ESP-LXME Controller Installation, Programming & Operation Guide
Symbols Regulatory Information NOTE: Symbol is intended to alert the user to important bb operating functionality, installation or maintenance instructions. WARNING: Symbol alerts the user to the presence of electricity cc or electromagnetic energy which may constitute a risk of electric shock, radiation exposure or other hazard. CAUTION: Symbol is intended to alert the user to important dd instructions or conditions that could seriously affect irrigation effectivity or controller operation.
Contents Section A - Introduction & Overview.................... 1 Welcome to Rain Bird........................................................ 1 ESP-LXME Controller......................................................... 1 Controller Features...................................................................................1 Controls, Switches and Indicators.....................................................2 Basic Operation................................................................................
Section D - Advanced Programming................... 31 Seasonal Adjust %..........................................................31 Adjust Individual Program.................................................................31 Adjust By Month.....................................................................................32 Select Months to Adjust.................................................................32 Select Programs To Adjust.............................................................
Section F - Options & Special Features............... 77 Set Language...................................................................77 Set Hours Mode...............................................................77 Backup and Recall Programs..........................................78 Store Default Programs.......................................................................78 Recall Default Programs......................................................................79 Delayed Recall................
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Section A - Introduction & Overview Welcome to Rain Bird Thank you for purchasing your new state-of-the-art Rain Bird ESPLXME controller. For over seven decades Rain Bird has led the irrigation industry in meeting water management needs by providing the highest quality products and services available. ESP-LXME Controller Your new Rain Bird controller is designed to provide years of highly manageable irrigation control. The ESP-LXME is an irrigation controller designed for commercial use.
Controls, Switches and Indicators D Display E Programming Buttons Key operational features of the ESP-LXME Controller front panel: A Programming Dial Used for programming and to turn the controller on and off. B Weather Sensor Switch C Program Select Switch Set the controller to obey or ignore input from an optional sensor. See Section B, Weather Sensor Bypassed/Active Switch for more details. Select Watering Program A, B, C, or D. See Section B, Program Select Switch for more details.
The ESP-LXME lets you set a delay between stations. For example, if you set a one minute delay, station 1 will run until finished, followed by a one minute delay. Then station 2 will run, followed by another one minute delay, and so on. See Section D, Station Delay for more details. Basic Operation Valves (or stations) operate at times as specified by irrigation programs. The controller sends power to the first valve solenoid to open.
ESP-LXME Model Variants Rain Bird offers different variants of the ESP-LXME controller, depending on your irrigation requirements. Available options include: Model The FSM-LXME Flow Smart Module is the standard base module for ESP-LXMEF Controller models. The FSM-LXME provides the standard Base Module inputs and outputs and also includes a flow sensor input.
ESPLXM-SM Station Modules ESPLXM-SM Station Modules install in module slots 1 through 4 and provide wiring terminals for irrigation valves and a valve common. Each ESP-LXME controller comes standard with either an 8 or 12 station module. This can easily be expanded by adding one to three additional Station Expansion Modules. Each station module adds 4, 8, or 12 additional stations to increase capacity to a maximum of 48 stations.
Programming Overview Programming Chart Irrigation Controller Definitions Before you begin programming, fill out the Programming Chart. See the Programming Chart instructions for more details. Programs The process of telling the controller exactly when and for how long you want to water. The controller opens and closes the remote control valves according to a program you set. A Locate the Programming Chart that came with the ESP-LXME controller.
Storing the Programming Chart Return the Programming Chart to a permanent, safe location when you’re finished working with it. We recommend hanging it on the hook inside the controller cabinet door as shown below. A Install a new 9-volt battery in the battery compartment in the back of the front panel. 1 NOTE: To perform remote programming under battery power, bb detach the front panel from the cabinet.
Programming Checklist When programming the ESP-LXME controller for the first time, it is recommended that you complete the following steps in order. 111 1 111 1 111 1 111 1 111 1 4 4 4 4 4 4 44 For your convenience a check-off box is provided for each step. Set Up Hardware Install SM Station Modules........................................................ Page 102 Fill out Programming Chart (see Programming Chart instructions) Clear program information.....................................................
AUTO Automatic Operation The controller will operate automatically with the controller dial set to AUTO. If you forget to return the dial to AUTO, the controller will automatically continue to run programs, unless the dial is set to the OFF position when all irrigation is canceled. Turn the controller dial to AUTO. gg A B The Auto screen is displayed with the current day and time shown. When a program is running in AUTO mode, the station number will display on the screen.
Alarm Conditions An alarm condition can occur when programming omissions or other issues prevent normal irrigation. FloWatch Alarms TM B When an alarm condition is present, the Alarm button label will be present on screen. Press the Alarm button to view alarm details. C Any current alarm conditions will then be displayed. Press the Next button if necessary, to advance to the next page. The controller will alarm for certain flow conditions if you have the optional Flow Smart Module installed.
Resetting the Controller Sometimes you may want to reset (or reboot) the ESP-LXME controller. Using the controller’s reset feature does not change or delete the programs you have programmed into the controller. Turn the controller dial to AUTO. gg A B C D Use a pen or pencil to depress the RESET button. The “Rain Bird” screen appears, confirming reset. 3 4 Open the controller outer cabinet door and inner front panel. Locate the RESET button on the back of the front panel.
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Section B - Basic Programming Program Select Switch Weather Sensor Bypassed/Active Switch Always begin programming by setting the Program Select switch to the desired program. A weather sensor is not required for the ESP-LXME controller, but can increase functionality by allowing you to prevent or pause irrigation based on changing weather conditions. Four independent Programs, A, B, C and D are available in the ESPLXME controller.
Set Current Date Turn the controller dial to Set Current Date. gg C Press + and – to set the current year. 3 A The Set Current Date screen appears. Press the + and – buttons to set the current day; then press Next. B Press the + and – buttons to set the current month; then press Next.
Set Current Time Turn the controller dial to Set Current Time. gg A The Set Current Time screen appears. Press the + and – buttons to set the current hour; then press Next. NOTE: Be sure to set the hour correctly to either AM or PM. bb llPress and HOLD buttons to accelerate settings for hours and minutes. B Press the + and – buttons to set the current minute; then press Next.
Set Watering Start Times A Start times are the time(s) of day that the program begins. You can assign up to eight Start Times per day to a single program. Multiple Start Times allow you to run a program more than once on each day. For example, if you’re growing new lawn seed, you may want to water several times a day to keep the seedbed or top dressing damp. bb NOTE: Start times apply to the entire program and not just to an individual station. Turn the controller dial to Set Watering Start Times.
Select Days to Water Watering Days are the specific days of the week on which irrigation programs are allowed to start. The ESP-LXME controller can be programmed to irrigate on different days, dates and cycles. Regardless of which Watering Cycle you set, the controller will only start the program on the days or dates that you select. For additional information see Watering Cycles later in this section.
Station Run Times Run Times are the number of minutes (or hours and minutes) that each station runs. Station Run Times are particular to programs; so typically stations are set for a single program. Turn the controller dial to Set Station Run Times. gg A The Set Run Times screen appears. Press the + and – buttons on the left to select the station to program. NOTE: If the desired program is not selected, use the Program bb Select switch to change it. See Section B, Program Select Switch for more details.
Section C - System Diagnostics A The Check System screen appears with Confirm Programs selected; press Next. Test All Stations/Check System B The Confirm Programs screen appears with Program Summary selected; press Next. Review and confirm scheduled irrigation Programs, Program Run Times and Station Run Times. Confirm Programs The ESP-LXME controller can make calculations and provide feedback on Start Times and total Run Times for programs and stations.
Review Program Review program information for a station: Turn the controller dial to Test All Stations/Check System. gg C The Watering Start Times review screen appears with start times displayed for the currently selected program. Press Next. NOTE: If the desired program is not selected, use the Program bb Select switch to change it. See Section B, Program Select Switch for more details. D The Watering Day Cycle review screen appears with the current watering day cycle displayed. Press Next.
G The Seasonal Adjust review screen appears with seasonal adjustment percentage displayed. Press Next. K The Station Delay review screen appears with delay time between stations displayed. Press Next. H The Seasonal Adjust by Month review screen appears with seasonal adjustment percentage displayed for the first allowed month. Press the + and – buttons to see Seasonal Adjust percentage for other months as desired; then press Next.
O The Water Window review screen appears with water window open time, close time and duration displayed. Press Next. P The Maximum Number of SimulStations for program review screen appears with the maximum number of stations that can operate simultaneously for that program are displayed. Press Next. o p Q The Maximum Number of SimulStations for controller review screen appears with the maximum number of stations that can operate simultaneously for that controller are displayed. Press Next.
Program Run Time Review total Run Time for an individual program: Turn the controller dial to Test All Stations/Check System. gg C The Total Run Time screen appears and total Run Time is displayed for the currently selected program. NOTE: If the desired program is not selected, use the Program bb Select switch to change it. See Section B, Program Select Switch for more details. 3 A The Check System screen appears with Confirm Programs selected; press Next. B The Confirm Programs screen appears.
Station Run Time Review total Run Time for all stations: C The Sta Run Time Per Day screen appears with total Run Time displayed for the currently selected station in all four programs. For programs where a particular station is not used no runtime will show. D Press the + and – buttons to advance and see additional stations. Turn the controller dial to Test All Stations/Check System. gg 3 A The Check System screen appears with Confirm Programs selected; press Next.
Test All Stations You can test all stations connected to your controller by running each of them in station number sequence. Sometimes this is useful after installation, for general maintenance or as a first step in troubleshooting your system. C D A confirmation screen appears. Once Run is pressed, stations can be monitored and advanced by turning the dial to the AUTO position and using the Adv button. Press the + and – buttons to increase or decrease Run Time minutes for the current station.
Wiring Diagnostics Although finding the exact location of issues in the field often requires some amount of in-the-field troubleshooting, the controller has some built-in features to help you narrow down the possible issues. Before beginning diagnostics, it may be helpful to take the following steps to eliminate possible other causes: Raster Wiring Test The ESP-LXME controller can quickly test to determine if any stations have shorted or open wires or valve solenoids.
C When the test is complete, the results are displayed on the screen. Press the + and - buttons to scroll through all stations that have short circuits or open circuits.
The sensor will display one of five status conditions: Weather Sensor Status Turn the controller dial to Test All Stations/Check System. gg a. Monitoring - sensor is active monitoring current weather conditions. b. installation has not been completed or the sensor is not linked to any stations. c. PAUSING - current weather condition has caused the sensor to pause irrigation. d. PREVENTING - current weather condition has caused the sensor to prevent irrigation. e.
Master Valve Status Turn the controller dial to Test All Stations/Check System. gg A The Check System screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Master Valve Status; then press Next. B The MV Status screen appears, showing the status of the installed master valve.
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Section D - Advanced Programming The ESP-LXME controller has a wide variety of advanced but easy-touse features designed to simplify irrigation. Adjust Individual Program Turn the controller dial to Seasonal Adjust %. gg Seasonal Adjust % Seasonal Adjust % allows you to use the heaviest irrigation season as a baseline and adjust to lesser amounts of watering at other times of the year.
Adjust By Month Select Months to Adjust Turn the controller dial to Seasonal Adjust %. gg C Press the + and – buttons on the left to select the month you would like to adjust. D Press the + and – buttons on the right to set the Seasonal Adjustment percentage (from 0 - 300% ). llPress and HOLD buttons to accelerate settings for percentages. 3 A The Seasonal Adjust screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select By Month; then press Next.
Select Programs To Adjust Turn the controller dial to Seasonal Adjust %. gg C Press the Yes or No buttons to set Monthly Adjust for the current selected program. D To set another program, change the Program Select switch to the desired program; a confirmation appears. 3 A The Seasonal Adjust screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select By Month; then press Next. B The Seasonal Adjust by Month screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Select PGMs; then press Next.
Delay Watering A Rain Delay The Delay Watering screen appears with Rain Delay selected; press Next. B The Rain Delay screen appears. Press the + and – buttons to set the number of days (from 0 to 14 days) for the Rain Delay. The next irrigation date after the Rain Delay calculates and displays automatically. The ESP-LXME controller’s Rain Delay feature lets you discontinue irrigation for a few days after a period of heavy rain.
Calendar Day Off You can schedule certain days of the year as Non-irrigation, such as holidays when landscape may receive heavy use. The ESP-LXME controller can be programmed to suspend irrigation on a particular calendar date, up to 5 different days of the year. A The Delay Watering screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Calendar Day Off; then press Next. B The Calendar Day off screen appears, showing (up to 5) scheduled calendar days off in chronological order.
Water Windows Used to specify certain times of the day/night when irrigation is allowed. Otherwise watering is not allowed outside these “Water Windows”. This is helpful to comply with local regulations which may prohibit irrigation during certain hours. A The Delay Watering screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select PGM Water Window; then press Next. B The Water Window screen appears. Press the + and – buttons to set the time when the Watering Window opens; then press Next.
Station Delay The ESP-LXME controller can be programmed to include a delay between stations. This feature delays the start of the next sequential station in a program after the previous station completes. dd CAUTION: Consider using short Station Delay times, particularly if your watering schedule or Water Window is short. Long delay times could prevent scheduled irrigation from completing prior to the end of the Water Window. See previous Water Windows for more details.
Weather Sensor Custom Prevent Sensors A weather sensor is not required for the ESP-LXME controller, but it can increase functionality by allowing you to prevent or pause irrigation based on changing weather conditions. The ESP-LXME supports one local weather sensor, via a wireless or wired connection to the LXME Controller base module.
Weather Sensor Setup Turn the controller dial to Delay Watering. gg C Press the + and – buttons to set the Settling Time; then press Next. NOTE: Settling time is how long a weather condition must last bb before the controller takes action. For example, if a freeze sensor has a 5 minute settling time then the temperature would have to remain below the sensor’s threshold set point for 5 minutes before irrigation is paused. Settling time can be set for immediate (0 seconds) or up to 10 minutes long.
Advanced Settings Custom, Odd, Odd no 31st, Even Watering Day Cycles The process for setting up Custom, Odd, Odd no 31st, and Even Watering Cycles is very similar. The ESP-LXME controller supports a variety of flexible watering day cycle options. Turn the controller dial to Advanced Settings. gg Watering Cycle Definitions Custom Days: irrigation starts on selected days of the week. Odd Dates: irrigation starts on all odd numbered calendar days, such as the 1st, 3rd, 5th, etc.
C The Custom screen appears. Press the Yes button to allow irrigation to start on a given day or press No to prevent irrigation from starting. D Press the Next and Back buttons to navigate through the days of the week and repeat the selection process as desired. A The Advanced Settings screen appears with Watering Day Cycles selected; press Next. B The Watering Cycle screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Cyclical Days; press Next.
E The Watering Day Cycle screen appears. Press the Yes button to allow irrigation to start on a given day of the week or else press No to prevent irrigation from starting. F Press the Next and Back buttons to navigate through the days of the week and repeat the selection process as desired. 5 f Change the Program Select switch and repeat this process to set ee Cyclical Watering for other programs as desired. NOTE: Watering day selections carry over to Watering Days dial bb positions and vice-versa.
Set Up SimulStationsTM The ESP-LXME controller defaults to operating a single station at a time. Systems with larger water sources may support operating two or more stations simultaneously. SimulStations control the maximum number of stations that are allowed to operate at the same time. The number of SimulStations available depends on the number of station modules that are installed. Maximum SimulStations A The Advanced Settings screen appears.
Set SimulStationsTM for Controller NOTE: The LXME SimulStations settings will supersede programbb level settings. For example, if the LXME setting is 2 but three programs have a maximum setting of 4, then only 2 stations will be allowed to run simultaneously. Turn the controller dial to Advanced Settings. gg C The ESP-LXME Maximum Number of SimulStations screen appears.
Turn the controller dial to Advanced Settings. gg Station Sequencing The ESP-LXME offers advanced programming features to optimize water windows. The Station Sequencing option allows you to select from two methods of station sequencing for program operation: llSequence by Station Number (system default). llSequence by Station Priority (required when using FloManager). This option decreases the overall time required to complete the program when operating multiple stations simultaneously.
Station/MV Settings C Station Settings NOTE: Station Priorities are only used when Station Sequencing bb is set to Sequence by Station Priority. If you’re using the default The Station Settings option tells the ESP-LXME controller how to interact with other stations, the master valve, and the weather sensor. Turn the controller dial to Station/MV Settings. gg Press the + and – buttons to enter the number of valves connected to the station; then press Next.
E Press the + and – buttons to select Yes if the station requires a master valve, otherwise select No; then press Next. F The Weather Sensor Assignment screen lets you select whether a station obeys or ignores the installed weather sensor. Press the + and – buttons to select Obey or Ignore; then press Next. 5 6 NOTE: The weather sensor can be turned on (Active) or off bb (Bypassed) using the Weather Sensor switch on the controller front panel. Repeat this process to set up additional stations.
Set Up Cycle+SoakTM The ESP-LXME controller Cycle+SoakTM feature allows water to be applied to stations intermittently and without creating complex programs. It can apply to any station and is useful for locations such as hillsides which can be difficult to irrigate effectively. Cycle+Soak consists of two settings, the cycle time (how long a station will run before soaking) and soak time (how long irrigation is paused before applying another cycle).
Module Status The Module Status option displays the status of any station module installed in Slots 1-4. Turn the controller dial to Station/MV Settings. gg A The Station/MV Settings screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Module Status; then press Next.. B The Module Status screen appears. The current status of any installed station modules is displayed.
MV Settings The MV Settings option tells the ESP-LXME controller what type of master valve (MV) is used by your irrigation system. The ESP-LXME supports one master valve which must be set up in the controller. Both Normally Open master valves (NOMVs) and Normally Closed master valves (NCMVs) are supported. Since Normally Open master valves (NOMVs) are always open, it’s sometimes helpful to cycle them closed for a minute in order to maintain the continuity of your valve diaphragms and solenoids.
Section E - Flow Management The ESP-LXME controller offers several tools to dynamically manage the hydraulics of the irrigation system including: A The Special Features screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Set Flow Units; then press Next. FloManagerTM B The Flow Units screen appears. Press the + and – buttons to select the desired flow measurement (English or metric); then press Next. Standard feature of the LXME controller which manages flow demands on the water source.
FloManagerTM Overview Set Up and Use FloManagerTM FloManager is a standard feature of the ESP-LXME controller which manages flow demands on the water source and can be used with or without an actual flow sensor. Enable (Or Disable) FloManagerTM Turn the controller dial to Advanced Settings. gg Managers of larger irrigation systems can struggle to find enough hours per week to irrigate the site.
C D Press the On button to enable FloManager, or press Off to disable. If Station Sequencing was previously set to Station Numbers, then turning FloManager ON will automatically change the setting to Station Priorities. Press Accept to make the change or else press Reject. See Section D, Advanced Programming, Station Sequencing for more details.
Set FloManagerTM Flow Rate FloManager needs to know the maximum capacity of the irrigation system water source. Turn the controller dial to Advanced Settings. gg A The Advanced Settings screen appears with Watering Day Cycles selected. Press the Down Arrow button to select FloManager; then press Next. B The FloManager screen appears with FloManager On/Off selected. Use the Down arrow to select FloManager Flow Rate; then press Next.
Set Station Flow Rates Manually Flow rates for each station can be entered manually. bb NOTE: If the optional FSM-LXME Flow Smart Module is installed then flow can be learned automatically. This is the easiest, most accurate method to enter flow readings. See Learn Flow section for more details. C The Station Flow Rates screen appears. Press the + and - buttons on the left to select the desired station number. D Press the + and - buttons on the right to enter the Flow Rate for the selected station.
FloWatchTM Overview The ESP-LXME controller can provide full-featured flow sensing by installing the optional FSM-LXME Flow Smart Module. NOTE: FloWatch flow sensing requires installation of the optional bb FSM-LXME Flow Smart Module and installation of a flow sensor and a master valve at the water source point of connection to the irrigation system.
A Remove the BM-LXME Base Module from Slot 0 by pressing in on the two release buttons on either side of the module. C Carefully fasten the module onto the controller backplane, pressing firmly until it snaps into place. The red light on the module will flash on and off once if the module is installed correctly. If the light does not flash, verify the module is properly seated. 1 CAUTION: Be careful not to bend the pins in the sockets when dd installing the module.
Module Programming Connect Flow Sensor A Install the flow sensor in the field according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and run the flow sensor wire to the ESP-LXME controller. B Route the flow sensor wire through the knockout on the bottom of the controller. C Connect the flow sensor wire to the Flow + and Flow - inputs. When finished, tug gently on the wires to make sure the connections are tight. Setup Flow Sensor Turn the controller dial to Module Programming.
C The Flow Sensor Setup screen appears. Press the + and - buttons to select the type of sensor that is installed. NOTE: Some flow sensor types require extra parameter settings, bb such as inside pipe diameter or K-factor and Offset. Consult the manufacturers documentation or contact Rain Bird for assistance if required.
SEEF and SELF Settings and Actions To most effectively use FloWatch, you will want to first set your SEEF and SELF thresholds and actions. SEEF stands for Seek and Eliminate Excessive Flow and deals with how you want your controller to respond when excessive flow is occurring, as might be the case with a mainline break.
E The SEEF Actions screen appears, allowing you to set the controller’s behavior when a SEEF condition exists. G A. Diagnose and Eliminate allows the controller to determine if the high flow condition is due to a problem on the mainline (broken pipe, stuck valve, etc) or downstream of one of the valves that was running when the high flow condition was detected.
I The Delay to Re-Enable screen appears, allowing you to select how long (from 0 minutes to 24 hours) before your system is reenabled to allow watering. If the flow condition still exists, SEEF or SELF will shut down the system again. Selecting the default of 0 minutes configures the controller to stay shut down until the flow alarm is manually cleared. Press the + and – buttons to set hours before Re-Enable; then press Next. llPress and HOLD buttons to accelerate settings for hours and minutes.
Station Flow Rates Learn Flow Automatically (All Stations) Turn the controller dial to Module Programming. gg C The Set Flow Rates screen appears with Learn Flow selected; press Next. D The Learn Flow screen appears with All Stations selected; press Next. 3 4 NOTE: Ensure you have runtimes set up for all stations included bb in a Learn Flow exercise prior to setting up a Learn Flow. Only A The Smart Module PGM screen appears with Flow Smart Module selected; press Next.
G The Start Learn Flow screen appears. Press + and - to set the start time; then press Start. llPress and HOLD buttons to accelerate settings for hours and minutes. NOTE: You can choose to run the exercise Now or choose a timed bb delay of up to 24 hours. H An overwrite warning screen appears; press Start. 7 8 I The Learn Flow Starting confirmation screen appears, confirming the delay time until the Learn Flow operation will start.
Learn Flow Automatically (Custom Stations) Turn the controller dial to Module Programming. gg C The Set Flow Rates screen appears with Learn Flow selected; press Next. D The Learn Flow screen appears. Press the Down Arrow to choose Select Stations; then press Next. 3 A The Smart Module PGM screen appears with Flow Smart Module selected; press Next. B The Flow Smart Module PGM screen appears. Press the Down arrow to select Station Flow Rates; press Next.
G Press the Yes and No buttons to select the stations you would like to include. Press Next and Back buttons to select stations; then press Next. H Press the + and – buttons to set the time delay for when you want the Learn Flow exercise to start; then press Start. llPress and HOLD buttons to accelerate settings for hours and minutes. NOTE: You can choose a delay between 0 hours, 0 minutes up to bb 24 hours. 7 8 I A confirmation screen appears; press Start again to set the Learn Flow exercise.
Set Station Flow Rates Manually Allowing the controller to Learn Flow automatically is the easiest, most accurate method to enter flow readings, but flow sensing hardware and the Flow Smart Module are required for this. However, even if you do not have flow sensing hardware installed you can manually enter flow rates for one or more stations or flow zones before or after an automatic Learn Flow exercise. Turn the controller dial to Module Programming. gg C The Set Flow Rates screen appears.
Clear Flow Rates Occasionally it may be desired to clear the previously learned or user entered flow rates and start all over again. Turn the controller dial to Module Programming. gg C The Set Flow Rates screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Clear Flow Rates; then press Next. D The confirmation screen appears; press Next to clear flow rates. 3 A The Smart Module PGM screen appears with Flow Smart Module selected; press Next. B The Flow Smart Module PGM screen appears.
Enable (or Disable) FloWatchTM Turn the controller dial to Module Programming. gg C The FloWatch screen appears. Press the On button to enable FloWatch, or else press Off to disable 3 NOTE: Once FloWatch is enabled we recommend that you Learn bb Flow for all stations if you have not already done so. This will allow FloWatch to react appropriately to the SEEF and SELF settings. A The Smart Module PGM screen appears with Flow Smart Module selected; press Next.
Module Status C The Review/Clear Alarms screen appears with Station Flow Alarms selected; press Next. View and Clear Flow Alarms D The Station Flow Alarms screen appears. Press the Up and Down arrows buttons to view the Flow Alarms. Stations with Flow Alarm conditions will display “Yes”- only alarmed stations will be shown. Occasionally a flow condition in excess of your SEEF settings or below your SELF settings will be detected.
View Mainline Flow Alarms Turn the controller dial to Module Status. gg A The Smart Module Status screen appears with Flow Smart Module selected; press Next. B The Flow Module Status screen appears with View Flow Alarms selected; press Next. 1 C The Review/Clear Alarms screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Mainline Flow Alarms; then press Next. D The Mainline Flow Alarms screen appears. If no Mainline Flow Alarms have been posted you will see the screen below.
Clear Flow Alarms Turn the controller dial to Module Status. gg C The Review/Clear Alarms screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Clear Flow Alarms; then press Next. D The Clear Flow Alarms screen appears with all current Flow Alarms displayed and you will have the opportunity to clear each. It may be helpful to record which stations have Flow Alarm conditions prior to clearing them. 3 A The Smart Module Status screen appears with Flow Smart Module selected; press Next.
View Flow Rates Occasionally you may want to view flow rates for a station or the water source. Turn the controller dial to Module Status. gg C The Flow Rates screen appears with View Station Rates selected; press Next. D The Station Flow Rates screen appears. Press the + and – buttons to select the desired station number. The normal flow rate for each station will display to the right, and the source of the flow rate (Learned or User Entered) displays below it.
View and Clear Flow Logs With FloWatch enabled, the controller will automatically track the volume of water flowing through the system. This can be useful for checking your actual water consumption against your water bill. C The Flow Logs screen appears, showing month-to-date and last month water consumption (in gallons). D Press the Days button to change the view to the last 30 days and previous 30 days. Turn the controller dial to Module Status.
C View Current Flow Occasionally it may be useful to check the current flow rate and how it compares to previously learned or user input flow rates. Turn the controller dial to Module Status. gg Current and expected flow will display. NOTE: Expected flow is from previously user-entered or learned bb flow. The deviation or percentage comparison of current flow to expected flow will display so you can see how close the system is to a SEEF or SELF condition (see Setting Up SEEF and SELF for more details).
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Section F - Options & Special Features Set Hours Mode Set Language You can set the ESP-LXME controller to one of six supported languages; English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Italian or German. Changes to the default language affect all screens and menus. gg Turn the controller dial to Special Features. A The Special Features screen appears with Set Language selected; press Next.
Backup and Recall Programs A The ESP-LXME controller comes standard with a simple to use backup programs feature. The Special Features screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Backup Programs; then press Next. B The Backup Programs screen appears with Store Programs selected; press Next. Backup Programs allows you to save your programs as Contractor Default and then recall them at a later time.
Recall Default Programs Turn the controller dial to Special Features. gg C A confirmation screen appears. To Recall Programs, press and hold down the Yes button for four seconds. If you’re not sure, press No. D A confirmation screen appears. 3 4 CAUTION: Once current programs have been replaced using dd Recall Programs they can not be restored. A The Special Features screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Backup Programs; then press Next. B The Backup Programs screen appears.
C Delayed Recall Use the Delayed Recall feature to automatically replace the currently loaded programs with a previously stored program at a future date. CAUTION: Once current programs have been replaced with the dd Delayed Recall feature, they can not be restored. The Recall Delay screen appears. Press the + and – buttons to enter the number of days (from 0 to 90 days) before Contractor Defaults are restored. For example, set it to 7 days if you want your original programs to be restored in one week.
Section G - Auxiliary Operation A The Clear Programs screen appears with Individual Program selected; press Next. Clear Programs B A confirmation screen appears. To clear the selected Program, press and hold down the Yes button for four seconds. If you’re not sure, press No. The ESP-LXME controller allows you to clear an individual Program, all of your Programs, or to Restore the controller to its factory default condition. CAUTION: It’s recommended to back up your Programs before dd clearing them.
Clear All Programs Turn the controller dial to Clear Programs. gg C A confirmation screen appears. 3 A The Clear Programs screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select All Programs; then press Next. B A confirmation screen appears. To Clear All Programs, press and hold down the Yes button for four seconds. If you’re not sure, press No.
C Restore Defaults A confirmation screen appears. Restore the ESP-LXME controller’s factory default settings. Turn the controller dial to Clear Programs. gg 3 CAUTION: Be very careful about using the Restore Defaults dd option as all previous settings will be permanently cleared from system memory. Consider using the Clear All Programs option instead. A The Clear Programs screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Restore Defaults; then press Next. B A confirmation screen appears.
C Manual Watering The ESP-LXME controller allows you to manually start a station, a program, or to open a Normally Closed Master Valve (NCMV) to provide water to your irrigation system for manual watering. llPress and HOLD buttons to accelerate settings for hours and minutes. Start Station Manually NOTE: Manual Watering > Start Station will pause currently bb running programs. The Station Run Time will default to the Program Run Time.
Start Program Manually Turn the controller dial to Manual Watering. gg C A confirmation screen appears. 3 Repeat this process to manually start other Programs. Programs ee will run sequentially in the order in which they were selected. NOTE: To view the Program while running, turn the controller bb dial to AUTO position. You can use the Adv button to advance to A The Manual Watering screen appears. Press the Down Arrow button to select Start Program; then press Next.
MV Water Window Sometimes you may want to use quick coupling valves or other manual watering methods during times when you are not irrigating. To ensure that these devices have water, you can set up an MV Water Window. The MV Water Window works the same way as other Water Windows, but instead of allowing irrigation it simply opens the Normally Closed master valve (NCMV) and allows a user-defined flow rate to coordinate with flow sensing if installed.
E The MV Water Window Days Manual Watering Allowed On screen appears. Press the Yes button to allow MV Manual Watering to occur on a given day or press No to exclude that day. F Press the Next and Back buttons to navigate through the days of the week and repeat the selection process as desired; then press Next to navigate past Sunday.
Manually Opening a MV Occasionally it may be necessary to provide water to the system for unscheduled tasks. The Open MV feature allows you to leverage settings, such as allowable incremental flow, from your MV Water Window to open normally closed MVs for a user-selected duration. C The Manual MV Open screen appears. Press the + and – buttons to set the duration (in hours and minutes) for the MV to be open; then press Next. “MV is Open” will be briefly displayed.
Test All Stations You can test all stations connected to your controller by running each of them in sequence. Sometimes this is useful after installation, for general maintenance or as a first step in troubleshooting your system. C D A confirmation screen appears. Once Run is pressed, stations can be monitored and advanced by turning the dial to the AUTO position and using the Adv button. Press the + and – buttons to increase or decrease Run Time minutes for the current station.
OFF Turns off irrigation or closes the master valve. Adjust Display Contrast Adjust the contrast settings for the controller display for better visibility. Turn the controller dial to OFF. gg A The All Watering Off screen appears and the current contrast adjustment setting will display for 10 seconds. Press the + and – buttons to adjust contrast up or down.
Close the Master Valve Closes the Normally Open master valve, disabling irrigation. CAUTION: Using the Close MV function will disable all irrigation dd functions. C D A confirmation screen appears. The OFF dial position screen will now display the message “MV is Closed”. To cancel and restore irrigation functions, turn the dial to AUTO. Turn the controller dial to OFF. gg c A B d The All Watering Off screen appears. Press the Close MV button. A confirmation screen appears.
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Section H - Installation Check Box Contents This section explains how to mount the ESP-LXME controller, connect the wiring, and verify proper operation. All components below are included with your ESP-LXME controller and are required for installation. If anything is missing, please contact your distributor before proceeding. Prepare For Installation A B C D ESP-LXME controller and modules. E F G ESP-LXME Controller Programming Chart.
Gather Installation Tools 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 Before beginning installation, gather the following tools and materials: Slotted Head Screwdriver Phillips Head Screwdriver Thin Blade Screwdriver Lineman’s Pliers Torpedo Level Hammer Grounding Strap #8 AWG or #10 AWG Bare Ground Wire 94 ESP-LXME Controller 11 11 11 11 11 11 11 Waterproof Wire Connectors Tape Measure Wire Stripper Wire Nuts (Provided) Marking Pencil Electric Drill (or Hammer Drill if installing in masonry or concrete wall)
Install the Controller The ESP-LXME controller mounts to a wall (or suitable mounting surface). NOTE: An optional metal cabinet (LXMM) and pedestal bb (LXMMPED) are also available for the ESP-LXME controller. If you intend to use those options, follow the installation instructions for those products before installing the controller. WARNING: This controller must be installed in compliance with cc local electrical codes. Select Location for Controller 15 in. (38,1 cm) Cabinet Depth 5.
E Access Controller Cabinet Remove Cabinet Door and Front Panel A The controller comes with an outer door lock to deter vandalism and prevent unauthorized access to controller operations. If necessary, unlock the cabinet door using the supplied key. B To open the controller door: grasp the crescent-shaped handle on the right-hand-side of the outer cabinet. To open the controller front panel: grasp the crescent-shaped handle on the right-hand-side of the front panel.
G To remove the front panel: disconnect the ribbon cable from the front panel by gently pulling the connector out of the socket. dd CAUTION: Be careful not to bend the pins in the sockets when attaching or detaching the ribbon cable. H Rock the front panel upward and nudge the bottom corner pin out of the lower pin-hole to remove the front panel.
Mount Controller A B Using a level, tape the mounting template to the mounting surface at approximately eye level. Make sure that at least one of the five mounting hole marks is aligned on a wall stud or other solid surface. Use a tapping tool (or nail) and hammer to tap pilot holes through the five mounting hole marks and into the mounting surface. Then remove the template and drill holes in the mounting surface, installing wall anchors if necessary.
Connect Power to the Controller Surge Protection and Grounding The ESP-LXME controller is equipped with built-in electrical surge protection. For this system to function, you must properly ground the controller. cc WARNING: The ESP-LXME controller must be properly surge protected and grounded. Doing so can help prevent damage to the controller and irrigation system and also significantly reduce troubleshooting, repair time and expense.
B Strip the insulation from the three incoming wires to expose approximately 1/2 in (13 mm) of bare wire. C Remove the knockout on the bottom of the cabinet below the transformer and attach a 1/2 in (13 mm) conduit fitting to the bottom entrance of the wiring compartment. E Using the provided wire nuts, connect the wires accordingly. NOTE: 240 VAC (Australian) units do not require a conduit bb because the power supply cable is already installed.
Re-install Front Panel WARNING: To prevent electrical shock, make sure all supply cc power is OFF before installing the front panel. Electrical shock can cause severe injury or death. A Reinstall the front panel by inserting the top corner pin into the top pin-hole; then push up and rock the bottom corner pin into the lower pin-hole. 1 B Reconnect the ribbon cable to the front panel by gently pushing the connector into the socket. CAUTION: Be careful NOT to bend the pins in the socket.
Install Modules A Install BM-LXME Base Module Orient the connector on the bottom of the module with the connection socket in Slot 0 on the controller backplane. Install the BM-LXME Base Module in Slot 0. NOTE: If your ESP-LXME controller included an FSM-LXME Flow bb Smart Module, see Section E for installation procedures. 1 B BM-LXME Base Module CAUTION: Be careful not to bend the pins in the sockets when dd installing the module.
Install Station Module A Install the station module in Slot 1 that was included with your ESP-LXME controller. Additional station modules can be purchased separately. Orient the connector on the bottom of the station module with the connection socket in Slot 1 on the controller backplane. (An ESP-LXM-SM8 is shown.) 1 ESP-LXM -SM8 Station Module B ESP-LXM-SM12 Station Module dd CAUTION: Be careful not to bend the pins in the sockets when installing a module.
Dynamic Station Numbering The ESP-LXME controller will automatically detect any new station modules that have been installed. Follow the instructions on the front panel LCD to configure a station module. A A Module Configuration screen is displayed whenever the ESPLXM Controller detects a change in module configuration. Press Next to continue. B The Module Summary screen displays the module type detected in each module slot along with the new and old assigned station numbers.
D Strip the wire jacket back by a maximum of 1/2 inch (12 mm) and connect each valve wire to one of the numbered terminals on a station module. Field wires for valves are connected to module terminals using quick connectors. Press the swing arm of the appropriate terminal and insert the wire. When you release the spring arm, the clamp will hold the wire. E Connect the common wire(s) to any one of the COM terminals on the controller.
G Once wiring is completed, fill top of conduit with waterproof caulking to prevent insect intrusion into the controller cabinet. Connect Local Weather Sensor The ESP-LXME can accept input from a single weather sensor wired directly to the controller or through a wireless receiver. A local weather sensor can be bypassed with the sensor bypass switch on the controller front panel. To Enable a Local Weather Sensor: A 7 On the controller front panel, slide the Weather Sensor switch to Active.
To Connect a Wireless Local Weather Sensor: To Connect a Wired Local Weather Sensor: A Run continuous sensor wire from the weather sensor to the ESPLXME controller. B C Route wire through knockout on the bottom of the controller. Remove the yellow jumper wire (if present). Connect the two sensor wires to the sensor (Sen) inputs. When finished, tug gently on the wires to make sure the connections are tight. 1 2 3 A B C Run wire from the wireless receiver to the ESP-LXME controller.
Complete Installation Install Front Door A Line up the three door hinges with the plastic posts on the controller. B Press the hinges onto the posts until the front door snaps into place. 1 2 Verify Field Installation Once some or all valves have been wired and programmed into the ESPLXME controller you can check the electrical portion of the installation even if water is not available to test the valves.
Declaration of Conformity Application of Council Directive: 2004/108/EC Standards To Which Conformity Is Declared: EN55014-1: 2001 Class B EN55022 Radiated Emissions EN55022 Conducted Emissions EN61000-3-2 EN61000-3-3 EN55014-2: 2001 EN61000-4-2 EN61000-4-3 EN61000-4-4 EN61000-4-5 EN61000-4-6 EN61000-4-8 EN61000-4-11 Manufacturer’s Name: Manufacturer’s Address: Rain Bird Corporation 9491 Ridgehaven Court San Diego, CA 92123 619-671-4048 Equipment Description: Equipment Class: Model Numbers: Irrigation
RAIN BIRD CORPORATION 6991 E. Southpoint Road Tucson, AZ 85756 © 2012 Rain Bird Corporation “SimulStations”, “FloManager”, “FloWatch”, “FloZone” and “Cycle+Soak” ® ”RainareBird”, registered trademarks of Rain Bird Corporation. All rights reserved. www.rainbird.
