Water conservation By Acclima

Closed-Loop Irrigation ControlClosed-Loop Irrigation Control

Sensor-Based Sensor-Based

Precision Irrigation systemPrecision Irrigation system

by Acclimaby Acclima

Water conservation By Acclima

Conventional Clock-Based Conventional Clock-Based Irrigation ControlIrrigation Control

Manual Program Entry

Timer Program Execution

Occasional Manual Correction Prompted

by Stress or Saturation

Open Loop: No Automatic Feedback to Control Moisture Level

Water conservation By Acclima

Evapo-Transpiration-Based Evapo-Transpiration-Based Irrigation ControlIrrigation Control

Weather Station, Computer and

Communications Means

ET Enabled Clock

Open Loop: No Automatic Feedback to Control Moisture Level

Complex Parametric Input with Regular

Adjustment

Water conservation By Acclima

Soil Moisture-Based Irrigation Soil Moisture-Based Irrigation ControlControl

One-Time Moisture Threshold Inputs

Feedback-Enabled Automatic Controller

Closed Loop: Automatic Feedback Maintains Proper Root Zone Moisture Closed Loop: Automatic Feedback Maintains Proper Root Zone Moisture

Water conservation By Acclima

Instability – The #1 ProblemInstability – The #1 Problem

Non-Digital TDT Moisture

Sensors

Temperature

Water Content

Electrical Conductivity

Sensor Output is a Complex Function of all Three Input Variables

Water conservation By Acclima

XTra Sensor Stability -- XTra Sensor Stability -- TemperatureTemperature

Temperature in Degrees Celsius1 50

Reading in % Water

20

25

Less Than 1% Deviation

Water conservation By Acclima

XTra Sensor Stability – Electrical XTra Sensor Stability – Electrical ConductivityConductivity

20

25

Reading in % Water

In-Soil EC in dS/m0 2.5

Less Than 1% Deviation

Water conservation By Acclima

Increasing Water

Content

Saturation Area:

Heavy Nutrient and Water Loss

Root Putrefaction

Field Capacity:

Very Small Percolation Loss

Allowable Depletion Limit

Permanent Wilt Point: (dead grass)

Water conservation By Acclima

Installing the Sensor – TechniquesInstalling the Sensor – Techniques Install in representative area for the zoneInstall in representative area for the zone Avoid depressionsAvoid depressions Avoid high-traffic areasAvoid high-traffic areas Avoid large rocks, tree rootsAvoid large rocks, tree roots Install in healthy turfInstall in healthy turf Remove a 60cm square turf plugRemove a 60cm square turf plug Install sensor 10cm deepInstall sensor 10cm deep Re-compact soil around rods to original Re-compact soil around rods to original

compactioncompaction Replace turf plug and seal around edgesReplace turf plug and seal around edges Connect wires in a nearby value boxConnect wires in a nearby value box

Water conservation By Acclima

Advantages – Water SavingsAdvantages – Water Savings System Monitors ET in the Root Zone and System Monitors ET in the Root Zone and

Applies Just the Right Amount of Water to Applies Just the Right Amount of Water to Hold Moisture in the Target RangeHold Moisture in the Target Range

All Weather, Soil and Plant Characteristics All Weather, Soil and Plant Characteristics are taken into Accurate Account in the are taken into Accurate Account in the MeasurementsMeasurements

Upwards of 40% Water Savings can be Upwards of 40% Water Savings can be Expected over a Well-Managed Controller Expected over a Well-Managed Controller Based SystemBased System

Water conservation By Acclima

Advantages – Maintenance SavingsAdvantages – Maintenance Savings

Seasonal Clock Adjustments are Seasonal Clock Adjustments are EliminatedEliminated

System Automatically Accommodates System Automatically Accommodates Heavy Rains, Cool Periods, Hot Periods, Heavy Rains, Cool Periods, Hot Periods, Dry Winds without Need of Adjustment.Dry Winds without Need of Adjustment.

Initial Settings Remain Stable Year after Initial Settings Remain Stable Year after YearYear

Water conservation By Acclima

Advantages – Environmental IssuesAdvantages – Environmental Issues

Ground Water Contamination with Ground Water Contamination with Pesticides and Fertilizers is the Result of Pesticides and Fertilizers is the Result of Over-Watering Crops and Turf. Over-Watering Crops and Turf.

Enormous Reductions in Fertilizer and Enormous Reductions in Fertilizer and Pesticide Applications are Possible with Pesticide Applications are Possible with Precision Irrigation. Eastern Oregon Precision Irrigation. Eastern Oregon Onion Fields show 50% Reduction.Onion Fields show 50% Reduction.

Water conservation By Acclima

Advantages – Healthier LandscapeAdvantages – Healthier Landscape

Over-Watering Drives Oxygen out of the Over-Watering Drives Oxygen out of the Soil and Putrefies RootsSoil and Putrefies Roots

Over-Watering Leaches Nutrients and Over-Watering Leaches Nutrients and Pesticides from the SoilPesticides from the Soil

Over-Watering Develops Fungi in the SoilOver-Watering Develops Fungi in the Soil Over-Watering Weakens Drought Over-Watering Weakens Drought

Tolerance and Reinforces Over-WateringTolerance and Reinforces Over-Watering Under-Watering Stresses Lawns and Under-Watering Stresses Lawns and

Promotes Weed GrowthPromotes Weed Growth

Water conservation By Acclima

8701 – EZ Pro Xtra8701 – EZ Pro Xtra

Simple retro-fit designSimple retro-fit design Single SensorSingle Sensor Works with existing controllerWorks with existing controller Converts any 24V controller to Converts any 24V controller to

Sensor-based SystemSensor-based System Easy InstallationEasy Installation

Water conservation By Acclima

8710 – EZ Pro Max8710 – EZ Pro Max

Central Control SystemCentral Control System Water on DemandWater on Demand 64-Zone capacity64-Zone capacity Run up to 16 sensorsRun up to 16 sensors Buit-in modemBuit-in modem Remote Control AccessRemote Control Access 2 Wire Connectivity2 Wire Connectivity Friendly SoftwareFriendly Software

Water conservation By Acclima

Communicating with other DevicesCommunicating with other Devices

2 valves

2 valves

1 valve

1 valve

4 valves

2-wire bus

Water conservation By Acclima

2-Wire System Specifications2-Wire System Specifications

Maximum distance for controller to any device: 1300mMaximum distance for controller to any device: 1300m Maximum total paired wire load (unsheathed): 3300mMaximum total paired wire load (unsheathed): 3300m Maximum total paired wire load (sheathed): 4950mMaximum total paired wire load (sheathed): 4950m

Water conservation By Acclima

CSU Site Performance CSU Site Performance 8/1 to 9/16 (2004) 8/1 to 9/16 (2004)

Zone TypeZone Type CSU Timer CSU Timer MinutesMinutes

Acclima Acclima MinutesMinutes

Water Water SavingsSavings

Gear DrivesGear Drives

15 Zones15 Zones

12,15012,150 5,5035,503 54.7%54.7%

Spray HeadSpray Head

4 Zones4 Zones

1,4401,440 356356 75.3%75.3%

TotalTotal

19 Zones19 Zones

13,59013,590 5,8595,859 56.9%56.9%

Water conservation By Acclima

Clark County School District Clark County School District 2003 (Acclima) vs 2002 (ET)2003 (Acclima) vs 2002 (ET)

MaxicomMaxicom AcclimaAcclima

mm33 3,4583,458 2,7182,718

mmmm 215.39215.39 169.93169.93

%ET%ET 102%102% 80.6%80.6%

costcost $34,963$34,963 $27,480$27,480

savingssavings $7,483 (21.4%)$7,483 (21.4%)