What does the bypass switch do in an irrigation controller?

• A. Force the system into manual mode
• B. Ignore the sensor input and irrigate normally
• C. Switch to a reduced irrigation schedule
• D. Disable all zones until reset

Answer: (B)

A bypass switch keeps the controller following its normal programmed schedule by ignoring any input from connected sensors. When you activate bypass, rain or moisture sensor signals don’t interrupt or modify the irrigation run times—the system waters as if no sensor is present. This is useful for testing, maintenance, or situations where you need to water despite sensor readings. It isn’t forcing manual mode, reducing the schedule, or disabling zones; those behaviors come from other controls or settings. Re-enable the sensor afterward to return to automatic control.