Patent Publication Number: US-2022224027-A1

Title: Irrigation controller with vertically offset terminal connectors rows

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/137,025, filed Jan. 13, 2021, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to irrigation controllers and specifically relates to irrigation controllers having a terminal connector block for connecting wiring from the controller to irrigation station valves. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Terminal connector blocks for irrigation controllers are typically arranged in horizontal rows for an installer to access. Terminal connections are locations on the controller to which wires are connected to the controller. The wires can connect sensors to the controller at input terminals or may connect devices controlled by the controller at output terminals. Output terminals are typically connected to electrically actuated valves. For example, the controller switches an output AC signal to an output terminal, and a wire coupled to the output terminal carries the AC signal to a solenoid that opens a valve allowing pressurized water to flow therethrough to one or more sprinklers. In a traditional controller, there are a variety of separate terminals including AC voltage signal input terminals, sensor input terminals, accessory connection terminals, a common line output terminal, a master valve output terminal and multiple station output terminals. An irrigation controller controlling eight stations will need eight separate output connection terminals and a common terminal, whereas a controller controlling twelve stations will need twelve separate output connection terminals and the common terminal. Increasing the number of stations controlled increased the number of terminals needed, and thus, the space needed for the connector block (also referred to as a connector strip). Many irrigation controllers are small and have limited space for a large number of output terminals. Moreover, physically and electrically isolating terminal connectors and their associated wires within limited space becomes increasingly difficult. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems, apparatuses and methods pertaining to controlling irrigation. This description includes drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an irrigation controller with terminal connector rows in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  is an enlarged perspective view of the terminal connector rows of  FIG. 1  in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the irrigation controller of  FIG. 1  in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a housing of the irrigation controller of  FIG. 1  having divider walls according to some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a circuit board with both the first and second electrical connection rows being provided without electrical connection pads, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of a circuit board with electrical connection pads provided in only the first terminal connector row, in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6A  is a simplified illustration of a side view of a screw-type terminal connector coupled to a riser in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6B  is a perspective view of the terminal connector and riser of  FIG. 6A . 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the circuit board of  FIG. 5  having terminal connectors fastened to the terminal connector rows in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of the irrigation controller of  FIG. 1  with terminal connectors fastened to the terminal connector rows. 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the irrigation controller of  FIG. 1  with the terminal connectors fastened to the terminal connector rows as shown in  FIG. 8  and further including wires retained by the terminal connectors in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the irrigation controller of  FIG. 1  with the terminal connectors fastened to the terminal connector rows as shown in  FIG. 8  and further showing a location of plane A-A′. 
         FIG. 11  is cross sectional view across plane A-A′ of the irrigation controller of  FIG. 10 . 
     
    
    
     Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Generally speaking, pursuant to various embodiments, systems, devices and methods are provided herein useful in providing and arranging terminal connector blocks in irrigation controllers. Also included herein are systems, devices and methods that are useful for electrically and physically isolating terminal connectors using vertical offsets and horizontal offsets between adjacent terminal connector blocks. Specifically, terminal connectors in one terminal connector row area are coupled to vertical lifts or risers that elevate that row of terminal connectors in a horizontal plane above another row of terminal connectors. In addition, in some embodiments the housing includes a ridge portion, that abuts or is located adjacent to the risers, providing additional physical and electrical separation of the rows of wires connected to each of the terminal connector rows. 
     Throughout the figures and description, several views are shown of an irrigation controller, and/or portions or components thereof that provide an arrangement of terminal connector rows in accordance with some embodiments. An irrigation controller typically includes a housing, a user interface (e.g., display screen, buttons, dials, lights, etc.), a control circuit and memory for controlling operation of the controller and executing watering schedules, electrical connections for input power (or alternatively, a battery for power), other electrical components and switches (e.g., relays or triacs), various input connectors for sensors, accessories, etc., and output connectors such as a station output connection terminals, common line and master valve output terminal connections. The irrigation controller also includes a circuit board having electrical connections, conduits, and traces between connection locations of the circuit board. The circuit board will have electrical devices mounted thereto including a control circuit (not shown). The electrical devices may include, for example, a microprocessor, integrated circuit devices, one or more memories, switches, power components, surge components, etc. 
     The embodiments herein have a number of advantages over known systems, devices, and methods, which will be made apparent throughout the description here. For example, the horizontal and vertical offset between side-by-side oriented terminal connectors using the ridge of the housing and the riser provides increased electrical and physical isolation, which prevents shorts, and other controller misfunctions. In addition, multiple rows (two or more) of terminal connector blocks can be oriented closely together in a small amount of space with ease of access to all rows and with little risk of wire damage, electrical shorting and/or unintended wire disconnection. Further, wires may be connected to electrical connection pads or the circuit board directly and exiting the terminal connector rows in the same direction instead of opposite or haphazard directions. 
       FIGS. 1-3  illustrate an exemplary irrigation controller having a housing  10  with an exterior front edge  86 . The housing  10  of the irrigation controller includes various openings to accommodate user interface features and electrical connectors. In some embodiments, the housing  10  includes a first row  12  of openings  14  that form a “first terminal connector row area” and a second row  16  of openings  18  that form a “second terminal connector row area”. Individual openings in the housing  10  are shown as reference numbers  14  and  18 . In the views of  FIGS. 1-3 , a circuit board  60  of the irrigation controller is viewable through the openings  14  and  18 . The circuit board  60  is also viewable through a display screen opening  22  in  FIGS. 1, 3, 9, and 10 . As illustrated, each first row  12  and second row  16  is formed with multiple openings  14  and  18 , respectively. In the illustrated embodiments, the first row  12  of openings  14  is adjacent to the second row  16  of openings  18  and in the same horizontal plane. In, addition, the first row  12  and the second row  16  are horizontally offset (in the x axis) from each other by an offset width  25 . 
       FIG. 4  is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the housing  10  of the irrigation controller of  FIG. 1 . In this illustration, the housing  10  is shown as uncoupled from or not including circuit board  60 . The housing  10  includes divider walls  20 , which vertically separates side-by side-oriented openings  14  within the first row  12  and openings  18  of the second row  16 . The housing  10  includes a lower support portion having a plurality of recesses  48  formed within the first row  14  therein. The recesses  48  are configured to receive a fastening nut  29  (e.g., see nut  29  in  FIGS. 7 and 11 ). As illustrated, holes  68  are formed in the lower support portion of the housing  10 , for securing a portion of a terminal connector  70  to extend therethrough. It is understood that in some embodiments, a housing  10  may be provided such that a given terminal connector row area may not include divider walls  20  such that a terminal connector row area may be formed by one or more elongated openings in the housing  10 . Accordingly, a terminal connector row area may be formed by one or more adjoined openings in the housing  10  arranged in a row. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , in some embodiments, electrical connection pads  62  are provided in one or more electrical connection rows on a circuit board  60 . In an embodiment, electrical connection pads  62  are provided at locations of the circuit board  60  that will be aligned with the openings  14  and  18  of the housing  10 .  FIG. 5A  is a perspective view of a circuit board  60  with both the first and second electrical connection rows  64 ,  66  being provided without electrical connection pads  62 , in accordance with some embodiments.  FIG. 5B  is a perspective view of a circuit board  60  with electrical connection pads  62  provided in only the first terminal connector row  64 , in accordance with some embodiments. The electrical connection pads  62  are conductive and located on the upper surface of the circuit board  60 . Electrical connection pads  62  may be embodied in a variety of ways, such as deposited, etched, placed, formed, painted, soldered etc. on the circuit board  60 . In some embodiments, each electrical connection pad  62  is a thin, flat piece of conductive metal soldered to the upper surface of the circuit board  60 . 
     The electrical connection pads  62  allow an output AC signal to be selectively switched to output terminal connectors of the controller. These electrical connection pads  62  are electrically coupled to other portions of the circuit board  60  using traces, conductors, conduits or connection pathways of the circuit board  60 , for example, in an embodiment, each electrical connection pad  62  is coupled to a respective switch (not shown) under control of the main control circuit of the controller that switches a 24 volt AC signal to the electrical connection pad  62  and to any wire coupled to that electrical connection pad  62 . 
     In the illustrated embodiments, the circuit board  60  having rows  64  and  66  further include holes  68  formed in the circuit board  60  as well as a corresponding hole  68  defined within the optional electrical connection pads  62 . In some embodiments, the holes  68  are formed in the circuit board  60  before the electrical connection pads  62  are formed, attached, or deposited. In other embodiments, the holes  68  are formed after the electrical connection pads  62 . In the illustrated embodiments, holes  68  are useful to secure terminal connectors  70  to the circuit board  60 . 
     In some embodiments, the first row  64  of electrical connection pads  62  (and holes  68 ) are formed at a front edge  82  of the circuit board  60  (see  FIG. 5B ). Grooves  84  are formed in the circuit board  60  at the front edge  82  allowing divider walls  20  of the housing  10  to extend into the space provided by the grooves  84 . This assists in aligning the circuit board  60  and its electrical connection pads  62  in the first row  12  of openings  14 , while utilizing divider walls  20  to separate side-by-side openings  14  in the first row  12 . In accordance with several embodiments, the second row  16  of openings (and second row  66  of electrical connection pads  62 ) are configured with a ridge portion  26  (labeled and referred to in more detail in  FIGS. 8, 9 and 11 ) to create an offset in elevation (about the z axis) and an offset in the horizontal plane (about the x axis) between wires connected to and exiting the two rows. 
     Both the first electrical connection row  64  and the second electrical connection row  66  are located in a first horizontal plane at an upper exterior surface of the circuit board  60 . The first electrical connection row  64  and the second electrical connection row  66  are arranged on the circuit board  60  such that when installed in the housing  10 , the electrical connection pads  62  of the first electrical connection row  64  are aligned with and accessible via the first row  12  of openings  14 , and such that the second electrical connection row  66  is aligned with and accessible via the second row  16  of openings  18  (e.g., see the views of  FIGS. 1-3 ). 
       FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a terminal connector  70  (e.g., screw connector) and a riser  75  according to some embodiments. Terminal connector  70  includes a screw  72 , having a screw head  74 , a locking plate  78 , a threaded post  76 , and an optional fastening portion  79 . The fastening portion  79  may be provided and formed integrally with the riser  75 . The post  76  passes through a locking plate  78  (e.g., a shaped washer), which may be secured to a riser  75  (e.g., vertical lift, mount, or standoff) having a riser height  36 . The riser  75  has an upper surface  75   a  and an opposing lower surface  75   b . The post  76  may also pass through the optional fastening portion  79 , such that it engages the opposing lower surface  75   b  of the upper portion of the riser  75  for providing an additional mechanical coupling of the riser  75  to the terminal connector  70 . In an embodiment, the fastening portion  79  is also threaded on an inner surface so as to mechanically engage the threaded post  76  of the terminal connector  70 , further securing the terminal connector  70  to the riser  75 . 
     The riser  75  may be coupled to the circuit board  60  both mechanically and electrically. The riser  75  may include a plurality of feet  77  at a base of the riser  75 . The feet  77  are configured to extend through and mate with an upper surface of the circuit board  60  at a plurality of holes  67  or openings that extend through the circuit board  60 . The feet  77  (or other portion at the base  71  of the riser  75  designated for electrical and/or physical adjacent contact with the circuit board  60 ) may also mechanically engage the circuit board  60 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , the feet  77  of the riser  75  may have a circular or rectangular shape that engages the holes  67  in the circuit board  60 . The holes  67  may also be circular or rectangular in shape. When the feet  77  are pressed into the plurality of holes  67  within the circuit board  60 , the feet  77  engage the circuit board  60  in a snug, mechanical or friction fit within the holes  67 . This mechanical mating assists with securing the risers  75  to the circuit board  60  without them falling out during the assembly process. For example, the electrical connections can be formed by accessing the lower side of the circuit board  60  at the connection points by soldering or other known methods. In this manner, the feet  77  are both electrically and mechanically coupled to the circuit board  60 . In the illustrated embodiments of  FIGS. 6A and 6B , the riser  75  forms a substantially U shaped structure (e.g., an upside down U shape from the side as shown best in  FIG. 6A ) having two vertically extending side or leg portions and a top portion (having upper surface  75   a  and lower surface  75   b , and where the legs have feet  77 . 
       FIG. 7  further illustrates the first and second rows  64 ,  66  having terminal connectors  70  fastened to the circuit board  60  in accordance with some embodiments. In the first row  64 , terminal connectors  70  are connected directly to the circuit board  60 , or at an electrical connection pad  62  on the circuit board  60 . In the second row  66 , risers  75  are secured to the board  60  at holes  67 , and the terminal connectors  70  are coupled to the risers  75 . While electrical connection pads  62  are not illustrated herein as being present in the second electrical connection row  66 , one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that risers  75  may also be coupled to electrical connection pads  62  in the second row  66  in a similar fashion as the first row  64 . In the illustrated embodiment,  FIG. 7  shows the fastening nuts  29  used in the first row  64  to assist in securing the connectors  70 , and shows the fastening portions  79  used in the second row  66  to assist in securing the connectors  70 . 
     Turning to  FIGS. 8-11 , and as variously illustrated, the housing  10  includes a ridge portion  26  (in some embodiments, also referred to as a ridge, and a row divider, for example) formed between the first row  12  and the second row  16 . 
     The ridge portion  26  includes a first ridge wall  28  extending substantially vertically from a first base  30  of the first row  12  of openings  14  of the ridge portion  26 . The ridge portion  26  further includes a second ridge wall  34  extending horizontally and parallel to the circuit board  60 . The second ridge wall  34  has an upper surface  34   a  with a width  31 . It is noted that despite the presence in some embodiments of divider walls  20  in first and second rows  12 / 16  of openings  14 / 18 , generically, the first ridge wall  28  and the second ridge wall  34  are understood to encompass one continuous wall extending across the length (about the x axis) of the respective rows or a wall that is broken up or segmented into sections by divider walls  20 . 
       FIG. 8  is an enlarged perspective view of the irrigation controller of  FIG. 1  with terminal connectors fastened to the terminal connector rows.  FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the irrigation controller of  FIG. 1  with the terminal connectors fastened to the terminal connector rows as shown in  FIG. 8  and further including wires  80  retained by the terminal connectors  70  in accordance with some embodiments. In the first terminal connector row  12 , terminal connectors  70  receive a conductive exposed end  88  of a wire  80  and retaining the wire  80  by its conductive exposed end  88  against the respective optional electrical connection pads  62 , and in some embodiments against the circuit board  60  directly. Specifically, the post  76  of the terminal connector  70  passes through a locking plate  78  (e.g., washer) and the hole  68  at the electrical connection pad  62 , and tightens into a fastening nut  29  (e.g., a hexagonally shaped nut) on the underside of the circuit board  60 . The exposed end  88  is retained between the locking plate  80  and the electrical connection pad  62  or circuit board  60 . 
     The terminal connectors  70  in the second terminal connector row  16  receive the conductive exposed end of a wire  80  and retain the wire  80  by its conductive exposed end against respective risers  75  which are coupled to the circuit board  60  directly. As illustrated, the exposed ends  88  of wires  80  in the second row  16  are positioned under the locking plate  78 , and the screw head  74  is tightened such that the exposed ends  88  are held tightly against the upper surface  75   a  of the riser  75 . An optional fastening portion  79 , which may be integrally formed with the riser  75 , may be provided to further secure the post  76  to the riser  75 . A clockwise tightening action of the screw head  74  helps ensure that the exposed portion  88  of the wire  80  are held tightly against the electrical connection pad  62 , circuit board  60 , or riser  75 . 
     As further illustrated in  FIG. 9 , in some embodiments, the second ridge wall  34  is configured to support and guide wires  80  to the second row  66  of electrical connection pads  62  to be retained thereagainst. Generally, the structure of the ridge portion  26  and the second ridge wall  34  is configured to support the wires  80  retained in the second row  66  of electrical connection pads  62  above the wires  80  retained in the first row  64  of electrical connection pads  62 . In this way, the wires  80  connected to the second row  66  of pads  62  (in the second row  16  of openings  18 ) will rest above the wires  80  of the first row  64  of pads  62  (in the first row  12  of openings  14 ). Thus, there will be no risk of exposed portions of the wires  80  connected to the second row  66  from contacting conductive portions of other wires  80  connected to the first row  64 . It should be observed that the divider walls  20  of the first row  12  and the second row  16  provide a separation barrier between side-by-side oriented electrical connection pads  62  of the first row  64  and/or second row  66  of electrical connection pads  62  to reduce wires  80  in side-by-side openings from contacting each other. It is noted that the width  31  (y axis dimension in the FIGS.) of the second ridge wall  34  will in part define the spatial distance or offset in the y-axis between the first and second row of retained wires  80 . 
     In some embodiments, the x axis offset between wires  80  in the horizontal plane can be further enhanced by connecting the exposed portions  88  of the wires  80  connected to the terminal connectors  70  of the first row  64 , by positioning the exposed portions  88  underneath opposing edges (right in one row and left in another) of the locking plate  78  of the terminal connectors  70  between rows. 
       FIG. 11  is a cross section of the controller of  FIG. 10  across vertical plane A-A. The second ridge wall  34  may also be aligned with, substantially horizontal to, or approximately on a same plane as the upper surface  75   a  of the riser  75 . It is understood that the parallel alignment of the riser  75  relative to the second ridge wall  34  is approximate and will be in part a function of how securely the housing  10  is attached or secured to the circuit board  60 . In the illustrated embodiments, the ridge portion  26  is formed by the housing  10 . However, in other embodiments, the ridge portion may be separate from the housing. For example, the ridge portion may be implemented in a separate housing or as separate component fixed to the circuit board  60  or to another support structure that would locate the ridge portion in between the first rows  12  and  64  and the second rows  16  and  66 . 
     In some embodiments, given that the first row  12  and the second row  16  of openings (and the first row  64  and the second row  66  of the electrical connection pads  62 ) are offset from each other in the x axis (see offset width  25  in  FIG. 3 ), the wires  80  extending from the second row exiting the openings of the second row  16  are offset in the x axis from the wires  80  extending from the first row exiting the openings of the first row  12 . As can be seen in  FIG. 9 , the wires  80  from the second row are spatially separated (in the x axis) from the other wires so that an installer can more easily access the terminal connectors  70  of the wires  80  of the first row  64 . This helps to avoid damage or unintended disconnections from physically moving wires (by hand or tool) extending from the second rows to expose the wires of the first row. For example, an installer may use the blade of a screwdriver to move or spread the wires from the second row and could unintentionally cut the protective insulator of the wires when moving them or cause them to disconnect from their respective electrical connection pads. 
     As can be seen, in some embodiments, the structure to provide the vertical offset in the second connector terminal row  16  relative to the first terminal connector row  12  can be implemented with minimal components. For example, the risers of  FIGS. 6A and 6B  are not required to be individually or collectively packaged within an integrated insulating structure surrounding the sides of the risers. That is, in some embodiments, there is no insulating material packaged around a given riser. Instead of such separating insulating material, the risers  75  are spaced on the circuit board such that there is a spacing (along the x axis) to ensure that adjacent risers  75  and/or wires  80  extending therefrom do not contact each other. And further, rather than an insulating structure formed about/around the risers  75 , the molding of the housing  10  (including the openings  14  and  18  with divider walls  20 ) provide any insulating barrier between adjacent risers  75 . In other words, through the design of the housing  10  to include insulating barriers and circuit board spacing, the risers  75  do not need any separate insulating walls or structure. 
     It is understood that in some embodiments, the housing  10  is a housing for a traditional stand-alone irrigation controller that includes a user interface and programming for users to define and program watering and output control signaling to connected irrigation valves. In other embodiments, the housing  10  may be implemented in an irrigation controller that lacks a user interface and/or for which some or all of the watering programming is done at a remote device in communication with the irrigation controller. For example, a remote computer, server, mobile device, smart phone, other irrigation controller, etc. may be used to generate the programming for the controller. As such, generically, in some embodiments, the term “irrigation control unit” or “irrigation control device” is used to at least encompass all such irrigation controllers. It is further understood that the electrical components that may be coupled or attached to the circuit board  60  described herein depend on the specific implementation of the control device and are understood in the art. It is further understood that the controller may include more than one circuit board, such as one circuit containing the main control circuitry and another circuit board containing the output electrical connectors or other backplane electrical connectors. 
     Various systems, devices and methods are provided herein. In some embodiments, an irrigation control device comprises: a housing comprising: a first row of one or more openings forming a first terminal connector row; and a second row of one or more openings forming a second terminal connector row, the second row located adjacent and proximate to the first row; a circuit board for securing a first plurality of terminal connectors in the first terminal connector row and a second plurality of terminal connectors in the second terminal connector row, wherein each of the first and second plurality of terminal connectors is configured to receive a conductive exposed end of a wire and retain the wire at the conductive exposed end. The housing further comprises: a ridge portion located between the first and second terminal connector rows, the ridge portion comprising: a first ridge wall extending substantially vertically from a first base of the first terminal connector row; and a second ridge wall, integrated with the first ridge wall, extending substantially horizontally from a base of the first terminal connector row; wherein the ridge portion is configured to support and guide the wires retained by the second plurality of terminal connectors above the wires retained by the first plurality of terminal connectors; and a plurality of risers each having an upper portion, the upper portion being positioned adjacent to the ridge portion, wherein the plurality of risers is configured to electrically and mechanically connect the second plurality of terminal connectors to the circuit board at a plurality of discrete connection points. 
     In some embodiments, the upper portion of each of the plurality of risers is substantially on a same horizontal plane as an upper surface of the second ridge wall. In some embodiments, at least one of the first terminal connector row and the second terminal connector row further comprises a plurality of electrical connection pads coupled to the circuit board. In some embodiments, the first and second plurality of terminal connectors each comprise: a screw, having a head and a post; and a locking plate positioned adjacent to the head, wherein the post extends through the locking plate. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of first terminal connectors is configured to retain the conductive exposed end of the wire between the locking plate and the respective one of the electrical connection pads of the first terminal connector row. 
     In some embodiments, each of the second plurality of terminal connectors further comprises: a fastening portion for securing the screw to a respective riser of the plurality of risers. In some embodiments, the conductive exposed end of the wire is held between and against the locking plate and an upper surface of the upper portion of the respective riser. In some embodiments, the plurality of risers vertically offsets the second plurality of terminal connectors relative to the first plurality of terminal connectors. In some embodiments, the irrigation control device further comprises a plurality of holes formed in the circuit board corresponding to a location of the plurality of discrete connection points. In some embodiments, each of the plurality of risers is soldered to the circuit board at a location of the plurality of discrete connection points. In some embodiments, the housing further comprises divider walls extending from the ridge portion, the divider walls configured to provide a separation barrier between side-by-side oriented terminal connectors within the first plurality of terminal connectors and between side-by-side oriented terminal connectors and risers within the second plurality of terminal connectors. In some embodiments, a cross sectional shape of at least one of the plurality of risers is substantially U-shaped. 
     In some embodiments, an irrigation control device comprises: a circuit board; a housing for retaining the circuit board, the housing comprising: a first terminal connector row and a second terminal connector row adjacent to the first terminal connector row; a first and second plurality of terminal connectors located within the first and second terminal connector rows respectively, each of the first and second plurality of terminal connectors configured to receive a conductive exposed end of a wire and retain the wire at the conductive exposed end; and a plurality of risers coupled to the second plurality of terminal connectors, the plurality of risers configured to provide a vertical offset between the second plurality of terminal connectors and the first plurality of terminal connectors, wherein each of the plurality of risers is secured directly to the circuit board. In some embodiments, the irrigation control device further comprises: a ridge portion formed by the housing and located between the first and second terminal connector rows, the ridge portion comprising: a first ridge wall extending substantially vertically from a base of the first terminal connector row; and a second ridge wall, integrated with the first ridge wall, extending substantially horizontally from the base of the first terminal connector row, wherein the second ridge wall is configured to support and guide the wires retained by the second plurality of terminal connectors above the wires retained by the first plurality of terminal connectors. 
     In some embodiments, the housing further comprises divider walls, located in the first and second terminal connector rows, the divider walls configured to provide a separation barrier between side-by-side oriented terminal connectors within the first plurality of terminal connectors and between side-by-side oriented terminal connectors and risers within the second plurality of terminal connectors. In some embodiments, the first terminal connector row is horizontally offset in the first horizontal plane from the second terminal connector row such that the wires exiting the second terminal connector row are horizontally offset from the wires exiting the first terminal connector row. In some embodiments, the plurality of risers is soldered to the circuit board at a plurality of discrete connection points. In some embodiments, the first and second plurality of terminal connectors each comprises: a screw, having a head and a post; and a locking plate adjacent to the head, the post extending through the locking plate. In some embodiments, each of the second plurality of terminal connectors further comprises: a fastening portion for securing the screw to a respective riser of the plurality of risers, the fastening portion being integrally formed with the riser and positioned about the post. In some embodiments, an exposed portion of the wire is held between and against the locking plate and an upper surface of the upper portion of the respective riser. 
     Those skilled in the art will recognize that a wide variety of other modifications, alterations, and combinations can also be made with respect to the above described embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention, and that such modifications, alterations, and combinations are to be viewed as being within the ambit of the inventive concept.