Rain Bird ESP Timer Custom Cycle

The Custom Cycle on a Rain Bird ESP timer waters on the days of the week that you select.

Here are the instructions for programming the the Rain Bird ESP Series timer on the Custom Cycle. Note: The numbers in this list correspond to the graphics on the left.

1. Select the program you want.

2. Turn the dial to ADVANCED CYCLES.

3. “CUSTOM” should appear in the display. If “CUSTOM” does not appear in the display, press the UP or DOWN arrow until “CUSTOM” appears in the display.

4. Turn the dial to “MON.”

5. The display shows the day of the week and whether that day of the week is “ON” or “OFF.”

6. Press “ON” or “OFF” to change the setting for this day of the week.

7. Turn the dial to the next day of the week. Repeat steps 5 through 7 until you have set each day of the week.

8. Turn the dial to AUTO and you done!

I have two videos on my YouTube channel iScaper1 that deal with programming a Rain Bird ESP series sprinkler timer: The first is Using the Advanced Cycles feature on a sprinkler timer, and the second is How to install & program a Rain Bird ESP Series timer. Please check out these videos for visual help with programming a Rain Bird ESP Series sprinkler timer/controller.

21 comments

  1. Installing and ESP-TM2 12 zone controller with WIFI and Rain/Freeze sensor. Also adding a booster pump, beside the wiring, loking for more information on the programming? Thanks

    Reply

  2. I have a ESP-TM2 controller – how can I delete settings in CYCLIC DAYS in Advanced Programming?
    I want to use the : Set watering days option

    Thanks
    K.T.

    Reply

    1. Hi Karin, The manual on the TM2 is a bit confusing on how to use Custom watering. This is the information from the manual:

      Custom Days of the Week
      Set watering to occur on specific days of the week.
      1. Turn the dial to RUN DAYS.
      2. Press Program Select to choose the desired Program (if necessary).
      3. Press Plus or Minus button to set the selected (blinking) day as either ON or OFF, and to automatically move to the next day.
      4. You can press the Next or Back button at any time to move the cursor to the previous or next day.
      CAUTION: If Sunday is selected, the Next button will enter and activate Cyclic Watering (see the Advanced Programming
      section). If this is not desired, press the Back button to return to watering by Custom Days.

      From the Caution note it looks like if Sunday is selected you need to use the back button to get the timer to use Custom watering. Let me know if that works. Also, I just added the TM2 manual to my downloads page at iScaper.com. If you don’t have the manual you can get a PDF file of the manual there. KT

      Reply

      1. Thank you very much.
        Our watering day is Monday so it should not activate the cyclic watering, however if I forward from putting in the correct day Monday it shows a set p like every 3 days etc…
        Can this feature be canceled or deleted ? Does whatever #’ s it show have any influence or change my programmed watering day and watering time?

        Reply

        1. If your display is showing Day Cycle, you’re in Cyclic watering. The trick is to get out of Cyclic into Custom watering. Try this, turn the dial to Run Days, press the Back arrow (be sure it’s the Back arrow) until a day of the week shows up (any day). When it does push the Plus button to turn that day on. This should exit Cyclic and enter Custom watering. Continue using the Back arrow to set the days you want to water using the Plus and Minus buttons. If this doesn’t work I may have to fly to your house and program your timer. 🙂
          Going from Cyclic to Custom water days won’t affect your watering time.

          Reply

  3. How do I run 1 zone everyday (like a flower bed) but run the rest of the zones every other day with a rain bird esp controller?

    Reply

    1. Put the everyday zone on program A using Custom cycle. Use the dial to turn on every day. Put the rest of the zones on program B. Move the program selector to program B. You want to do Cyclic watering here, so turn the dial to Advanced Cycles:
      1. The display shows the cycle currently selected for the program.
      2. To change the setting, press Up arrow or Down arrow until “CYCLIC” appears in the display.
      3. Press “MANUAL START / ADVANCE.”
      4. The display shows the number of days remaining until the next watering day, and the number of days in the cycle. The DAY CYCLE flashes.
      5. Press Up arrow or Down arrow to set the number of days in the cycle (from 1 to 31). For example, if you want to water every other day, set the day cycle to “2.” If you want to water every third day, set the day cycle to “3.”
      6. Press MANUAL START / ADVANCE.
      7. The DAYS REMAINING digit flashes.
      8. Press Up arrow or Down arrow to set the number of days remaining before the next watering day. “0” means that today is a watering day. If you want watering to begin tomorrow, set the days remaining to “1.”
      9. Turn the dial to AUTO.

      Reply

    1. Set up Zone 6 on program B or C. Turn dial to valve/zone 6 on “Set Valve Run Time” and adjust to 3 minutes.
      Turn the dial to “SET WATERING START TIMES.” The display shows the first start time currently set for the program.
      Press Up or Down arrow to change the start time. The time setting moves forward and backward in 15-minute increments.
      To set additional start times for this program, press “MANUAL START / ADVANCE” to display the next watering start time.
      Then repeat steps just listed two more times. Be sure to turn on or off the days for zone 6 you want to water. Also zero out Valve Run Time for valve/zone 6 on program A.
      Turn the dial to “AUTO.”

      Reply

  6. I have an ESP 8si RB and am having trouble with the custom setting. When I set the schedule switch to custom, the display reflects days as if it was on a fixed schedule (i.e., it shows a 1, 2, or 3). I checked already to make sure the schedule switch is aligned with the inner black switch. It seems neither switch is holding at the Custom position. Any thoughts or suggestions?

    Reply

    1. After selecting the C for custom schedule does the display show the day of the week if you turn the dial to Day on Current Day and Time, or does it still display a number? I would also check that it has this same problem on program B. If it does I would guess there is something wrong with the slide switch. If I remember right Rain Bird timers have a 5 year warranty so I would call Rain Bird tech support at 1-800-RAINBIRD and explain your problem.

      Reply

  7. My rainbird is programmed, but it kicks back on after 2 hours and cycles again. Can you help me figure out what I might be doing wrong? I’ve checked it over and over again to no avail.
    I appreciate your help in advance.

    Reply

    1. Check that you don’t have extra start times programmed in. Each program usually has 3 or 4 start times available and if you have more than one for each program this could be causing your problem. Let me know if this helps.

      Reply

  8. I have a Rain Bird ESP timer that was working fine until a power surge hit it.

    My question is: Can you replace the transformer (635640A) which puts out the requisite 25.5 V AC at 1000 mA, with a Rain Bird UTI (Univeral transformer AC2550650) output same AC voltage but 650 mA?

    Any help much appreciated.

    Reply

    1. According to Rain Bird the UT-1 transformer will work with the following timers:

      SST Indoor: SST-400i, SST-600i, SST-900i
      STPi Indoor: STP4i, STP6i, STP9i
      E-Class: E4, E6 & E9
      ISB-409
      ISA-304, ISA-406, ISA-408
      PC-306, PC-406, PC-406ps, PC-504 & PC-506
      ISM4-RS, ISM6-RS & ISM9-RS

      If you have an ESP timer you need to go with the 635640 transformer.

      Reply

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