How to Wire Weather Sensors to Hunter Controllers

Weather sensors of all types (rain, wind, freeze) are becoming an important add-on for irrigation systems. They save water by compensating for rainfall, and they can reduce liability by eliminating both overspray during windy conditions and icing on walkways on cold days. Most sensors are so economical that the water savings alone pay for their cost of installation during the first season.

Hunter is the only irrigation product manufacturer that has specifically designed each of its controllers to be weather-sensor compatible. Each controller includes a special circuit allowing direct interface with the sensor and enabling the controller to know when the sensor is active (the controller will display "SENSOR OFF" in its LCD readout, indicating suspension of any programmed watering and eliminating potential confusion of why the system has shutdown).

Additionally, all Hunter controllers provide the ability to bypass the sensor directly from the main panel (without having to unhook the sensor’s wiring) to permit manual operation of the system for maintenance during rainy weather periods. With the Hunter controller, there’s no need to buy or install a separate bypass switch for this purpose, the controller already includes it built-in.

How to Wire a Sensor to the New Pro-C Controller

With its modular design, the new Pro-C accepts a direct connection from a Mini-Clik® weather sensor. This method of hook up allows you to easily override the sensor by using the "Sensor" switch on the controller’s front panel.

• Remove the jumper from the two "SEN" terminals.
• Route the wires from the rain sensor up through the same conduit opening used for the valve wiring.
• Connect one wire to the terminal labeled "SEN" and the other wire to the other "SEN" terminal.

How to Wire Two Sensors "In Series" to Any Hunter Controller

By wiring in series you will be connecting one wire from the first sensor (typically, a Mini-Clik rain sensor) directly to the controller. An additional sensor (e.g., a Freeze-Clik freeze sensor) will use one wire for attachment to the second wire of the first sensor and the other wire for attachment to the controller. This method allows either, or both, of the weather sensing devices to control the circuit.

To attach sensors in series to a Pro-C or ICC controller:

• Follow the same directions as above (see “How to Wire a Sensor to the Pro-C?), using one wire from the first sensor to attach to one "SEN" terminal and one wire from the second sensor to attach to the other "SEN" terminal.

To attach sensors in series to an SRC controller:

• Route the wire from first sensor up through the same opening used for valve wiring.
• Connect one wire to RS terminal and the other to one wire from the second sensor.
• Connect the other wire from the second sensor to the C terminal.
• Connect the valve common to the RS terminal.