CIT - Certified Irrigation Technician Controllers and Programming Questions and Answers

Question 1

A client's controller is programmed for peak summer watering. To efficiently reduce water usage in the cooler autumn months without editing each zone's run time individually, what is the BEST method?

Accepted Answer

Use the 'Seasonal Adjust' or 'Water Budget' feature to set a lower percentage.

Answer

Delete one of the program start times.

Answer

Reprogram all station run times to shorter durations.

Answer

Manually run the system only when the landscape appears dry.

Question 2

A technician is setting up a schedule for a zone with clay soil on a steep slope, which is causing significant water runoff. Which controller feature is specifically designed to mitigate this issue by splitting a zone's total run time into smaller, separated applications?

Accepted Answer

Cycle and Soak

Answer

Sensor Bypass

Answer

Master Valve Delay

Answer

Seasonal Adjust

Question 3

When wiring multiple electronic zone valves to a standard irrigation controller, a single wire provides the shared electrical return path for all solenoids. To which terminal on the controller is this wire connected?

Accepted Answer

C (Common)

Answer

P/MV (Pump/Master Valve)

Answer

SEN (Sensor)

Answer

Any numbered station terminal

Question 4

A client with a working irrigation system and a rain sensor reports that their sprinklers did not run after a very brief, light shower. The controller is programmed correctly and the sensor bypass switch is 'off'. What is the MOST likely reason the system did not activate?

Accepted Answer

The sensor's sensitivity is set to a low rainfall amount (e.g., 1/8 inch) and was triggered.

Answer

The controller's transformer has failed.

Answer

There is a short in the field wiring.

Answer

The master valve is stuck closed.

Question 5

A property has distinct watering needs: turfgrass zones that need to water three days a week, shrub drip zones that require daily watering, and a newly seeded area that must be watered multiple times per day. Which controller feature is essential to manage these diverse schedules?

Accepted Answer

Multiple independent programs (e.g., A, B, C)

Answer

A high number of available station terminals

Answer

Non-volatile memory

Answer

A rain sensor bypass switch

Question 6

Using a multimeter, a technician tests a controller by placing probes on the 'C' (Common) terminal and the terminal for an activated zone 5. The meter reads 0 VAC. A separate test across the transformer's 24V output terminals reads 26 VAC. What is the MOST likely cause of the 0 VAC reading at the zone terminal?

Accepted Answer

The controller's internal fuse is blown or its circuit protection is tripped.

Answer

The transformer is faulty.

Answer

The solenoid for zone 5 has an open coil.

Answer

The field wiring for zone 5 is shorted.

A client's controller is programmed for peak summer watering.To efficiently reduce water usage in the cooler autumn months without editing each zone's run time individually, what is the BEST method?

A client's controller is programmed for peak summer watering.
To efficiently reduce water usage in the cooler autumn months without editing each zone's run time individually, what is the BEST method?