At the 2017 Irrigation Show & Education Conference, Rain Bird introduced several new products.
Controllers
The ESP-9V, a battery-operated controller is designed to tolerate harsh conditions.
“We wanted to provide contractors with a tougher, longer-lasting and easier-to-use battery-operated controller than the models currently on the market,” said James Harris, Rain Bird’s product manager for contractor controllers. “When you consider its durability, long-lasting battery power and scheduling features, the ESP-9V truly outshines the competition.”
The ESP-9V features a large, easy-to-read LCD screen and can operate for more than two years on two nine-volt batteries. Its memory keeps schedules safe in the event the controller loses power, Rain Bird said.
Contractors and end users can create common irrigation schedules in just three steps, and one-touch manual watering allows contractors to start a full irrigation cycle with the touch of a button.
Six start times and four watering day options are available per zone (custom days, cyclic, odd and even), and automatic zone-stacking ensures that only one valve irrigates at a time. It’s available in one-, two-, four- and six-zone units. Multizone units feature a dedicated Master Valve output.
Rain Bird also featured its ESP-TM2 controller, suitable for indoor and outdoor installations.
It’s available in four-, six-, eight- or 12-station models and comes with three available programs that all offer up to four start times or one-touch manual watering. It also features a large back-lit LCD display for improved visibility.
By plugging the ESP-TM2 in the LNK WiFi Module, users can access, operate and monitor their irrigation systems from anywhere using a free mobile app. Users also can access internet-based weather information to adjust the irrigation schedule daily, saving up to 30 percent in water, according to Rain Bird.
XFS-CV Dripline
Rounding out Rain Bird’s lineup is its XFS-CV Dripline, a new version of the XFS that can be used in almost any drip irrigation application, said the company.
Comprised of flexible, dual-layered tubing, the product features standard flow rates, check valves in every emitter and copper shield technology to protect emitters from root intrusion. It can be used above or below ground on sloped or level areas.
The XFS-CV Dripline remains charged with water in elevation changes of up to 10 feet, and its 4.3-psi check valve prevents water from draining out of the dripline at the zone’s lowest points, preventing plants in those areas from being overwatered and avoiding wasteful puddling.
Photos: Rain Bird
