Central Enclosures: Protecting Your Controller?EUR??,,????'???s Brain

By Amy Conrad, for Hydro-Scape Products, Inc.

Stainless steel enclosures like this Hydro-Scape model provide a combination of corrosion and vandal-resistance. The enclosure is set on a poured-in-place concrete slab.

Central control systems have proven over time to be the most efficient way of managing water and labor in irrigation. An enclosure for a central control system protects the valuable equipment from weather, vandalism and extends the life of the controller. Most central control systems are sold separately from their support products. Optional equipment may include sensing devices to monitor rain, wind, freezing conditions, abnormal station flow, abnormal mainline flow, and many other factors. Other optional equipment may include communication options which allow a central control capable controller to be a part of a dedicated central network.

All these optional devices would need to be installed in addition to mounting the assembly. However, some vendors across the country are easing installations and maintenance of advanced control equipment by offering all optional and support equipment, as well as the central control system, housed in one product. Such a product eliminates the frustration a contractor might encounter trying to install all components needed for a central control system to be most efficient. An example of a durable, stainless steel enclosure is the Hydro Safe Controller Enclosure Assembly, manufactured by Hydro-Scape Products, Inc. All major manufacturers?EUR??,,????'??? controllers can be assembled inside, such as Rain Master Evolution system, the HydroPoint Data Systems line, and Flowtronex pump stations as well as the Rain Master Eagle, and Eagle iCentral, the Rain Bird ESP-MC, Hunter ICC/IMMS, Irritrol Systems MC+ and Signature Controls, among others.

Installation Factors

Again, the benefit with complete, turn-key controller enclosure assemblies is the ease of installation in the field with no further special installation requirements. All the installer has to do is pour the cement foundation, mount the controller enclosure assembly down onto the foundation and connect the field wires and the installation is complete.

At the point of delivery to the project site, check to make sure that the manufacturer provides a packet of information enclosed in each controller enclosure assembly that includes all original documents relative to the irrigation controller plus some additional documents specific to the assembly. These documents should include instruction on proper grounding, proper wiring, an installation checklist, and an official ?EUR??,,????'??Certificate of Compliance?EUR??,,????'??. The technician should verify that all items on the checklist are completed and run diagnostic tests on the controller and any optional equipment.

Radios, antennas, lightning surge protection components, flow monitors, pump controls, and Ethernet or fiber optic device servers can be integrated into this Rain Bird control box.

All the installer has to do is pour the cement foundation, mount the Controller Enclosure Assembly down onto the foundation and connect the field wires and the installation is complete.

Irrigation Insights

40: Degrees, the minimum internal temperature of Class I and Class I-V freeze protection enclosures with the external temperature of 30 degrees below zero. Source: Hot Box

3/16: Inches, the thickness of steel plate construction required on all enclosures on the campus of UC Davis. Source: University of California, Davis