Maximum VS Optimal - More Info

Follow

Factor

June 29, 2022 16:42

I read this post https://support.rainmachine.com/hc/en-us/community/posts/360040463754-Soil-Water-Surplus-Max-vs-Optimal-?input_string=Maximum%20VS%20Optimal%20-%20More%20Info

It doesn't help. This still doesn't seem to mean anything to me.  Can you add more definition?

What is Maximum and Optimal

The box in the UI states

Use Set To Maximum if you see your soil soaked wet and RainMachine shows no water surplus. 

So I go outside look at my Lawn and see puddles of water? OR pull a plug and the soil is muddy wet?

Then what do I do?

What water surplus?

Where do I see this in the UI?

Use Set To Optimal if RainMachine displays more water surplus than your soil actually has.

What water surplus? Where do I see this in the UI?

From the other post:

By selecting Max, the unit will increase water levels to a nice moist state. 

Increase what water levels?  It will water longer?  OR It will just set the controller to "To think the Water is full".

By selecting Optimal will bring it down to a level ready for watering. 

Bring what down? Ready for watering how?

Try to give a real life example in detail of how this works or what its for.

0

• 

  RainMachine Support June 29, 2022 21:05

  Hi,
  Yes, you'll have to see your lawn/zones in real life to make the right decision.
  Currently, these two actions are available only using the RainMachine Web app.
  Click on each zone name to open its settings, then click on the View and Manage option from under Soil Water Surplus. There you should find the water in soil level that RainMachine knows about and take into consideration when that zone will water again. If the real-life tells otherwise, then:

  Use SET TO MAXIMUM if you see your soil soaked wet and RainMachine shows no water surplus.
  SET TO MAXIMUM will set the available water in soil to maximum that the soil type can hold. From RainMachine point of view this might mean that several days can pass before that zone is irrigated again. RainMachine will balance daily evapo-transpiration with the available water in soil until it reaches normal level.

  Use SET TO OPTIMUM if RainMachine displays more water surplus than your soil actually has.
  SET TO OPTIMUM will set available water to normal level, not in deficit and not in surplus.
  
  Thank you
  RainMachine Support

  0

  Comment actions Permalink
• 

  Factor June 30, 2022 14:41 (Edited June 30, 2022 14:41)

  Lets do an example:

  Temps in High 90s.

  No observed rain. 

  Forecast rain is 0.02".

  Soil is visibly dry.

  System reports a water surplus

  System is not watering due to a water surplus.

  In reality there is no real surplus.

  Which setting to I choose?  Maximum or Optimal.

  How do I tell the machine its wrong and set the water surplus to 0 if I want to?

  0

  Comment actions Permalink

Please sign in to leave a comment.