Central Software User’s Guide
Toro Sentinel Central Software User’s Guide
Table of Contents Quick Reference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ii Chapter 1: General Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Chapter 2: Software Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Chapter 3: Getting Started . . .
Quick Reference The six Sentinel main menus are displayed above. Listed with most of the menu items are a hot key (shortcuts) by which the Sentinel feature can be quickly accessed using keystrokes. The Window menu lists the shortcut to each opened utility window. Below the main menu is an icon tool bar which can be used to access the same Sentinel features from the main menus with a click of the mouse.
Chapter 1 : General Overview User FCC-Licensing Responsibilities The radios in this product communicate on frequencies under the control of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). The user must apply for and be granted a frequency license which is site specific. All costs associated with obtaining and maintaining the license are the responsibility of the user and not The Toro Company.
Chapter 2 : Software Installation Note: Throughout this manual, the terms folder and directory are interchangeable. Insert the Sentinel CD in your CD-ROM drive. If Windows is configured to detect new CDs, the Sentinel setup program will start automatically. Otherwise, open the Windows Start menu (located at the lower left corner of the screen) and select Run. In the Run dialog box, type X:\Setup.exe, where X is the letter of the CD-ROM drive, usually D: or E:.
Chapter 3 : Getting Started Software Configuration Windows: Adjust Windows Display Properties to ensure complete visibility of the Sentinel screen. Close all programs, and with your pointer aimed in the middle of the screen (not over any icon), click the right mouse button. A menu window will launch. Click Properties from the menu. The Display Properties utility window will open. Select the Settings tab and set the Screen area to 800 by 600 or greater.
Serial Port Scan With the Serial Port Scan window selected in the Utility / Diagnostics menu, you can view what devices are connected to the central computer RS-232 serial communications ports (COM 1 through COM 4). Scan All Ports will automatically check each serial port one at a time. You can also scan each port individually. A GroWeather station will register as an Unknown. Communication Test and Field Unit Diagnostics are covered in Chapter 16.
System Defaults Once all the field units are listed in the system, you can set certain parameters that will apply to all of them. Click the Set System Defaults button within the System Maintenance window. The Default Parameters section will activate. Within its corresponding text fields, you can enter the Maximum Flow for the entire system. The same can be done for Water Window Start and Water Window End time, as well as Day Change hour.
Master Control Panel The Master Control Panel groups together all of the tools necessary to configure and program a specific field unit, check the status and view the reports. All windows shown in the following sections of this chapter are accessed here. Displaying a Picture in the Master Control Panel You can display an image of the actual field unit or associated landscape unique to the selected unit. Sentinel can display two different picture formats, BMP and JPEG.
The most important item of Special Data is the Comm Port. If you are not sure which port Sentinel uses to communicate with a field unit, you can run the Serial Port Scan from the Utility/Diagnostics menu. This function can detect a Sentinel field unit, Sentinel modem, or phone modem on any of the central computer serial ports. See Chapter 16 for more details. After selecting the correct Comm Port, you can click the Receive button to verify the field unit version and number of stations from the unit itself.
If the PC has an internet connection, the current time and date information can be checked by clicking the Get Time button. A browser window will launch which will display the current time and date (in several time zones) retrieved from the US Naval Observatory website. To update the displayed information on the browser, click the Refresh button. The PC must be connected to the internet for this function to work. Use the given information to update the time and date of the PC and the field units.
The Calendar button displays a schedule outlook for the current month with the selected schedule plotted. You may notice on your screen that the first schedule week is not necessarily the first week of the month on the calendar. This is because the schedules are six weeks long, so the first week may occur at different positions on the calendar, depending on the month. This relationship is determined by the Reference Day.
Try to choose phrases for the Primary descriptions that describes large categories of programs, such as types of landscapes or locations. Use the Secondary Descriptions for a different kind of breakdown such as methods. In the picture above, the primary description groups programs by landscape, while the secondary describes methods. Thus all programs for Normal irrigation of Fairways are quickly selected by these descriptions.
Now click the Modify Run Times button under Station Operations at the right side of the screen. The Modify Run Times window will open in front of the Auto Programming screen. It has several options, but for now, note that you can simply enter a time in minutes and hit the Replace button. All selected slots will have their run time changed simultaneously. The new run time will replace the old run time for all selected slots.
Percent Scale The Percent Scale next to the Start Times can adjust the percent scaling of the program Run Times. You can enter any value from 0 to 250 or adjust the value by clicking on the up/down arrows. 100 is normal, meaning 100 percent of the actual run time. A smaller value will reduce the run time of each slot to that percentage and a larger value will increase it. For example, 200 would double the run times.
Program Transmission In the example picture, we have adjusted the Percent Scale factor back to 100, added a 20-minute delay, and changed two of the Start Times, just enough to allow the program to complete its cycle between starts. Now we have a workable program but it will not run yet because the field unit is not aware of the program changes.
Program Information Clicking the Information button in the Auto Programming window will display a table that lists the start time for each slot within the selected program. The Water Usage column at the right side of the table gives the total gallons used by each station on a single run, not multiplied by the number of starts nor repeats. Thus, the totals at the bottom are for one cycle, one pass through the 48 slots.
Sending, Receiving and Storing Zone Data There is a notable difference between the description column and the other columns. The descriptions are only used in the Central software and are stored in the Central software database of your PC. They are not transmitted to or stored in the field unit. The Expected and Maximum Flow, Plant Factor, Application Rate, Mapped Unit and Mapped Station are all used by the field satellite unit as well as the central software, and are stored in both places.
In the series of example pictures to the right, Application Rates were entered in the Zone Data screen for some stations. This demonstrates the full potential of the Edit Slot window introduced in Chapter 5. Now you can see the description and zone data for the selected station as you enter the run time. Moreover, you can enter any one of the top six variables, and Sentinel will automatically calculate the other five.
Chapter 8 : Field Unit Status Four status screens can be opened from the Master Control Panel for any field unit. These are the Alarm Status, Output Status, Program Status, and Station Days Off. NOTE: The Output Status window will launch when Send is clicked on the Master Control Panel. Alarm Status Similar to the unit code label in each window of the Master Control Panel, the Alarms button will be color-coded with green, yellow or red, depending on the alarm status received.
The Output Status screen (accessed when the Send button from the Master Control Panel is clicked) is used both to view the status of each output, which stations are on and which are off, and to manually turn stations on or off. A station that a program started is under automatic control and cannot be turned-off here. The sum of the Actual Flow and Theoretical Flow (Expected Flow from Zone Data) for the selected stations are shown at the bottom.
Semi-Auto Start You can also start any programs as shown in the picture. When you click on the Start option next to a program, (A 2 in the example picture) the Semi Auto Start data entry box opens where you can specify which slot to begin the cycle and whether the Water Window is In or Out. This is known as a Semi Auto Start. You can select any number of programs to start, then click Send to transmit to the field unit. To stop a running program, select the Stop option next to the Program, then click Send.
Next, click the Show Expected button to display the total of the run times programmed for each day of the current week. As shown in the picture, the total times for completed programs before the day change time are shown with a peach background. If a program runs past the day change time, that portion listed on the following day will have a light magenta background indicating the overlap.
Flow Graph The Flow Graph Report requires a flow meter connected to the field unit. The screen is unavailable unless the Data Retrieval option is selected in Special Data. This report graphs the instantaneous number of gallons the field unit has consumed throughout any four hour period of the current or previous day. Clicking Receive will read the flow data for the entire day selected. Clicking Yesterday or Today will also instruct Sentinel to receive a full day’s flow graph.
Chapter 10 : ET Based Watering Evapotranspiration (ET) is the total discharge of water by direct evaporation from soil and rock surfaces, and transpiration from growing plants. Sentinel has extensive provisions for irrigation based on ET. ET information can be obtained from one of four sources. The source must be specified in the Software Configuration screen as shown at the right. (Refer to Chapter 3 for additional information.) ET data can be manually entered in a field unit or in the central database.
Campbell Weather Station If you have a Campbell Weather Station, select the 4th option under the ET / Rain Source. A settings window will open. Set the correct Comm port at which the Campbell Weather Station is connected. Do not change any other settings without instructions from Toro’s technical support staff. NOTE: During Sentinel 2X installation, the file named PBD.INI is also written within the sentinel files.
ET Based Watering w/ ET & Rain Gauge (Example with ET send time at 10:00 PM and Day Change at 11:00 PM.) 1 All day - ET and Rain Accumulated in One Unit Unit w/ ET Tracker and Rain Gauge Prog A1 0 Rain Bucket All day Default ET (0) ET - Rain compensation for each program to date* Rain Today (.01) ET Today (.12) All day ET Gauge Prog D4 2 10:00 PM - Transmissions at ET Send Time Unit w/ ET Tracker and Rain Gauge Prog A1 0 Rain Today (.
3 10:00 PM - 11:00 PM - Transmission between ET Send Time and Day Change Rain Today (.01) ET Today (.12) Central Computer All Other Units Prog A1 0 Default ET** (.08) ET - Rain compensation for each program to date* Rain Today (.01) 4 ET Today (.12) Prog D4 11:00 PM - Events in all Field Units at Day Change Unit w/ ET Tracker and Rain Bucket 0 Rain Today –ea prg (.01, .0) Prog A1 Default ET (0) .11 ET - Rain compensation for each program to date* ET Today +ea prg .11 (.12, .
If manual data entry is used (with the first ET source option selected in Software Configuration) instead of a gauge, everything works the same way except you must manually enter values for the day’s ET and rain. Do this on the ET Report and Rain Report windows for unit specified in Software Configuration. The ET Report screen is accessed from the Master Control Panel for each individual unit. It is similar in appearance to the Rain Report window.
Transmit Programs Clicking this button in the AutoComm window will cause AutoComm to check for any programs in the Sentinel database that have been changed but have not been sent to the field controllers. AutoComm will then transmit them to their designated field controllers at the specified time. Referring to Chapter 5, you will note that any changes to a program will cause a checkmark to flag the program until it is sent to the field unit.
Send ET Sentinel also provides a method of completing the ET transmissions to the field units without waiting for the preset time. From the Special Operations menu, select Send today’s ET & Rain to all units. ET values and Rain values from the source specified in Software Configuration will be read and immediately sent to all units in the current system.
Run Times Report If you select Include Run Time Report in the AutoComm window before polling alarms, you can also open the Run Time and Deviation Report by clicking the corresponding command buttons in the Alarms result window. The run time report includes a listing of data similar to that displayed in the Run Time Report accessed from the Master Control Panel in Sentinel.
Chapter 13 : Rain Shutdown The Rain Shutdown module can be quickly accessed in three ways: by clicking on the Rain button in the tool bar, selecting Rain Shutdown from the Group Operations menu or by pressing the CTRL + R shortcut key combination. The Selection Choice window will appear first. This is where you can select field units for immediate shutdown or groups of field units from the group list on the right. Clicking a box under Rain Days will open the Rain Days Entry window.
Chapter 14 : System Flow Graph The System Flow Graph is an independent module that displays a graph of the total theoretical flow (in gallons per minute) of all programs for all field units in the current system(s) for one day. It can be opened from Sentinel from the Flow menu by selecting the Composite Flow Graph item or simply clicking the Graph button on the tool bar. Since the System Flow Graph module runs independently, it can also be started from the Windows Start menu.
Chapter 15 : System Flow Optimizer The System Flow Optimizer like the System Flow Graph, runs as an independent program from Sentinel. It can be opened from the Sentinel menu or tool bar (Floptize), or started independently from the Windows start menu. The flow optimizer begins by creating a flow graph of the current system identical to, and by the same method as, the System Flow Graph.
Three additional sliders are provided to quickly adjust all programs. The slider labeled ALL will move the 8 main sliders equally. If you move it to 50%, all eight sliders will automatically move to 50%. If the second slider, labeled LINEAR, is adjusted, then the eight main sliders are automatically adjusted an amount proportional to their priority. The second priority will be reduced a little bit more than the first priority, and so on.
Chapter 16 : Utilities and Troubleshooting Sentinel has several utilities to help in the initial installation, configuring and trouble-shooting the system. These include Serial Port Scan, Communication Test, and Sentinel Diagnostics.
Database Selection All Sentinel data in the central computer is stored in a single large database file. The default file name is Sentinel.mdb. The user may wish to save backup copies of the entire database under different names. Also, a sample database is provided called sample.mdb in the Sentinel directory folder. A utility is provided in the Select Database menu under the Sentinel Setup option. The Data Files window allows switching between the original file, Sentinel.
APPENDIX A: Hand-Held Radio Operation and Commands The Sentinel Hand-held Radio Interface (HHRI) can be used to access the Sentinel satellite field unit. With the Sentinel HHRI, you are able to turn on and off individual stations or clusters of programs. During HHRI operation, the satellite is placed in one of two modes: Normal mode and Secure mode. All field units under Normal mode will react to the transmitted commands sent by the HHRI, regardless of the field unit number.
Set sequence time. 1# Sending this command will step from the currently operating station to the next lower station number. As an example, if station 16 is currently in operation and the 1# command is transmitted, station 16 will stop and station 15 will initiate operation. Start sequence operation. 00# Sending this command will stop the satellite unit’s sequence operation. Semi Auto Program Commands Under Normal Mode Action Command Operation Start cluster program.
Sequence Related Commands Under Secure Mode Action Command Operation Set sequence time. CCC 00 h tt If running a sequence of stations, use this command to set the run time duration. As an example, sending 555 00 1 30 command instructs satellite unit 555 to run a sequence for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Start sequence operation. CCC nn # Send this command to start irrigation for all station in sequence, where CCC is the satellite unit and nn is the first station to irrigate in sequence.
Appendix B: Log Files Sentinel uses four different types of log files to save information about communications, alarms, etc. that can be viewed. All of the log files can be accessed from the folder where Sentinel is installed and can be viewed with Word or Notepad. Activity Log The general information about communications between the Sentinel Central Computer and the field units is logged in the Activity Log, which is saved as Sentinel.log. It can be accessed from the Sentinel File menu.
Run Time Report Sentinel will generate a file with the runtime report if the Run Time Report option is selected in AutoComm when polling the alarms. The runtime data received from each unit that is included in the alarm poll is included in this file. The file name of this log will be RRMMDDYY.LOG, where RR represents Runtime Report and MM DD YY represents the month, day and year of the report respectively. For example, RR071604.LOG is the runtime report generated by Sentinel on July 16, 2004.
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Client’s Regulatory Responsibilities REGARDING ANY AND ALL RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM(S) AND RELATED COMPONENTS THAT ARE PURCHASED FROM TORO, IT IS THE CLIENT, AND NOT TORO, THAT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING, COMPLYING WITH, AND MAINTAINING, AT CLIENT’S EXPENSE, ANY AND ALL LICENSES, PERMITS, CODES AND OTHER SUCH REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO CONSTRUCTION, ZONING, CLEARANCE AND OTHER SUCH REGULATION AS ISSUED AND ENFORCED BY ALL APPLICABLE INTERNATIONAL, FEDERAL, STATE, COUNTY, MUNICIPAL, LOCAL AND OT
