Hunter’s New Sistema ET Continuously Updates the Ideal Irrigation Program as an Easy Add-On for Hunter Controladores

Predicting the weather may not be the easiest thing to do. But responding to climate changes by continually calculating the optimum landscape irrigation program is now possible with Hunter’s new Sistema ET.

Designed as a simple add-on to any existing Hunter controller equipped with a SmartPort® (models SRC, Pro-C, and ICC made after 1996) as well as the all-new ACC controller, Hunter’s Sistema ET permits installation of a truly automatic irrigation system that automatically resets to on-site weather conditions

The Sistema ET uses evapotranspiration data collected on site to create an intelligent irrigation program for each watering day to replenish the plants’ moisture. This “smart” watering program is operated through the controller’s Program “A”, freeing its other programs to run non-irrigation or non-ET adjusted zones.

Hunter’s Sistema ET conserves water and energy based on actual conditions at the irrigated site, and is not reliant on data from weather stations miles away. Each one has all the sensors necessary for accurate, local ET readings and calculations.

ET-based irrigation is considered a “best practice” by the irrigation industry and water purveyors and can typically result in a water bill savings of up to 30 percent over a well-managed conventional irrigation system.

Easily Installed

Hunter’s Sistema ET consists of a very small weatherproof enclosure mounted near the irrigation controller, and a small sensor unit mounted up to 100 feet away. Weighing only six pounds, the sensor unit is easily mounted on a post, pole, or wall. No external power wiring is needed for either device, as both rely on power supplied by the Hunter controller.

Key customer benefits of Hunter’s Sistema ET include:

• “Set it and forget it” efficient watering. Once the irrigation installer has programmed the site data into the Sistema ET, it adjusts the watering schedule based upon on-site weather conditions. There is no need to reprogram a controller due to seasonal weather changes. The system captures the maximum water savings by scheduling irrigation each day. The system is ideal for sites where it is difficult to access the controller for reprogramming.
• No recurring fees or subscriptions for weather station data. Plus, the system’s modest initial cost may be offset by rebates from local agencies.
• On-board database: Sistema ET includes plant, soil, and sprinkler information for each zone in the system. A large, backlit LCD display enables setup from menus of typical plant, soil, and sprinkler data by zone, and also enables customization for unusual zone conditions.
• “Smart” shutdowns when not needed: Sistema ET will suspend irrigation during rain, freezing, or high wind conditions based on its own sensor data. The on-board rain gauge will also deduct rainfall from automatic irrigation, providing additional savings in the form of “free” irrigation from natural precipitation.
• No External AC Power Wiring. Sistema ET gets all of its power from the controller’s SmartPort® connection.

Hunter’s Sistema ET will be available starting in the first quarter of 2006.

Hunter Industries is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of irrigation equipment for landscape and golf.