To eliminate time spent by staff checking sprinkler moisture levels at its 10 parks and to cut down water use from leaving sprinklers on too long the Recreation Department of Scottsdale, Arizona needed a control system.

The department, however, did not turn to traditional plumbing solutions, but instead eyed the control system it used to light its fields, tennis and volleyball courts. Lights illuminating those areas are equipped with button timers that allow light usage for one hour. The lights, are connected to a computer network that automatically disables lights during daylight hours. The system also allows the recreation department to program, operate and monitor the entire parks network from a personal computer in their office.

What made the parks staff turn to the lighting control system for sprinklers was the fact that the system has the capability to control any switch or analog-oriented load.

As a result, the department consulted the manufacturer, who studied the unusual request.

Design Goals
The Scottsdale Recreation Department wanted one control system to control both the lights and the sprinklers. They also wanted to enable and disable the sprinklers by time-of-day control and switch control. This was made possible by PCI Lighting Control Systems.

What were the constraints?
To add another system to control the sprinklers would cost the Recreation Department money, not to mention that they would need to learn how the system works. Using one system to control lighting and the sprinklers is simpler and it was already paid for.

What were the greatest challenges?
Similar applications have been accomplished by PCI Lighting Control Systems, however we have not controlled sprinklers before. We needed to make sure that we had thought of every event possible that would effect the sprinklers and the lighting, and plan accordingly.

What prompted the decision to use controls?
The staff of the Scottsdale Recreation Department already new and liked the PCI Lighting Control System. They did not need to learn anything new or install any more equipment. Every thing they needed was only keystrokes away.

Was there a champion for the use of controls?
The staff of Scottsdale Recreation Department realized the potential of the system, like so many of the users of the PCI Lighting Control Systems.

Solutions
The addition of two relays at each lighting control panel: one for the sprinkler system and one for the switch disable.

The use of one momentary switch input.

Wiring a momentary switch with an "on" wire.

Running that "on" wire through the system's disable relay termination, and then connecting it to the "on" of the sprinkler-switch input channel.

Paralleling the "on" of the sprinkler-switch input channel to the "on" of the adjacent sprinkler disable-switch input channel.

Not connecting the momentary "off" wire.

Programming a 10-minute timer on the sprinkler switch and a second timer to disable the switch after activation.

The revised system also is programmed to run sprinklers on a time-of-day schedule that activates the disable relay when sprinklers need to be turned off. It, in turn, switches the disable relay off when sprinklers need to operate.

The sprinkler schedule can be overridden through the PC, any touch-tone phone (with access code) or by pushing the button timer.

Benefits
One complete packaged system to control the parks.

Staff members affirm that the lighting system is dependable, and that it is easy to control a simple switch, PC command, or touch-tone code can all turn on the lights or sprinklers.

All PCI Lighting Control Systems comes with a computer program that makes it's programming even easier. This computer program which we call the Supervisor can issue commands and control your lights or sprinklers from a central computer over an RS-485 network. This Off-Line editor is a big advantage to your system.

An optional Telephone Interface Module allows you to use touch-tone access codes to control your lighting from any touch-tone phone. You can turn the sprinklers on from your own home.

Switches can be assign timers that will automatically turn themselves off after a certain amount of time. Some of our products even allow switch to be prioritized.

Specifications & Credits
Controls Manufacturer :  PCI Lighting Control Systems, Inc.
Size :  10 Parks, containing ball fields, tennis and volleyball courts
Completed :  Still Growing