IA Irrigation Controllers & Automation 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A flow sensor wired to an irrigation controller can be used to:
- Control operating pressure automatically
- Detect abnormal flows indicating leaks or broken heads and send alerts or shut down the system (Correct answer)
- Set the seasonal adjust percentage
- Measure evapotranspiration
Correct answer: Detect abnormal flows indicating leaks or broken heads and send alerts or shut down the system
Flow sensors monitor zone flow rates; if actual flow deviates significantly from the expected range, the controller can alert the user or shut off the master valve.
Question 2: Central control irrigation software used on golf courses and large commercial properties allows managers to:
- Generate invoices for irrigation services
- Monitor and adjust all controllers on a property from a single computer or mobile device (Correct answer)
- Design new irrigation systems automatically
- File EPA water use reports
Correct answer: Monitor and adjust all controllers on a property from a single computer or mobile device
Central control systems provide remote monitoring, scheduling, and diagnostics for multiple controllers across large properties from one interface.
Question 3: What is a 'station delay' (also called 'soak time') setting on an irrigation controller?
- The time before the first station starts each day
- A pause between station run times to allow water to soak into the soil before the next zone runs (Correct answer)
- The delay before the master valve opens
- The time the controller waits after a power outage
Correct answer: A pause between station run times to allow water to soak into the soil before the next zone runs
Station delay inserts a pause between zones, allowing previously irrigated areas to begin infiltrating before adjacent areas are watered, which can reduce runoff.
Question 4: In an ET-based smart controller, what is a 'reference ET station'?
- A local soil testing laboratory
- A weather station or network that provides ET data the controller uses to adjust run times (Correct answer)
- The controller itself located at the property entrance
- A satellite-based pressure monitoring station
Correct answer: A weather station or network that provides ET data the controller uses to adjust run times
A reference ET station (on-site or remote) measures or calculates ETo data that the smart controller uses to compute and adjust daily irrigation run times.
Question 5: A 'rain delay' on an irrigation controller is different from a rain sensor because:
- Rain delay is automatic; rain sensor requires manual activation
- Rain delay is a manually or remotely entered number of days to suspend irrigation; a rain sensor automatically interrupts irrigation when rain occurs (Correct answer)
- Rain delay only works on smart controllers
- There is no difference; the terms are interchangeable
Correct answer: Rain delay is a manually or remotely entered number of days to suspend irrigation; a rain sensor automatically interrupts irrigation when rain occurs
Rain delay suspends all irrigation for a user-specified number of days (e.g., after a rain event), while a hardwired rain sensor physically interrupts the circuit during or after rain.
Question 6: Which controller program type allows different zones to run on different days of the week?
- Interval program (every N days)
- Day-of-week program (Correct answer)
- Odd/even day program
- Single-run program
Correct answer: Day-of-week program
A day-of-week program lets the user assign specific days (e.g., Mon/Wed/Fri) to each zone, providing flexible scheduling aligned with local watering restrictions.
IA Irrigation Controllers & Automation 2
A flow sensor wired to an irrigation controller can be used to: