Irritrol PCW Control - Manual (Page 24)

22 PCW Control S Installation
Chapter 4 – Remote Master Valve / Pump Start Feature
The Remote Master Valve / Pump Start Feature is only for systems with more than one controller.
A Master Valve (MV) is an automatic valve that shuts off the water supply pipe when the irrigation
system is idle. The master valve reduces the chance of flooding from a zone valve that leaks or has
failed while open. The controller turns on the MV when it turns on the first valve in a program and
turns off the MV when the last valve has timed out.
A Pump Start circuit is a circuit designed to energize a Master Valve or to operate a pump start
relay(24-volt AC). It allows a power source (120 VAC, 220 VAC, etc.) to connect to a pump motor. Like it
does for a master valve, the controller switches the pump on with the first station and off again once
the last valve closes.
For irrigation systems with one main supply line and multiple controllers, the Remote MV / Pump
Start feature allows the other controllers to use the master valve / pump start circuit on Controller
Number 1. This saves wire and trenching for multiple pump start circuits. In the system, each
controller (2, 3, or 4) is provided the choice of using itw own pump start circuit or that of controller
#1. In the same way, if controller #1 has a rain sensor, clicking the “Remote” radio button in controller
#2’s “Rain Sensor” box tells controller #2 to use controller #1’s rain sensor.
Below, the installer has set Controller #2 to use the master valve of Controller #1 and its rain sensor.
Figure 4.1