Below is our collection of resources to help customers to setup, maintain, or fix their RS-1 Sprinklers. The QR codes inside your RS-1 Sprinkler Demonstration Kit send users to the basic operation manuals, which you can also access with the buttons below. In addition, below is our Frequently Asked Questions on simple troubleshooting problems users may face.
The RainStreamer RS-1 system is intended for installation with threaded ½" pipe. PVC irrigation pipe, buried in the ground, with threaded risers at RS-1 sprinkler locations is the usual method of installation. RainStreamer provides a ¾" to ½" "Stake" adapter for temporary use with a Garden Hose. Use the stake system to evaluate the RS-1 and quickly determine the best locations for permanent installation. We don't recommend the permanent use of the Stake. It will likely work its way free of wet ground over time. If you mount the RS-1 using the Stake attached to a post, make sure to use a Garden Hose that will not deteriorate in the Sun.
No! The RS-1 must be mounted perpendicular to the ground.
The RS-1 is designed to accept AC or DC in the range of 12-24V. RainStreamer provides a standard 12 VDC power supply with the RS-1 Demonstration Kit. A 24 VDC power supply is available for large systems. RS-1's may also be powered by 24 VAC output of standard irrigation Valve Controllers (when installed and used in so-called Valve Controller Mode). NEVER USE POWER SUPPLIES WITH VOLTAGE GREATER THAN 24 V (AC OR DC)!
Yes! This is the intended method of connection for RS-1s. Use 18 AWG irrigation wire rated for direct burial. Connect the wires directly at each sprinkler or use outdoor wire nuts to "daisy chain" from one sprinkler to another. If you are doing a piping installation at the same time, you can loosely wrap the wires around the pipe.
The Junction Box is used to provide the interface between the 12 VDC power supply and the wiring of the RS-1 irrigation system. The Junction Box and Power Supply should be mounted in a dry location. The Junction Box has output connections for 4 pairs of wires. Use the Junction Box to connect to up to 4 chains of RS-1 sprinklers (it is not necessary to wire each sprinkler in a multiple unit system into the junction box).
Any device that can connect to WiFi that has an HTTP browser can be used. This includes ALL known smart phones, all tablets and all computers. In our experience, data tablets are the most comfortable devices to use.
Each RS-1 sprinkler presents itself as a WiFi Access Point with a unique SSID of the form "RS#####" (where ##### is that particular RS1's serial number, also printed on a label on the base of the product). You log on to the RS-1 sprinkler as if it were just another new WiFi access point in a hotel or restaurant. Once connected, use your favorite browser to activate the RS-1 embedded web site by entering www.rainstreamer.com in your browser's address bar.
No, provided that you are not intending to use our Cloud Control Networking Service. (please see Cloud Control details below).
No, this is the intended method of operation. When you connect to an RS-1, you are connecting on a Local Network only. The Internet is not needed to program RS-1 Zones, Spots and Schedules.
This is the intended method of operation. As received from the Factory, your RS-1's SSID is automatically visible for several hours after its first power up. After that, the SSID is disabled. You can easily re-enable it by gently but firmly tapping on the sprinkler. The RS-1 will "Squirt" to acknowledge your tap, and its SSID will become available within a minute. The SSID will remain active for 2 hours and then will disable itself again. You can set the SSID active interval in the RS-1's Control Panel.
If you have multiple RS-1's in a big system, multiple SSIDs can quickly become confusing. We suggest that the easiest way to manage programming several units is to set the SSID active interval to 0. In this fashion, you can tap one RS-1, program it, and a soon as you are finished, its SSID will disappear. You can then proceed to tap the next RS-1 and log onto its newly visible SSID, and so on.
When an RS-1 is first powered up by the user and for the first several hours of use afterwards, it powers up in so-called Sprinkler Setup Condition. In the Sprinkler Setup Condition, The Sprinkler Setup screen appears upon embedded website connection, wherein the user will be asked to enter several details of the parameters of operation (i. e. Sprinkler Height, Mode of Operation, etc.) and perform a Calibration. Also, for the duration of Sprinkler Setup Condition, the RS-1's SSID will be continuously visible in the Available Networks window of the controlling device. Sprinkler Setup Condition expires after several hours. After Sprinkler Setup Condition expiration, Embedded Web Site Logons will lead directly to the Zone/Spot Plan, and the RS-1's SSID will be automatically disabled. The user can easily re-enable the SSID by tapping the RS-1.
Sprinkler Setup is intended as a new user introduction wherein all parameters and choices are provided to the user in a guided, sequential fashion. All parameters entered in the Sprinkler Setup can be modified in the Control Panel section at a later time.
Calibration is the process whereby a common 0 degrees known axis is established between your landscape and the Zone/Spot Plan (similar to the North arrow on a map). Calibration must be performed as part of the Sprinkler Setup procedure, although it may be performed at any time from the Control Panel. Usually, you will want to establish a 0 degrees Axis which is aligned with the edge of lawn or a property boundary or a favorite tree. Use the Right and Left arrows to position the Nozzle. Use the Squirt to verify. When ready, push the Calibrate button, to select the 0 degree line. (This will be the direction that the sprinkler icon in the Zone/Spot Plan points to). Calibration will not need to be done again, unless the RS-1 is removed. Calibration will not disturb an existing Zone/Spot Plan.
A Spot is a user defined location for water delivery. It is defined by a single point and an amount of water to be delivered to that point. At a Spot's scheduled time, the RS-1 will direct a stream of water to the programmed location for the amount of time that it takes to achieve exactly the delivered amount. The delivered amount is measured with milliliter precision. The time that it takes to water a Spot will be greater for Spots that are located close to the sprinkler. Use Spots for precise delivery of water to a bush or tree.
A Zone is a user defined area for water delivery. It is defined by a series of points (aka "Dots") that mark the approximate boundaries of the area to be watered, and a "depth" of water to be delivered. This is the same way that rainfall is described. RS-1 sprinkler logic internally connects the dots and develops a polar co-ordinate form of scanning the area in such a fashion that the required depth is delivered evenly across the entire Zone. The total delivered amount is measured with milliliter precision. The time it takes to water a Zone depends on its size and depth. Large Zones may require an hour or more to water. Use Zones for large areas of water delivery such as Lawns. Also bear in mind that it may be a better strategy to water a tree or bush with a small Zone rather than a Spot.
Using the RS-1's embedded web site's Zone Spot Plan, you designate a Spot or Zone by touching your finger on a "map" of your landscape. The RS-1 will send a jet of water (aka "Water Pointer") to your mapped location, following your finger's location in real time. When you are satisfied with the location, you can schedule a Spot by tapping the Schedule button. If you want designate a Zone, re-touch the Zone/Spot Plan at a different location. The Water Pointer will jump to the new touch point. Drag the Dot into a new position marking the boundary of your Zone and lift your finger. Continue this process, adding Vertices to the Zone's shape, until you are satisfied with the Zone's shape, tap the schedule button. Don't try to "close" the shape, by moving the Water Pointer to the original point; the Schedule button will do this for you.
Yes! And a Zone can contain a Spot (or Spots). And a Zone can completely contain another Zone (or Zones). If fact, this is the recommended method for achieving perfectly "Even Green". If you have a sunny patch in a lawn, create a smaller Zone over that patch and increase the water to only that area. Note, if you want to program a Zone within a Zone, you must start the first Dot of the new Zone in an uncovered area of the Zone/Spot Plan, and then move it into the boundaries of the larger Zone.
No, but it can be, if desired.
Yes. A Zone can have no more than 21 Dots, and no more than one "Concavity" (i. e. a "Bay" that you would like to keep dry). For this reason, it is better to break up very complicated shapes into 2 or more Zones.
14 total Zones or Spots in any combination.
Pushing the Rotate View button causes the Zone/Spot plan to be rotated 90 degrees Clockwise. This is used to provide a different perspective for programming the RS-1. Usually, Zones and Spots are programmed from behind the RS-1, but in many cases, the landscape will prevent this orientation.
This button causes an immediate watering of all Zones and Spots shown in the Zone/Spot plan to the depth/amount indicated in the first scheduled watering operation for each Zone/Spot. Watering occurs in Zone/Spot number order.
Zone/Spot scheduling is completed through the Scheduling Panel. A maximum of three watering operations may be scheduled in a day. Options for Daily, Bi-Daily or Days of the week scheduling are provided.
Any number of watering activities can be scheduled to occur during the same time period. If the RS-1 is watering a previously scheduled Zone/Spot when a new Zone/Spots' scheduled time arrives, then the new Zone/Spot is queued for activity as soon as the older one finishes. If 2 or more watering activities are scheduled to occur at exactly the same time, then the lower number activity will start first. All other activities will be queued in the order of their Zone/Spot numbers.
Any number of watering activities can be scheduled to occur during the same time period. If the RS-1 is watering a previously scheduled Zone/Spot when a new Zone/Spots' scheduled time arrives, then the new Zone/Spot is queued for activity as soon as the older one finishes. If 2 or more watering activities are scheduled to occur at exactly the same time, then the lower number activity will start first. All other activities will be queued in the order of their Zone/Spot numbers.
A Spot scan causes a quick jet of water (3 seconds) to be delivered to the scheduled Spot's location. A Zone scan causes a quick jet of water (2 seconds) to be delivered to each "Dot" (vertex) of the Zone shape in sequence. Use the Scan controls to do a quick "Sanity check" of the Zone/Spot to be watered.
The Control Panel enables the user to re-configure all parameters of RS-1 operation from a single page.
The Global Multiplier enables water delivery of all Zones/Spots in the RS-1 to be increased or reduced by the indicated factor for the duration of the interval between GM start and GM End. The GM can be set manually in the Control Panel or automatically by Cloud Control.
Two types if Resets are available in the Control Panel. Zone/Spot Reset deletes all information in the Zone/Spot Plan but leaves all other sprinkler information in place. Factory Reset performs a Full Reset, wiping out all sprinkler information and returning the unit to a First Use condition.
Nominally 8m — 30 feet. An RS-1 mounted high above ground with high water pressure (70 PSI) can achieve a distance of close to 40 feet. However, effective watering is not possible at this distance. The further the distance, the greater the susceptibility to wind, impairing the accuracy. Also, the attempt to water large areas with a single sprinkler is ultimately limited by the flow rate of the RS-1, which is intentionally low and slow. Consequently, we believe that the best working maximum distance be limited to 8m.
RS-1 sprinklers are designed to operate in the range of 50-85 PSI. Pressures above 85 PSI will permanently damage the sprinkler. Pressures below 50 PSI will reduce the maximum range of an RS-1. Gradual pressure variation in the 55-75 PSI range will not seriously affect the accuracy of the RS-1.
This is by design. RS-1 sprinklers save water by reduced evaporation and runoff by precisely this strategy. Don't worry if your RS-1 is actively delivering water for hours every day.
If the power fails during a watering operation, the water will instantly turn off. When the power returns, the watering operation in progress, any other watering operations that were queued for operation, and all watering operation scheduled to start during the Power Off interval will be omitted for the current day. All watering operations scheduled to start later in the day (i. e. after the Power is successfully restored) will be performed as usual. Watering operations on subsequent days will be performed at their scheduled times. Each RS-1 retains a battery backed up version of the time, and will not need to be reset.
Standalone, Valve Controller and Cloud Control.
Use Standalone for the simplest applications where an RS-1 will be left by itself to water with minimal supervision and reporting. Use Standalone mode in situations where connection to the Internet through an Internet Gateway is not possible (i. e. you have a large property where Gateway Wifi is out of range).
Valve Controller mode is used where the RS-1 controls where watering occurs, and a separate, conventional IOT valve controller is in charge of the schedule. The Valve Controller provides power to the RS-1 via the 24 VAC that is normally used to open solenoid valves. In this mode, the RS-1 goes through all of its actively programmed Zones and Spots in order, watering to their respectively scheduled depths and amounts. After the completion of this activity, the RS-1 does nothing further. Additional activity requires a power cycle (i. e. the Valve Controller must turn off the "valve" and re-activate it). Using Valve Controller mode requires careful programming of the IOT Valve Controller to ensure that it keeps the “valve” open for long enough for an RS-1 to complete its watering activity.
Use Cloud Control Networking Service (requires subscription) when you have an Internet Gateway connection available and you want to achieve the most efficient irrigation system performance possible.
Weather modulation provides the ability to adjust the amount of water delivered by the RS-1 system. Using Cloud Control, each RS-1 connects to Internet weather services that provide real time temperature, precipitation and wind speed and direction information. Here are the benefits of using Weather Modulation:
Cloud Control provides daily, weekly and monthly water delivery report accurate to the milliliter of actual delivery. Each Zone/Spot's watering events are reported separately.
Cloud Control provides additional alerts on the health of the irrigation system, as follows:
Cloud Control makes it easy to keep your system up to date with: