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CONTROLLER INSTALLATION

Mounting the Controller

Install the controller near a 240V AC outlet. 

Preferably located in a house, garage, or exterior 

electrical cubicle. For ease of operation, eye level 

placement is recommended. Ideally, your controller 

location should not be exposed to rain or areas 

prone to flooding or heavy water.

Fasten the controller using the key hole slot 

positioned externally on the top centre and  

the additional holes positioned internally under  

the terminal cover.   

 

Electrical Hook-up

Warning

1.  All electrical work must be carried out in 

accordance with these instructions following 

all applicable local, state and federal codes 

pertaining to the country of installation. Failure  

to do so will void the controller’s warranty.

2.  Disconnect mains power supply before  

any maintenance work to the controller  

or valves is undertaken.

3.  Do not attempt to wire any high voltage items 

yourself (i.e. pumps and pump contactors 

or hard wiring the controller power supply 

to the mains). This is the field of a licensed 

electrician. Serious injury or death could result 

from improper hook up. If in doubt consult your 

regulatory body as to what is required.

Terminal Block Layout (8 zone example)

Field Wiring Connections

Preparation

1.  Prepare wire for hook-up by cutting the wires to 

the correct length and stripping approximately 

0.25 inches (6mm) of insulation from the end to 

be connected to the controller.

2.  Ensure terminal block screws are loosened 

sufficiently to permit easy access for wire ends. 

Insert stripped wire ends into the clamp aperture 

and tighten screws. Do not over tighten as this 

may damage the terminal block.

3.  A maximum of 0.75 A may be supplied  

by any output. Check the inrush current  

of your solenoid coils before connecting  

more than two valves to any one zone.  

This can be done by using the Pump Protection 

(System Test) feature on page 14.

Power Supply Connections

Inbuilt transformer

It is recommended that the transformer is  

not connected to a 240V AC supply which  

is also servicing or supplying motors  

(i.e. air conditioners, pool pumps, refrigerators). 

Lighting circuits are suitable as power sources.
The inbuilt transformer must be installed in an area 

which is not exposed directly to the weather.

GLOSSARY 
24 VAC: 

24V AC power supply connection.

 C: 

Common wire connection to field wiring.

 R: 

Input for rain switch.

 

M: 

Master valve or pump start output.

 Z1–Z8: 

Zone (valves) field connections.

Pump Start Relay Connection  

(Water supply by pump system)

This controller does not provide mains power 

to drive a pump. A pump must be driven via an 

external relay and contactor setup as detailed 

below. The controller provides a low voltage signal 

that actuates the relay which in turn enables the 

contactor and finally the pump.

Single Phase Pump Installation

Note: It is recommended to always use a relay  

between the controller and the pump starter.

Master Valve Installation  

(Water supply off mains water)

The purpose of the master valve is to shut  

off the water supply to the irrigation system 

 

when there is a faulty valve or none of the zones are 

operating correctly. It’s used like a back-up valve 

or fail safe device and is installed at the start of the 

irrigation system where it is connected to the water 

supply line.

Zone Valve Installation

Up to two 24V AC solenoid valves can be 

connected to each zone output and wired back to 

the Common (COM) connector. When using long 

runs of cables, be aware that voltage drop can play 

a significant role, especially when more than one coil 

is wired to a single zone. 
As a good rule of thumb select your cable as 

follows:
0–50m 

 

cable dia 0.5mm

50–100m   

cable dia 1.0mm

100–200m  

cable dia 1.5mm

200–400m  

cable dia 2.0mm

When you are using multiple valves per zone the 

common wire needs to be much larger as it needs 

to carry more current. In these circumstances 

choose a common cable one or two sizes larger 

than required. When making connections in the 

field, only ever use gel filled or greased filled 

connectors. Most field failures occur due to poor 

connections. The better the connection here, and 

the better the waterproof seal, the longer the system 

will perform without trouble.

Rain Sensor Installation

You can connect a rain sensor to the controller 

which will delay scheduled watering when it detects 

rainfall. You can enable the rain sensor and set how 

many days of watering will be delayed on the app.*
The sensor switch, accessed on the fascia, must be 

up in the ON position. To over-ride the sensor when 

it is wet, simply move the sensor switch down to the 

OFF position. This will allow automatic and manual 

watering cycles to operate. 

Connecting the rain sensor wires:

a) Remove the link connector by loosening both 

screws and slide out. (Link located under the 

terminal cover).

b) Connect the two sensor wires into the  

terminal block and replace where the link was. 

Fasten one wire into C and the second to R. 

1

7

8

1

7

8

1

7

8

Link any unused  

zones to the last 

active valve.

Valve Common Wire

Master Valve

Valve 1

Valve 2

Valve 3

Valve 4

1

7 8

2

1

7

8

* The rain delay commences when the rain sensor dries out. 

Rain Sensor Installation

On the app, select the zone 

you wish to enable the rain 

sensor for. Switch toggle 

to ‘Active’. Scroll to the 

number of days required to 

delay. Select ‘Done’. Select 

‘Update’ on the Manage My 

Devices screen. Repeat for 

other zones if necessary.

Summary of Contents for BTX8

Page 1: ...1 BTX8 Instruction Manual 11 Walters Drive Osborne Park WA 6017 Ph 1300 716 188 www holmanindustries com au iPhone iGardener D E S I G N ED ENGIN E E R E D A USTRALIA N ...

Page 2: ...d to power The tap timer won t show up in the My Devices list STEP 4 On the iGardener app navigate to Irrigation and press the button to add your controller STEP 5 Wait until your controller is found For security of your watering schedule each tap timer will only pair with one smartphone STEP 6 When your controller is found you are ready to set up scheduling Select Zone Management to begin the set...

Page 3: ...ute OFF Switching the controller to Off will postpone all scheduled automatic watering You can still use the Manual Water function on the mobile app SYSTEM TEST Switch the controller to System Test and press Start Only zones with an active watering schedule updated via the app to the controller will run for the 2 minute sequential test cycle Switch the controller to Run Connect Use Manual Water fo...

Page 4: ...ith the numbers on the terminal block The controller refers to zones as valves HELP You can access the help page throughout the app SCHEDULING OPTIONS Select the scheduling option that best suits your required watering The one highlighted blue is the one you have selected You can have a different schedule per zone DAY SELECTION Slide the toggle button if you want that day selected and down to de s...

Page 5: ...val Days 3 Select the interval you require by pressing or 4 Select your Start Time You have the option to schedule three start times 5 Select your Run Time EXAMPLE Zone 2 will water once every three days for 15 minutes at 7am 1 Select the zone 2 Select Odd Days 3 Select Odd 31 4 Select your Start Time You have the option to schedule three start times 5 Select your Run Time EXAMPLE Zone 3 will wate...

Page 6: ...one you want to schedule 2 Toggle Start Time button to on Do not select a start time The start time will automatically sync at the end of Step 3 3 Select a Run Time Repeat this step for all other required zones STEP 2 1 Select the first zone 2 Select the Sync button The start times for all consecutive valves will now be populated STEP 3 Saving your Schedule When you have set the watering schedule ...

Page 7: ... an external relay and contactor setup as detailed below The controller provides a low voltage signal that actuates the relay which in turn enables the contactor and finally the pump Single Phase Pump Installation Note It is recommended to always use a relay between the controller and the pump starter Master Valve Installation Water supply off mains water The purpose of the master valve is to shut...

Page 8: ...ry if the system test routine is going to be used that all unused spare zones should be linked together and then looped to the last working zone with a valve on it Using the above example the connector block should be wired as per the diagram below Electrical Power Supply Input 24V AC 50 60 Hz Electrical Outputs Maximum of 1 0 A To solenoid valves 24V AC 50 60 Hz 0 75 A max Up to 2 valves per zone...

Page 9: ...pply to any equipment which is found to have been improperly installed set up or used in any way not in accordance with the instructions supplied with this equipment or to have been modified repaired or altered in any way without the express written consent of the company This guarantee shall not apply to any batteries or accessories used in the equipment covered under this guarantee or to any dam...

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