| One of the newer irrigation technologies is a central control system that communicates with the pump station control panel. For years, pump station software allowed the golf course superintendent to monitor what the pump station was doing. Software provided visual graphics for system operation, history of events, flow and pressure and alarm conditions. In more sophisticated systems, the alarms could be reset and the individual pumps turned on and off. Communication between the control panel and computers could be via a phone modem, hard wire or radio. The major manufacturers provided this software, but it was not typically included in a non-prefabricated or locally-supplied pump system. Modern software provides more monitoring for constant communication. For example, a larger pump station is running at 1,500 gallons per minute (gpm) and consists of three pumps, each 500 gpm. The central computer has the capacity set at 1,500 gpm. In the middle of the irrigation cycle one of the pumps develops a problem. Normally, pressure would drop as the station would only be providing 1,000 gpm against the 1,500 gallon demand. If you’re lucky, the station might shut off on the low pressure safety, but odds are that computer/station would be operating the system at too low a pressure. In an interactive system, the irrigation system central computer understands the station capacity has been reduced by 500 gpm and reduces the irrigation demand to 1,000 gpm, maintaining the system. Losing a pump is an extreme example and rarely occurs, but think about it for day-to-day operations. If you have a central control system, then the water use shown in your central software per cycle does not match the amount your pump station indicates was pumped during the same cycle. The reason for this variation is usually attributed to the database not being as accurate as it should be. Real-time communication between the pump station and the central computer contractor indicates that the pump station has more pumping capacity than the irrigation control system is requesting. As a result, the central control system turns on more sprinklers to fill in the gap. The interaction makes the pump station operate more efficiently and reduces the overall water window. Small changes in terms of something not coming on or something stocking on, would also be picked up by the interactive communication. On some systems, the interactive communication can also monitor electrical use on the pump station and keep its operation limited to when pump station operation is most cost-effective. If your pump station electrical service is subject to demand charges, you can keep the main pumps from operating during those more expensive time periods. It will also send you an email or test if something goes wrong or if one of the alarms activate. The exciting aspect of the interactive software is the ability for Internet access, either through your central computer or with a connection directly to your pump station control panel. This connection provides you with the same ability to interact with the pump station as if you were standing in front of the control panel. You can check on your pump station while watching a football game, while attending one of the kids’ soccer games or when you’re not quite confident the system is operating properly. It provides another tool to help you monitor what is going on through technology. All you need is your laptop, smart phone or iPad. In this competitive age, interactive communication between every major pump station manufacturer and every major golf course irrigation equipment manufacturer is not possible. You need to determine which irrigation manufacturers software will communicate with which manufacturers pump station control panel, and in what detail as some interaction will occur, but some interactive features will be limited. Lastly, your pump station control panel needs a reasonably up-to-date logic interface that can deal with the required communication protocols and technologies. The interactive communication between the pump station control panel and the irrigation central control system is evolving rapidly and continues to change. If you are purchasing a new pump station or control panel, do your homework and look further than just the individual equipment features. GCI |
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