As I am seeing here comments from users on how confused and complicated the control pannel and programming options are. I think that the Rain-Bird system was created by the person with a special development.
what really throws people for a loop programming this thing is the fact that you can only have 1 program running at a time (A B C). Each program can have multiple schedules, but if you set a program up for A then you need to clear all of the data for B and C. I've helped a few neighbors set theirs up and every time they had program A and B with schedules overlapping and stuff. I just ask them what they want to do, 2 or 3 days per week and how long, then I program everything under "A" and clear all the data for B and C and then they're all set.
@@bettyw.6402 Press the round button on the top right to change programs to B or C, then choose Run Times and set every zone to zero minutes. Alternatively, you can probably select Date/Time and make sure each day is turned off. 🚫
Under start times , make sure you only have program A for whatever time you want all the other ones leave off. Once that’s done move to run times , depending on how many zones you have select station 1- however many and their proper run times you want them to run for ! And all done ✅
110 comments all asking questions. I think we need another, better video. While I graduated college I just can't figure out "water days" as every button I push moves the day.. How do you turn the days on and off?
when u have the water days option selected, the program will cycle through each day of the week. looks like u just press "program select", then press plus to turn the sprinklers on for that day or minus to turn them off. it is in the video towards the end.
I am operating two programs both with a 4-30 start time.. I want to run each program every 3 days. How do I ensure that programs 1 and 2 do not both run on the same day.
I have only program A enabled. Start time on specific days is 5:30a.m. That is for "1st" position. The rest are set to off. Sprinkler did not come on at time specified?? Any ideas? Could rain affect the sensor??
I wanted to download a manual for this from the Rainbird site, but while it says it's a ESP-TM2, the manual available isn't quite the same. For instance it has 'run days' vs 'water days' on the timer and the instructions for changing that don't work on this model. I had to do a lot of trial and error and finally got it to work by holding down 2 buttons at the same time. Please provide a manual to download for this model.
I've successfully programmed most modern technology devices - BUT none as complicated as this - or better stated- it doesn't do what you programmed it to do - so am I missing a step, did they forget to tell us to wearing certain colors or we are supposed to stand on one leg only, possibly a magic word? OR is the auto rain detector picking up rainy conditions and thereby overriding the set program so that it doesn't "activate' due to the rain? More complicated... Suggestion- off programming assistance through WI fi... Rainbird Techs could be contacted given location then enter our rainbird system "I.D." so that an online tech can access the programmer, then either assist us or do it automatically for us- I'd even pay for that help!!!
Are "stations" the same thing as "zones"? Do I need to set each individual "station" watering times? I was told we need to run Zone 1 for 15 minutes, Zone 2 for 15 minutes, Zone 3 for 15 minutes and so on. Feeling quite defeated..any help would be greatly appreciated.
0:56 in the video as they are preparing to set the run times, does the selector switch have to be put back into the auto position first before u set the run times?
Here is where I am at with mine now: I had the installers set it to drought mode which is every station twice per day, 9 PM and 4 AM. Then I simply will turn the knob to OFF when I don't want it to run or just leave it on AUTO to keep it running twice per day. If it rains then it won't run anyway due to the sensors. But I turn it to the OFF position anyway when it rains. A bit of a manual process on my end but I don't care.
The irrigation system goes through the zones as programmed but then starts all over again with Zone 1 - how do I get this ghost out of the machine to not repeat the zone cycles??
Hi, Please delete all start times you have in program A. Except for the first one. This controller does not need individual start times. Only one will give you one entire cycle. Then set run times for all your stations. One start time and station run times will give you what you want. To erase the start times. Please, use - and + symbols. Go to the position between 11:45 PM and 12:00 AM. The interface will say OFF.
One more question, if I have Program #1 set for Station or zone1 in front yard for 20 minutes and Station or zone2 in back yard for 20 minutes, but when I go to program A it says start at 5am.... does that mean zone 1 comes on for 20 minutes then zone 2 comes on for 20 or is there a way to set the start times different?
I have had my irrigation/Rain Bird now since June 23 (July 15 now). Twice, I was expecting system to come on automatically and it did not. Other times, fine. I don't know what I did wrong. What about significant dew on morning lawn? Will this activate the rain sensor (the outdoor sensor is located by the roof gutter).?
System continues to ignore my start time. I have it set to water at 3 am. I only have one watering day set. Every week it’s watering at 6 am. I have it on 24 he cycle. Should I change to 12 hour. Very frustrating.
The video says start times can be set for up to 4 stations per program. So what if you have a 5th station? You can just never program that station to run automatically?
This is my question too. I believe this is where you’d start program b or c to go along with program a. For example, I currently have program a set to run sundays and Wednesday’s for stations 1, 2, & 3 starting at 5:15am at 15 mins each. I then used program b for station 4, 5, & 6 starting at 5:30pm on this same days. FYI, I just moved in and have no idea if this is right yet but this is the best guess we could all come up with at my household.
After watching this video, I think I totally missed their concept of water start times. Like others, I thought the start time told it when the 2nd , 3rd, 4th stations would start. I think that is all wrong. The start time is to start the entire sequence of stations . You can start each Program up to 4 different times. For example, I can run the entire sequence of stations starting at 630 am and then repeat the whole program at 1430 (230 pm). As I understand their concept now, this does not tell me when station 1 starts, then station 2, then station 3. It gives me the option to start Program A at 4 times during a day
Our new home has a RainBird but we didn't get the user manual; at the website don't see a process to order one? These things are wayyy to complicated for the average homeowner.
You can get the full user manual online from Rainbird. I had to do that to figure out how to turn off the cyclic watering, because the videos and the brochure I got didn't explain it properly.
Im having issues with my unit. I have the program set up with my days, time, etc. It is very user friendly. My issue is that the sprinkler did not turn on this week even though programmed. I think it might have to do with the 'cyclic' program. I dont know what this is an cant find more information.
HI. When my controller is running in auto mode and runs through all the start times till the end, it goes back to the start again and runs the same cycle again. I have reset and reprogrammed everything but it keeps on doing this. How can I stop this?
If your primary\1st run cycle is cycle A it sounds like you may have accidentally set cycles B or C with the same days and times (maybe when you tried resetting everything?) And so now it's running a second time after the first cycle runs...
@@MAGAMAN A, b, C, are just there to use if you want to set up a different program and not want to reprogram your primary one . Maybe you have new grass seed sow and need to water often for short run times. then later you will use the program for mature grass. you don't need to use those other programs at all.
Here is the gap in the instructions... Programs A, B, and C: You apparently cannot turn a program ON or OFF. If so, I cannot find out how. There is no explanation anywhere that I could find addressing how Programs A, B, and C would be used. I programed my controller for Program A = SUMMER; Program B = FALL and SPRING; Program C = WINTER. Now when the dial is in Automatic, all three programs run. This is another digital device designed by tech people who do not use them. Terrible User Manual - written by someone who never used the device. WHAT IS THE PUROSE OF THE PROGRAMS A, B, C?
I dont see how to set it to come on in the AM and the PM. I can only water now on two days of the week, how do I set a start time in the AM and the PM? Your video just mentions program A & B but can it be doing both? You don't define these
Both the manual and this video forget to answer the most important question/state the most important thing -- it's not mentioned anywhere, and it's so obvious -- If I have 3 zones, and "they need to operate one at a time"... does the timer automatically run each Station 1 one at a time for the programmed run times ? eg. If I set my Watering Start time at 6 am - and then set station 1 run time 45 min, station 2 run time 30 min, station 3 run time 40 min --- does the timer run Station 1 for 45 min, then turn off and run Station 2 for 30 min etc - each individually ?
Hello, all our Residential Controllers will only run one station at a time. They will go in sequence in numerical order. So if you have 3 zones and they are set for 20 minutes each, the total run time will be one hour.
If I manually want to water an individual station for a specified amount of time (I.e. trees or flowerbeds, not the entire yard) but I leave it in “manual”, should the system still water based on the set schedule of “automatic” when not set to “automatic”.
It's going to run EVERYTHING in the settings. My lawn was waterlogged because I didn't know that it will not only run the Program displayed (eg. A) it will also run any other programs in the system (eg. B, C, and D). This is if it's set to "Manual" or not. They really weren't thinking about the customer when they created this technological puzzle.
@@ericpowell4350you're the man, you answered my question. I left mine on "manual" yesterday with it set on my normal program A, but I noticed it also ran program B while left in "manual".
Hi there, sorry you were disappointed with the experience you had with the ESP-TM2 controller. If you would like any technical support or want help with troubleshooting, you can call our customer support team Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m Pacific time at 1-800-RAINBIRD
And seriously... "endless patience and time"? Come on. You can learn everything you need to know about setting this up in much less time than it takes to water your lawn once.
This timer is NOT intuitive, and this video is not helpful. Whoever is in charge with training/marketing is clueless. They need to define their terms, and explain how to use the feature by giving examples of what you might do with that feature and why you would NOT use the feature in certain cases. “Application” training not function training.
You forgot amongst other things, to show how to turn OFF a setting. More interested in producing a video that the "attention span challenged" will watch.
This is a polished video that cannot help a new owner successfully make the system do what you need. Worthless.
As I am seeing here comments from users on how confused and complicated the control pannel and programming options are. I think that the Rain-Bird system was created by the person with a special development.
What are programs? We just bought a house with this system and I’m so confused on how to use it
Same exact problem
@@dandresimmons31 +1
Me 2
Think of it as saved presets. Save your settings on a letter. Good for quick swap between new grass, drought, rainy seasons. (I think)
what really throws people for a loop programming this thing is the fact that you can only have 1 program running at a time (A B C). Each program can have multiple schedules, but if you set a program up for A then you need to clear all of the data for B and C. I've helped a few neighbors set theirs up and every time they had program A and B with schedules overlapping and stuff. I just ask them what they want to do, 2 or 3 days per week and how long, then I program everything under "A" and clear all the data for B and C and then they're all set.
How do you clear B & C out?
@@bettyw.6402 I think you set them to off - I've been having the same problem.
@@bettyw.6402 Press the round button on the top right to change programs to B or C, then choose Run Times and set every zone to zero minutes. Alternatively, you can probably select Date/Time and make sure each day is turned off. 🚫
We don’t need the music
My question is where do you leave the switch after you set it to run programs?
auto
I just want to program ONE program and have it use that! Nope, it's out there doing its own thing.
I agree. Stupid
Same issue I'm having
Me too it sucks
Try setting times to zero for the other ones?
Under start times , make sure you only have program A for whatever time you want all the other ones leave off. Once that’s done move to run times , depending on how many zones you have select station 1- however many and their proper run times you want them to run for ! And all done ✅
why is the clock always slow on this unit? I have to reset the time every couple of month.
110 comments all asking questions. I think we need another, better video. While I graduated college I just can't figure out "water days" as every button I push moves the day.. How do you turn the days on and off?
when u have the water days option selected, the program will cycle through each day of the week. looks like u just press "program select", then press plus to turn the sprinklers on for that day or minus to turn them off. it is in the video towards the end.
I am operating two programs both with a 4-30 start time.. I want to run each program every 3 days. How do I ensure that programs 1 and 2 do not both run on the same day.
did u get an answer to this
I have only program A enabled. Start time on specific days is 5:30a.m. That is for "1st" position. The rest are set to off. Sprinkler did not come on at time specified?? Any ideas? Could rain affect the sensor??
Check your date and time sometimes if you lose power at your home the timer might reset itself
Thanks!
I wanted to download a manual for this from the Rainbird site, but while it says it's a ESP-TM2, the manual available isn't quite the same. For instance it has 'run days' vs 'water days' on the timer and the instructions for changing that don't work on this model. I had to do a lot of trial and error and finally got it to work by holding down 2 buttons at the same time. Please provide a manual to download for this model.
I've successfully programmed most modern technology devices - BUT none as complicated as this - or better stated- it doesn't do what you programmed it to do - so am I missing a step, did they forget to tell us to wearing certain colors or we are supposed to stand on one leg only, possibly a magic word? OR is the auto rain detector picking up rainy conditions and thereby overriding the set program so that it doesn't "activate' due to the rain?
More complicated...
Suggestion- off programming assistance through WI fi... Rainbird Techs could be contacted given location then enter our rainbird system "I.D." so that an online tech can access the programmer, then either assist us or do it automatically for us- I'd even pay for that help!!!
I messed up my programing. Don't know when on. Water bill was $577.00. 😢
Are "stations" the same thing as "zones"? Do I need to set each individual "station" watering times? I was told we need to run Zone 1 for 15 minutes, Zone 2 for 15 minutes, Zone 3 for 15 minutes and so on. Feeling quite defeated..any help would be greatly appreciated.
yes it is
0:56 in the video as they are preparing to set the run times, does the selector switch have to be put back into the auto position first before u set the run times?
Did you ever find the answer to this?
@@annieD72 I believe, yes...im good now. Actually my wife got it figured out.
No one knows and NO ONE CARES! This system is complicated and no "PRO" has been able to set it correctly for me.
nobody knows from what i've tried to find
@@sherwinmarlin2782 What’s the answer?
Once I have everything set up, where do I leave the knob?
I believe you leave it in autp
Here is where I am at with mine now: I had the installers set it to drought mode which is every station twice per day, 9 PM and 4 AM. Then I simply will turn the knob to OFF when I don't want it to run or just leave it on AUTO to keep it running twice per day. If it rains then it won't run anyway due to the sensors. But I turn it to the OFF position anyway when it rains. A bit of a manual process on my end but I don't care.
The irrigation system goes through the zones as programmed but then starts all over again with Zone 1 - how do I get this ghost out of the machine to not repeat the zone cycles??
Hi,
Please delete all start times you have in program A. Except for the first one. This controller does not need individual start times. Only one will give you one entire cycle. Then set run times for all your stations. One start time and station run times will give you what you want.
To erase the start times. Please, use - and + symbols. Go to the position between 11:45 PM and 12:00 AM. The interface will say OFF.
You'd think with programming from HELL I'd have some detailed instructions on the Tube from the manufacturer, but noooo!
One more question, if I have Program #1 set for Station or zone1 in front yard for 20 minutes and Station or zone2 in back yard for 20 minutes, but when I go to program A it says start at 5am.... does that mean zone 1 comes on for 20 minutes then zone 2 comes on for 20 or is there a way to set the start times different?
So the start time will turn on zone 1&2 automatically. Once zone 1 turns on it will continue to zone 2
Excellent video👍
I have had my irrigation/Rain Bird now since June 23 (July 15 now). Twice, I was expecting system to come on automatically and it did not. Other times, fine. I don't know what I did wrong. What about significant dew on morning lawn? Will this activate the rain sensor (the outdoor sensor is located by the roof gutter).?
These things are shit. I have one too, and they don't work at all. Garbage. If you actually want your lawn watered, get out a hose.
Turn off the rain sensor
System continues to ignore my start time. I have it set to water at 3 am. I only have one watering day set. Every week it’s watering at 6 am. I have it on 24 he cycle. Should I change to 12 hour. Very frustrating.
My question is , How to turn OFF for start time ??
I don't need 2nd time and 3rd time watering .
Please help me .
I am having a hard time on how to turn off a start time bc I don’t need a third option setting to run again.
Just keep pressing the plus symbol until it goes to off
use the minus button untill you see it display off
After 12AM is OFF. Go slowly, 1 push past midnight on off and go to your next start time 2 to 3 etc.
Why did you move to B n not stay in A?
Fertigation system
The video says start times can be set for up to 4 stations per program. So what if you have a 5th station? You can just never program that station to run automatically?
This is my question too. I believe this is where you’d start program b or c to go along with program a.
For example, I currently have program a set to run sundays and Wednesday’s for stations 1, 2, & 3 starting at 5:15am at 15 mins each. I then used program b for station 4, 5, & 6 starting at 5:30pm on this same days.
FYI, I just moved in and have no idea if this is right yet but this is the best guess we could all come up with at my household.
Hey how did you add stations??
Iv run the pipes and can test stations 5,6 but I can’t add them to the “start times” selection screen
After watching this video, I think I totally missed their concept of water start times. Like others, I thought the start time told it when the 2nd , 3rd, 4th stations would start. I think that is all wrong. The start time is to start the entire sequence of stations . You can start each Program up to 4 different times. For example, I can run the entire sequence of stations starting at 630 am and then repeat the whole program at 1430 (230 pm). As I understand their concept now, this does not tell me when station 1 starts, then station 2, then station 3. It gives me the option to start Program A at 4 times during a day
Our new home has a RainBird but we didn't get the user manual; at the website don't see a process to order one? These things are wayyy to complicated for the average homeowner.
The last rainbird system I had was extremely easy to use, then they come out with this piece of crap.
what are you having trouble with
You can get the full user manual online from Rainbird. I had to do that to figure out how to turn off the cyclic watering, because the videos and the brochure I got didn't explain it properly.
Why is there a program A & B? Is it just so you can select a different watering timer
A or B or C or D could mean morning, afternoon, dusk or night based on the irrigation schedule you want to adopt
Im having issues with my unit. I have the program set up with my days, time, etc. It is very user friendly. My issue is that the sprinkler did not turn on this week even though programmed. I think it might have to do with the 'cyclic' program. I dont know what this is an cant find more information.
Maybe cause it rained that day and it senses that and it won’t turn on..
Really shoud add a Duplicate option so that you set up one day and then duplicate it fot the other days. It takes too long to set each day separately
Looks like they pulled an “Apple” and made the experience just bad enough to where you would buy the accessories also (Wi-Fi module).
HI. When my controller is running in auto mode and runs through all the start times till the end, it goes back to the start again and runs the same cycle again. I have reset and reprogrammed everything but it keeps on doing this. How can I stop this?
Need a answer for this also
I also need answer to same question. It will just keep running through the system until I turn controller off
Check to see if you have a second program running after that one. This would cause a second run cycle.
@@danegilmore9092 yes, that is the purpose of installing this device. I want to run multiple programs with different run days etc.
If your primary\1st run cycle is cycle A it sounds like you may have accidentally set cycles B or C with the same days and times (maybe when you tried resetting everything?) And so now it's running a second time after the first cycle runs...
You would think this is simple seeing a 2 minute video, nope. You all need to come out with a TM3
My question exactly !!! There is NO explanation about A, B or C in the manual, or this stupid video. C'mon Rain Bird, wake up!
Completely overcomplicated design.
@@MAGAMAN A, b, C, are just there to use if you want to set up a different program and not want to reprogram your primary one . Maybe you have new grass seed sow and need to water often for short run times. then later you will use the program for mature grass. you don't need to use those other programs at all.
@@moss2844 Had same question
Not clear to me why there are different programs.
Here is the gap in the instructions...
Programs A, B, and C: You apparently cannot turn a program ON or OFF. If so, I cannot find out how.
There is no explanation anywhere that I could find addressing how Programs A, B, and C would be used.
I programed my controller for Program A = SUMMER; Program B = FALL and SPRING; Program C = WINTER. Now when the dial is in Automatic, all three programs run.
This is another digital device designed by tech people who do not use them. Terrible User Manual - written by someone who never used the device.
WHAT IS THE PUROSE OF THE PROGRAMS A, B, C?
We just move to a new home with a 15 yr old system. The box is locked, no key. How can we obtain one?
Ok. So whats a station when you go to run times?
I dont see how to set it to come on in the AM and the PM.
I can only water now on two days of the week, how do I set a start time in the AM and the PM? Your video just mentions program A & B but can it be doing both? You don't define these
Hello,
If both start times will be using the same water days. You could use program A, the second start time to run in the afternoon.
If I want to turn off 2nd time watering, how can I turn off?
Go to start times and eliminate the second start time
Both the manual and this video forget to answer the most important question/state the most important thing -- it's not mentioned anywhere, and it's so obvious -- If I have 3 zones, and "they need to operate one at a time"... does the timer automatically run each Station 1 one at a time for the programmed run times ? eg. If I set my Watering Start time at 6 am - and then set station 1 run time 45 min, station 2 run time 30 min, station 3 run time 40 min --- does the timer run Station 1 for 45 min, then turn off and run Station 2 for 30 min etc - each individually ?
Hello, all our Residential Controllers will only run one station at a time. They will go in sequence in numerical order. So if you have 3 zones and they are set for 20 minutes each, the total run time will be one hour.
That would have been good information to add to the instructions. Badly done.
I have 4 stations. I'm on program A with each station on 30 mins. Is there a way to have all stations start and run at the same time?
No, there isnt enough water pressure to run all your stations at once
Yes. Get a hose, nozzle, and hook them up to the outside spigot and begin watering your own lawn. The Rain Bird won't do it!
Ok here is my question .. why or how do you change the start time to pm? Yes im late to this video
It will show pm on the right of the time.
@@clubtc05 it never went to pm
Mike Ramsey when I get back home, I'll double check and let you know. Are you using the same model as in the video?
Mike Ramsey sorry it took so long but I checked and mine has an a.m and a p.m right next to the time on the start time.
If I manually want to water an individual station for a specified amount of time (I.e. trees or flowerbeds, not the entire yard) but I leave it in “manual”, should the system still water based on the set schedule of “automatic” when not set to “automatic”.
I would think not, though it is disappointing that Rainbird haven’t answered this question for you.
It's going to run EVERYTHING in the settings. My lawn was waterlogged because I didn't know that it will not only run the Program displayed (eg. A) it will also run any other programs in the system (eg. B, C, and D). This is if it's set to "Manual" or not. They really weren't thinking about the customer when they created this technological puzzle.
@@ericpowell4350you're the man, you answered my question. I left mine on "manual" yesterday with it set on my normal program A, but I noticed it also ran program B while left in "manual".
@@juniorcamacho373I notice mine ran on manual. Stupid
Very good. But cut out the stupid background music. It is annoying and distracting
I am really dissatisfied with this rainbird control panel. Backlight crapped out one month post install. Very poorly made product
Hi there, sorry you were disappointed with the experience you had with the ESP-TM2 controller. If you would like any technical support or want help with troubleshooting, you can call our customer support team Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m Pacific time at 1-800-RAINBIRD
Please dont buy one of these unless you have ENDLESS PATIENCE AND TIME,
It’s actually very simple
You're just lazy
And seriously... "endless patience and time"?
Come on.
You can learn everything you need to know about setting this up in much less time than it takes to water your lawn once.
Turn off the music!
T
This timer is NOT intuitive, and this video is not helpful. Whoever is in charge with training/marketing is clueless.
They need to define their terms, and explain how to use the feature by giving examples of what you might do with that feature and why you would NOT use the feature in certain cases.
“Application” training not function training.
You forgot amongst other things, to show how to turn OFF a setting. More interested in producing a video that the "attention span challenged" will watch.
NOT DETAILED AT ALL. SUCKS.
Are you kidding me!!!! This is ridiculous- try again
And how to do manual one time to check if sprinklers are working at all
This is a poor system
Rainbird are garbage. I have had two and they never worked. Junk.