellation Mobile
 Irrigation Control Systems
Signature “Controller Based” Systems -
Constellation

• Does not need a PC to

share
sensor data.
• Sensors can be connected
directly to a satellite
controller
(CON only).
• Sensor data can be
broadcast to
any other controller. (CON
CON: Sensors in
Only). any
• GAL systems require the Controller
sensors GAL: Sensors in
Interface
to be connected to the CIU (or
 Irrigation Control Systems
Signature “Controller Based” Systems -
Constellation

• Micro-Climates CON: Sensors can

be
• With an CON system sensor data can be shared on
shared network
with all controllers in a network or just a GAL: Sensors in
selected few Interface
Irrigation Control Systems
Signature “Controller Based” Systems -
Constellation

WWW

• eConstellation Web-Based Central from ANY

web-enabled PC
• Any web-enabled computer becomes the
“central”
Constellation Control System

• Peer-to-
Peer/Network
• Maintenance
Radio
• Cell Phone
• Landline Phone
• PDA (web-
enabled)
• Sensors
• Share Sensors
Hardwire Communication
Radio Communication
Hybrid Communication
Satellite Controller Quiz