Sprinkler System Basics - Toro ECx User Manual

Sprinkler System Basics

The three main components of every automatic sprin-
kler system are the timer, zone control valves and
sprinklers.
The timer is the brain of the system, telling the control
valves when and how long to supply water to the sprin-
klers. The sprinklers direct and control the water applied
to the lawn and plants.
Each valve controls a specific group of sprinklers called
a watering zone. The zones are generally laid out and
installed according to the type of plant material to be
watered, the location of the plant within the landscape
and the maximum amount of water which can be sup-
plied. Each valve is connected to a numbered terminal
within the timer, identifying it as zone 1, zone 2, etc.
The timer operates the zones in order, one at a time.
In other words, one zone would water completely
before another zone would turn on. This is called a
watering cycle. The information stored in the timer
memory which determines when and how long the
zones will water is called a program.
The next section of this guide is very important. It
explains what a program is and how the ECx controls
the operation of the sprinkler system.
6
Valve 1
ECx Timer
Valve 2
ON
MANUAL
START NEXT
PROGRAMS
A B C
OFF
R R
Valve 3
Valve 4
Valve 5
Valve 1 - Zone 1 - Parkway Lawn - Fixed Spray
Valve 2 - Zone 2 - Front Lawn - Fixed Spray
Valve 3 - Zone 3 - Front Shrubs - Flood Bubbler
Valve 4 - Zone 4 - Back Lawn - Geared Rotor
Valve 5 - Zone 5 - Garden - Drip
House