Rain Bird PC 506 Series, Installation, Programming, And Operation Manual

Page 1: ...PC 506 SPRINKLER TIMER Installation Programming and Operation Guide RAIN BIRD IRRIGATION CORPORATION Technical Services 800 247 3782 http www rainbird com...

Page 2: ...ll struggling with your old sprinkler timer Having a hard time complying with local watering restrictions Upgrading to a new Rain Bird sprinkler timer is easier than you might think New timers are eas...

Page 3: ...ocation 4 Mount Timer 5 Install Battery 6 Connect Field Wiring 7 Connect Transformer 13 PROGRAM TIMER 15 Set Current Time and Day 16 Basic Dial Programming 17 Custom Programming 23 OPERATING THE TIMER...

Page 4: ...mer is an electronic clock that controls when your sprinkler system turns on and how long the sprinklers run The PC 506 timer offers several advanced features including Separate schedules for each sta...

Page 5: ...imer can control up to six stations Each station has an irrigation valve that runs several sprinklers An electric signal from the timer opens the first valve which turns on the sprinklers connected to...

Page 6: ...rogramming controls on the face of the PC 506 Timer These controls include On Off button Pause button Set Time Day button Review Station button Set Start button Manual Cycle button Set Custom button L...

Page 7: ...ger runs Wire strippers Select a Location NOTE The PC 506 Timer is for INDOOR use only If you must install it outdoors use a water resistant cabinet such as the Rain Bird Model TC 2 Timer Cabinet The...

Page 8: ...5 16 inches apart leaving about inch of each screw head protruding from the wall Use plastic anchors to secure the screws to plaster or masonry walls Hang the timer on the screws using the keyhole slo...

Page 9: ...Stations set for custom programs A and B will start once a day in a cycle beginning at 6 00 a m The time of day all custom start times and any A or B custom program schedules will have to be re progra...

Page 10: ...battery Replace the cover or connect the field wiring as described in Connect Field Wiring NOTES DO NOT let the battery contact the timer s terminal strip For your convenience there is a spare 0 5 amp...

Page 11: ...e for six valves etc Tape off spare wire strands for future system use or troubleshooting Wire that is buried underground must have watertight connections use grease caps and be code approved for unde...

Page 12: ...m each strand Splice together one wire from each valve usually the white strand to create a single common wire Connect the common wire to the terminal marked COM a Open the terminal by pushing the swi...

Page 13: ...e valve wire to each terminal this will damage the timer If using more than one timer DO NOT share the common wires between them If any terminal does not connect to a valve turn the corresponding Dura...

Page 14: ...or a pump start relay The timer does not provide the main power for a pump PC 506 Timers allow a master valve or pump start relay to operate whenever a station valve is on Some systems use a pump to d...

Page 15: ...This wire connects to the timer terminal marked COM NOTE Make sure that the total draw of the master valve or pump start relay plus the draw of the valve does not exceed 0 650 Amps at 24 VAC 60 Hz To...

Page 16: ...tions Also do not attempt to link two or more timers together with a single transformer If you have not done so remove the timer s lower access cover Turn the On Off button to Off Insert the two ends...

Page 17: ...old the wire in place NOTE If the display does not come on verify that the battery is new and securely connected Plug the transformer into an electrical outlet Turn the On Off button to On This comple...

Page 18: ...ge something else press the appropriate button until the item you want to change flashes For example to change the minutes press Set Time Day until the minutes field is flashing There are two ways to...

Page 19: ...on Press the Set Time Day button once The hour digits will flash in the LCD screen Use the S and T buttons to set the current hour Keep scrolling until the desired time including the AM PM indicator...

Page 20: ...through 6 Each pair of dials represents a watering station or zone in your irrigation system NOTE For more information about stations see Timer Stations on page 2 of this manual The two dials for eac...

Page 21: ...g or Custom Programs Normal Watering Select a watering cycle of every day every second day every third day or every fourth day For example if today is Monday and you turn the Schedule dial to every th...

Page 22: ...t water for more than 15 minutes even if the Duration dial is set for longer New Lawn stations have priority and will interrupt any other ongoing cycles After the New Lawn Cycle is complete the interr...

Page 23: ...rn the sprinklers on Now you will use the Duration dial to tell the timer how long to run the sprinklers For each station turn the Duration dial to the number of minutes or hours you want to water Thi...

Page 24: ...tarting with the first active station For example if the start time is 6 00 a m the timer will start Station 1 at 6 00 a m If Station 1 is set to OFF the timer will start Station 2 instead When the fi...

Page 25: ...mmed start times set the watering cycle using the Schedule dials and run times using the Duration dials Watering will begin on the next scheduled start time Set Your Own Start Times Optional To change...

Page 26: ...e dial settings determine the number of start times that the timer uses For example if the number of daily watering times on a dial is 2 the timer will ignore the 3rd start time for that station Custo...

Page 27: ...imes in 1 2 hour increments Keep scrolling until the desired time including the AM PM setting appears Press Set Start again START 2 CUSTOM AB will appear in the display Use the up down buttons to adju...

Page 28: ...indicating that the time shown in the display is the first custom start time If you want to water at this time press S to accept it and advance to the next start time If you not want to water at the...

Page 29: ...Custom twice The display will show CUSTOM A in the upper left corner and the first day of the week will flash ON or OFF will appear indicating whether the system will water on that day Press S to ret...

Page 30: ...TART 1 CUSTOM B in upper left hand corner The number 1 will flash indicating that the time shown in the display is the first start time If you want to water at this time press S to accept it and advan...

Page 31: ...Custom four times The display will show CUSTOM B in the upper left corner and the first day of the week will flash ON or OFF will appear indicating whether the system will water on that day Press S t...

Page 32: ...le this illustration shows Station 1 assigned to Custom Program B Setting the Watering Duration After you assign each station to Program A or B use the Duration dials to set the length of time you wan...

Page 33: ...ns immediately in sequence 1 through 6 Press Manual Cycle The first station in your program will begin watering and the display will show a countdown of time remaining For example this illustration sh...

Page 34: ...LCD display To resume watering press Pause again The system will continue its normal watering schedule Duration Dial Operation The Duration dial for each station has a manual setting that you can use...

Page 35: ...k the timer settings without having to use programming functions The Review Station button will display the station number watering duration and which days of the week following the current day each s...

Page 36: ...ezing damage to pipes and valves Then turn the switch on the timer to the OFF position For more information about winterizing your system please call your local irrigation professional visit our Web s...

Page 37: ...of the timer to ON b Fuse is burned out Remove the burned out fuse located just above the battery Replace it with the spare 0 5 amp fuse on the inside of the timer s lower access cover c Transformer i...

Page 38: ...ermanent damage the timer will accept programming and resume normal operation 3 Fuse blows out frequently and the display goes blank a Possible short between the valve and timer Check all field wiring...

Page 39: ...ed properly c Wires loose or cut corroded connections Check field wiring for broken cut or skinned wires Replace if necessary Check all wire connections and replace with watertight splice connectors a...

Page 40: ...ry and fuse and plug in the timer If the surge did no permanent damage the timer will accept programming and resume normal operation If the timer still does not work contact your Rain Bird distributor...

Page 41: ...user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures reorient the receiving antenna move the timer away from the receiver plug the timer into a different out...