Full Product Manual
2
Table of Contents
INSTALLATION
3. Location
3. Mounting
3. Connecting Line Power
3. General Arrangement and Reference Points
3. Connecting Zone Wiring
SET-UP
4. Communicating with the Rainpal
5-6. Option 1 Communicating with the Rainpal via the LAN (Ethernet Port)
7-8 Option 2: Connect to Local WIFI Access Point
9. User Interface Home Page
10.Zone Setup Page: Irrigation Mode
11.Zone Setup Page: Accessory Mode
12.Zone Schedule Setup Page
13.Flow Sensor and Rain Sensor Setup
14.Communications/Weather/Time Setup Page
15.Communications Port
16.Registration Page
17.Rainpal User APP
18.Warranty and Disclaimers
19.Pre-Delivery/Install Checklist
20.Troubleshooting
Installation
Mount Enclosure
➢Select a location for the installation of the Rainpal controller
➢Mount RAINPAL to the wall with the appropriate mounting hardware for specific wall surface.
➢Take off the six screws in the front and remove the cover.
Connect Line Power
➢Thread supplied power cord through the smaller weatherproof port at the bottom of the enclosure.
➢Wire the line power cord to the three pin connector at location “AC IN”.
➢The plug is detachable from the board for easy access (Figure 1).
Caution! Installing the wires incorrectly could damage the unit
General Arrangement and Reference Points
Figure 1
Connecting Zone Wiring
➢Route zone wires through large weatherproof gland at the bottom of the enclosure.
➢Attach one line from each irrigation valve, light, or water feature relay to the appropriate
receptacle in the 13 pin male plug (supplied).
CAUTION! The 24 Vac output is designed only for activation of irrigation valve
solenoids and relays. DO NOT power lights and accessories directly with the output from
the unit.
➢The common ground connection on the 13-pin plug is furthest to the right.
➢Attach the output for a Boost Pump relay (if installed) to Zone 12. 3
Large Port Small Port
Black
White
Green
110Vac –Top = Black; Center = White; Bottom = Green
220Vac –Top = Black; Center = White; Bottom = Green
Mounting
Holes
Zone Wiring
Rain Sensor
Flow Sensor
Ethernet Port
Three Pin
Power Connector
Serial and Wireless
connection
4
Communicating with the Rainpal
There are two ways to communicate with the Rainpal controller to configure and control it
once it has been powered up. These connection methods are covered in greater detail in the
next several pages.
Option 1: Connect directly to the Ethernet port on the Rainpal controller with your computer.
The default IP is “192.168.101.1”.
Option 2: Connect to the Rainpal controller as a WIFI network while standing within 50 feet
of the Rainpal unit with a smart device. Look for local WIFI network named Rainpalxxxx.
xxxx= the last four characters of the specific Rainpal’s MAC address. Example: Rainpal
64C7.
Select the Rainpal network and enter the password “Rainpal123”. This will connect you to
the unit and allow you to configure or control the unit directly. The default IP for this network
is also “192.168.101.1”
5
Option 1: Communicating with the Rainpal via the LAN (Ethernet
Port)
•After the unit is powered up connect an Ethernet cable between the Rainpal Ethernet
port and the Ethernet port on your computer (Refer to page 3 diagram).
•After you have configured the network settings on your computer open up your
browser. Type in the address bar “192.168.101.1”.
•This will connect you to the Rainpal User interface: (See page 7)
•Once your are connected to the Rainpal user interface you can choose to connect the
device to your local WIFI network.
Connect to Local WIFI Network:
•While connected to the Rainpal by Ethernet cable go down to the communications tab
at the bottom of the screen. This will take you to the communications set up page.
Under the “Network Profile” scroll down menu select “Connect unit to internet via WIFI”
•Select the “Wifi Network Scan” button and a list of all the local WIFI networks will
appear.
Select the network that you would like to join. Choose the security and enter the password.
Hit save and the Rainpal will connect to the network and it will show up with a check mark
when it is connected.
6
The WIFI IP address assigned by your router will show up in the bottom left hand side
of the gray box. You can also configure the WIFI address as a static IP by selecting the
“Use Static IP address” option and hitting save. This will allow you to configure the IP
of the Rainpal to a static IP on your WIFI network.
Option 1: Communicating with the Rainpal via the LAN (Ethernet
Port) Cont.
7
Option 2: Connect to Local WIFI Access Point
•After the unit is powered up, you can connect to the Rainpal directly as a WIFI Access Point.
•While standing within 50 feet of the Rainpal unit with a smart device look for local WIFI network
named Rainpalxxxx. xxxx= the last for characters of the specific Rainpal’s MAC address.
•Choose the network named Rainpal and enter the password “Rainpal123”. This will connect you
to the unit and allow you to configure or control the unit directly.
•After you have configured the network settings on your computer open up your browser. Type in
the address bar “192.168.101.1”.
Once Connected to the Rainpal Access Point you can configure the Rainpal Ethernet port to be
connected to the local router network via Ethernet cable.
•While connected to the Rainpal via the Rainpal WIFI Access Point go down to the
communications tab at the bottom of the screen. This will take you to the communications
set up page. Under the “Network Profile” scroll down menu select “Connect unit to internet
via LAN”
Select the Save button and the Wired LAN Network Settings display will appear.
8
You can select the “Use Static IP address setting” and choose your own local network IP or if
you do not select static IP the router will DHCP designate an IP for the Rainpal controller
Option 2: Connect to Local WIFI Access Point Cont.
Select the operating Mode.
Weather-Auto weather based mode
Auto- Auto time schedule controlled
Rain/Party- Skip one irrigation cycle
Setup Button
Brings you to zone
setup page
Program Button
Brings you to Irrigation
Schedule page
Flow Setup Button
Brings you to Flow setup
page
Registration
Button
Brings you to
Registration page
9
User Interface: Home Page
Reset Button
Resets flow totalizer
Control Button
Selecting the “control”
button will allow you to
choose to suspend the
zone indefinetly or run the
zone manually for a
predeterimend amount of
time. After that time has
expired the zone will go
back to the mode it was
previously set for.
Communication
Button
Brings you to
Communicatos set
up page
10
Zone Setup Page: Irrigation Mode
Zone Function
Choose the function of the zone. If the zone is selected as an irrigation zone
it will be turned on by the irrigation Program schedule selected in the
Program group. If it is selected as an accessory it will run independently on
its own schedule. If selected as a Booster Pump or Master Valve it will turn
on when selected and commanded by another zone.
11
Zone Setup Page: Accessory Mode
Zone Function
Choose the function of the zone. If the zone is selected as an irrigation zone
it will be turned on by the irrigation Program schedule selected in the
Program group. If it is selected as an accessory it will run independently on
its own schedule. If selected as a Booster Pump or Master Valve it will turn
on when selected and commanded by another zone.
12
Program Schedule Page
●There are four separate Progammable schedules, A,B,C, and D.
●You can Program any zone to run on any Program.
●Select the Watering Days that you desire for the Program.
●There are four available start times for each Program. The Program will run the
respective zone for all of the start times selected.
●Click the “Save” button (this will save the new settings).
●All zones configured as irrigation on the respective zone setup page will run in
sequence beginning at the times selected for that Program.
Zone Schedule Setup Page
K-Factor and Offset
Enter the “K” factor and the “Offset”
of the specific flow meter that you
have connected
13
Units
Select between “GPM” and LPM”
Flow Sensor and Rain Sensor Setup
Install the flow meter per the manufacturer's specifications based on pipe size and flow
capacity. Wire the flow sensor to the controller as shown in the diagram below paying
attention to polarity. Set up the flow sensor per the “user Interface” below.
Install the rain sensor per manufacturer’s specifications as shown in diagram below .
The Rainpal will automatically control and adjust watering based on rain sensor
installed when the automatic weather mode is selected
Rain Sensor Input
Flow Sensor Input
Select “Save” when finished
Neg
Pos
14
Communications Port
The Rainpal controller comes with a serial communications port on board. The
communications port will support RS485,RS232, and or radio communications including
2.4GHz and 900 MHz spread spectrum radios. This allows multiple units to be
networked together and the ability to control many units from one internet connection.
Communications Port RS485,
RS232, and or radio connection.
15
Communications/Weather/Time Setup Page
Weather data from internet or Fixed
weather station
Communications information from the LAN or
wireless network. The LAN MAC address is the
electronic serial number for the controller.
Setting Time and Date:
You can select “Internet Time” and
choose your UTC time zone and it will
update time and date automatically or
choose manual and set time manually
16
Registration Page
WEB Server:
The user can register their unit via the cloud base server to start
receiving their free weather information and also to start logging and
storing pertinent control and function data. Also this allows the user to
gain access from anywhere in the world over the internet including
connecting via the APP.
17
Rainpal User APP
The APP can be downloaded for free and used to
Access the specific controller locally via the local
Rainpal user interface access point or globally over
the internet
18
Warranty and Disclaimers
WARRANTY
Mani Group warrants that each product will be free of defects in material and
workmanship for a period of three (3) years for its products. The warranty
commences on the date the product is shipped by Mani Group. Mani Group’s
sole liability and responsibility under this warranty is to repair or replace any
product which is returned to it by the Buyer and which Mani Group determines
does not conform to the warranty. Product returned to Mani Group for warranty
service will be shipped to Mani Group at Buyer’s expense and will be reshipped
to Buyer at Mani Groups expense. In no event, shall Mani Group be
responsible under this warranty for any defect which is caused by negligence,
misuse or mistreatment of a product or for any unit which has been altered or
modified in any way. The warranty of replacement shall terminate with the three
(3) years warranty of the product.
Mani Group makes no warranties of any nature of kind, expressed or implied,
with respect to the hardware, software, and/or products and hereby disclaims
any and all such warranties, including but not limited to warranty of non-
infringement, implied warranties of merchantability for a particular purpose, any
interruption or loss of the hardware, software, and/or product, any delay in
providing the hardware, software, and/or product or correcting any defect in the
hardware, software, and/or product, or any other warranty. The Purchaser
represents and warrants that Mani Group has not made any such warranties to
the Purchaser or its agents MANI GROUP EXPRESS WARRANTY TO BUYER
CONSTITUTES MANI GROUP SOLE LIABILITY AND THE BUYER’S SOLE
REMEDIES. EXCEPT AS THUS PROVIDED, MANI GROUP DISCLAIMS ALL
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PROMISE.
19
Pre-Delivery/Install Checklist
1) Rainpal Controller
2) Large Wiring Gland
3) Small Wiring Gland
4) Power Cord
1) Rainpal Controller
2) Large Wiring Gland 3) Small Wiring Gland
4) Power Cord
20
Troubleshooting
Is the red
LED lit up on the top
right corner of the
board
Are there two green
LEDs lit up in the top
right quadrant of circuit
board
Try to connect to the local
access point WIFI network.
Does WIFI network show up in
smart device
Reboot the controller If after rebooting the green light does not
appear (and the red light is still on), the
processor or firmware is corrupted or
defective. Send controller back
Yes
Yes
No
No
The circuit board is probably defective.
Offer to send a replacement.
Yes
No
If WIFI network does not show up in Smart
Device WIFI network list the processor or
firmware is corrupted or defective or the WIFI
module is defective. Send controller back
Try to connect to the
Rainpal User Interface.
Can you bring up User
Interface in Browser
Yes
Everything is working
continue setup
No
If Rainpal User Interface does not show up in
Smart Device browser the processor or
firmware is corrupted or defective. Send
controller back
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