COM
Specifications
The central output module (COM) satellites, where indicated and shown on the drawings,
shall be the Rain Bird COM two-wire or COM Link models.
The satellites shall be capable of converting field controllers of any manufacture to
satellite controllers, which are then capable of operating with Rain Bird central control
systems. The satellites shall also be capable of being installed and operated using a
Rain Bird central control system without being attached to existing field controllers.
The converted or existing field controller will be referred to as the “host” controller for
this spec. The COM module shall be microprocessor-based and solid state, with PC
board modular construction for customizing each satellite to meet the specific
requirements of the host controller.
The COM satellites shall incorporate a motherboard, a communication PC board, a
central processing PC board and station output PC boards. The COM shall come in 12or 16-station base units and be capable of having additional station output PC boards,
adding up to a maximum of three (3) total. These station output PC boards may be of any
combination of 12-station and 16-station units. Thus it is possible to provide station
outputs for 12, 16, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40, 44 and 48 stations.
All COM satellites shall be completely year 2000 (Y2K) compliant and will continue to
function before, during and after the year 2000 with no modifications required.
The COM satellite shall perform an automatic self-configuring diagnostic test procedure
whenever power is initially applied to it or upon reapplying power after a power
interruption.
The COM satellite, when used in conjunction with a host controller, shall be capable of
being removed from control by the central unit, thus allowing the host controller to be
operated in a stand-alone mode.
The COM satellite shall have a three (3) position MODE switch on the central processing
PC board. The positions shall be of “TIMED,” “CENTRAL” and “LOCAL.” The
“CENTRAL” position of this switch shall place the COM satellite under the control of
the Rain Bird central. The “LOCAL” position switches the valve common wire, coming
from the solenoids, back to the host controller and disconnects it from the COM satellite.
Thus it enables the host controller to operate manually or, if applicable, from its own
locally stored backup program. By moving the switch to the “TIMED” position and
holding it in place for at least three (3) seconds, the COM satellite will be placed in the
“LOCAL” mode for a period of two (2) hours. During this period it is possible to operate
the host controller in a stand-alone mode. At the end of this period, the COM satellite
shall automatically go back under Rain Bird central control. The stand-alone mode shall
be cancelled before the end of the time period whenever a central control station request
is received.
The central processing PC board shall have three (3) LED indicating lights to display
current satellite status and provide performance verification. The motherboard of the
COM satellite shall also have LED indicating lights to provide further satellite status and
performance verification. An LED indicating light on the output PC board shall indicate,
when lighted, that the fuse on the board has blown.
The satellites, whether designated as COM two-wire or Link models, shall have a sturdy,
heavy duty, highly impact resistant, molded plastic cabinet suitable for wall or surface
mounting onto a host controller or for mounting onto a pedestal. The cabinet shall be
weather, temperature and chemical resistant.
The cabinet shall be 12.25" wide and 9.62" high by 6.75" deep. The enclosure shall have
mounting holes in the back for wall or surface mounting and a 2" diameter opening in the
bottom for mounting onto a 2" diameter pipe pedestal. The front cover shall have a key
operated lock. All PC boards shall be easily removeable from the front of the cabinet.
The satellite, where designated as COM two-wire PP or COM Link PP, shall be housed
in a sturdy, heavy duty, ABS molded, high-impact resistant plastic pedestal enclosure.
The pedestal enclosure shall be 30" tall and 12.25" wide by 12.06" deep, and temperature
and chemical resistant. The enclosure shall be complete with a mounting template and
hardware for bolting to a poured concrete base. The top cover shall have a heavy molded
rubber gasket and a key operated lock. The plastic pedestal enclosure shall have front
and back removable panels for access to both pedestal compartments for ease of
installation.
The COM PP models shall come with one 24-station terminal board supporting stations
#1-24 and installed on the rear side of the pedestal dividing panel to facilitate field wire
installation. If required, a second 24-station terminal board (P/N H60325) can also be
added to support stations #25-48.
All COM satellites shall be UL or C-UL listed, as applicable.
The COM satellite shall require 117 VAC (100 VAC minimum to 129VAC maximum) at
60 Hz input power or 220/240 VAC (200 VAC minimum to 260 VAC maximum) at
50/60 Hz input power. Each satellite shall have a step-down, triple secondary output
transformer for 117 VAC input power to 26.5 VAC output power, or 220/240 VAC input
power to 26.5 VAC output power, for the operation of solenoid remote control valves
and/or valve-in-head sprinklers. The transformer shall be rated at 3.0 AMP output
capacity for operating a maximum of eight (8) Rain Bird standard 2-watt solenoids plus a
master valve at one time (limited by a 3.0 AMP fuses on the station output PC board and
on the mother board). A second output shall provide 12.0 VAC with a 2.0 AMP capacity
and a third output shall provide 7.6 VAC with a 2.0 AMP capacity.
The 117 VAC/60Hz current requirement for the COM satellite shall be 0.10 AMP
maximum plus 0.07 AMP for each Rain Bird 2-watt solenoid that is operating at one
time. Other manufacture type solenoids may require more current than the Rain Bird
solenoid and therefore may require greater total current and/or a reduction in the number
of solenoids than can be operated at one time.
All COM satellites shall be grounded to a 10 OHM or less 3-rod grounding grid. The
satellite shall use relays and MOV surge arrestors to electrically isolate the circuitry from
field noise, while providing a physical gap to protect against surge damage from coming
in on the field wiring.
Under Rain Bird central control operation, all station timing for the COM satellite shall
be done from the central and NOT according to times that are programmed for each of
the stations on the host controller. The programming on the host controller shall be
functional only if the communication link between the satellite and the Rain Bird central
is lost. The changeover to the “STAND-BY” program and/or back to central control
shall take place automatically. The COM satellite unit, when operated under central
control, shall be capable of random access operation of individual stations. Any of the
stations shall be capable of repeating anytime within the scheduled cycle of operation, as
often as desired and for a different amount of time on each repeat. It also shall be
possible to place any individual station of a satellite in as many different scheduled cycles
as may be desired. There will be no limits or restrictions as to the number of individual
scheduled cycles for a given satellite station.
TWO-WIRE COMMUNICATION: If so specified, a two-wire communication path shall
be used for communicating from the Rain Bird central equipment to the COM two-wire
satellites, and from the satellites back to the central. This two-wire path shall also be
used to communicate a feedback signal back to the central equipment. This feedback
signal shall be used by the Rain Bird central to verify and log all satellite activity.
LINK COMMUNICATION: If so specified, a 2-watt radio shall be used to provide twoway communication from the Rain Bird central equipment to the COM Link satellites,
and from the satellites back to the central. This 2-watt radio shall also be used to
communicate a feedback signal back to the central. This feedback signal shall be used by
the Rain Bird central to verify and log all satellite activity.
All COM satellite, low-voltage station output wiring shall be type UF single conductor
annealed soft copper wire with a .06" thick PVC insulation jacket. Wires are of the sizes
indicated on the drawings and of the colors indicated or directed. All splices, in both the
two-wire communication and station output wiring, and all underground connections
shall be made using either 3M, DBY or DBR (direct burial) splice kits or 3500 ScotchLok connector packs. All underground wire joints and connections shall be in standard
size rectangular valve boxes, except at solenoids and terminal strip connections.
When a COM satellite is used to convert a host controller, the COM station outputs shall
be wired to the station outputs of the host controller using a Rain Bird COM-STN 1-24
cable assembly, (P/N 632540) for stations #1 through #24. If more than 24 stations are
involved, a Rain Bird COM-STN 25-48 cable assembly, (P/N 632541) shall be used for
stations #25 up to #48.
The model, location and number of COM satellites shall be as shown on the drawings or
as instructed and shall be as manufactured and furnished by Rain Bird Sprinkler Mfg.
Corp., Glendora, California, U.S.A.