Rain-Clik™ Rain Sensor Instructions

Introduction

The Rain-Clik you have just purchased provides a new level of performance, water savings and installation convenience never seen before in an economical rain sensor package. First, we provide you with every conceivable piece of mounting hardware, so that the ideal spot to mount your rain sensor will be easy to find and close to your controller to minimize the wire run. Choose between a conduit mount, gutter mount or a standard wall mount and use the telescoping extension arm if needed with any of these to clear obstructions. Built-in angle adjustments at the joints require only your fingertips to adjust and set the sensor level.

Unlike other rain sensors, you do not need to figure out the setting for rainfall shutoff. The Rain-Clik is self-adjusting. Your sprinkler system will be shut down within the first few minutes of any rainfall, yet the total amount of rain received is registered inside the unit and determines how long your system will stay off. Less rain - less time off… More rain - more time off. This is why the Rain-Clik will make your system more efficient: no other rain sensor correlates rainfall amounts with climatic evaporation rates better, so your system will run only when necessary.

Contents

Included with the Rain-Clik are the following items:

1. Sensor body with extension wire
2. Telescoping extension arm
3. Wall mount / Conduit adapter
4. Gutter clip
5. Mounting Hardware

Mounting

Find a spot that will receive unobstructed rainfall and choose your desired mounting option.

Once you have decided which components to use for your mounting option, thread the extension wire through each component in order, before assembling the parts. Remember that installing the telescoping arm is optional. Use it if the Rain-Clik is under an eaves or if there is something obstructing a clear view of the sky. Note that on the wall mount there is a removable knockout on the back side, so the wire can pass directly through the wall where mounted.

All of the parts fit easily together by pressing the hinge points together and sliding these into the mating hinge hole, and releasing. Angular adjustments are done in a similar way, by pressing in the hinge gear teeth to disengage them from the mating hole, making the adjustment, then releasing. Make sure that whatever angle you set the arm to, the base of the Rain-Clik sensor is always parallel to the ground.

Once the Once the sensor is fully assembled, proceed to the mounting location. Following are some tips and guidelines for completing each mounting option.

Wall Mount Mounting instructions

1. If you want to drill pilot holes for the screws, drill two 1 1/16" holes that are one inch apart horizontally.
2. If you want the wire run into the wall, remove rectangular knockout on back of the wall mount with a pen or a screwdriver.
3. Screw one of the mounting screws with the washer into the wall. Do not tighten screw all the way down; leave about 1 1/8" gap between the wall and the washer.
4. Place wall mount mounting slot into screw that is already in the wall. Tighten screw.
5. Insert other screw and washer through wall mount mounting slot. Tighten screw.
6. Attach Rain-Clik sensor and telescoping arm (optional).

Gutter Mount Mounting instructions

1. Screw one of the mounting screws with the washer into one of the holes on the gutter mount. Do not tighten screw all the way down.
2. If you want the wire run into the gutter, remove rectangular knockout on back of the wall mount with a pen or a screwdriver.
3. Clip gutter clip around top lip of gutter.
4. Place wall mount mounting slot into screw that is already in gutter mount. Tighten screw.
5. Insert other screw and washer through wall mount mounting slot into gutter mount. Tighten screw.
6. Attach Rain-Clik sensor and telescoping arm (optional). In most cases, the telescoping arm will not be needed with a gutter mount installation.

Conduit Mount Mounting instructions

1. Place wall mount on 1/2" PVC conduit. This joint may be glued or friction fit.
2. If conduit is sufficiently supported the screws and washers will not be needed.
3. Feed the wire through the wall mount into the conduit.
4. Attach Rain-Clik sensor and telescoping arm (optional).

Helpful Hints for Mounting

1. When looking for a suitable location such as on the side of a building or post, the closer the Rain-Clik is to the controller, the shorter the wire run will be. This will also minimize the chance for wire breaks.
2. As described in the “Operation” section of this manual, “reset rate” refers to the amount of time it takes the Rain-Clik to dry out sufficiently for the sprinkler system to be allowed to come back on. The mounting location will affect this rate and should be taken into consideration should extreme conditions exist. For example, mounting the Rain-Clik on a very sunny, southern end of a building may cause the Rain-Clik to dry out sooner than desired. Similarly, mounting on the northern end of a building with constant shade may keep the Rain-Clik from drying soon enough.

Once the Rain-Clik is mounted, run the wire to the controller, and fasten it every few feet with wire clips or staples for best results. If an extension to the wire provided is needed, use the following table to determine the minimum wire gauge needed:

Wiring to Your Irrigation System

Important: The Rain-Clik is sold and designed for hook up to 24 Volt irrigation controllers only.

WARNING! This unit is designed to be installed in conjunction with 24VAC circuits only. Do not use with 110 or 220VAC circuits.

Wiring to the Hunter SRC

The Rain-Clik connects directly to the SRC. This allows you to easily override the sensor by using the RUN (BYPASS SENSOR) position on the dial.

1. Route the wires from the Rain-Clik up through the same opening used for valve wiring.
2. Connect one wire to the RS terminal and other to the C terminal (See Figure 1).
3. Connect the valve common to the RS terminal.

Wiring to the Hunter ICC or Pro-C

The Rain-Clik connects directly to the ICC or Pro-C. This allows you to easily override the sensor by using the Sensor switch on the front panel.

1. Remove the jumper from the two “SEN” terminals.
2. Route the wires from the rain sensor up through the same conduit opening used for valve wiring.
3. Connect one wire to the terminal labeled “SEN” and the other wire to the other “SEN” terminal (See Figure 2).

Other Controllers

The two most common situations are shown below.

1. 24 Volt Solenoid Valves Only (No booster pump) (See Figure 3)
   With the two wires from the Rain-Clik at the controller, locate the “common ground” wire of the solenoid valves. If it is connected to the common terminal on the controller, disconnect it. Attach one wire of the Rain-Clik to the “common” terminal (usually marked “C”) on the controller. Attach the other wire of the Rain-Clik to the common wire leading to the valves. Note: The common wire to the valves does not have to be interrupted at the controller. The Rain-Clik may be wired anywhere along the common wire line.
2. 24 Volt Solenoid Valves with Booster Pump (See Figure 4)
   Locate the common wire to the solenoid valves and the common wire leading to the coil of the relay that starts the pump. If these two wires are connected to the “common” terminal on the controller, disconnect both of them.
   Twist together these two wires along with one wire from the Rain-Clik, and secure with a wire nut. Attach the other wire of the Rain-Clik to the “common” terminal on the controller. Note: The pump circuit output must be 24 Volts in this situation. Do not proceed if 110V.

Operation Check to Verify Correct Wiring

Turn on one zone of the irrigation system that is visible while you are in reach of the Rain-Clik. Manually depress the spindle at the top of the Rain-Clik until you hear the switch “click” off. The sprinkler zone should stop instantaneously. If it does not, check wiring for correctness. It is not necessary to “wet” test the Rain-Clik, although it will test the operation fine, if desired. (See Figure 5)

Adjustments and Operation

The Rain-Clik can keep the irrigation system from starting or continuing after rainfall.

The time that it takes the Rain-Clik to reset for normal sprinkler operation after the rain has stopped is determined by weather conditions (wind, sunlight, humidity, etc.) These conditions will determine how fast the hygroscopic discs dry out, and since the turf is also experiencing the same conditions, their respective drying rates will roughly parallel each other. So when the turf needs more water, the Rain-Clik is already reset to allow the sprinkler system to go at the next scheduled cycle.

There is an adjustment capability on the Rain-Clik that will slow down the reset rate. By closing the “vent” (see Figure 6) to completely or partially cover the ventilation slots, the hygroscopic discs will dry out more slowly. This adjustment can compensate for an “overly sunny” installation location, or peculiar soil conditions. Experience will best determine the ideal vent setting.

The Rain-Clik utilizes a single disc technology to turn off your sprinkler system within the first five minutes of the rain falling. For light showers and amounts of rain less than 1/8", the single disc will shut off the system for 30 minutes to 4 hours, depending on weather conditions. Adjusting the vent cap will not have an effect on the dryout time of the single disc. For heavier rain showers in excess of 1/8", the disc stack under the vent cap will hold the system off for an appropriate amount of time. The disc stack dryout time is what the vent cap adjustment controls.

Bypassing the Sensor

The Hunter ICC, Pro-C and SRC controllers are equipped with a built-in bypass that allows you to override an active sensor. For controllers not equipped with this feature, should you desire to bypass the operation of the Rain-Clik for any reason (i.e., turn on your system even though the Rain-Clik has shut “off” due to rainfall), there is a simple way to do this – add our Bypass Switch Box. This mounts on or next to the controller, and by simply moving the switch, the Rain-Clik is bypassed.

Note: Using the “manual” switch on non-Hunter controllers typically will not bypass the sensor.

Maintenance

There is no required maintenance for the unit. The Rain-Clik does not have to be removed or covered for “winterizing” purposes.

Troubleshooting

Follow these simple checks first before assuming the unit is bad and replacing it.

System will not come on at all:

1. First, check to see that the Rain-Clik discs are dry and the switch “clicks” on and off freely by pressing the top of the spindle.
2. Next, look for breaks in the wire leading to the Rain-Clik and check all wire junctions.
3. Finally, if the Rain-Clik is dry and the wire leading to it is good, check the Rain-Clik switch by nicking the insulation of the two “outer” wires near the unit to expose copper. Turn one sprinkler zone on, and apply a “jumper wire” across the two exposed wires. If the sprinkler now comes on, the switch is bad. Wrap all nicked wires with electrical tape.

System will not shut off even after heavy rainfall:

1. Check wiring for correctness (see “Operation Check to Verify Correct Wiring”).
2. Is the rainfall actually hitting the Rain-Clik? Check for obstructions to rainfall such as overhangs, trees or walls.

Manufactured under U.S. Patent Pending

All Rain-Clik™ models are listed by Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL). Samples of these devices have been evaluated by UL and meet the applicable UL standards for safety.