Rain 8

The Rain8Net and Relay8Net products by WGL are extremely simple to set up with the Cortexa, assuming the Rain8/Relay8 is already setup independently, using the information found HERE.

Once the Rain8 wiring is completed, the Rain8/Relay8 must be interfaced with the Cortexa using the RJ11 to DB9 cable that is provided with the Rain8/Relay8. All that is required in the Cortexa config, is to go to the "Subsystem Setup" page, find the entry for "Rain/Relay 8 Net," and select the COM port on the Cortexa that the Rain8/Relay8 device is physically connected to (using the drop-down next to the entry title). No other settings need be entered on this page (nor are any other settings even available).

Once this is done, the watering schedule(s) can be created using the Cortexa Event Manager. Typically, the event trigger for a given sprinkler/relay zone will be a time of day, and the action for that event will be "turn on Rain8 zone 1". In this example, a separate event will be required to turn this zone off at the desired time. Do this for all zones. When using the Rain8/Relay8 in this fashion, it is recommended to turn on only 1 zone at a time, so that the series of events looks like this:

Event 1

When the time is 6PM

Turn Rain8/Relay8 Zone 1 on

Event 2

When the time is 6:10PM:

Turn Rain8/Relay8 Zone 1 off

Then Sleep for 2 seconds

Then turn Rain8/Relay8 Zone 2 on

Event 3

When the time is 6:20PM:

Turn Rain8/Relay8 zone 2 off

Then Sleep for 2 seconds

Then turn Rain8/Relay8 Zone 3 on

etc.

Troubleshooting

If the sprinkler/relay zones do not appear to be operating when activated via events in the Cortexa, functionality can be tested using the green LED on the back of the master Rain8 device. When the device successfully receives a command from the Cortexa, the LED should go off for approximately 2 seconds, and then it should come back on (solid green). If this is occurring when a zone it turned on or off through an event in the Cortexa, communication is correctly set up.

NOTE: A volt-meter or multi-meter may also be used to detect voltage changes for testing purposes, but this voltage change will only occur if a sprinkler valve is physically connected to the terminal on the Rain8 - The Rain8 must see the resistance in order to activate or de-activate.