EVOLUTION

®

Series Add-On:

Precision

™

Soil Sensor

Introduction

Congratulations on purchasing Toro’s new EVOLUTION® controller with the Precision™ Soil Sensor add-on. With the

Precision™ Soil Sensor add-on, you will quickly realize savings in both time and money while keeping your garden healthy and beautiful.

Specifications

• Power Supply: 4.5 VDC supplied by three size-AA alkaline batteries

• Housing Material: High-impact, UV-resistant ABS

• Moisture Protection: Electronic circuitry encased in solid epoxy; battery compartment sealed by O-ring

• Signal Quality Indicator: Tri-colored (Red, Yellow, Green) LED

• Stainless steel electrodes

• Built-in installation anchor stakes

• RF reception range: 500’ (152 m) LOS (line of sight)

• Operating Temperature: 14° F – 131° F (-10°C to +55°C)

LISTED

FCC-ID: OF753851

IC: 3575A-53851

Table of Contents

Overview 3

EVOLUTION® Smart Connect

®

4

Fine Tuning the Moisture Level 8

Add the Sensor to the Controller

Install and Calibrate the Sensor

Soil 7

Navigating the Menu Interface 7

Getting to the Sensors Menu 7

5

6

Appendix A: The Low Threshold Setting

Appendix B: Site Selection and Earth Installation

11

12

2

Overview

The Precision™ Soil Sensor Add-On works with the EVOLUTION® Smart Connect

It is possible to add up to three soil sensors per controller.

®

receiver.

LED Signal

Indicator

(sold separately)

3

Installation

EVOLUTION ® Smart Connect

®

1 2

Precision ™ Soil Sensor

Battery Installation

The Soil Sensor works on three “AA” Alkaline or Lithium batteries (not included).

1. Remove four Phillips screws securing the sensor battery compartment cover (Figure 1). Set cover aside.

2. Install the batteries (Figure 2).

3. Ensure the O-ring is in place then install the battery compartment cover.

When batteries are initially installed, the LED signal indicator is red. When the receiver links with the sensor, the LED changes to green. The LED will remain on for 30 minutes to facilitate sensor installation.

4

Figure 1

3

Figure 2

AA

AA

AA

4

Sensor Setup

Implement the following two procedures to successfully setup

Toro’s Precision™ Soil Sensor:

1. “Add” the sensor to the controller for successful wireless communication.

2. Calibrate the sensor for proper irrigation operation.

1. Add the Sensor to the Controller

Every soil sensor has a unique

ID number. That number must be “added” to the controller.

1. Press ADVANCED then .

2. to ADD/REMOVE

DEVICE.

to confirm.

ADVANCED

ZONE DETAILS

SCHEDULE STARTS

SCHEDULE DETAILS

SENSORS

ADD/REMOVE DEVICE

3. to SOIL 1. to ADD.

ADD/REMOVE DEVICE

WS

SOIL 1

SOIL 2

SOIL 3

AUX 2

ADD

ADD

ADD

ADD

ADD

to confirm.

4. The EVOLUTION® controller waits for the identification signal from the soil sensor.

ADD/REMOVE DEVICE

INSTALL BATTERY OR

WAIT FOR SIGNAL

MAY TAKE 30 MINUTES

CANCEL

• If the soil sensor has had batteries installed in the last 30

minutes, the controller should detect and add the sensor immediately.

• If the sensor is out in the field, it could take up to a half an hour to detect and add the sensor.

• One can remove and reinstall the soil sensor’s batteries to achieve immediate sensor detection.

5

5. The controller will detect the soil sensor. Confirm that the sensor ID detected matches the sensor’s SN ID.

ADD/REMOVE DEVICE

SOIL 1

DEVICE ID 05952

1. After selecting YES from the previous screen, follow the onscreen instructions below. Install the soil sensor in the ground.

(See Appendix B: Site Selection and Earth Installation for complete instructions on good sensor location.)

CORRECT? YES

6. If it does match, press and continue to Calibrate the

Sensor .

If it does not match, change YES to NO, press , and repeat steps 3-5.

2. Install and Calibrate the Sensor

The Precision™ Soil Sensor interprets soil moisture content on a scale of 0% (extremely dry) to 100% (very wet). The key to understanding how to calibrate a soil sensor is that the operator

must teach the 100% moisture level to the sensor.

ADD/REMOVE DEVICE

INSTALL SENSOR

IN GROUND

SIGNAL STRENGTH

CONTINUE

If soil sensor is not installed in the ground within that 30 minute “window”, the controller removes the sensor and installation will have to be redone.

2. Return to the controller and confirm that the signal strength (see above graphic) is good. If signal strength is weak, relocate the sensor to a spot closer to the controller.

3. Press when satisfied.Use the and to adjust the calibration setting (default 5: approximately a 1-day

“watch window”). Press .

The “Cal Setting” number adjusts the time it takes to calibrate the sensor. A Cal Setting of ‘0’ calibrates the sensor to the current moisture level in the ground. The

6

calibration will be set using the next sensor reading

(within 30 minutes).

Additional calibration settings are available. From ‘1’ (~1 day “watch window”) to ‘168’ (~7 day “watch window”).

ADD/REMOVE DEVICE

CAL SETTING 5

CALIBRATE NOW?

YES

4. Move to the YES field after CALIBRATE NOW?

Press . Sensor calibration begins.

5. Press to return to the Home screen. A message on the bottom of the Home screen indicates that the sensor is calibrating. The message clears when calibration is finished.

HOME

11:18AM

TUE

10/29

SCHEDULE A

NOT WATERING TODAY

SOIL 1 CALIBRATING

The Soil Sensor Menu

The EVOLUTION® controller’s Soil Sensor menu displays sensor information as well as allows the user to modify certain settings.

Navigating the Menu Interface

• Use or to navigate the menu commands.

• To change a value, press or to move to the desired field, then press and to adjust the value.

• Press to input the desired value.

Getting to the Sensors Menu

1. Press ADVANCED then .

2. Press to SENSORS. Press .

ADVANCED

ZONE RUNTIMES

ZONE DETAILS

SCHEDULE STARTS

SCHEDULE DETAILS

SENSORS

7

3. Press to select the desired soil sensor.

SENSORS

A B C

RAIN - -

WEATHER - - -

SOIL 1 - -

SOIL 2 - - -

5. Press until the Soil Sensor menu appears.

SOIL 1 SENSOR

MOISTURE NOW 100%

SIGNAL STRENGTH

BATTERY LEVEL GOOD

CALIBRATE START

4. To add a sensor to a schedule:

Press or to select the desired Schedule (A, B, or C).

Press or selected schedule.

to make the sensor active for the

-

: Sensor is active.

: Sensor is disabled.

In the screen above, a rain sensor is assigned to schedule B and a soil sensor to schedule A.

Menu Settings

MOISTURE NOW

This displays the current moisture level, as a percentage, of the soil. 100% is the soil level set after the first calibration

(see Calibrate the Sensor, page 6).

LOW THRESHOLD

This is the point at which the soil sensor will let the controller resume irrigation of the landscape. If you were to compare the soil to a gas tank, the “low threshold” would be the point at which you refill the gas tank.

For a detailed explanation of the low threshold setting, please read Appendix A of this manual.

8

Fine-tuning the “Low Threshold” Moisture Level

Changes to the 50% setting should be made initially in 5% increments in order to see results within a few days. The objective is to find the moisture setting that results in a mild stress condition in the lawn, indicated by slight wilting and dryness. At that point, adjust the setting 5% in the opposite direction. This should result in moisture maintenance level that’s very close to optimum.

1. Press or to increase or decrease the Low

Threshold point by 1%.

2. Press to input the desired value.

SIGNAL STRENGTH

Indicates signal strength as a series of bars ( ).

BATTERY LEVEL

Indicates the battery strength in the soil sensor.

CALIBRATE

Calibration is required to establish the maximum amount of usable moisture in the soil. The sensor will then recognize this soil moisture level as the maximum capacity (100%). From this fixed reference point, the sensor determines when the soil moisture has dropped enough (to the “Low Threshold”) to allow watering.

Manual calibration : At some point, it might be necessary to recalibrate the sensor (in the event of a sensor relocation for example).

1. Run an automatic or manual watering operation to thoroughly irrigate the sensor zone.

2. Go to the Sensor Menu of the soil sensor to calibrate.

3. Press to

CAL SETTING

to the number field. Use or

. Use to move

to adjust the calibration number (default 5: approximately a 1-day

“watch window”). Press to confirm.

SOIL SENSOR

LOW THRESHOLD 50%

SIGNAL STRENGTH

BATTERY LEVEL GOOD

CALIBRATE CANCEL

CAL SETTING 5

The “Cal Setting” number adjusts the time it takes to calibrate the sensor. A Cal Setting of ‘0’ calibrates the sensor to the current moisture level in the ground. The calibration will be set using the next sensor reading

(within 30 minutes).

Additional calibration settings are available. From ‘1’ (~1 day “watch window”) to ‘168’ (~7 day “watch window”).

9

4. Press to CALIBRATE. to START.

to confirm.

SOIL SENSOR

MOISTURE NOW 100%

LOW THRESHOLD 50%

SIGNAL STRENGTH

BATTERY LEVEL GOOD

CALIBRATE

FREEZE OFF AT

Freeze Off is the temperature at which irrigation will be turned off due to cold temperatures.

SOIL SENSOR

CALIBRATE

CAL SETTING

FREEZE OFF AT

5

39°F

ID 00 59 52

CURRENT TEMP 81 ° F

5. START will turn to CANCEL.

Over the specified time period (see note above), the soil sensor will “learn” the 100% mark and transmit that information to the controller. At the end of the time period, soil sensor calibration is done.

6. If you have not already directed the soil sensor to control a schedule (page 8), please do so now.

1. or raises or lowers the temperature value.

2. Press to input the value.

ID

Displays the ID of the selected soil sensor.

CURRENT TEMP

Displays the temperature of the sensor at ground level (not at

“spike” level).

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Review Screen

The Review screen allows operators to review settings for the various sensors added to the controller.

1. Press the Review button.

2. Press to the SOIL SENSOR. Press .

REVIEW

SCHEDULE A

SCHEDULE B

AUX 2

RAIN SENSOR

SOIL SENSOR

3. Use to scroll through the various sensor settings.

REVIEW

SOIL SENSOR

ADJUST ---

RAIN STATUS

SENSOR TEMP

SIGNAL STRENGTH

WET

81°F

Appendix A: The Low Threshold Setting

Landscape plants are the heartiest when their roots become established several inches down where water is stored for the longest period of time. Watering often, for short periods of time, promotes root growth near the top of the soil, where the moisture evaporates quickly.

100%

Waste

Capacity

Optimum

50%

Stress

Permanent Wilt

0%

The key to maintaining healthy plants with minimum water waste is to water thoroughly–only when it’s needed. The Precision™ Soil Sensor is preset to restrict watering until the soil moisture level drops to 50% of capacity, or 1/2 of the total moisture that can be retained in the soil. If you were to draw a comparison to a car’s fuel tank, 50% of the soil moisture capacity would be similar to using 1/2 of the fuel in the tank before stopping to refill. A 50% setting restricts the sprinklers from refilling the soil to capacity until 1/2 of the moisture has been lost; causing the roots to go deeper for water. With the capability to adjust the setting incrementally from 0% to 100%, the Precision

Soil Sensor can be fine-tuned for virtually any soil condition.

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Appendix B: Site Selection and Earth Installation

Site Selection

Choosing the right location for the sensor is important for the overall effectiveness of the Precision Soil Sensor system.

The below graphic represents a typical residential landscape. ‘X’ indicate good locations for sensor placement.

• well within receiver communication range

(500’ line-of-sight)

• at least 4 feet away from a driveway, roof overhang or downspout

• not in a footpath or recreational area

• not exposed to overspray from nearby watering zones

X

X

= good sensor location

X

X

For your garden, make sure the site selected is:

• representative of the overall soil type and condition

• the highest elevation

• not over a septic tank or drain field

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Earth Installation

1. Move the sensor to the proposed installation site.

Signal strength is indicated by the LED color as follows:

Green = Excellent

Yellow = Acceptable

Red = Not Acceptable -

Relocate Sensor

LED Signal

Indicator

2. Thoroughly irrigate the sensor location and surrounding landscape area. This step is crucial to establish the “100%” moisture level for sensor calibration.

3. Trim the grass close to ground level where the sensor will be placed.

!

For close-cut turf varieties, such as Hybrid Bermuda, the top of the sensor must be installed at grade level to prevent damage by mowing equipment.

Tall Fescue Turf Hybrid Bermuda Turf

4. Applying even, downward pressure on top of the sensor, insert the sensor probes and retention spikes completely into the soil.

FCC Statement

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment generates interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment on and off, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:

1. Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

2. Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

3. Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.

4. Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

The user may find the following booklet prepared by the Federal

Communications Commission helpful: “How To Identify and Resolve

Radio-TV Interference Problems”. This booklet is available from the U.S.

Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Stock No. 004-

000-00345-4.

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Toro Support

Toro Commitment to Quality

Toro is committed to developing and producing the highest quality, best performing, most dependable products on the market. Because your satisfaction is our first priority, we have provided the Toro Helpline to assist you with any questions or problems that may arise. If for some reason you are not satisfied with your purchase or have questions, please contact us toll free at 1-877-345-8676.

Warranty

The Toro Company and its affiliate, Toro Warranty Company, pursuant to an agreement between them, jointly warrants, to the owner, against defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of purchase. Neither The Toro Company nor Toro Warranty Company is liable for failure of products not manufactured by them, even though such products may be sold or used in conjunction with Toro products.

During such warranty period, we will repair or replace, at our option, any part found to be defective. Return the defective part to the place of purchase. Our liability is limited solely to the replacement or repair of defective parts. There are no other express warranties. This warranty does not apply where equipment is used, or installation is performed, in any manner contrary to Toro’s specifications and instructions, nor where equipment is altered or modified. Neither The Toro Company nor Toro

Warranty Company is liable for indirect, incidental or consequential damages in connection with the use of equipment, including but not limited to: vegetation loss, the cost of substitute equipment or services required during periods of malfunction or resulting non-use, property damage or personal injury resulting from installer’s negligence.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitation or exclusion may not apply to you. All implied warranties, including those of merchantability and fitness for use, are limited to the duration of this express warranty.

Some states do not allow limitations of how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may have other rights which vary from state to state.

Australian Warranty Statement

This product comes with a manufacturer’s guarantee against defects in material and workmanship when used for its intended purpose. Our obligation under this guarantee is limited to the repair or replacement of the product at our discretion for the period stated. In the event of a claim, you must immediately cease using the product and return the product, together with your proof of purchase and an explanation of the fault to the store you purchased it from. All costs associated with the return of the product are the purchasers’ responsibility. To process the warranty, the retailer must contact Toro Australia via their representative or the phone number listed below.

Our goods come with guarantees that cannot be excluded under the

Australian Consumer Law. You are entitled to a replacement or refund for a major failure and for compensation for any other reasonably foreseeable loss or damage. You are also entitled to have the goods repaired or replaced if the goods fail to be of acceptable quality and the failure does not amount to a major failure.

Toro Australia Pty Ltd, 53 Howards Road, Beverley SA 5009 1300 130

898, [email protected]

14 ©2014 The Toro Company, Irrigation Division • www.toro.com • 1-877-345-8676 (US and Canada) [email protected] (international)

Form Number 373-0807 Rev. B