Table of Contents 1 Overview ................................................................................................................................................ 9 1.1 Version Comparison ....................................................................................................................... 9 1.2 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................17 2 System Architecture ..............................................................................................................................18 2.1 Controller Selection .......................................................................................................................19 3 Installation .............................................................................................................................................21 3.1 Standalone .....................................................................................................................................21 3.1.1 Windows PC Host .................................................................................................................21 3.2 Homeseer .......................................................................................................................................22 3.3 Registration ....................................................................................................................................23 3.3.1 Standalone .............................................................................................................................23 3.3.2 Homeseer Plug-in ..................................................................................................................25 3.4 Startup ...........................................................................................................................................25 3.5 Initial Setup ...................................................................................................................................26 3.5.1 Visual User Interface .............................................................................................................26 3.5.2 Quick Start – Learn by Example............................................................................................30 3.5.3 Sample Scenarios ...................................................................................................................31 3.5.3.1 Scenario 1 – One Zone Setup ............................................................................................31 3.5.3.2 Scenario 2 – Basic Homeseer Setup of Two Sprinkler Valves ..........................................31 3.5.3.3 Scenario 3 - Replacement for Stand-alone Timer ..............................................................33 3.5.3.4 Scenario 4 - Typical Use of Features .................................................................................35 3.5.3.5 Scenario 5 – Dual PC – Dual Hardware Interface Configuration ......................................37 3.5.3.6 Scenario 6 – Dual PC – Single Hardware Interface Configuration....................................38 4 Physical Installation ...............................................................................................................................40 4.1 Field Wiring ...................................................................................................................................40 4.2 Controller Connection ...................................................................................................................40 4.2.1 Controller to PC .....................................................................................................................40 4.2.2 Communication Test ..............................................................................................................48 4.2.3 HomeSeer Devices ................................................................................................................49 4.2.4 Interface Protocol ..................................................................................................................50 4.2.5 Valve Wire to Controller .......................................................................................................50 4.2.6 Internet Connection and Local Area Network .......................................................................54 4.2.7 External Application Interface ...............................................................................................62 4.2.7.1 xAP ....................................................................................................................................62 4.2.7.2 MQTT ................................................................................................................................64 4.2.7.3 Homeseer ...........................................................................................................................64 4.2.7.4 Weatherhawk .....................................................................................................................65 5 Automated Control Strategy ..................................................................................................................66 5.1 Control Based upon Time vs. Soil Moisture Content ....................................................................66 5.2 Watering Duration and Interval .....................................................................................................67 5.2.1 Gross Estimated Runtimes for Small to Medium Turf Areas ................................................69 5.2.2 Suggestions for Calibration of Calculated Evaporation .........................................................78 5.3 Zone Sequencing ...........................................................................................................................79 5.4 Syringing .......................................................................................................................................81 5.5 Watering Restrictions ....................................................................................................................81 5.6 Water Use Management ................................................................................................................83 5.6.1 Water User Monitoring ..........................................................................................................83 5.6.2 Water Use Measurement and Display....................................................................................84 5.7 Fertigation......................................................................................................................................85 6 Manual Control Options ........................................................................................................................89 6.1 Web Browser .................................................................................................................................89 2 6.2 Remote with IPhone/IPad/IPod/Android .......................................................................................92 6.3 Remote with Palm pad or Power line Controller ...........................................................................94 6.4 Remote with Wireless Handheld PDA ..........................................................................................95 When accessing mcsSprinklers from a PDA or other remote host the LAN firewall becomes a consideration. The firewall must allow this communication. In some cases it is possible to setup a rule to allow mcsSprinklers.exe to pass through the LAN or WAN firewall. In some cases it will require an advanced setup where the specific browser port (default 8008) needs to have the exception. See http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/windows-firewall-from-start-to-finish..........................96 6.5 Crestron Control ............................................................................................................................96 6.6 Voice Control ................................................................................................................................97 7 Status Reporting ....................................................................................................................................98 7.1 General Status ................................................................................................................................98 7.2 Reference Pictures .........................................................................................................................99 7.3 History Calendar ..........................................................................................................................100 7.4 Zone Status ..................................................................................................................................105 7.5 Run List .......................................................................................................................................105 7.6 Priority Messages ........................................................................................................................106 7.7 Log of Valve Control ...................................................................................................................108 8 Interface Details...................................................................................................................................110