A plurality of receptacles in an irrigation controller removably receive a plurality of modules. At least one station module is configured for insertion into a first one of the receptacles and is connectable to a corresponding solenoid actuated valve through a dedicated field valve line and common return line. The station module includes at least one switching device for selectively providing a first power signal that energizes the corresponding solenoid actuated valve. At least one encoder module is configured for insertion into a second one of the receptacles and is connectable to a multi-wire path for sending encoded signals and a second power signal along the multi-wire path for selectively energizing one of a plurality of solenoid actuated valves connected to corresponding decoder circuits connected along the multi-wire path. A processor executes the stored watering program and controls the station module and/or the encoder module in accordance with the stored watering program.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
This application is a continuation of recently allowed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/435,036, filed May 16, 2006 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,248,945, which is a division of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/883,283, filed Jun. 30, 2004, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,069,115 granted on Jun. 27, 2006.
