User Manual

This document gives step by step instructions on how to install your Altrac MultiStation (ST160/161) for valve control and pressure monitoring. 

Tools and Materials	Size	Use
Phillips Screwdriver	Medium/Large	Attach mounting brackets
Flathead Screwdriver	Small (Jewelry)	Inserting wires into station
Flathead Screwdriver	Medium/Large	Tightening hose clamps
Wire Strippers	Mid-range	Stripping 18 AWG wire
Waterproof Connectors	18 AWG Wire Range	Connect wiring outside enclosure
Mounting Pole	See Below	Mount Altrac Station and solar panel
Zipties	12-18"	Cable management

Video Overview

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgPeVfmalDY&t=175s

Steps

Step 1: Check Cellular Station Connectivity

Step 2: Choose a Mounting Strategy

Step 3: Mount the Altrac Station

Step 4: Mount the solar panel

Step 5: Install the Solenoids and Wiring

Step 6: Set the Solenoid Voltage Switches

Step 7: Install the Pressure Sensors and Wiring

Step 8: Set the Pressure Sensor Switches

Step 9: Software Setup and Testing

Step 1: Check Cellular Station Connectivity

The Valve Station comes with an internal battery. For shipping the battery is unplugged. When you plug in the battery, the modem should start blinking. If the Valve Station successfully connects to the cloud, you will see information appear in your webapp account. If the MultiStation fails to connect, you will see a blinking green light on the modem. You can find cellular strength readings in the webapp by navigating to the settings page (gear icon) for your device and looking at the 'Signal Strength' tile. If your device does not have service, you will need to adjust the location of the device or install a booster antenna from Altrac.

Step 2: Choose a Mounting Strategy

The Valve Station is designed to mount in several ways.

1. Round Pole - The station and solar panel include hose clamps to attach to a 1" to 1.5" pole. Be sure to cement the pole into the ground. High winds can catch the solar panel and push the pole over. 

2. Telespar perforated square tubing - The Altrac Station mount has a bolt pattern that matches Telespar tubing. For the footing, a slightly larger tube can be cemented into the ground or a surface mount base an be anchored to concrete. 

3. Post/Flat Surface - The station has several holes in the mounting bracket to allow screws for mounting to a flat post or surface. 

Step 3: Mount the Altrac Station

1. Screw on the two mounting brackets to the back of the Altrac enclosure. You will need a Phillips screwdriver. 
2. (a) Use the included size #32 hose clamps to secure to a pole (b) use bolts to mount to Telespar perforated square tubing (c) use your own screws to mount to a post/flat surface. 

Step 4: Mount the solar panel

1. Use the included carriage bolts to secure the solar panel in the open position (~45 degrees). 
2. Mount the solar panel in the same manner as the Altrac Station. 
3. Face the solar panel south.
4. The solar panel can affect the cellular reception of your Altrac station. Do not mount the solar panel above the Altrac Station if your cellular reception is weak. 
5. Feed the two solar panel wires through the 4-hole cable gland into the Altrac Station. The temperature probe connector also uses this cable gland, so you will have a total of four wires once the solar panel has been installed. 
6. Connect the solar panel wires to the circuit board as shown below:

Red Wire -> Solar+

Black Wire -> GND

Step 5: Install the Solenoids and Wiring

The Altrac Station controls up to two latching solenoid valves. Latching solenoids only require power to switch position (ON->OFF or OFF->ON), so they are suitable for low power applications. The latching solenoids each use two wires. 

1. Install the solenoid onto your valve. 
2. Wire the solenoid into the Altrac Station. If you have purchased the pre-wired Altrac Station, the following color legend explains the usage of each wire. NOTE: If you install the wires backward (reverse polarity), the solenoid will function opposite to what is displayed in the app. 

Valve 1:

Valve Station Blue -> Solenoid Positive +

Valve Station Black -> Solenoid Negative -

Valve 2:

Valve Station Yellow -> Solenoid Positive +

Valve Station Brown -> Solenoid Negative -

3. If you did not purchase the pre-wired Altrac Station, you will need to drill a hole in the enclosure and insert the wires directly into the circuit board as shown below. 

For any connections made inside the enclosure, strip the wires .25" and insert into the spring terminals. You may need to depress the spring with a jewelry screwdriver or muddy stick. 

If you are making a connection outside of the enclosure, we recommend soldering and heat shrinking the wires, using a junction box with wire nuts, or waterproof connectors (link below). 

DBR/Y-6 KIT

 

Step 6: Set the Solenoid Voltage Switches

The latching solenoids require between 9-24VDC to actuate. Adjust the switches labeled 'Solenoid Voltage' match the voltage output of the Altrac Station to your solenoids.  

VDC	SW1	SW2
24	OFF	OFF
15	OFF	ON
12	ON	OFF
9	ON	ON

 

Step 7: Install the Pressure Sensor and Wiring

The Altrac Station monitors up to two pressure sensors either switches (ON/OFF) or transducers (PSI). The pressure sensors each use two wires.

1. Install the pressure sensor. To install an Altrac supplied pressure switch, you need a coupler with a 1/4NPT thread. These are available at hardware or irrigation suppliers. See below for example installation:

2. Wire the pressure sensor into the Altrac Station. If you have purchased the pre-wired Altrac Station, the following color legend explains the usage of each wire.

Pressure Switch 1:

Valve Station White -> Pressure Switch Red

Valve Station Green -> Pressure Switch Black

Pressure Switch 2:

Valve Station Orange -> Pressure Switch Red

Valve Station Grey -> Pressure Switch Black

If you did not purchase the pre-wired Altrac Station, you will need to drill a hole for your cable and insert the wires directly into the circuit board as shown below. 

For any connections made inside the enclosure, strip the wires .25" and insert into the spring terminals. You may need to depress the spring with a jewelry screwdriver or muddy stick. 

If you are making a connection outside of the enclosure, we recommend soldering and heat shrinking the wires, using a junction box with wire nuts, or waterproof connectors (link below). 

Link: DBR/Y-6 KIT

Step 8: Set the Feedback Sensor Switches

The Altrac Station can monitor up to two pressure switches or pressure transducers. Use the table below to adjust the inputs to accept either pressure switches or pressure transducers. 

Pressure Switch Mode: IN+ outputs 11mA. IN- receives either 11mA (closed) or 0mA (open).

Pressure Transducer Mode: IN+ outputs 29mA. IN+ receives 4-20mA sensor output.

IN1	IN2	Switch 1	Switch 2
Switch	Switch	OFF	OFF
Switch	4-20mA	OFF	ON
4-20mA	Switch	ON	OFF
4-20mA	4-20mA	ON	ON

Step 9: Software Setup and Testing

1. Log into your Altac account. www.altrac.io
2. Identify the Altrac station in the app using the Altrac Alias, which is under the barcode inside the enclosure. It usually begins with 'wm'. Example: WM123456
3. Check cellular connection. If the device has a red and white connection symbol, your device is has not successfully connected to the cellular network. You need to reposition the device/solar panel or contact Altrac for a booster antenna. 
4. Test that the valves successfully turn ON/OFF. You will need to use the schedule to turn the valve ON/OFF for testing purposes. Water does not need to be running to test the valves. 
5. When the solenoid is open, the pressure sensor should show ON. Water needs to be running to test the pressure sensors. 
6. Hide inactive devices. The valve station controls up to two valves, so in your account you will see two valves for each Station in your account. You can hide the unused valves by changing the device status to 'inactive' on the device settings page (gear icon). Once moved, these inactive devices can be found in the global settings page under the main menu 'Inactive Devices'.