RAIN BIRD INTRODUCES REVOLUTIONARY RAINWATCH™ TECHNOLOGY WITH NEW CENTRAL CONTROL SOFTWARE

Tucson, AZ (November 2005) – Rain Bird Corporation’s Golf Division is pleased to announce Version 5.0, its latest innovation in central control software. Version 5.0 offers several new features and enhancements, including time-based station adjustments for temporary changes to station runtimes and active satellite links on the map. Version 5.0 with SmartPump is also fully integrated with the new PumpManager software supplied with Rain Bird pump stations. SmartPump is an advanced feature which uses Rain Bird’s unique real-time decision-making technology to continuously optimize the performance of a pump station. The Revolutionary RainWatch™ and Minimum ET™ are also included. These features were designed to help superintendents maximize water management and conservation practices. Version 5.0 software can be installed on all Rain Bird central controls including Cirrus™, Nimbus II™, Stratus II™ and Stratus LT™.

RainWatch

RainWatch is the first water management tool in the golf industry capable of making irrigation decisions based on the type of rainfall as it is happening. As a result, irrigation systems take full advantage of rainfall while the sprinklers are running.

The patent-pending RainWatch technology features the use of up to four standard rain cans that measure rain as it falls. Using SmartLogic™ and Rain Bird’s sophisticated real-time decision-making technology, the central control analyzes the rainfall and appropriate reactions are taken based on this information. For example, RainWatch can differentiate between a quick cloudburst that drops a little water and moves on or an extended rainy period. During a quick cloudburst, RainWatch will automatically suspend any running sprinklers while continuing to measure the rain. Once the storm passes, irrigation will resume with sprinkler runtimes reduced by an amount equivalent to the measured rain. Should the rain turn out to be an extended period of wet weather, RainWatch will stop any running irrigation and prevent new irrigation from starting for a user-specified time period.

“With this incredible new feature, your central control actually joins forces with nature to make the best possible use of natural rainfall, making Rain Bird systems more efficient than ever,” said Randy Mills, Rain Bird Golf’s product manager of central controls.

In addition, RainWatch reactions are completely safe for a hydraulic network. Rain Bird’s innovative, real-time decision-making technology ensures that while RainWatch is doing its job, Rain Bird’s patented Flo-Manager® is working behind the scenes to maintain safe hydraulic demands on the irrigation system while keeping pump stations operating at their most efficient level. True central control like this is not available anywhere else in the industry.

Minimum ET

Minimum ET is another exclusive Rain Bird feature designed to promote healthy turf and water conservation through the use of advanced ET management techniques. With Minimum ET and a weather station, the watering cycle is determined with scientific precision, as opposed to scheduling run times in advance for alternating days. Minimum ET allows superintendents to define and set a minimum threshold before automatic irrigation takes place. For example, if the ET is 0.17 inches per day all week and the minimum ET is set at 0.30 inches, automatic irrigation will not take place until the second day when the accumulated ET is 0.34 inches. Minimum ET values can be assigned globally to affect all programs, or individually by program for the ultimate in customized ET management.

Other new features of Rain Bird’s Version 5.0 software include:

• Time-Based Station Adjustments –This feature allows the user to establish temporary station adjustments which return to the original setting when their timer expires. For example, if some area of the course becomes overly wet, this feature allows the superintendent to turn stations in that area off for a few days as the turf dries out. Once the area dries out, the stations will resume their normal operation.
• USB Flash Drive – Version 5.0 includes a 256 MB USB flash drive for backups or transferring files from one computer to another.
• New Report Formats – New reports make it easier than ever to keep track of irrigation using either a satellite or area perspective.
• Smart Pump integration with new Rain Bird pump stations – More than just another automated flow sensor, Rain Bird’s SmartPump makes intelligent decisions regarding pump station utilization to continuously optimize the system to operate at its most efficient level.
• Improved On-Line Help Screens – Everything needed to learn how to use these new features is only a click away.

For more information regarding Rain Bird’s Version 5.0 software enhancements,
call (800) 984-2255.

Rain Bird Corporation – Golf Division manufactures a wide range of irrigation products for golf courses: pump stations, EAGLE™ gear drive rotors, the new EAGLE™ Wireless Rotor series, field controllers, map-based central control irrigation systems, decoders, swing joints, flow meters, filtration systems, valves and irrigation accessories. Rain Bird Central Control components are serviced and supported by a comprehensive Global Service Plan (GSP). These products are sold worldwide through an extensive network of specialty irrigation distributors. For more information, please contact 1-800-RAINBIRD or www.rainbird.com.

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