Flow-Clik - Programming the Interface Box

Using the Flow-Clik Interface Box, the sensor is calibrated by pressing the Calibrate button while the highest flow zone is operating.  While the system is learning the flow, the System Status Indicator light will be yellow.  After a 10 second period of learning it will begin to monitor system flow.

 
If you already know the highest flow zone within the system:
 
  1. Turn the Startup Delay dial to the 0 second position.
  2. Turn the Interrupt Period dial to the Sensor Bypass/Calibrate position.
  3. Manually activate the zone with the highest flow.
  4. While the zone is operating, press and hold the Calibrate button on the Interface Box. The System Status Indicator light will change to yellow during the calibration process. Once the Flow-Clik has finished “learning” the system’s high flow zone, the light will turn to flashing green which means that the calibration process is complete and flow is occurring.
  5. Turn the irrigation system off and set the Startup Delay and Interrupt Period settings on the Interface Box (see Setting the Startup Delay and Interrupt Period).

Note: Before calibrating the Flow-Clik to your system, it is very important that the irrigation system be in good working condition. Irrigation system leaks, broken sprinklers, zones operating outside specified pressure ranges, will have a negative effect on the performance of the Flow-Clik.

Flow Estimate Calibration Method
In some cases, you may not know the zone with the highest flow. A guideline that will help you easily determine which zone valve has the highest flow (GPM) is to count the number of sprinklers on each zone. If there are zones with both sprays and rotors operating in the irrigation system, you can multiply each spray head by 2.0 GPM, each medium range rotor by 4.0 GPM, and each large range rotor by 15.0 GPM for a general estimate of total flow for each zone.
For a more accurate determination of total flow for each zone, it is recommended that you measure the nozzle pressure at each sprinkler zone and then look up the nozzle flow at that specific pressure in the nozzle performance data section of the manufacturer product catalog. Once a determination is made of the highest flow zone, you can use the procedure above to calibrate the Flow-Clik to the system.
 
For example, Figure 1 (on the following page) shows a typical zone using I-20 rotors. To estimate the total flow of the zone:
 
  1. Determine the approximate water pressure at the base of the sprinklers in each zone while the system is operating. In the illustrative example it has been determined that the sprinkler pressure in zone 4 is 50 psi.
  2. Identify the model of sprinkler and its associated nozzle for each valve. Valve 4 has Hunter I-20 rotors that have various nozzles based on the distance of throw and the arc of coverage needed. For reference, the quantities of each type of sprinkler and nozzle configuration for zone 4 is identified in the attached irrigation legend.
  3. Determine the flow rate for each sprinkler and nozzle configuration. Based upon information found in the Hunter Catalog the associated flows for each Hunter I-20 sprinkler and nozzle configuration is listed in the attached irrigation legend.
  4. Determine the total flow of all sprinklers on the zone. The total flow of zone 4 in this example is 18.9 GPM as identified in the irrigation legend.

 

Manual Cycle Method

You can also use your controller to help calibrate the Flow-Clik in a system with unknown flow rates among zones. This method is easy, accurate and prevents the user from having to count and estimate system zone flows. Simply operate your controller manually and sequentially “learn” as you cycle through each of the zones.

To calibrate the Flow-Clik with the Manual Cycle Method:
  1. Turn the Startup Delay dial to the 0 second position.
  2. Turn the Interrupt Period dial to the Sensor Bypass/Calibrate position.
  3. Start a manual cycle on the controller beginning with the first zone (for Hunter controllers, use the One Touch Manual Advance feature).
  4. Press and hold the Flow-Clik Calibrate button on the Interface Box for 5 seconds. The System Status Indicator will change to yellow indicating that the Flow-Clik is “learning” the flow of the zone. Release the button when the yellow light appears. When finished calibrating, the System Status Indicator will begin to flash green.
  5. Advance the controller sequentially to the next zone. Wait a few seconds for a change in the System Status Indicator. If the indicator begins flashing red, repeat Step 4. If the indicator continues to flash green, advance the controller to the next zone.
  6. Repeat until all zones have been checked.
  7. Set the Startup Delay and Interrupt Period settings on the Interface Box (see Setting the Startup Delay and Interrupt Period).

Note: If your controller is programmed to operate more than one zone at a time, those zones will have to be activated together to calibrate the Flow-Clik to total system flow.

 

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