『Hunter Flow Meter Hydrawise: Technical Software Setup for Smart Zone Irrigation System Controllers』Related information(flow rotameter|digital flow meter|balo meter|hydraulic flow meter|volumetric meter|positive displacement meter|pitot tube flow meter|displacement meter|cfm meter|variable area flow meter|inline flow meter|differential pressure flow meter|calibrated flow meter|velocity meter|paddle wheel flow meter|oval gear flow meter|anemometer hvac|multiphase flow meter|doppler flow meter|thorpe tube flowmeter|heat flow meter)
Hunter Flow Meter Hydrawise: Technical Software Setup for Smart Zone Irrigation System Controllers
Quick Answer: Silver Instruments pulse flow meters connect to Hunter Hydrawise controllers through the flow sensor input. Set the K factor, low flow shut off, and high flow alarm in the Hydrawise flow meter menu. For a DN50 irrigation line, a typical pulse rate of 1 pulse per litre works well.
What the Hydrawise flow meter input expects
Hunter Hydrawise controllers read pulse signals from flow sensors. The input accepts a dry contact or solid state pulse. Most industrial flow meters with an open collector pulse output work. You do not need a separate converter for basic pulse counting.
For a Hunter Flow Meter Hydrawise project, the controller sees only pulse counts. Meter type or brand does not matter as long as the pulse output is clean and the K factor is correct.
Hydrawise supports flow sensor input on Pro-HC, HCC, and some X2 models with the HC Flow Meter accessory. Check the controller wiring label for the flow sensor terminal. The terminal block often has two positions marked FLOW and common. Use shielded twisted pair cable. A 0.5 mm2 conductor size is enough for most runs.
A contractor in Perth connected a Silver Instruments SIL-EMF DN50 electromagnetic flow meter to a Hunter Pro-HC controller. The pulse output from the converter was set to 1 pulse per litre. After entering this value in Hydrawise, the zone flow total matched the mechanical totalizer within 2 percent.
Step by step software setup in Hydrawise
Open the Hydrawise app and select the controller. Go to Settings then Flow Meter. Set Flow Sensor Type to Pulse. Enter the K factor in pulses per litre or pulses per gallon. Use the same unit as the flow meter calibration sheet. Set Pipe Size to match the actual DN or inch. Enable Low Flow Shut Off. Set a delay of 30 seconds and a threshold 40 percent below normal zone flow. Enable High Flow Alarm. Set a threshold 30 percent above normal zone flow. Save and run a manual zone for 1 minute. Compare the Hydrawise flow total with the flow meter totalizer.
K factor calculation and common setting errors
K factor means pulses per unit volume. Find this value on the flow meter calibration sheet. If the sheet lists pulses per litre, enter that value. If the meter outputs pulses per cubic metre, convert before entry. For example, 1000 pulses per cubic metre equals 1 pulse per litre.
Common errors include unit mismatch between the flow meter and Hydrawise, incorrect wiring from pulse output to flow input, and using a powered 4-20 mA signal on the pulse input without a converter. Forgetting to set the flow limit after changing a valve or nozzle also causes false alarms.
Most engineers skip the unit conversion. We have seen a customer in Vietnam enter 1000 instead of 1 because the calibration sheet said pulses per cubic metre. The controller showed flow 1000 times higher than the actual flow.
Using 4-20 mA flow meters with Hydrawise
Hydrawise native flow input is pulse. Some controllers do not accept 4-20 mA directly. In that case use a pulse output from the flow converter or add an external signal converter. Silver Instruments electromagnetic flow meters can provide both 4-20 mA HART and a configurable pulse output. Set the pulse outp
Alarm settings for smart zone irrigation
Hydrawise can shut down a zone or pump when flow goes outside limits. This protects against broken risers, torn drip lines, or valves stuck open. Set the low flow threshold about 20 percent below the lowest normal zone flow. Set the high flow threshold about 20 percent above the highest normal zone flow. Use a 20 to 60 second delay to avoid false trips during valve opening and air purging.
Here is the thing: if the air purging period is long, set the delay to 90 seconds on a long lateral line. The false trips stop without hiding a real broken pipe.
Recommended Silver Instruments flow meters for Hydrawise integration
SIL-EMF electromagnetic flow meter covers DN15 to DN200, accuracy ±0.5 percent of reading, 4-20 mA HART, pulse output configurable, PTFE liner, 316L electrodes, IP67 or IP68 sensor. SIL-TUF turbine flow meter covers DN25 to DN100, accuracy ±1 percent of reading, pulse output only, cost effective for clean irrigation water. SIL-ORT oval gear flow meter covers DN4 to DN50, for fertilizer and chemical dosing lines, viscosity up to 1000 cP, pulse output.
Field example from Southeast Asia
A distributor in the Philippines installed 12 Hunter Pro-HC controllers with Silver Instruments SIL-EMF DN50 meters on a golf course irrigation project. The meters sent 1 pulse per litre. Hydrawise alarms were set at 0.5 L/s low flow and 12 L/s high flow. Within two weeks, the system detected a cracked lateral pipe before visible flooding. The controller shut down the zone and sent an alert through the Hydrawise app.
Contact and selection data
To choose a flow meter for Hydrawise, send your pipe size in DN, normal flow range, pressure in bar, water quality, and controller model to Silver Automation Instruments. Tel: +86-25-68650347. WhatsApp: +86-25-52155837. WeChat: +86 15365082610. The technical team can confirm the pulse output type and K factor before you buy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Hydrawise support 4-20 mA flow meter input directly?
No. The native flow input is a pulse input. Use a flow meter with a pulse output or add a signal converter.
What K factor should I enter for a third party flow meter?
Enter the exact pulses per litre or pulses per gallon from the calibration sheet. Convert pulses per cubic metre to pulses per litre by dividing by 1000.
Which Hydrawise controllers have a flow meter input?
Pro-HC, HCC, HPC, and some X2 models with the HC Flow Meter accessory support flow sensor input. Check the wiring label before installation.
Can I use an electromagnetic flow meter with Hydrawise?
Yes. Select a Silver Instruments SIL-EMF with pulse output. Configure the pulse value to 1 or 10 pulses per litre and connect it to the flow sensor terminal.
How do I stop false flow alarms during valve start?
Set the alarm delay to 30 to 60 seconds. Use a low flow threshold at least 20 percent below normal zone flow. Increase the delay for long lines with air purge.
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