RAIN BIRD E-6c User Manual (2024)

SET MONTH

SET DAY

SET TIME

DAY CYCLE

WATER DAY

PROGRAM START TIME

STATION RUN TIME

WATER

BUDGET

Have a question, problem, or comment? In the United States, call Rain Bird Technical Assistance at 800-247-3782. Outside the United States, call your Rain Bird dealer.

©2000 Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.

®Registered trademark of Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg. Corp.

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WARNING: A CIRCUIT BREAKER OR CUTOFF SWITCH IS TO BE PROVIDED IN THE FIXED WIRING TO ISOLATE THE CONTROLLER.

MEMORY IS RETAINED BY A BATTERY WHICH IS TO BE DISPOSED OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH LOCAL REGULATIONS.

CAUTION ICONS

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electronic shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.

CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY TO EUROPEAN DIRECTIVES

Rain Bird declares that the Ec device, an irrigation controller, conforms to the 72/23/CEE European Directives for electrical safety and to 89/336/CEE and 93/31/CEE concerning electromagnetic compatibility. The applicable standards in accordance with the technical file are :

EN 60065 for electrical safety.

EN 50081-1 ed 92 for interference.

EN 50082-1 ed 92 for interference resistance. The Ec type device is powered by 230V~,50Hz, single phase.

INTRODUCTION

Ec Controller

Thank you for purchasing a Rain Bird Ec irrigation system controller. This manual shows how to install, program, and operate your controller. Please read these instructions carefully and keep this manual in a handy place for future reference.

The Rain Bird Ec is a compact, easy-to-use controller that offers the following features:

•Three programs, with independent watering days

•Up to four watering start times per program

•Option to set any day of the week as a watering day

•Water budgeting feature across all programs

•Battery backup to retain time, date, and programming during power outages

•Three year warranty

Controller Stations

DIAGRAM 1

The Rain Bird Ec controller is an electronic timer that controls when your sprinkler system turns on, and how long the sprinklers run.

Depending on the model, the Ec can control four, six, or nine watering “stations.” A station is a series of sprinklers, or other irrigation devices, connected to a common remote control valve. When the valve receives a signal from the controller, the valve opens and turns on the sprinklers connected to it.

This illustration shows a diagram of a station layout. Station 1 is currently watering. When station 1 finishes, the controller shuts it off and turns on station 2. When station 2 finishes watering, station 3 begins, and so on.

What Is a Program?

Programming is the process of telling the controller exactly when and how long you want to water. The controller opens and closes the remote control valves for each station according to the program you set.

The Ec offers three independent programs; A, B, and C. Each program controls from one to six stations, and lets you customize your watering schedules to meet the needs of different types of plants, soil conditions, slopes, shady or sunny areas, etc.

Ec Controller

You will need to understand the following terms to successfully program your Ec controller.

•Watering day cycle — The period of days in which the controller repeats the program you set. For example, a 7-day cycle is a weekly schedule that repeats once every seven days. A 2-day cycle repeats every other day.

•Watering days — The specific days within the watering day cycle when watering takes place. In a 7-day cycle, you may select multiple watering days within the cycle. For example, you might water on day 1 (Monday), day 3 (Wednesday), and day 5 (Friday). In a 1- through 6-day cycle, day 1 is always the only watering day. A 2-day cycle waters on day 1, skips a day, and then waters again on day 1 as the cycle repeats. A 3-day cycle waters on day 1, skips 2 days, and then repeats.

•Start time — This is the time, or times, the first station in a program begins watering. All other stations in the program then follow in sequence.

NOTE: The term ”start time” refers to the time the program begins — not the time each individual station begins to run.

•Run time — The number of minutes that each station runs.

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CONTROLLER BASICS

Programming Under Battery Power

If you wish, you can program the controller under battery power. This feature can be useful if the controller is installed in an area that is not readily accessible. This feature also allows you to enter program information before installing the controller at a job site.

To program the Ec controller under battery power, you must first install the battery.

NOTE: To save battery power, the Ec goes into “Sleep” mode after 40 seconds of inactivity on the programming dial or buttons. Press any button once to reactivate the controller.

Installing the Battery

DIAGRAM 2

The battery back-up feature retains time, date, and programming information during power outages. The battery also lets you program the controller under battery power before it is connected to an AC power supply.

For best results, use a long-life, 9-Volt alkaline battery. A new battery will normally provide power for up to one year. Replace the battery yearly to ensure an uninterrupted power supply.

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NOTE: Make sure the controller is connected to an AC power supply when replacing the battery, or you will lose all programming information including date and time.

To install the battery:

1.Remove the controller’s lower access cover to expose the battery compartment.

2.Snap the two-wire battery clip onto the terminals of the new battery. If you are replacing an old battery, dispose of the old battery properly.

3.Insert the new battery snugly into the battery compartment.

4.Replace the lower access cover.

Diagnostic Circuit Breaker

DIAGRAM 3

If the Ec controller detects an electrical short circuit on one of the sprinkler system’s station wires or valve solenoids, the controller automatically shuts off the station with the fault. After 30 to 40 seconds, while it checks again to confirm the fault, the controller advances to the next working station in the program.

Ec Controller

Every three seconds, the LCD displays the problem station’s number and the letters “Err.” The controller will continue to run each operable station in the program. As each station is running, the controller (at an alternate 3-second interval) displays the working station’s number and run time remaining.

When the controller finishes the program, it will continue to display the problem station’s number and the “Err” message.

After the program finishes, you should isolate and repair the short circuit. Short circuits occur most frequently in the valve solenoid (the plastic-encapsulated coil on the valve with the two wire leads), or in the wire connectors to the valve leads.

After you find and repair the short circuit, turn the programming dial to AUTO. Then press ENTER to clear the “Err” message from the display. You may wish to operate the station manually to make sure it works properly. (See “Manually Run a Station(s)” on p. 19).

The LCD display shown in Diagram 3 indicates that the controller has detected a short circuit on station 2.

Controls and Indicators

DIAGRAM 4

This illustration shows the programming controls on the face of the Ec controller. These controls include:

1.Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) — During normal operation, displays the time of day and the programs that will run today. During programming, shows the results of your commands. During watering, shows the station that is running, the minutes remaining in the station’s run time, and whether another program is waiting to water.

2.+ and - buttons — Set start times and days, and make programming changes.

3.Programming dial — Turns the controller to OFF or AUTO modes, and selects other programming functions.

4.PROGRAM button — Selects watering programs A, B, or C.

5.ENTER button — Enters programming commands, and starts manual operation.

Programming Checklist

To program your Ec controller for the first time, we recommend that you complete the steps in the order listed to the right.

For your convenience, a check-off box ( ) is provided for each step.

Controller Programming Chart

Before programming your Ec controller, fill out the Programming Chart included with your controller. Then program the controller in the order shown on the Programming Checklist.

1.Select the watering day cycle you wish to use, and circle the watering days within the cycle. In the example shown for program A, the operator has chosen a 7-day watering cycle and circled M, W, and F as watering days. This means that program A will water every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

NOTE: If you plan to use only one program for your watering needs, select program A.

2.For program B, the operator selected a 3-day watering cycle. With these selections, program B will water once, skip two days, and then water again on the first day of a new three day cycle.

3.You may also choose three special watering day cycles that do not require you to select watering days. These cycles are:

•Ev = Waters only on even-numbered days of the month.

•Od = Waters only on odd-numbered days of the month.

•Od31 = Waters only on odd-numbered days of the month, but not on the 31st of any month or on February 29. (This watering day cycle complies with special ordinances in some water-restricted areas).

4.In the Program Start Times box for program A, write the time you want the program to begin watering. You may assign up to four start times to each program. If you want the program to water only once each watering day, enter only one start time. Enter other start times only if you want to repeat the entire program more than once each watering day.

5.Enter the start time(s) for program B (if any). In the example, Program A begins watering at 7 a.m. Program B begins watering twice each watering day, once at 5 a.m. (05:00) and again at 3 p.m. (15:00)

NOTE: If the total run time for one program overlaps the start time for a second program, the controller will automatically “stack” the programs and delay the start time of the second program until the first program finishes watering.

6.Next to each station number, enter a brief description of the area covered by each controller station. Remember, a “station” is a set of sprinklers operated by one remote control valve.

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7.In the Run Time column for each program, enter the number of minutes you want each station to run.

Notice that stations 1 through 4 are assigned to program A, while stations 5 and 6 are assigned to program B.

The Ec allows you to use the same station in multiple programs for special watering needs. However, for most applications, choosing not to repeat a station makes programming simpler.

NOTE: Any Water Budget setting applies to all programs (A, B, and C).

Ec Controller