Irrigation
Today, more than ever, water and irrigation applications depend on reliable control systems and well timed access to information. When absolute control is crucial, you can rely on Motorola’s IRRInet-ACE control system.
IRRInet-ACE
Like the full featured part of the IRRInet control system, the IRRInet-ACE is a modular field unit with a power supply, CPU and up to eight I/O modules.
Greater installation flexibility is provided with support for 3rd party sensors and PLC units as well as multiple communication options including various radio frequencies, broadband data over IP, cellular and an assortment of wireline options.
This level of flexibility makes it suitable for new installations and easily migrates into existing IRRInet systems.
IRRInet-M
A full featured part of the IRRInet control system, the IRRInet-M supports three modes of operations:
- RTU – Performing all irrigation functions, reporting to the IRRInet Control Center (ICC).
- Stand Alone – Performing all irrigation functions as a stand-alone unit when the system is installed without an ICC.
- Remote I/O – Serving as a distributed I/O for another unit that performs all irrigation functions (applicable when multi-site control synchronization is needed).
Piccolo-XR
The Piccolo-XR RTU is a small sized unit in an IP67 sealed waterproof plastic enclosure. The unit can operate up to 4 solenoids or receive up to 8 inputs (in different models/configurations). The Piccolo-XR communicates via a built-in UHF two-way low-power radio with the Piccolo Interface Unit (PIU) which is interfaced to Irrinet-ACE or Irrinet-M units. Communications are possible up to a distance of approximately one-half mile. Up to 2 other Piccolo-XR’s can be daisy-chained (hopped) via the radio communication to extend the distance up to 1.5 miles.
I/O options:
- 1 solenoid output + 1 digital input
- 2 solenoid outputs + 2 digital inputs
- 4 solenoid outputs + 4 digital inputs
- 7 digital inputs + 1 solenoid output
- 8 digital inputs + 0 solenoid outputs
Irrigation Water Management system
A key component of the Irrigation Water Management system using the Irrinet-ACE and Irrinet-M field controllers is the Irrinet Control Center software. This software is located on a PC in an operations center to monitor and control the key elements of your irrigation and landscape system.
The ICC software is used for automatic monitoring and via programs in the software, controlling the entire system allowing you to focus on managing the system effortlessly. One screen shows you everything at a glance—the graphic map, the events log and the outline of how your system is organized (like Windows “explore” function) grouping field units into areas, and areas into the system. Adjustment of the water factor percentage can be performed for the whole system, each crop type, area, mainline, or controller.
The ICC software allows you to use either the standard graphics with the pipe, valves, meters and such on a line diagram graphic, or with user graphics, import a picture or as-built drawing, and place the actual devices on the screen for a custom look and feel according to your actual system design.
ICC provides comprehensive Irrigation Programming screens, including simultaneous display of time to run, quantity to run and irrigation depth (inches or millimeters of water to apply). Managing your water in time, quantity or depth of irrigation is available--change one parameter and the other two recalculate to show the effects of your changes. You can build the system definitions either from “scratch” at the keyboard of the computer or you can use the Upload Wizard to pull the data in from field units that have already been programmed.
Programming supports time based operation plus checking the flow rates, or quantity based operation plus checking the flow rates, or just straight time based without flow check. Flow rate monitoring allows you to set each valve program's expected flow rate, with separate high and low deviation parameters set as a percentage of the expected flow rate. Control the irrigation by quantity instead of by time for higher accuracy. Receive alarms from the system, including: high flow, low flow, unopened water, main line burst, main line leak--you know what's going on.
Conditions allow you to set up programs that will respond to changing field conditions--e.g., a float sensor in a reservoir can cause the irrigation set(s) to go into a waiting mode, resuming when the level comes back up.
Instead of programming each valve set's start times, days to run, etc., you can group those programs with common requirements together and they will run in series. If you change the ET Water Factor, the "rubber band" effect will occur stretching or shrinking the series, but maintaining the pump/master valve without overloading the system (no overlap) or start/stop/start of the system (in case the series shortens in time).
A fertilizer program is built in including pre-fert in each program and post-fert water parameter per main line for clear-flushing at the end of each set.
Motorola has, for the past seventy-five years, been one of the world’s leading providers of electronic components, Radio Frequency (RF) solutions and communications systems. For over three decades, Motorola has been providing reliable wireless water and irrigation control systems and now has over hundred thousand installations worldwide, in a wide range of applications. With Global Data Specialists, we have experts that are close to customer systems with integration services and training. The IRRInet System combines Motorola’s technology leadership with Global Data Specialists knowledge, technical services and support, and sales with proven reliability.
If you would like a quotation for the Motorola irrigation equipment/controllers, engineering services, or other requests, for your current or future project, please contact us.
For further information about the Irrinet-ACE, Irrinet-M, and Piccolo-XR equipment, please visit our downloads page for system planners, data sheets, and specifications.
