Baseline Systems BaseStation 3200 V12 - Manual (Page 11)

BaseStation 3200 Advanced Irrigation Controller Manual
Lastly, the irrigation manager breaks the parking lot and perimeter shrub beds into two scheduling
groups representing sunny and shady exposures.
In this way, the irrigation manager is able to configure 42 individual zones into 5 scheduling groups
that are controlled by 5 soil moisture sensors.
In the example above, the irrigation manager would configure the 5 scheduling groups for the
Upper Limit or Lower Limit watering strategy based on readings from the associated soil moisture
sensors. However, each scheduling group can be watered according to any watering strategy
appropriate for that section of the landscape.
Choosing the Primary Zone for a Scheduling Group
Because the zones in a scheduling group are naturally similar, any zone in a group can make a good
primary zone (the zone where the sensor is located). For large scheduling groups, or scheduling
groups with a higher level of variation in sun or wind exposure, choose a primary zone that:
• Requires irrigation the most frequently
• Has an average or greater sun and wind exposure for the scheduling group
IMPORTANT NOTE! The primary zone must be configured in the BaseStation 3200 system at an
address with a lower number than the other zones within the same scheduling group. For example,
if zones 1 – 50 are in one scheduling group, zone 1 would be the primary zone. For retrofits, you
may need to renumber your zones in order to meet this requirement.
Choosing the Sensor Location
You will achieve the best results by locating the biSensor in an area that is average for the zone and
ideally for the entire scheduling group. Avoid the following areas:
• Drainage areas where irrigation or rainwater pools or is channeled
• Areas immediately around hardscapes or that receive runoff water from hardscapes or
buildings
As long as the location of the sensor is average for the zone, you should achieve excellent water
efficiency.
Dealing with Slopes and Berms
Steep slopes and berms are possibly the most difficult landscape areas to irrigate efficiently. The
main issue is runoff, but often subsurface drainage issues result in low areas that get soaking wet
and high areas that are bone dry. When a berm is constructed, the central mass is typically
compacted, which can also cause water movement and drainage issues.
Soil moisture sensors are an excellent tool to optimize watering for slopes and berms because the
sensor can detect how much irrigation water is actually infiltrating the upper levels of the slope or
berm.
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