Executive
Summary:
The
Center for Irrigation Technology conducted independent tests
of the Alex- Tronix model BCS-10 (battery control system) irrigation
system controller. The tests evaluated battery life and limits
of control wire length at reduced voltages and elevated water
pressure.
These
bench tests utilized three BCS modules attached to three two-way
latching DC solenoids and wired to a BCS controller. A second
system utilized three, three-way DC latching solenoids. Four,
nine volt lithium batteries in the controller power the valve
control circuits. The results are summarized as follows:
Both
circuits functioned satisfactorily after a continuous operation
of 365 hours representing 16,423 individual valve off-on cycles
at 60 psi. Assuming an average of 2000 valve cycles per year
this is the equivalent of over eight years of operation.
Using
a fixed resistance to simulate 14 gauge control wire length,
a battery voltage of 29.6 volts to simulate eight years of operation,
and elevated pressures of 150 psi (static) and 130 psi (operating),
the two-way solenoid functioned satisfactorily with a loop length
of 39.0 miles. In a similar test using a battery voltage of
26.9 volts, the three-way solenoid functioned satisfactorily
with a loop length of 9.8 miles.
|
