Sprinkler System Basics - Toro ECx User Manual

Sprinkler System Basics

The three main components of every automatic sprinkler
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 plant within the landscape and the
maximum amount of water which can be supplied. Each
valve is connected to a numbered terminal within the
timer, identifying it as Zone 1, Zone 2, etc.
The timer operates the valves 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
Timer
Valve 2
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