Weather station Archive - Irrigation Blog for Do-it-yourselfer https://www.irrigation-guide.com/category/weather-station Garden irrigation blog with A to Z instructions for installing your own irrigation system Fri, 19 Jun 2026 13:32:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 Opensprinkler irrigation computer review https://www.irrigation-guide.com/opensprinkler-irrigation-computer-review.html Mon, 11 May 2026 14:08:52 +0000 https://www.irrigation-guide.com/?p=3756 In the following article, I tested the OpenSprinkler irrigation controller. It is the only open-source irrigation controller available on the market. This means that both the software and the hardware plans are freely accessible to third parties, allowing users to further develop or adapt the product to their own needs. This makes the OpenSprinkler [...]

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In the following article, I tested the OpenSprinkler irrigation controller. It is the only open-source irrigation controller available on the market. This means that both the software and the hardware plans are freely accessible to third parties, allowing users to further develop or adapt the product to their own needs.

This makes the OpenSprinkler ideal for those with more specific requirements that cannot be met by standard, commercially available irrigation controllers. You don’t necessarily need to be a programmer or engineer yourself; you can also benefit from pre-built solutions provided by members of the OpenSprinkler community.

However, you can also simply use the OpenSprinkler as a regular irrigation controller, as it naturally fulfills all standard irrigation controller requirements and comes equipped with several useful features that can be used without any manual configuration. More information about the philosophy and history of OpenSprinkler, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of an OpenSprinkler irrigation controller compared to conventional irrigation controllers, can be found in a separate report where I introduce the company OpenSprinkler:

What are OpenSprinkler and OpenSprinkler Pi, and who are they suitable for?

This article focuses on the specific product test. So, let’s get straight to the first question:

Where can you buy an OpenSprinkler irrigation controller?

Unlike irrigation controllers from Hunter, Rain Bird, Gardena, Orbit, etc., which can be purchased from a wide variety of retailers both online and offline, the possible sources for an OpenSprinkler are limited to the following options: The manufacturer, Opensprinkler.com, in the USA, or possibly a local OpenSprinkler distributor in your country, although these only exist in a few countries.

The model I ordered for testing cost $183 at Opensprinkler.com. Opensprinkler.com is also offering a 10% discount coupon* for readers of this blog. To take advantage of the discount, simply enter the coupon code OSPOWER15YR when placing your order.

Key specifications of the tested OpenSprinkler

There are two other OpenSprinkler products: the OpenSprinkler Pi and the OpenSprinkler Bee. The OpenSprinkler Pi is an irrigation expansion board for Raspberry Pi computers, while the OpenSprinkler Bee is an irrigation controller limited to 3 outputs for 9V solenoid valves. My test focuses on the main product, the “standard” OpenSprinkler, simply called “OpenSprinkler” without any additional designation. This is a fully functional WiFi irrigation controller with 8 outputs as standard and a power connection.

Key specifications of the tested OpenSprinkler, hardware version 3.2:

OpenSprinkler 3.2
Model variants 3 variants: 24V AC (for 24V AC valves), 7.5V DC (for 24V AC valves and 7.5V to 12V DC valves), 7.5V DC Latch (for 7.5V to 12V DC Latch valves)
Number of controllable solenoid valves 8 (expandable by 16 additional zones with an additional module, a maximum of 4 additional modules can be connected, the maximum possible number of zones is therefore 72)
Can it be used with 24-volt or 9-volt solenoid valves? Depending on the model variant
Programming options Up to 40 programs can be configured to control the defined zones; each program can have up to 4 start times per day. A special feature of OpenSprinkler is the ability to start multiple zones simultaneously.
Irrigation duration 1 second to 1,080 minutes
Global increase/reduction of irrigation duration 1 to 250%
Connectable sensors Four sensor ports are available, allowing the connection of a rain sensor, soil moisture sensor, flow sensor, programmable switch, or any other sensor operating on a normally open or normally closed principle. The specific sensor and its operating characteristics are defined in the software.
Connection for master valve/pump start circuit? There is no dedicated connection, but one of the eight existing zone connections in the software can be defined as the connection for the master valve. Similarly, a second connection can also be defined as master valve 2.
Is direct control via computer possible? Only to a very limited extent (the small display and the 3 selection buttons only show some basic information such as the time, zone status and rain status, and you can start programs manually)
Power/Battery Power connection via externally mounted 24 Volt AC or 7.5 Volt DC transformer (depending on model)
Indoor/Outdoor Indoor use (for weatherproof outdoor use, a separate IP-65 enclosure can be purchased)
WiFi? Yes (optional additional LAN connection via add-on module also possible)
The app runs on Apple iOS devices, Google Android devices
Access via web browser possible? Yes
Use of local weather data? Yes
Price $140 or $183 with an additional LAN port

The test unit is the AC version for 24-volt solenoid valves in the standard configuration with 8 outputs, including the power supply ordered from the Opensprinkler shop. The test unit is a non-weatherproof indoor version. This device can be optionally expanded with the following components:

Extension module for adding 16 additional zones,

This allows 16 additional solenoid valves to be connected. The zone expansion module is simply connected to the designated slot on the irrigation controller. If needed, another module can then be connected to the expansion module, and another to that. This continues up to a limit of 4 extension modules, resulting in a total of 72 zones, including the 8 standard zones. The price per extension module is approximately $50. This makes increasing the capacity relatively inexpensive compared to other irrigation controllers.

The extension module must be of the same type of power supply as the irrigation controller. For example, if you have an AC irrigation controller, you’ll need the AC version of the expansion module; for a DC irrigation controller, the DC version; and for a latching irrigation controller, the latching version.

Ethernet Adapter

For directly connecting the OpenSprinkler to a LAN network.

RF Toy

The OpenSprinkler also has an RF output, which can be used to control radio frequency devices for home automation. This requires the RF Toy Bundle, which includes the RF Toy itself and several 433 and 315 MHz RF transmitters.

Included in the Package

Virtually all unnecessary items are omitted, including no branded product packaging. You only receive the irrigation controller itself and—if you ordered it separately, as I did—the corresponding power supply. Conveniently, a quick start guide and a function overview are also included. The quick start guide also provides a link to the OpenSprinkler manual. Everything is truly reduced to the essentials. Personally, I appreciate this, as it saves unnecessary waste and costs that would otherwise be passed on to the consumer.

Package contents of the OpenSprinkler order

What surprised me at first glance is how small the OpenSprinkler is. Compared to other irrigation controllers, it’s very compact. I’ll show a comparison with a Hunter Pro HC below to clearly illustrate the difference in size.

Size comparison with the Hunter Pro HC Hydrawise

Connections

The OpenSprinkler has the following connections:

Connection strip on the frontside:

  • 2 terminal blocks for power connection (orange, PWR)
  • Connections for 2 sensors (SN1, SN2, and GND for the second sensor wire)
  • 5-volt connection for sensors requiring power (VIN)
  • 8 zone outputs (Nr. 1 to 8)
  • 2 common connections for the second solenoid valve wire (COM-COM)

On the left side of the OpenSprinkler is a connection for the optional zone expansion module.

Front: OpenSprinkler power strip, left: Connection for zone expansion

Practical: The power strips can be removed for easier clamping.

Detached part of the power strip

On the top and right side of the OpenSprinkler are two additional ports:

  • Port for an RF transmitter (this allows communication with standard 434MHz or 315MHz radio frequency devices such as wireless sockets, wireless lamps, wireless fans, etc.)
  • Ethernet port (for connecting the OpenSprinkler to a LAN network using the optional Ethernet adapter)

Connections for RF transmitter and Ethernet adapter

Initial Setup

The first thing that interested me was how complex the initial setup of the OpenSprinkler is. Does it require advanced technical knowledge, or is it easy to do even without prior experience?

My order from the OpenSprinkler shop included an A4 sheet listing the necessary steps. I then went through them.

Step 1 – Connecting the OpenSprinkler to the power supply:

Simply loosen the orange clamp with a screwdriver and then attach the two power supply cable ends to it.

Attaching the power supply to the power terminal

Step 2 – Connect the power supply:

The OpenSprinkler automatically starts in Access Point mode on its first boot and displays the access point’s IP address, 192.168.4.1. In this mode, the OpenSprinkler establishes a Wi-Fi network.

OpenSprinkler display after first boot

Step 3 – Connect to the Wi-Fi network with the OpenSprinkler

The established Wi-Fi network is named OS_xxxxxxx. To connect to it, simply open the Wi-Fi settings on your mobile phone or computer and search for available networks. Select the OS_xxxxxxx network from the list of displayed networks. This establishes the connection to the OpenSprinkler, allowing you to configure the necessary settings for the OpenSprinkler to connect to your home Wi-Fi network.

Step 4 – Enter Wi-Fi access data

To access the OpenSprinkler, enter the access point IP address 192.168.4.1 into the address bar of a web browser. On the page that appears, select your home Wi-Fi network and enter the password for your home Wi-Fi network. This allows the OpenSprinkler to access it. After clicking “Submit,” the OpenSprinkler establishes a connection to the Wi-Fi network and is now permanently connected.

Selection of the Wi-Fi network available at the location of use

Step 5 – Open OpenSprinkler Settings

This can be done in two ways:

  • Via a web browser
  • Via the OpenSprinkler app

The user interface and functionality are the same for both methods. Access is as follows:

Access via Web Browser

To do this, you need to know the IP address of the OpenSprinkler. You can find this out by pressing the “B1” button on the device. The IP address will then be displayed on the screen. Enter this address into your web browser to access the OpenSprinkler settings.

Displaying the IP address of the OpenSprinkler irrigation controller

Accessing the OpenSprinkler in a web browser

Access via the OpenSprinkler App

First, install the app of the same name from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. The first time you launch the app, it will ask you if you have an existing device. You can either add it manually or, even easier, have it automatically search for it (“Scan for Device”). This worked perfectly in my test! The existing device was found and automatically added after entering the correct device password. The app is now ready to use.

Conclusion: Setting up the OpenSprinkler controller is just as easy and straightforward as with the other smart irrigation controllers I’ve tested. However, there is one significant difference: Irrigation controllers from Hunter, Rain Bird, Orbit, Gardena, etc., have a cloud solution integrated, allowing you to control the controller from anywhere in the world after setup. With OpenSprinkler, after completing the steps mentioned above, control is only possible within range of the controller, i.e., when you are at home, either in the house or in the garden. If you want to access the OpenSprinkler remotely, an additional step is required (see next point).

Setting up remote access

As mentioned earlier, with OpenSprinkler, you only have access to the device in the immediate vicinity of your computer right out of the box. On the plus side, unlike with other manufacturers, you’re not forced to use their cloud solution. This can be an advantage if you have concerns about data security or simply don’t want to be at the mercy of the manufacturer. If the irrigation controller is tightly integrated with a cloud solution, you’ll no longer be able to use it, or only to a very limited extent, should the cloud solution be discontinued—for example, if the manufacturer goes bankrupt or simply ceases production and support.

However, this is a disadvantage if a standard, manufacturer-provided cloud solution would suffice and you don’t want to set it up and manage it yourself. Most users won’t want to forgo the option of remote access from anywhere in the world.

OpenSprinkler offers several options, the last of which has only recently become available for newer computers with hardware version 3.0 and higher. It’s a good alternative if a standard, off-the-shelf cloud solution is sufficient:

  • Setting up remote access to your home network (IPv4 internet access with the ability to define port forwarding rules is required)
  • Setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
  • Using the Openthings.io cloud solution

The first two options require some familiarity with the subject matter and basic technical knowledge, while the last option is very simple and can be implemented without any IT background. I will describe exactly how it works below.

Making your OpenSprinkler accessible remotely with OpenThings Cloud

The prerequisites are that the OpenSprinkler computer has at least hardware version 3.0 and that the software (firmware) installed on the OpenSprinkler is at least version 2.2.0. The easiest way to find out both of these things is to go to the “About” menu item in the software, where the hardware, firmware, and app versions are displayed.

The first criterion was met by the OpenSprinkler I tested, which already had hardware version 3.2. However, it didn’t yet have sufficiently recent firmware. Therefore, the first step was to update the firmware to the latest version.

Updating the OpenSprinkler Firmware – Steps to Take:

  • If you have already configured settings on the OpenSprinkler, you should first save your current configuration, because unfortunately, updating to a new firmware version will erase the current settings. The password will also be reset to the original entry, and the Wi-Fi settings will also be lost and must be re-entered after the update. You can save your current settings under the “Export Configuration” menu item.
  • Download the latest firmware from http://raysfiles.com/os_compiled_firmware/. There you will find the latest firmware versions. Navigate to the folder containing the latest version and download the .bin file.
  • Enter the URL http://x.x.x.x/update in a web browser to access the OpenSprinkler’s update mode, replacing x.x.x.x with the OpenSprinkler’s IP address. In my case, I accessed the URL http://192.168.0.172/update. On the update page, select the previously downloaded .bin file and enter the OpenSprinkler password. After clicking Submit, the update will be performed.

    OpenSprinkler Update

  • Reset the device by pressing buttons B2 and B3. According to the OpenSprinkler shop, this shouldn’t always be necessary, but it was for me because I could no longer connect. First, check if your device is still working; if so, this step is unnecessary.
  • Re-enter your Wi-Fi access data and, if necessary, load the previously saved configuration file.

In the updated software, under the menu item “Edit Options – Integration,” you will now find the additional option “OTC,” which was missing in older software versions. Here, you need to enter the OTC token to enable remote access. I will explain how to obtain it in the next section.

Creating an OTC Token

You can obtain the OTC token in the OpenThings Cloud (OTC). This is a cloud solution that OpenSprinkler created for its users to enable easy remote access to their devices. To create the token, follow these steps:

  • First, go to the website https://opensprinkler.com/ and register under the “My Account” menu item. You will need this account in the next step to log in to the sister site openthings.io. If you already have an Opensprinkler.com account, this step is unnecessary.
  • Go to the website https://openthings.io and select “My account.” Log in using the credentials you previously set up on Opensprinkler.com.
  • Select “My OpenThings OTC Devices.”
  • Change the selection from “OpenGarage” to “OpenSprinkler” and click “Add new device.”
  • Enter a device name.

The OpenThings token has now been created.

The token is created.

It’s best to copy the token number. With this, you now have two options for remotely accessing the computer.

  • Remote access via a web browser
  • Remote access via the OpenSprinkler app

Remote access via a web browser

To do this, simply enter the address https://cloud.openthings.io/forward/v1/token into your browser’s address bar. In my example, this would be https://cloud.openthings.io/forward/v1/OTe7509344cc9471ce36012a68093d30. You will be redirected from the Openthings Cloud directly to the irrigation computer and can access it after entering your password. It’s best to save the URL as a favorite in your browser.

Remote access via the app

To do this, you first need to enter the token in the computer’s software. This is done via the menu item “Edit Options – Integrations”. There you’ll find the OTC option and the ability to activate OpenThingsCloud by entering the token. The system automatically suggests the server and port.

Adding the Token in the App

At this point in the test, I expected remote access to already be working, since the app now has everything it needs to access the irrigation controller via the OpenThingsCloud using a token. However, it still wasn’t working! Upon further consideration, it seems that the previous step only stored the token in the software on the irrigation controller itself, but not in the app. Therefore, the app lacks the necessary access information when launched.

For this to work, the code must be entered a second time within the app itself. This can be done under the “Manage locations” menu item. After clicking “Add,” you add another device, but for this one, the OpenThings token must be entered in the “Device address” field instead of an IP address.

Add as a new device with access via OpenThings Cloud

This adds a second device that enables remote access. However, this device cannot directly access the irrigation controller’s IP address via Wi-Fi. If you don’t want to lose this capability, keep both devices in the list; otherwise, you can delete the originally listed device without remote access.

In conclusion: Setting up remote access takes about half an hour if you follow the step-by-step instructions, but it’s relatively straightforward. OpenSprinkler has created a very useful service with the OpenThings Cloud, which will certainly make it easier for some potential customers to choose OpenSprinkler, as the other remote access options required a bit more effort. Adding remote access via the app isn’t quite ideal yet. It would be preferable if the two described steps were combined into one, and if remote access were added to the existing device instead of creating a separate one. But this feature is still quite new, and it may be further refined in future updates.

Connecting Solenoid Valves

To enable the controller to switch something, solenoid valves must now be connected (Caution: Disconnect the controller from the power supply beforehand!). This works exactly the same as with other irrigation controllers: One of the two cables of the solenoid valve is connected to the zone port where the solenoid valve is to be connected, and the other to one of the two ports labeled COM. COM stands for “common,” meaning the port where the shared cable of the solenoid valves is connected. This differs from the zone outputs, each of which has its own dedicated cable for a solenoid valve.

Device Functions

The OpenSprinkler’s focus is clearly on operation via a mobile phone, laptop, or other Wi-Fi-enabled device. Functionality directly on the device is very limited, although a few basic functions are available. Operation is via three buttons, B1, B2, and B3, and a small display provides information.

Depending on whether the buttons are pressed individually or in combination, and whether they are pressed briefly or held for a longer period, they will perform different functions. Below is an overview of all functions:

Key Action Triggered Function
Pressing key B1 Displays the IP address of the irrigation controller
Pressing key B2 Displays the MAC address of the irrigation controller
Pressing key B3 Switches between the irrigation controller and any expansion modules
Pressing and holding key B1 Stops all zones immediately
Pressing and holding key B2 Restarts the controller
Pressing and holding key B3 Manually starts a program (pressing B3 again selects from the available programs; pressing and holding it again starts the selected program)
Pressing and holding key B1 and pressing key B2 in addition Displays the gateway (router) IP address
Pressing and holding key B1 and pressing key B3 in addition Starts each zone for 2 seconds (for internal testing)
Pressing and holding key B2 and pressing key B1 in addition Displays the external (WAN) IP address
Pressing and holding key B2 and pressing key B3 in addition Displays the time of the last successful weather query
Pressing and holding key B3 and pressing key B1 in addition Displays the Time at which the system was last booted
Pressing and holding key B3 and pressing key B2 in addition Resets the irrigation controller to AP mode (to reconfigure the Wi-Fi connection)
Press and hold key B1 while the OpenSprinkler logo is displayed Resets the settings to factory defaults
Press and hold key B2 while the OpenSprinkler logo is displayed Accesses the internal test mode
Press and hold key B3 while the OpenSprinkler logo is displayed Accesses the setup options

Software

Next, I will present the software used in OpenSprinkler in detail.

Basic Navigation

This takes some getting used to and can be a little confusing at first, as there are two separate main menus: One in the upper left is for setting the basic configuration of the irrigation controller, while the other, in the lower right, is where the actual irrigation programming takes place. However, you’ll understand the principle after a few minutes of use.

OpenSprinkler configuration and program menu (highlighted in green)

What’s actually confusing is that once you go to the program menu, you no longer have access to the configuration menu; the button disappears. The first time I used it, I wasn’t sure how to get back to it—it’s not very intuitive. The solution: Clicking the black bar at the bottom takes you back to the home screen, where both menus are accessible again.

I also found the following tip in the user manual: You can access the configuration menu even more easily by swiping from left to right, or, on a desktop computer, by moving the mouse cursor from left to right.

Configuration Menu

OpenSprinkler Configuration Menu

Functionality of the individual menu items from top to bottom:

Device Selection

At the very top, you can switch between different OpenSprinkler irrigation controllers using the selection field, should you have multiple devices configured in the app. In my case, I am currently in the settings for the device named “My OpenSprinkler.” If I were to select a different one, “My OpenSprinkler” would be exited, and the connection to the other selected device would be established.

Manage Sites

This section is for managing existing OpenSprinkler devices (changing IP address or access password, enabling SSL or authentication), deleting devices, or adding new ones.

Export Configuration

Here you can save your current settings to back them up and reuse them later if needed.

Import Configuration

Imports previously exported settings.

Help & Support

Visit the OpenSprinkler support page, where you can submit a help request, if you get stuck.

About

Here you’ll find links to the user manual and the OpenSprinkler source code on GitHub, and you can also see which hardware, firmware, and app versions you’re currently using.

About page with version information

Localization

Here you can change the language if necessary. Currently, 31 different languages ​​are supported.

OpenSprinkler.com Login

The function of this menu item isn’t immediately obvious, and even after consulting the user manual, I wasn’t able to figure it out. Only after contacting Opensprinkler did it become clear: It’s about avoiding having to re-add the devices when using OpenSprinkler on multiple smartphones or tablets. This works by entering your OpenSprinkler login credentials here, thus activating synchronization. If you then want to access the connected irrigation controller(s) from another phone or tablet, you first enter your OpenSprinkler.com login credentials in the app there as well. This automatically adds the existing devices to the app and synchronizes them from then on, so that any further added or removed devices are automatically reflected at all access points.

Disable Operation

This deactivates all zones, so that any programmed settings will no longer run. This is useful if the OpenSprinkler will not be in use for some time, e.g., over the winter. This saves you from having to disable individual programs; instead, you can deactivate the entire computer at once.

Change Password

To change the device password. You should definitely do this at the beginning and replace the default password with your own!

Restart OpenSprinkler

Restarts the OpenSprinkler. This may be necessary, for example, after a firmware update.

System Diagnostics

Various system information is displayed here:

  • Last system restart
  • Wi-Fi connection strength
  • Connection to the weather service
  • Weather method used and date of the last weather data update
  • Data obtained from the weather service regarding average humidity, average temperature, and rainfall
  • Information on whether a connection to the OpenThingsCloud exists

OpenSprinkler System Diagnostics

Home Screen

Screen displayed after starting the program

The OpenSprinkler home screen contains the following functions:

Quick Start Irrigation Run

Each of the eight available zones can be selected and a watering duration set. After confirmation, the watering starts immediately.

Entering the Watering Duration

Zone Settings

Settings for a zone can be configured via the gear icon displayed to the right of the zones:

Zone Basic Settings

  • Defining a Zone Name
  • Adding a Zone Image
  • Use the zone as master zone
  • Ignore Rain: When enabled, the zone ignores data measured by a connected rain sensor and any rain delay.
  • Ignore Sensor 1: When enabled, the zone ignores any influences that would result from Sensor 1.
  • Ignore Sensor 2: When enabled, the zone ignores any influences that would result from Sensor 2.
  • Disabling the Zone: Useful, for example, if there is construction work underway in the garden area and watering should therefore be discontinued. Existing programs for this zone will not be executed, and the zone will no longer be displayed in OpenSprinkler. It can be re-enabled later in the program menu by selecting “Show off.”
  • Zone Note

Advanced Zone Settings

Sequential Group

Here you can specify whether zones are executed sequentially or simultaneously. This is controlled by the sequential group to which they are assigned. By default, all zones are assigned to the same group “A.” This means that zones in this group never run simultaneously. In a program run, the second zone only starts when the first zone has finished, the third only after the second, and so on. This makes sense for most scenarios. Below is an example of a typical irrigation program sequence:

One irrigation zone is executed after the other.

However, if you want zones to be irrigated simultaneously, you must assign them to different sequential groups.

Zones in two different groups, A and B

If, as in the screenshot above, zones 1 and 2 were in group A, but zone 3 were in group B, then the same program as before would be executed as follows. Zone 3 would start simultaneously with zone 1, and after zone 1 finished, it would continue with zone 2.

Zone 3 (group B) is executed simultaneously with zone 1 (group A)

Note: Group “P” is a special case. All zones in this group are always irrigated simultaneously.

Irrigation zone type

This is a very powerful function that allows you to use the zones not only to activate zone outputs but also for other purposes related to home automation. The following types are available:

  • Standard
  • RF
  • Remote
  • GPIO (Relay)
  • HTTP

Important note: All non-standard types can be added in addition to the existing 8 zone outputs, meaning they do not take away any of the 8 standard zone slots for irrigation control.

Standard

Selected by default, this switches the zone outputs on the OpenSprinkler.

RF (Radio Frequency)

Switches radio frequency devices such as wireless sockets, wireless lights, etc., via the RF output. Additional equipment is required. The RF code of the device in question must be entered for use.

Remote Station

Allows you to control other OpenSprinkler irrigation controllers remotely. The controlled master controller can thus control one or more remote controllers and open and close the solenoid valves of these controllers. This can be useful if the irrigation system is very extensive, for example, on a large property, requiring multiple irrigation controllers. This allows you to control them all from a single location.

GPIO (Relay)

This allows you to directly switch GPIO pins (relays) available on the controller. In my OpenSprinkler software, this option is grayed out because the device itself doesn’t have these pins. However, the OpenSprinkler Pi, the sprinkler board for Raspberry Pi computers, does have them.

HTTP

This type of connection is the potential gateway to a multitude of further automations. It allows you to send a GET request to a predefined server (domain or IP address). Specifically, one request can be sent to start the zone and another to end it. Assuming the server is configured accordingly, it will execute certain predefined actions upon receiving the commands. A GET request can be thought of like accessing a URL in a browser. The address to start the zone is server:port/startcommand, and to stop the zone it is server:port/endcommand.

Creating the HTTP Zone

Weather Report

The home screen displays an icon showing the current weather and temperature. Clicking the weather icon opens an 8-day weather forecast based on data from Dark Sky.

Weather forecast for today and the next 7 days

Program Menu

OpenSprinkler Program Menu

This is where you configure all the settings necessary for operation, such as programming irrigation cycles, weather-dependent irrigation rules, and much more. At the bottom of the menu, you can also toggle the display of deactivated zones on and off, or stop an ongoing irrigation cycle.

The following is a description of the individual menu items:

Program Preview

Shows the irrigation cycles scheduled for today and the coming days.

View Logs

Here you can review past events in detail.

Change Rain Delay

The rain delay allows you to suspend irrigation for a specific period. All scheduled programs will be skipped during the specified time, and if a program is already running when you enter the delay, it will be stopped immediately. This function is typically used after heavy rainfall, when the soil is well-moistened and it would be pointless to run irrigation cycles for the foreseeable future.

This setting suppresses all irrigation runs scheduled for the next 3 days.

Pause Station runs

This menu item at first glance seems identical to the rain delay, but the functionality and the reason for its use are completely different: This menu item is about not skipping irrigation runs that have already started or are about to start, but simply postponing them. This can be useful, for example, if an irrigation program is about to start, but you want to do something in the garden. You can then enter a pause of 2 hours, and the entire irrigation program will simply take place 2 hours later. In my opinion, this is a very practical function that I hadn’t encountered before!

Run-once program

Here, as on the home screen, you can spontaneously start an irrigation run. You define the irrigation duration for one or more zones and then start the defined quick program. Conveniently, the system remembers the last quick program run and automatically displays it again the next time you access this menu item. For spontaneous execution, all programs stored in the system are available for selection, and by selecting “Check all irrigation zones,” you can run all irrigation zones sequentially for one minute with a single click.

Creating a Run-once Program

This is how the started run-once program is displayed on the start screen.

Edit Programs

Under this menu item, irrigation programs can be created, modified, or deleted. Below, I will show you the available options when creating a program.

Program Name

Here you can give the program a name.

Enabled

Determines whether the program is active or not. It is enabled by default.

Use Weather Adjustment

Determines whether the program incorporates weather data.

Enable Data Range

Here, the program can be time-limited (enter a start and end date).

Start Time

Defines the time at which the program begins to run. A fixed start time can be entered, e.g., 9:30 a.m., or a flexible start time based on sunrise or sunset, e.g., 40 minutes after sunrise.

This program would start running 40 minutes after sunrise.

Program Type

Basically, you can choose whether the program should run on predefined days every week or at intervals. In weekly mode, the program could run, for example, on Mondays and Thursdays. In interval mode, the interval can be set, e.g., every 3 days, and the start date of this interval can be specified, e.g., in 2 days. For both program types, you have the option to restrict watering to only even or odd days.

Irrigation Zones

Here you define which zones should be irrigated and for how long. As an alternative to a time period, you can optionally specify that the irrigation should run from sunrise to sunset or from sunset to sunrise.

Additional Start Times

You can define up to three additional start times for the program. For example, in addition to the program start time of 9:00 AM, you can also start it at 1:00 PM, 5:00 PM, and 9:00 PM. Alternatively, you can set an hourly interval at which the program should repeat, for example, every four hours. You can also specify how many times the program should repeat within this interval, for example, three times.

Edit Options

Extensive functionality is hidden within the options:

OpenSprinkler Options Menu

Below, I’ll show you what you can configure in the sub-items of the options menu.

System

System Options

Location

Here, you can first enter your location. This is crucial information for the OpenSprinkler software, as it determines how weather data, time data, and even daily sunrise and sunset times are retrieved from the web. Entering your location is very simple: Click in the location field and then select your location on the Google Maps map. Once it’s correct, click the “Submit” button to transfer the coordinates to the OpenSprinkler software.

Enable Logging

This is enabled by default and records data on completed irrigation cycles, rain delays, and the rain sensor status in the internal flash memory. This data can then be accessed under the “View Logs” menu item.

Configure Master

Menu Configure Master

Here you can define a master valve. This valve serves as a safeguard for an irrigation system by being placed before the other zone solenoid valves in the irrigation circuit: The water must always pass through the master valve before it can flow through any of the zone valves. The advantage of this setup is that it provides double redundancy should a solenoid valve fail to close properly.

The irrigation controller automatically opens the master valve along with every other zone solenoid valve. For example, if the irrigation program starts with Zone 1, the zone for the master valve opens in addition to Zone 1, and then closes again as soon as Zone 1 ends. The same process occurs when the next zone starts, and so on.

When starting and ending an irrigation cycle, a specific time interval can be set for the master valve, causing it to open earlier or later than the zone. Positive values ​​indicate later opening, and negative values ​​indicate earlier opening. The time difference for activating the master valve at the start of the irrigation cycle is set under “Master On Adjustment,” and the time difference for deactivating the master valve at the end of the irrigation cycle is set under “Master Off Adjustment” A value of -5 seconds in the “Master On Adjustment” would mean, for example, that the master valve opens 5 seconds earlier than the zone valve. These fine-tuning settings can be particularly relevant in conjunction with appropriate pressure build-up, especially if the master valve is to be used to control a pump.

Delayed or Earlier Opening and Closing of the Master Valve

Unlike many competitors, the OpenSprinler does not have a fixed output for the master valve. Instead, one or at most two of the available zone outputs can be defined as master valve outputs. Ideally, these should be zones that are not already assigned to an irrigation program. After defining a zone as the master valve, an additional option, “Use Master” appears in the zone settings. If this is activated, the master valve will also start when the zone is activated.

Activated Master Valve

Station Handlung

Station Handling Options

Two relevant zone options are hidden in this menu item. On the one hand, you can specify how many zones should be available in the system. This might seem strange at first glance—doesn’t the system automatically detect how many zone outputs are present? But it does, and it displays this information here. However, as described above, virtual non-irrigation zones can also be used on the device, and for this, you may need additional zones besides the actual outputs, and therefore increase the number of zones accordingly.

And here, a delay can be set for the transition of a program from one zone to the next. This means the next zone won’t start immediately after the previous one, but, for example, with a 5-second delay. Negative values ​​are also possible, so theoretically, the following zone can be started early.

Weather and Sensors

Weather and Sensors Options

The Weather and Sensors menu offers extensive settings:

Adjustment Method

Here, you first decide whether you want to operate weather-dependent irrigation at all. If not, simply leave the selection on “Manual Operation.” If you choose to automatically incorporate the transmitted weather data into the irrigation schedule, you have the following three options:

  • Zimmerman
  • Automatic Rain Delay
  • ETo

How do these three options work?

Zimmerman

This method works on the principle of first defining typical average values ​​and then comparing them with the actual values. Depending on the deviation, the planned irrigation cycle is then either lengthened or shortened.

The three values ​​used for this are temperature, precipitation, and humidity. First, it’s necessary to determine the average values ​​for these three measurements over an irrigation season. For example, if you’re watering from the beginning of March to the end of October, what are the average daily temperatures, average daily precipitation, and average daily humidity over the entire observation period? You can find this information by researching weather websites. These values ​​are then used as baseline values.

The system then compares the following values ​​with the established baseline values:

  • The average humidity of the previous day
  • The sum of the precipitation from the previous and current day
  • The average temperature of the previous day

If these values ​​deviate from the set baseline values, a correction factor is calculated.

  • For humidity: 1% for every percentage point difference in humidity.
  • For precipitation: 200% for every inch difference in precipitation (8,5% für each millimeter)
  • For temperature: 4% for every degree Fahrenheit difference in temperature. For degree Celsius the calculation is slightly more complex. The deviation factor for degree Celsius is calculated as follows: (Average temperature of the previous day in °C * 1.8 + 32) – (Baseline temperature in °C * 1.8 + 32) * 4

Depending on whether the deviation has a positive or negative impact on irrigation requirements, the factor is either positive or negative:

  • Higher humidity than the baseline results in lower irrigation requirements, while lower humidity results in higher requirements.
  • Higher precipitation than the baseline results in lower irrigation requirements, while lower precipitation results in higher requirements.
  • A higher temperature than the baseline results in higher irrigation requirements, while a lower temperature results in lower requirements.

For example: The baseline values ​​are defined as 60% average humidity, 0.3 inches (8 millimeters) of average rainfall, and an average temperature of 70° Fahrenheit (21°C).

Weather control according to the Zimmerman method: Example of set baseline values ​​and sensitivities

The previous day, the average humidity was 65%, yesterday it rained 0.08 inches (2 mm), and today another 0.12 inches (3 mm), and yesterday’s temperature was 82°F (28°C).

This results in the following correction factors:

Humidity: (60-65)*1 = -5%
Rainfall: (0.3-0.08-0.12)*200 = 20%
Temperature: (70-65)*4 = 20%

This results in a total of -5% + 20% + 20%= 35% ​​-> Irrigation runs 35% ​​longer than planned.

These correction factors can be further adjusted by changing the weighting of the three factors (= sensitivities). By default, all three are set to 100, meaning they are weighted equally. If, for example, you want a deviation in humidity to have less of an impact than previously described, you could change it to 70, so that the deviation is only considered at 70% instead of 100%. Or you could increase it to 120, so that it is considered at 120%.

Additionally, the “Monthly” option in the weather method selection allows you to define a seasonal adjustment independent of actual weather conditions. In this option, an adjustment factor is defined for each month. 100 means that the irrigation program is carried out as planned, 90 means that the runtime is reduced to 90%, and 110 means that it is extended to 110%. This way, you avoid having to adjust the program during an irrigation season, where temperatures typically vary from month to month.

Determining the Seasonal Adjustment Factor

Automatic Rain Delay

The alternative option, Automatic Rain Delay, is comparatively simple: Here, you define by how much time a watering run scheduled for the current day should be postponed if the weather forecast predicts rain.

Automatic Rain Delay

Unfortunately, in my opinion, this option is practically unusable because it is currently poorly designed and lacks sufficient detail. It cannot be specified within what timeframe the forecast must predict rain for watering to be canceled, and I can’t find any information about the timeframe the system considers. Furthermore, there is no setting for how much rain needs to be predicted to trigger a postponement. This means that even a minimal drizzle of perhaps 0.05 inches (1 mm) would postpone a scheduled watering run. If this happens for several days in a row in the height of summer, the lawn will be ruined because no irrigation took place due to daily drizzle. Furthermore, the system only reacts to the weather forecast, regardless of whether it actually rains. This means that if rain is forecast for five consecutive days but never materializes, the irrigation cycle will be postponed five times.

Conclusion: This option is better implemented elsewhere, for example, in Hydrawise and LinkTap. To use it effectively, the observation period and the threshold value would need to be user-defined, and ideally, both forecasted and actual rainfall could be included.

ETo

Evapotranspiration Mode

The evapotranspiration mode works on essentially the same principle as the Zimmerman mode: Based on the location and elevation of the site, the system calculates a baseline annual evapotranspiration. This is the average expected value. Based on weather data such as solar radiation, rainfall, humidity, and temperature, the actual evapotranspiration is calculated daily and compared to the baseline value. If it is higher than the baseline value, the irrigation run time is increased; if it is lower, it is shortened.

The exact logic and dependencies behind this are not transparently disclosed and cannot be changed.

Weather-Based Restrictions

Currently, only the “California Restriction” option is available, which prevents irrigation if more than 1 inch (2.5 mm) of rainfall has occurred in the last 48 hours. This should comply with legal requirements in the US state of California not to irrigate after rainfall.

% Watering

Adjusts the run times of irrigation cycles to a specific percentage (default = 100%).

Sensors

The OpenSprinkler has two sensor inputs. Four different types of sensors can be connected to these:

  • Rain sensor
  • Soil moisture sensor
  • Flow sensor
  • Program switch

Which sensor is connected to which input is easily defined in the software. The software also allows you to define whether each sensor operates on the normally open or normally closed principle, enabling the use of both types of sensors.

Rain sensor and soil moisture sensor

The rain sensor and soil moisture sensor operate on the same principle: If a certain amount of rainfall or soil moisture level is exceeded, the sensor sends a signal and blocks scheduled irrigation cycles. When the predefined amount of rainfall or soil moisture level falls below the threshold again, the block is released, and irrigation can resume as scheduled.

For these two sensor types, an optional switch-on and switch-off delay can be set. A switch-on delay prevents the irrigation system from being immediately blocked when the rainfall or soil moisture threshold is exceeded, but only after a specified delay, provided the sensor signal is still present. The length of this delay, in minutes, can be set. This setting is useful to prevent the sensor from being triggered by a faulty signal.

The switch-off delay works on the same principle, but delays the end of an existing blockage. For example, if a switch-off delay of 120 minutes is set, the blockage will remain in effect for up to two hours after the rain or soil moisture sensor has reported a drop below the threshold. This can be useful to ensure that a specific irrigation break is observed after a recent rainfall event.

Rain sensor settings (identical to those for the soil moisture sensor)

Flow sensor

Flow sensors operate on the principle of sending a pulse for each measured unit of water flow. The size of this unit can vary from sensor to sensor. One sensor might send a pulse every 3 gallons (10 liters), another every 1.5 gallons (5 liters). This value, represented by a sent pulse, can be flexibly defined in the software, allowing OpenSprinkler to be used with flow sensors from various manufacturers.

Flow sensor settings

Program switch

This refers to a button or switch connected to the sensor port. Pressing it for at least one second sends a signal, and OpenSprinkler automatically starts program number 1. Alternatively, program number 2 will start if the program switch is connected to sensor port 2. The program switch can also be configured to operate on a normally open or normally closed principle.

Program Switch Settings

Integration

Options for Integrating with Other Systems

This menu item deals with connecting the OpenSprinkler to other systems.

OTC

The first option, connecting to the OpenThings Cloud by entering the OTC token, was already described earlier in this article. This enables remote access to the OpenSprinkler.

MQTT

This abbreviation stands for Message Queuing Telemetry Transport. MQTT is a messaging protocol used to communicate messages. In the OpenSprinkler software, for example, it enables alerts when certain events occur, such as the start or end of irrigation. For this to work, an MQTT broker must be configured. This is the server to which the messages are sent. The messages are not sent directly to the recipient but to the server address of the MQTT broker. The broker then forwards these messages to all recipients who have subscribed to them (publisher/subscriber principle).

Configuring an MQTT server and access credentials

IFTTT

Stands for “if this then that,” meaning “if this happens, then do that.” It is an online service that can be used free of charge up to a certain limit (3 automations). The IFTTT server receives notification from OpenSprinkler that a specific event has occurred and then executes a corresponding action based on the rule you created in the IFTTT portal. This is a very powerful tool that can be used for all sorts of home automation applications. For example, you could make switching on a specific light or outlet dependent on the start or end of an irrigation cycle. The alerts described in the previous section would also be possible in this way.

To use IFTTT, you need to register on the IFTTT website. There you will receive the webhook key, which you need to enter under “IFTTT Key.” The device name at the bottom is also transmitted to allow for differentiation when using multiple devices.

OpenSprinkler IFTTT Settings

The OpenSprinkler currently supports the following IFTTT events. You can select which of these should be sent to IFTTT in the software:

  • Program start
  • Update sensor 1
  • Update flow sensor
  • Update weather service
  • Restart OpenSprinkler
  • Start irrigation circuit
  • Update sensor 2
  • Update rain delay

Advanced

Advanced Options

Weather Underground API Key

By entering a Weather Underground API key, you can change the weather service used from DarkSky to Weather Underground. This allows you to integrate your own weather station, for example.

HTTP Port

Here you can enter a different HTTP port if you are not using the default port 80.

Device ID

Here you can change the last byte of the MAC address. I don’t know where this might be needed.

NTP IP Address

A Network Time Protocol (NTP) server is used to display the correct time on the OpenSprinkler. This works automatically based on the location you specify. If it doesn’t work correctly, you can enter your own NTP server here.

Use DHCP

Normally, the IP address of the OpenSprinkler is dynamically assigned by the router. This can be disabled to manually configure a static IP address, gateway IP, subnet mask, and DNS IP.

NTP Sync

Enabled by default. Retrieves the current time from the NTP server.

Ignore Password

Disables the password prompt when accessing OpenSprinkler.

Special Station Auto-Refresh

When enabled, special zones (RF, HTTP stations, etc.) are automatically updated periodically to ensure they remain synchronized with the system status.

Conclusion and Recommendation

So, what’s my conclusion after testing the OpenSprinkler irrigation controller?

First, let’s talk about the hardware: It does what it’s supposed to. While it appears a bit more delicate than those from other manufacturers, it’s sufficiently robust and, in my opinion, absolutely fulfills its purpose. The additional outputs for optional connection to a LAN network and for using an RF transmitter are a definite plus.

The ability to remove the terminal connectors is another clever detail. Having two freely programmable sensor connections is also a great feature, and the option to use sensors that require a power supply is an additional advantage.

One minor drawback is the lack of a weatherproof version. While this can be easily remedied by purchasing a weatherproof enclosure, it doesn’t look quite as neat as a custom-made one.

However, the most important aspect of this product is the software, which truly shines in many areas. I’m not aware of any other product that offers such extensive configuration options and is so well-suited for implementing projects that deviate somewhat from mainstream solutions. It’s very clear that the developers maintain close contact with users and quickly integrate real-world requirements into the software. This applies to many details that you might not notice at first glance, but which significantly simplify your daily life.

Furthermore, in addition to its use as an irrigation controller, OpenSprinkler also has great potential as a central hub for various home automation projects. The term “zone” here doesn’t necessarily refer to an irrigation zone; zones can also be used to communicate with various other systems.

Looking to the future, OpenSprinkler’s commitment to continuous improvement is significant, and new firmware updates with added features are released every few months. This makes them significantly more proactive than the competition, whose software often remains largely unchanged for years.

Furthermore, users can benefit from custom developments by other users. Many other users share the code of their own developments online, so these ready-made solutions can be used as needed.

Currently, I would rate the weather integration as only average. The Zimmerman method is simple yet ingenious, and the evapotranspiration method, due to its simplicity, is certainly popular with some users. In my opinion, the automatic rain delay, in its current form, is practically unusable—a black box with no configurable settings.

What I find completely lacking is the ability to tailor the irrigation to individual needs using weather rules, as the Hunter Hydrawise predictive watering system allows. Rules like, for example, “If rainfall in the last 24 hours was greater than 0.2 inches (5 mm) and in the last 3 days greater than 0.4 inches (10 mm), then do not irrigate.” In my opinion, Hydrawise currently has the edge here and remains the system with the best weather-controlled irrigation. However, the OpenSprinkler software is constantly being improved, so there’s a good chance that it will catch up.

A positive aspect regarding weather is the option to integrate your own weather station for free. With Hydrawise, this requires an extra fee.

What I also find somewhat lacking is the ability to easily create alerts. This is possible indirectly by connecting to external systems, but this method is likely too cumbersome for many users. It would be great if this could be integrated directly into the software in the future, for example, via the Openthings Cloud.

Recommendation: Highly recommended! The device is truly versatile and absolutely worth its price! And even as a layperson, you won’t be overwhelmed here, in my opinion, because the software is designed so that you can use many things optionally, but the normal settings are set by default, so you are not forced to deal with it.

Der Beitrag Opensprinkler irrigation computer review erschien zuerst auf Irrigation Blog for Do-it-yourselfer.

]]> What are OpenSprinkler and OpenSprinkler Pi, and who do they make sense for? https://www.irrigation-guide.com/what-are-opensprinkler-and-opensprinkler-pi-and-who-do-they-make-sense-for.html Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:30:58 +0000 https://www.irrigation-guide.com/?p=3709 OpenSprinkler is a web-based, open-source irrigation controller. Both the software code and the hardware schematics are freely available to everyone and can be used for personal projects and further development. This article explains the advantages of this open-source nature, the different versions of the controller currently available, and which version is best suited for [...]

Der Beitrag What are OpenSprinkler and OpenSprinkler Pi, and who do they make sense for? erschien zuerst auf Irrigation Blog for Do-it-yourselfer.

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OpenSprinkler is a web-based, open-source irrigation controller. Both the software code and the hardware schematics are freely available to everyone and can be used for personal projects and further development. This article explains the advantages of this open-source nature, the different versions of the controller currently available, and which version is best suited for different users.

To understand exactly what OpenSprinkler is, it’s helpful to take a brief look at the product’s history:

OpenSprinkler History

Unlike other irrigation controllers on the market, OpenSprinkler wasn’t developed by a professional irrigation or electronics company. Instead, it resulted from a private initiative by Ray Wang, an IT professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

In 2010, he installed an irrigation system in his own garden and began searching for a suitable controller. The products available on the market reminded him of the long-gone 1980s in terms of functionality and design, offering very limited features and no web connectivity. So Wang took matters into his own hands and, within a few weeks, built his own irrigation controller with web connectivity and more functionality, presenting this prototype on his personal blog. The prototype and the idea behind it were very well received and marked the beginning of OpenSprinkler.

Ray founded a company with commercial intentions to handle the production, marketing, and distribution of the product. At the same time, he committed himself to the open-source philosophy, making the source code of the software and the computer’s blueprints publicly available. This allows third parties to fully understand how the product works and, consequently, to improve it independently. Anyone with ambitions in this direction can therefore build directly upon the current state of development and doesn’t have to start from scratch.

The first OpenSprinkler 1.0 was released in 2011. Initially, it was a do-it-yourself kit that allowed users to assemble the finished sprinkler themselves within a few hours. The irrigation controller was structurally limited to the essentials. It consisted of the actual computer, a simple ATmega328 microcontroller, an Ethernet controller for connecting to a LAN network, an 8-channel relay for switching up to eight 24V solenoid valves, and a simple cover to protect the components.

Do-it-yourself kit for OpenSprinkler 1.1

And this is what the fully assembled irrigation computer looked like.

Visually, it didn’t have much in common with irrigation controllers from other manufacturers, but it offered significant advantages: First, programming and operation were possible via a web interface, making it convenient to use a PC or laptop’s web browser, unlike other manufacturers’ controllers, which only allowed direct access. Second, with some effort and existing programming knowledge, the irrigation programming could be tailored to individual needs (the software is maintained on the Arduino platform, using the C/C++ programming language), and the web connection allowed for the integration of external data, such as weather information, for irrigation.

The observation that some users were using OpenSprinkler in combination with a Raspberry Pi computer led to the additional development of OpenSprinkler Pi in 2013. This is not a complete irrigation controller, but rather a sprinkler expansion board for Raspberry Pi users. It can be connected to the computer, thus adding sprinkler functionality.

In 2013, a dedicated OpenSprinkler app was developed, allowing for convenient operation of the software via mobile phone.

In 2016, the product range was expanded to include OpenSprinkler Bee, a small irrigation controller for battery-operated 9V solenoid valves that can control up to three valves.

Over the years, the software has been continuously developed, and new hardware versions have been released. A description of the currently available products, including an assessment of who I believe they are suitable for, can be found below:

OpenSprinkler Irrigation Controller

The OpenSprinkler irrigation controller is currently available in version 3.4. It is now a fully assembled irrigation controller; no further assembly is required. The controller is ready to use immediately and is no different from irrigation controllers from other manufacturers in this respect.

The controller can be ordered in three different power supply options:

  • Powered by a 24V AC adapter
  • Powered by a 7.5V DC adapter
  • Powered by a 7.5V DC adapter for self-holding “latch” valves (7.5V DC Latch), only available in version 3.3

If you are using self-holding DC latch solenoid valves (these are the typical 9V solenoid valves for battery-operated irrigation controllers and are usually marked with “Latch”), then the third option is mandatory, as only this option can control such latch valves. If not, then the second option, 7.5V DC, is usually preferable, as it can switch both standard 24V AC solenoid valves and non-holding DC solenoid valves. The first option should be used if you intend to use the computer to control a pump start relay, as the second option is not compatible with all pump start relays available on the market.

In addition, an optional module for an Ethernet LAN output can be ordered alongside the Wi-Fi connection.

Below is an overview of the OpenSprinkler performance data.

OpenSprinkler 3.4
Model variants 2 variants: 24V AC (for 24V AC valves), 7.5V DC (for 24V AC valves and 7.5V to 12V DC valves), only available for OpenSprinkler 3.3: 7.5V DC Latch (for 7.5V to 12V DC Latch valves)
Number of controllable solenoid valves 8 (expandable by 16 additional zones with an additional module, a maximum of 4 additional modules can be connected, the maximum possible number of zones is therefore 72)
Can it be used with 24-volt or 9-volt solenoid valves? Depending on the model variant
Programming options Up to 40 programs can be configured to control the defined zones; each program can have up to 4 start times per day. A special feature of OpenSprinkler is the ability to start multiple zones simultaneously.
Irrigation duration 1 second to 1,080 minutes
Global increase/reduction of irrigation duration 1 to 250%
Connectable sensors Four sensor ports are available, allowing the connection of a rain sensor, soil moisture sensor, flow sensor, programmable switch, or any other sensor operating on a normally open or normally closed principle. The specific sensor and its operating characteristics are defined in the software.
Connection for master valve/pump start circuit? There is no dedicated connection, but one of the eight existing zone connections in the software can be defined as the connection for the master valve. Similarly, a second connection can also be defined as master valve 2.
Is direct control via computer possible? Only to a very limited extent (the small display and the 3 selection buttons only show some basic information such as the time, zone status and rain status, and you can start programs manually)
Power/Battery Power connection via externally mounted 24 Volt AC or 7.5 Volt DC transformer (depending on model)
Indoor/Outdoor Indoor use (for weatherproof outdoor use, a separate IP-65 enclosure can be purchased)
WiFi? Yes (optional additional LAN connection via add-on module also possible)
The app runs on Apple iOS devices, Google Android devices
Access via web browser possible? Yes
Use of local weather data? Yes
Price $140 or $183 with an additional LAN port

Who would benefit from an OpenSprinkler irrigation controller?

Unlike in 2011, when the first OpenSprinkler was launched, there are now numerous smart irrigation controllers on the market that can be controlled via the web.

In my opinion, the most sophisticated systems currently available are Hunter Hydrawise and LinkTap. Orbit’s B-hyve also offers a quite powerful solution with a very good price-performance ratio. All three systems are characterized by their ability to provide highly customized, weather-data-based automated irrigation. If you are primarily looking for an irrigation controller that can be remotely controlled from anywhere in the world via an app, but without sophisticated weather-dependent control options, then the RainPoint computers, the Rain Bird Smart Watering System, or the Smart System from the German manufacturer Gardena are further alternatives.

Therefore, OpenSprinkler can no longer rely on web control as a key selling point. However, it does differ from other providers in several aspects that may make it interesting for some users:

  • It is independent of external cloud solutions or external servers. The OpenSprinkler is a fully functional computer with a built-in web interface that can be accessed with any external browser. Data is not transferred to any external location, and no online registration is required, unlike with other providers. Therefore, you are completely in control of your own data and independent of external services. This also eliminates any risk should the product be discontinued at some point.

  • The software includes a few features that are not available from other providers, such as simultaneous watering of 2 or more zones, support for 2 master valves, or switching of zones from other OpenSprinkler computers.

  • The software is significantly less restrictive than other providers. For example, instead of just 3 or 4 programs as with other providers, up to 40 programs can be defined, and irrigation cycles can have a very long duration of up to 1,080 minutes. Furthermore, the duration of these cycles can be defined down to the second.

  • Both the software and hardware are Open Source, meaning all knowledge is publicly available. With the appropriate expertise, users can tailor the software to their own needs or make modifications and additions on their computers. The well-documented HTTP API allows for seamless integration of the OpenSprinkler into existing home automation systems. Users also benefit from the know-how of the very active community, as specialized solutions are often shared with everyone.

  • The OpenSprinkler has two freely programmable sensor inputs. I’ve only seen this feature before from Hydrawise. The ability to connect a separate weather station to the OpenSprinkler is also currently only offered by Hydrawise and B-hyve, and sometimes only at an additional cost.

  • In addition to standard zones, virtual RF (radio frequency) and HTTP zones can also be defined. An RF zone can be used, for example, to activate and deactivate an RF socket, while an HTTP zone can trigger a GET request to execute specific actions, such as interacting with other smart home devices.

  • The computer can optionally be connected via Ethernet connection using an inexpensive additional component, in addition to Wi-Fi.

  • Zone expansions (16 additional zones per expansion module) are offered at a comparatively fair price; other providers sometimes charge many times more.

A significant potential drawback is that OpenSprinkler is not accessible from anywhere in the world via the web by default! Access is normally only possible via your home Wi-Fi network, or alternatively, you can access the computer directly without Wi-Fi. However, you must be within range of the OpenSprinkler to do this. To access OpenSprinkler from elsewhere via the app or browser, you need to set up a VPN (virtual private network) beforehand. This can be a bit of a hurdle for those unfamiliar with IT.

Update: OpenSprinkler recently introduced a free cloud solution that allows you to access your computer anytime, anywhere.

A second minor drawback is the weather-based irrigation: While three different modes can currently be selected (evapotranspiration, Zimmermann, and automatic rain delay), a configuration as detailed as that offered by the Hunter Hydrawise system is not yet possible. However, the Opensprinkler performs very well in this regard, even surpassing the Rain Bird Smart Watering System and the Gardena Smart System.

Conclusion:

The Opensprinkler is a very ambitious product with an appealing philosophy behind it and offers an alternative if you can’t find a suitable smart irrigation controller from other providers, for example, because you have more specific requirements or because it’s important to you to be able to tailor the product very precisely to your needs. A third target group consists of people who are very sensitive about the handling of their data and reject registration and data transmission via a third-party server. And last but not least, there’s the group of passionate tinkerers who enjoy working together on a product in an active community. If you don’t fall into any of these groups and simply want to buy a ready-made, functional product, then you’re better off with conventional irrigation controller providers.

Further Information

The OpenSprinkler website offers the option to log into the web interface of a demo OpenSprinkler and thus try out in detail the software’s capabilities:

Link: demo.opensprinkler.com (Password: opendoor)

OpenSprinkler Pi

The second popular OpenSprinkler product is the OpenSprinkler Pi. Unlike the previously introduced OpenSprinkler, this is not a complete, ready-to-use irrigation controller, but rather an irrigation expansion board for a Raspberry Pi computer. The board is connected to the Raspberry Pi via its GPIO pins (40 metal pins serving as universal interfaces). This adds zone inputs to the computer for controlling solenoid valves. These valves can then be controlled directly via the Raspberry Pi. Therefore, an OpenSprinkler Pi board only functions as an irrigation controller when used with a Raspberry Pi computer.

A Raspberry Pi computer is a small, credit card-sized, basic, yet relatively powerful computer that is very affordable, costing around $40 to $50. It contains all the essential components of a computer and a few interfaces for connecting peripherals, but it lacks a case, hard drive, and screen. The necessary software is instead installed via an SD/MMC card slot. Raspberry Pi computers have a large following and have sold over 45 million units worldwide. The target audience is primarily hobbyists and tinkerers.

The software for the OpenSprinkler Pi is the same as for OpenSprinkler.

Who would benefit from an OpenSprinkler Pi expansion card?

Primarily, it’s ideal for Raspberry Pi owners and those planning to become one. This is especially true if other home automation components are already running on the Raspberry Pi. This allows for centralized control of everything from a single computer. If you’re starting from scratch and have no prior experience with Raspberry Pi computers, then a pre-built OpenSprinkler is definitely the better choice. Unless, of course, you want to take the opportunity to enter the Raspberry Pi world with OpenSprinkler Pi.

The big difference to OpenSprinkler: With OpenSprinkler, you can, if you wish, do some tinkering or programming yourself, or simply use the ready-made irrigation computer; with OpenSprinkler Pi, a certain amount of tinkering and IT-related input is definitely necessary to arrive at a usable solution.

OpenSprinkler Bee

The third product offered is the OpenSprinkler Bee, a small irrigation controller with three zone outputs for 9V DC latch solenoid valves. This is the typical 9-volt solenoid valve that is usually controlled by battery-powered irrigation controllers without a power connection. The first generation of the Bee was battery-operated (two AA batteries), but the current version has a USB input for power.

The rationale behind this change is difficult for me to understand, as it defeats the original purpose of the Bee: to control solenoid valves when there is no mains power available at the irrigation controller’s location. A USB cable also requires a device with a power connection, and I’m currently unaware of any way to connect a USB cable directly to a battery. Powering it with a power bank is also technically impossible, as power banks are designed for charging batteries and cannot be used directly as a power source. The OpenSprinkler Bee is now simply a cheaper, stripped-down version of the OpenSprinkler for latch solenoid valves, but no longer an alternative for use in locations without a power outlet.

Addendum: A third party suggested that combining it with a mini solar power system might be a solution.

Where to buy

OpenSprinkler irrigation controllers are not available at hardware stores and currently not on Amazon or eBay. They can be purchased directly from the manufacturer’s shop opensprinkler.com in the USA or from national OpenSprinkler retailers.

The OpenSprinkler computer currently costs between $140 and $183, depending on the model, the OpenSprinkler Pi card costs $70 without and $88 with power adapter, and the smaller OpenSprinkler Bee computer costs $62 without and $72 with USB wall adapter.

For detailed information, or if you’re looking for a solution to a specific problem or want to benefit from software extensions already implemented by other users, it’s worth taking a look at the extensive English-language OpenSprinkler forum.

Available from: OpenSprinkler Shop

Note: Readers of this blog are offered a 10% discount by the OpenSprinkler Shop when purchasing an OpenSprinkler or OpenSprinkler Pi. Use the coupon code OSPOWER15YR when ordering!

© All Images used: OpenSprinkler.com, except OpenSprinkler 3.4 (own image)

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]]> RainPoint Wi-Fi irrigation computer tested: How good are the cheapest irrigation computers on the market? https://www.irrigation-guide.com/rainpoint-wi-fi-irrigation-computer-tested-how-good-are-the-cheapest-irrigation-computers-on-the-market.html Fri, 25 Jul 2025 14:19:23 +0000 https://www.irrigation-guide.com/?p=3304 A few years ago, I tested no-name irrigation computers from China for the first time. The results were very disappointing due to the poor manufacturing quality: The products were often defective upon delivery or problems arose shortly thereafter. I've now tested the web irrigation timers of all major brands here on the blog, with [...]

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A few years ago, I tested no-name irrigation computers from China for the first time. The results were very disappointing due to the poor manufacturing quality: The products were often defective upon delivery or problems arose shortly thereafter.

I’ve now tested the web irrigation timers of all major brands here on the blog, with only the two well-known Chinese budget providers, RainPoint and Diivoo, missing from my test series. Now it was time to give the providers from the Far East another chance. In the following post, I took a closer look at RainPoint and tested two different RainPoint Wi-Fi irrigation timers: the TTV203WRF and the HTV213FRF.

What immediately distinguishes the timers from the Chinese providers RainPoint and Diivoo and is their outstanding selling point is their low price. Both are price leaders in the irrigation timer market and undercut their established competitors Gardena, LinkTap, Orbit, Hunter, Rain Bird, and OpenSprinkler with their product prices.

Both offer exclusively, or almost exclusively, faucet-controlled irrigation timers. These are irrigation timers that can be screwed directly onto a faucet and through which the water flows directly. These computers have the valve for opening and closing built directly into the computer, unlike the second type of irrigation computer, which doesn’t come into contact with water itself but switches external solenoid valves.

Faucet-controlled irrigation computers have very high quality standards compared to the other type of irrigation computer! Due to constant contact with water and permanent exposure to sun, wind, and weather, poorly manufactured computers are likely to fail after just one or two seasons. They usually either leak due to material weaknesses or the built-in solenoid valve no longer switches properly. A low price alone is of little use here if the product quality isn’t also up to scratch.

Who is RainPoint and what does the company offer?

RainPoint itself is purely a trademark. The company behind this brand is not that easy to identify or research from the outside.

The answer can be found in the product information for the shipped product and in the app’s privacy policy: The company behind RainPoint is called Fujian Baldr Technology Co., Ltd. and is based in China. It is a Chinese/US joint venture founded in 2012 that manufactures numerous electronic devices for gardening and agriculture, including irrigation timers, weather stations sold under the Baldr brand, pump filters, pressure reducers, solenoid valves, drip irrigation products, and various gardening tools.

The RainPoint irrigation timer brand has been around since 2017. It offers both traditional irrigation timers and smart irrigation timers with web connectivity, both in a wide variety of models. Classic irrigation computers with one, two, three, or four outlets, and Wi-Fi irrigation computers with one or two outlets.

These are almost exclusively faucet-controlled irrigation computers, which have the solenoid valve built directly into the computer; a single model for controlling external solenoid valves is currently in the range.

What strikes me as quite negative is the sheer proliferation of models, which makes it really difficult for consumers to keep track. It’s common and understandable that models are offered with different numbers of outlets and with or without web connectivity. But when, in parallel, devices of different generations, devices with brass or plastic threads, devices with standard gateways and antenna gateways, pure Bluetooth devices that can only be controlled from close proximity, and devices that run on different smart software are offered, it seems like overkill to me and makes it very difficult for customers to keep track of everything.

This is further compounded by the fact that various accessories, such as sensors, only work with some of the devices. This means there’s plenty of potential for making a mistake when purchasing. I’ve therefore listed the key distinguishing features below and, further down, show which models offer which functionality in an overview table.

My opinion: Overall, RainPoint’s product range policy doesn’t inspire much confidence in me, as it doesn’t convey the impression that the company is dedicated to individual models and their improvement and further development, but rather simply churns out one model after another. It also doesn’t speak to sustainability (supply of spare parts) if models are discontinued and no longer available after a short period of time. It would make more sense to focus on a few models and one software and gradually improve them!

What distinguishes the different RainPoint WiFi irrigation timers?

Below is an overview of the key differences:

Number of Outputs

RainPoint currently offers models with 1 and 2 outputs. Recently, a model with 4 outputs, the HTV405FRF, appeared on Amazon, which is not yet listed on RainPoint’s website.

Different Software

As mentioned, RainPoint offers a wide range of software options! Three different apps are currently available for the RainPoint irrigation timers.

  • RainPoint Tuya
  • HomGar
  • RainPoint Home

Important: Not every computer model can be used with every app, and some apps have very different functionality! Control via weather data is possible in some cases, but not in others. Some apps allow more programs to be created, others less. Navigation within the apps also varies greatly, ranging from relatively straightforward to quite confusing and cumbersome.

Therefore, before deciding on a specific RainPoint model, you should take a close look at the apps and then choose the model that can be operated with the app that appeals to you most! I’ll list which models work with which apps in the comparison table below.

Basically, it works like this:

  • The orange TTV models only work with the RainPoint Tuya app.
  • The white HTV models work with both the HomGar app and the RainPoint Home app.
  • The green HTV models only work with the RainPoint Home app.

RainPoint Tuya

This is RainPoint’s original, self-developed software. It also allows the control of other Tuya devices, and the app is structured like a smart home software with, in theory, a wide range of options. However, this also makes it very confusing and unnecessarily complex to control for garden irrigation purposes. If you’re primarily looking for irrigation computer software, this isn’t really a good choice. However, it does offer (limited) control options based on weather events.

HomGar

This is an open-source irrigation computer software used by RainPoint, which has a much more logical structure and clearer menu navigation than RainPoint Tuya. In terms of usability, it’s the better app, but completely lacks weather control options. HomGar is also used in devices from the second Chinese competitor, Diivoo.

RainPoint Home

Is a combination of the first two. The app’s operating concept and menu navigation are based on HomGar, but have been expanded to include the weather control and automation features of RainPoint Tuya. Currently, it’s RainPoint’s best app. It can be used with the green and white RainPoint models.

The orange TTV203WRF tested here uses the RainPoint Tuya software and only works with that software. The white HTV213FRF can be operated with the HomGar or RainPoint Home software, but not with the RainPoint Tuya software.

I describe the differences between the three different apps in more detail in the “Software” section.

Different Gateways (Hubs)

The following variations apply:

  • Gateways with standard or enhanced wireless reception (identified by the additional antenna)
  • Gateways with or without an additional power outlet
  • Gateways with or without an Ethernet port

The latest neon green model generation is sometimes delivered with routers with enhanced wireless performance, which can be identified by the small antenna. The corresponding hubs are called HWG023 and HWG040. This can be particularly worthwhile if there is a large distance between the gateway and the water computer.

The additional power outlet is useful if you don’t want to use an entire power outlet by plugging in the gateway, but want to continue using the outlet for other purposes. You can also use the outlet as a smart outlet via the app.

With a hub with an Ethernet port (HWG040), you have the option of connecting the computer to the internal network with an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi.

Plastic or Brass Thread

The new neon green generation of computers is offered with a brass thread at the computer input. The white HTV models all have plastic threads. The orange TTV models are available with both plastic threads and, at a slightly higher price, brass threads. Models with brass threads are also available at both the input and output.

My opinion: I see the latest trend in the RainPoint product range, to offer irrigation computers (optionally) with brass threads instead of plastic threads, as more of a marketing gimmick than a truly significant benefit for the consumer. The weak points of these computers are generally not in the thread area, which can be resealed with sealant if necessary. The problem is more that the housing is made of cheap, thin plastic, and in particular, the connections between the plastic parts and the threads become brittle and leaky over time. And that the built-in solenoid valves no longer function properly after a while. Brass valves won’t change that. And as other manufacturers like LinkTap show, computers with plastic threads can also be manufactured to a very high quality and long-lasting standard.

Included Water Flow Sensor

Most RainPoint water timers are equipped with an integrated water flow meter, which records how many gallons of water have been used. Only the white TTV102B water meter doesn’t include one!

Soil Moisture Sensors

RainPoint also offers additional soil moisture sensors for its timers, but these are only available for certain timer models.

  • Soil Moisture Sensor TCS005FRF – Can only be used with the two orange models TTV103WRF (1 output) and TTV203WRF (2 outputs).
  • 3-in-1 Sensor HCS021FRF (measures soil moisture, temperature, and light intensity) – Can only be used with the new neon green and white models (all models that begin with HTV).

Interfaces/Voice Control

All three apps can be connected to Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, allowing simple voice commands to be used for control. For example, “Ok Google, turn on water timer!” to turn on the irrigation computer, and “Ok Google, turn off water timer!” to turn off the computer.

Wi-Fi or only Bluetooth

Some of the same computers are offered as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi computers. The difference: The former doesn’t include a gateway, so you can only control the irrigation computer via Bluetooth when you’re in close proximity to your phone. In return, you save about $20 to $30 for the gateway, but then you can’t operate the computer while on the go or on vacation. The gateway can, in principle, be purchased later, converting the Bluetooth computer into a fully-fledged Wi-Fi computer.

Comparison table of all RainPoint WiFi irrigation timers

Below, I’ve compiled an overview of the currently available RainPoint WiFi irrigation timers to bring some order and clarity to the product range. I won’t specifically cover Bluetooth-only versions without a gateway. I won’t even cover slightly different versions that differ only in the thread material or a slightly different gateway; I’ll list those under “Variants.”

Also included here is the very important information about which app (RainPoint Tuya, RainPoint Home, or HomGar) the timer works with.

RAINPOINT WiFi Water Timer, Smart Hose Timer for Garden Hose, WiFi Irrigation Controller, Smart Sprinkler System Valve, APP & Voice Control, Weather-Based Automatic Rain Delay, Brass Inlet & Outlet Timer with WiFi Hub
RAINPOINT WiFi Hose Timer, Smart Water Timer for Garden, Drip Irrigation Controller System with Wi-Fi Hub Automatic Manual Watering, Alexa APP Voice Control
RAINPOINT WiFi Water Timer, Brass Inlet Smart Hose Faucet Timer, Automatic Irrigation System Controller for Yard Watering, APP Control via 2.4Ghz WiFi and Bluetooth (V2, 2025 Release)
RAINPOINT 1-Zone Wireless Smart Water Timer for Garden Hose with Hub Outdoor Sprinkler Irrigation Rain Delay, APP Remote Control WiFi Valve for Faucet Automatic Schedules Lawn,Backyard,Pool
RAINPOINT 2 Zone WiFi Sprinkler Timer for Garden Hose - Smart WiFi Water Timer with Irrigation Display Gateway Hub - Wireless Smart Watering System with Dual Zone Garden Watering
Computer
RainPoint with 1 output (TTV103WRF)
RainPoint with 2 outputs (TTV203WRF)
RainPoint with 1 output (TTV102B)
RainPoint with 1 output (HTV113FRF)
RainPoint with 2 outputs (HTV213FRF)
Zones
1
2
1
1
2
Which App
RainPoint Tuya
RainPoint Tuya
RainPoint Tuya
HomGar
HomGar
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Yes (via wireless connection)
Yes (via wireless connection)
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
4 AA batteries
4 AA batteries
4 AA batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Optionally available for an additional charge of approximately $15 to $25 with brass threads instead of plastic threads at the inlet or at the inlet and outlet.
Optionally available for an additional charge of approximately $15 to $25 with brass threads instead of plastic threads at the inlet or at the inlet and outlet.
Price
$69.98
$86.99
Price not available
$54.99
$84.95
RAINPOINT WiFi Water Timer, Smart Hose Timer for Garden Hose, WiFi Irrigation Controller, Smart Sprinkler System Valve, APP & Voice Control, Weather-Based Automatic Rain Delay, Brass Inlet & Outlet Timer with WiFi Hub
Computer
RainPoint with 1 output (TTV103WRF)
Zones
1
Which App
RainPoint Tuya
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Optionally available for an additional charge of approximately $15 to $25 with brass threads instead of plastic threads at the inlet or at the inlet and outlet.
Price
$69.98
RAINPOINT WiFi Hose Timer, Smart Water Timer for Garden, Drip Irrigation Controller System with Wi-Fi Hub Automatic Manual Watering, Alexa APP Voice Control
Computer
RainPoint with 2 outputs (TTV203WRF)
Zones
2
Which App
RainPoint Tuya
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Optionally available for an additional charge of approximately $15 to $25 with brass threads instead of plastic threads at the inlet or at the inlet and outlet.
Price
$86.99
RAINPOINT WiFi Water Timer, Brass Inlet Smart Hose Faucet Timer, Automatic Irrigation System Controller for Yard Watering, APP Control via 2.4Ghz WiFi and Bluetooth (V2, 2025 Release)
Computer
RainPoint with 1 output (TTV102B)
Zones
1
Which App
RainPoint Tuya
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Price
Price not available
RAINPOINT 1-Zone Wireless Smart Water Timer for Garden Hose with Hub Outdoor Sprinkler Irrigation Rain Delay, APP Remote Control WiFi Valve for Faucet Automatic Schedules Lawn,Backyard,Pool
Computer
RainPoint with 1 output (HTV113FRF)
Zones
1
Which App
HomGar
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Price
$54.99
RAINPOINT 2 Zone WiFi Sprinkler Timer for Garden Hose - Smart WiFi Water Timer with Irrigation Display Gateway Hub - Wireless Smart Watering System with Dual Zone Garden Watering
Computer
RainPoint with 2 outputs (HTV213FRF)
Zones
2
Which App
HomGar
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Price
$84.95
RAINPOINT WiFi Water Timer for Garden Hose, WiFi Sprinkler Controller, Smart Hose Timer Valve, Automatic Drip Irrigation System/Rain Delay for Garden/Lawn/Yard (Brass Inlet, WiFi Gateway) Green Timer with WiFi Hub
RAINPOINT WiFi Hose Timer, Brass Inlet Smart Sprinkler Timer for Watering, WiFi Watering Timer for Garden Hose with Hub, APP & Voice Control, Automatic Irrigation System for Lawns and Yard Water Timer with WiFi Hub
RainPoint WiFi Water Timer for Garden Hose with Brass Inlet, 2-Zone Smart Sprinkler Hose Timer, WiFi Irrigation Controller, Automatic Watering System for Lawns and Yard Green Metal
RAINPOINT WiFi Sprinkler Timer 4 Zone, Outdoor Smart Water Timer for Garden Hose with Brass Inlet
Computer
RainPoint with 1 output and improved gateway (HTV145FRF)
RainPoint with 1 output and normal gateway (HTV107B)
RainPoint with 2 outputs and standard gateway (HTV210B)
RainPoint with 4 outputs and improved gateway (HTV405FRF)
Zones
1
1
2
4
Which App
RainPoint Home
RainPoint Home
RainPoint Home
RainPoint Home
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Yes (via wireless connection)
Yes (via wireless connection)
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
4 AA batteries
4 AA batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Optionally available with a gateway with additional Ethernet input for an additional $10 (HWG040)
Optionally available with a gateway with additional Ethernet input for an additional $10 (HWG040)
Special feature
Improved radio reception, brass input thread
Brass input thread
Brass input thread
Improved radio reception, brass input thread
Price
$65.99
$64.99
$84.99
Price not available
RAINPOINT WiFi Water Timer for Garden Hose, WiFi Sprinkler Controller, Smart Hose Timer Valve, Automatic Drip Irrigation System/Rain Delay for Garden/Lawn/Yard (Brass Inlet, WiFi Gateway) Green Timer with WiFi Hub
Computer
RainPoint with 1 output and improved gateway (HTV145FRF)
Zones
1
Which App
RainPoint Home
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Optionally available with a gateway with additional Ethernet input for an additional $10 (HWG040)
Special feature
Improved radio reception, brass input thread
Price
$65.99
RAINPOINT WiFi Hose Timer, Brass Inlet Smart Sprinkler Timer for Watering, WiFi Watering Timer for Garden Hose with Hub, APP & Voice Control, Automatic Irrigation System for Lawns and Yard Water Timer with WiFi Hub
Computer
RainPoint with 1 output and normal gateway (HTV107B)
Zones
1
Which App
RainPoint Home
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Special feature
Brass input thread
Price
$64.99
RainPoint WiFi Water Timer for Garden Hose with Brass Inlet, 2-Zone Smart Sprinkler Hose Timer, WiFi Irrigation Controller, Automatic Watering System for Lawns and Yard Green Metal
Computer
RainPoint with 2 outputs and standard gateway (HTV210B)
Zones
2
Which App
RainPoint Home
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Special feature
Brass input thread
Price
$84.99
RAINPOINT WiFi Sprinkler Timer 4 Zone, Outdoor Smart Water Timer for Garden Hose with Brass Inlet
Computer
RainPoint with 4 outputs and improved gateway (HTV405FRF)
Zones
4
Which App
RainPoint Home
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Optionally available with a gateway with additional Ethernet input for an additional $10 (HWG040)
Special feature
Improved radio reception, brass input thread
Price
Price not available

Tested RainPoint Computers

I tested two RainPoint irrigation computers with Wi-Fi connectivity and two outputs each. The orange TTV203WRF, which is controlled with the RainPoint Tuya software, and the white HTV213FRF, which can be controlled with both the HomGar software and the RainPoint Home software.

In terms of appearance, the more modern-looking white HTV213FRF probably wins, but in practice, this plays a very minor role and therefore shouldn’t be the deciding factor.

RainPoint TTV203WRF Product Scope

The orange RainPoint computer with two outputs included the following:

Package contents

These include:

  • Irrigation computer
  • Gateway (hub)
  • Operating instructions
  • Installation instructions
  • Teflon tape and replacement strainer
  • Information about the possible free warranty extension (to 5 years)
  • Reducer from 1 inch to 3/4 inch for connecting the inlet to 3/4 inch faucets (already pre-assembled)

RainPoint HTV213FRF Product Contents

The package contents of the white RainPoint computer look very similar:

Package contents

These are basically the same things as with the previous computer, except that the instruction manual is divided into several languages, and instead of a replacement strainer, a second mini roll of Teflon tape was included:

  • Irrigation Computer
  • Gateway (Hub)
  • Instruction Manuals
  • Installation Instructions
  • 2 rolls of Teflon tape
  • Note on the possible free warranty extension (to 5 years)
  • Reducer from 1 inch to 3/4 inch for connecting the inlet to 3/4 inch faucets (already pre-assembled)

Comment: The addition of the small rolls of Teflon tape is a nice touch. However, the more important tap connectors for connecting something to the irrigation computer outputs are missing. These were included with all other irrigation computers tested so far, except for RainPoint. Such tap connectors don’t cost much to purchase later ($2 to $3 each), but it can be annoying if you want to get started after the irrigation computer arrives and then realize that this essential connection part is missing. Tip: When purchasing later, do not buy 1/2 inch but 3/4 inch tap connectors to avoid unnecessary pressure loss at the computer outlet!

Warranty Extension

A special feature is the free warranty extension from 2 to 5 years offered by RainPoint. All you need to do is send an email with the order number to the address on the enclosed card, and you will receive confirmation of the warranty extension by email from RainPoint. However, I can’t say how valuable this warranty is in the event of a claim, as I have no experience with this.

One detail: After applying for the warranty extension, RainPoint contacted me with a standard email encouraging me to write a review of the product on Amazon. By submitting a screenshot of the review, I could choose from four gifts worth approximately $15 each (50 feet (15 meters) of garden hose, water pH meter, etc.). In my opinion, rewarding user reviews in this way, even if they don’t explicitly request a positive review, is dubious and dishonest, and should be sanctioned by Amazon! This makes it increasingly difficult to rely on Amazon reviews when a large proportion of the reviews were accompanied by rewards.

Installing the RainPoint Computers

The installation works essentially the same for both computers, with one key difference:

  • For the orange TTV203WRF, you need the RainPoint Tuya app.
  • For the white HTV213FRF, however, you need the HomGar or RainPoint Home app.

The individual installation steps are as follows:

Download the RainPoint Tuya, HomGar, or RainPoint Home app.

For Android phones, go to Google Play; for Apple phones, go to the App Store.

After downloading the app, you’ll need to register an online account. You then log in using the email address and password you provided. The app will then ask for permission to access your phone’s location data. This is necessary to display local weather data.

The next step is to add the gateway to the app. To do so, select the gateway model in the app, plug in the gateway, and press the button on the gateway to start pairing. The button will then light up, and the app will recognize the gateway after a short time.

Plugged in gateway

Next, connect the water computer to the gateway. To do this, click “Add Device” again and select the purchased water computer model. To begin pairing, insert the batteries into the computer (not included). During pairing, the water computer should be located in the immediate vicinity of the connected gateway.

4 AA batteries must be used

Installation comment: Pairing the devices with the app works smoothly and efficiently, as with most systems I’ve tested so far! I installed two devices this way. With the first one, everything went perfectly, but with the second one, the app refused to recognize the water computer even after several attempts. I then reset the computer to the default settings according to the manual, and it worked right away.

The water computer is now ready to go.

Hardware

At this point, I’ll take a closer look at the hardware itself.

Brief summary: The RainPoint irrigation timers don’t reach the quality of the top-of-the-line LinkTap, but they seem to be quite acceptably manufactured. No comparison to my tests of Chinese products a few years ago. The plastic used seems sturdy and not too thin, nothing wobbles, and the battery compartment opens and closes smoothly. So, the first impression is fine, but the true quality only becomes apparent after several seasons in which the timer has to withstand wind and weather.

Here are some pictures of the hardware:

There are two buttons on the front that can be used to manually turn the two outputs on and off.

The various RainPoint models with 2 outputs are structurally largely identical

Rear view. There are no additional connection options for sensors. The battery compartment is attached without screws. This still holds up well—at least for new devices.

View from above

The water inlets are a crucial part of an irrigation timer. Many manufacturers make them unnecessarily narrow. The water has to overcome this narrow passage, leading to unnecessary pressure loss. If you plan to use it in an irrigation system, this can have quite drastic consequences, causing the sprinklers to not reach their intended throw distances or, in extreme cases, not rise at all.

So I was curious to see how RainPoint handled this. You get a first impression by removing the thread reducer and the strainer underneath the inlet. This is rather negative; the inlet looks very narrow (it’s identical in the second model):

Through this narrow passage the water flows into the irrigation computer

I then took a closer look at this and conducted a bucket test to determine how this bottleneck affects the system in practice. I did this for the two RainPoint computers and, for comparison, for the LinktTap Q1. This also has a built-in water flow meter, so the computers are comparable. Note: A built-in water flow meter results in greater pressure loss than a computer without one.

Performance in the Bucket Test

I conducted the bucket test on an outdoor faucet. The bucket test determines the water output per hour with the faucet fully turned on. First, I tested it with the water flowing freely without the water timer installed. Result: 570 gallons (2,150 liters) per hour.

Then I tested it with the orange RainPoint TTV203WRF and the white RainPoint HTV213FRF. Result: The water output per hour drops equally sharply for both, from 570 to just 380 gallons (from 2,150 to 1,400 liters). This isn’t surprising, given that an irrigation timer is always a bottleneck that consumes pressure.

But how large is this pressure loss compared to other products? For comparison, I conducted the same test with the LinkTap Q1. Result: This one provides significantly less pressure loss, reaching 439 gallons (1,650 liters) per hour.

The water inlet in the RainPoint timers is therefore much narrower and results in a considerably greater pressure loss. This may be of secondary importance for some application scenarios, but when planning an irrigation system or replacing an old irrigation computer from another brand with a RainPoint computer, you should be aware of this to avoid any nasty surprises!

The different water pressures of the RainPoint and the LinkTap computer can be visually detected even without measuring.

Gateway

The quality of the gateway is primarily determined by the quality of the wireless connection between the gateway and the irrigation computer. RainPoint gateways use 2.4 GHz WiFi. Since the new green model series, RainPoint has offered two different types of gateways: those with and without an external antenna. The latter are said to have a slightly longer range and better wireless reception.

The two devices I tested came with a gateway without an external antenna. Instead, they each have an integrated power outlet. This is practical, as you don’t lose any power outlet space after plugging in the gateway, and you can also use this outlet as a smart outlet, meaning you can turn it on and off via the app and predefined rules. More on this in the app description!

Signal Quality Test

You can check the signal strength of the wireless signal in the app. I tested this for different distances between the gateway and the irrigation computer, with the gateway plugged into the socket inside the house and me walking away from the house with the irrigation computer outside. The signal strength is displayed in dBM (decibel milliwatts), with the closer the number is to zero, the higher the quality.

Distance Signal quality (dBm)
0 feet (immediately next to it) – 73 dBm (4 out of 4 indicator lines)
16 feet (5 meters) – 76 dBm (4 of 4)
32 feet (10 meters) – 82 dBm (1 of 4)
48 feet (15 meters) – 89 dBm (1 of 4)
96 feet (30 meters) – 99 dBm (1 of 4)
144 feet (45 meters) – 111 dBm (1 of 4)
160 feet (50 meters) No more radio reception!

Conclusion: At just under 160 feet (50 meters), the water timer was no longer reachable, but the signal quality deteriorated significantly at distances above 32 feet (10 meters). This should be more than sufficient for most residential applications, but it doesn’t come close to the wireless quality and range offered by, for example, LinkTap’s Zigbee devices.

Software/Programming

As described above, the orange RainPoint irrigation timers can only be operated with the RainPoint Tuya app, while the white ones can be operated with both the HomGar and RainPoint Home apps.

I will introduce these three apps in detail in the following posts:

Blog post: How the RainPoint Tuya app works
Blog post: How the HomGar app works
Blog post: How the RainPoint Home app works

Below is a table overview of the key software features:

RAINPOINT WiFi Hose Timer, Smart Water Timer for Garden, Drip Irrigation Controller System with Wi-Fi Hub Automatic Manual Watering, Alexa APP Voice Control
RAINPOINT 2 Zone WiFi Sprinkler Timer for Garden Hose - Smart WiFi Water Timer with Irrigation Display Gateway Hub - Wireless Smart Watering System with Dual Zone Garden Watering
Software system
RainPoint Tuya
HomGar
Which irrigation computers can it be used with?
All orange RainPoint models
All white RainPoint models
App runs on
Apple iOS devices, Google Android devices
Apple iOS devices, Google Android devices
Accessible via web browser?
Setup wizard for initial setup?start circuit?
Type of programming
On a zone basis (max. 3 zone programs)
On a zone basis (max. 6 zone programs)
Start times
1
1
Watering duration
1 minute to 12 hours
1 minute to 12 hours
Types of irrigation
Normal irrigation, mist irrigation, both adjustable by time or water quantity
Normal irrigation, mist irrigation, both adjustable by time or water quantity
Definition of irrigation templates?
Local access without an internet connection?
Give access to other users?
Assigning different user authorizations?
Additional functions for contractors?
Warning notifications?
Irrigation calendar?
Reports on irrigation, water consumption, weather, ...?
Connection of a flow meter?
A water flow meter is permanently integrated into the computer of all devices except RainPoint TTV102B!
A water flow meter is permanently integrated into the computer of all devices except RainPoint TTV102B!
RAINPOINT WiFi Hose Timer, Smart Water Timer for Garden, Drip Irrigation Controller System with Wi-Fi Hub Automatic Manual Watering, Alexa APP Voice Control
Software system
RainPoint Tuya
Which irrigation computers can it be used with?
All orange RainPoint models
App runs on
Apple iOS devices, Google Android devices
Accessible via web browser?
Setup wizard for initial setup?start circuit?
Type of programming
On a zone basis (max. 3 zone programs)
Start times
1
Watering duration
1 minute to 12 hours
Types of irrigation
Normal irrigation, mist irrigation, both adjustable by time or water quantity
Definition of irrigation templates?
Local access without an internet connection?
Give access to other users?
Assigning different user authorizations?
Additional functions for contractors?
Warning notifications?
Irrigation calendar?
Reports on irrigation, water consumption, weather, ...?
Connection of a flow meter?
A water flow meter is permanently integrated into the computer of all devices except RainPoint TTV102B!
RAINPOINT 2 Zone WiFi Sprinkler Timer for Garden Hose - Smart WiFi Water Timer with Irrigation Display Gateway Hub - Wireless Smart Watering System with Dual Zone Garden Watering
Software system
HomGar
Which irrigation computers can it be used with?
All white RainPoint models
App runs on
Apple iOS devices, Google Android devices
Accessible via web browser?
Setup wizard for initial setup?start circuit?
Type of programming
On a zone basis (max. 6 zone programs)
Start times
1
Watering duration
1 minute to 12 hours
Types of irrigation
Normal irrigation, mist irrigation, both adjustable by time or water quantity
Definition of irrigation templates?
Local access without an internet connection?
Give access to other users?
Assigning different user authorizations?
Additional functions for contractors?
Warning notifications?
Irrigation calendar?
Reports on irrigation, water consumption, weather, ...?
Connection of a flow meter?
A water flow meter is permanently integrated into the computer of all devices except RainPoint TTV102B!

Continuation

RAINPOINT WiFi Hose Timer, Smart Water Timer for Garden, Drip Irrigation Controller System with Wi-Fi Hub Automatic Manual Watering, Alexa APP Voice Control
RAINPOINT 2 Zone WiFi Sprinkler Timer for Garden Hose - Smart WiFi Water Timer with Irrigation Display Gateway Hub - Wireless Smart Watering System with Dual Zone Garden Watering
Which irrigation computers can it be used with?
All orange RainPoint models
All white RainPoint models
Define irrigation triggers?
Rules can be defined regarding temperature, humidity, weather conditions, sunrise/sunset and wind speed that suspend irrigation runs
Using local weather data?
Weather station selectable?
Updating weather data
No information on how often and when these are updated.
Weather data is only displayed
Integration of your own weather station possible?
Seasonal adjustment definable per month?
Suspend watering x days?
Cycle and soak phases?
Lawn growth program?
Start watering run manually?
Define a sensor yourself?
Master valve usable?
Valve delays definable?
Voice control with
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Ongoing costs?
None (Optional SMS notifications available for an additional charge)
RAINPOINT WiFi Hose Timer, Smart Water Timer for Garden, Drip Irrigation Controller System with Wi-Fi Hub Automatic Manual Watering, Alexa APP Voice Control
Which irrigation computers can it be used with?
All orange RainPoint models
Define irrigation triggers?
Rules can be defined regarding temperature, humidity, weather conditions, sunrise/sunset and wind speed that suspend irrigation runs
Using local weather data?
Weather station selectable?
Updating weather data
No information on how often and when these are updated.
Integration of your own weather station possible?
Seasonal adjustment definable per month?
Suspend watering x days?
Cycle and soak phases?
Lawn growth program?
Start watering run manually?
Define a sensor yourself?
Master valve usable?
Valve delays definable?
Voice control with
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Ongoing costs?
None (Optional SMS notifications available for an additional charge)
RAINPOINT 2 Zone WiFi Sprinkler Timer for Garden Hose - Smart WiFi Water Timer with Irrigation Display Gateway Hub - Wireless Smart Watering System with Dual Zone Garden Watering
Which irrigation computers can it be used with?
All white RainPoint models
Define irrigation triggers?
Using local weather data?
Weather station selectable?
Updating weather data
Weather data is only displayed
Integration of your own weather station possible?
Seasonal adjustment definable per month?
Suspend watering x days?
Cycle and soak phases?
Lawn growth program?
Start watering run manually?
Define a sensor yourself?
Master valve usable?
Valve delays definable?
Voice control with
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Ongoing costs?

Price and Purchase Source

The two models presented cost between $80 and $100, including the gateway, although the white computer was on sale for even less at the time of writing. The largest selection of RainPoint irrigation computers can be found on Amazon. Although the manufacturer also has its own website and shop, the products themselves are not offered for sale there, but rather links to Amazon offers.

The RainPoint computers are also available on eBay and in several other online shops. The white models are also offered directly from China via Temu and cost about $10 less there. However, you have to be careful to get the right ones, as the correct thread types of the models vary depending on your region of residence. In the USA, you need one for the USA, in the EU, one for the EU, and so on. These are not compatible with each other! Furthermore, you have to accept a shipping time of several weeks.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The currently available RainPoint irrigation controllers no longer have much in common with the Chinese products that failed my tests a few years ago. Both RainPoint products I tested are decent irrigation controllers at a very attractive price.

The hardware appears solid at first glance, but its durability and susceptibility to defects can only be assessed after extended use. The reviews on Amazon seem to me to be of limited reliability in this regard, as RainPoint, as described above, deliberately encourages (good) reviews.

The wireless connection is also fine and probably sufficient for most applications. If you have a very large distance between the gateway and the irrigation controller, you could alternatively consider the newer green RainPoint series with an additional antenna. Or, if you require very high wireless quality, you could simply switch to a LinkTap computer.

A major drawback is the suboptimal design of the RainPoint computers in terms of pressure loss. Due to the narrow inlet, RainPoint computers lose significantly more pressure than competing products. This can be a problem if, for example, you need a specific pressure in an irrigation system and the upstream irrigation computer prevents this pressure from reaching the sprinklers.

With regard to software, you have to be extremely careful to choose the right product, as not all models work with every software. This could potentially prevent you from using weather-controlled irrigation. RainPoint’s model policy is generally difficult for outsiders to understand and complicated to grasp. In my opinion, it would be desirable if RainPoint would focus on a few products and develop them further.

The RainPoint Tuya software for the orange model series is, in my opinion, a complete failure. No other irrigation computer I know of has such a complicated user interface and illogical navigation. Therefore, I would not recommend purchasing an orange RainPoint computer!

The HomGar software of the white models is significantly better in comparison, but unfortunately, the weather control option is completely missing. Alternatively, you can also use the white model series with the third RainPoint app, RainPoint Home. This is essentially the same as the HomGar software, but with additional weather control.

The white model series is therefore my test winner among the two products tested. This is currently the most affordable smart irrigation computer on the market. If the low price is your priority and the main focus of the purchase is the ability to control the computer while on the go, for example, while on vacation, then you can’t go wrong with the white model series! The new green RainPoint model series is virtually identical to the orange and white models, only with brass threads instead of plastic. The approximately $30 to $40 surcharge is really only worthwhile if you need the improved wireless connection.

RainPoint currently can’t compete with the best irrigation computers on the market. Especially when it comes to software, the gap to leading systems such as LinkTap, OpenSprinkler, or Hunter Hydrawise is large. But even with the slightly more expensive Orbit B-hyve computers, the RainPoint software can’t keep up.

RainPoint lacks numerous important features, such as seasonal adjustment or secure options should a valve fail to close properly, and its programming is very limited compared to competitors. And a very important point: The weather control is very limited compared to competitor products because the parameters you can refer to aren’t the most useful, and there’s no information about how these parameters were determined or to which time period they refer. This makes a sensible, well-functioning weather control system almost impossible to implement.

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]]> Description of the functionality of the RainPoint Tuya app for RainPoint irrigation computers https://www.irrigation-guide.com/description-of-the-functionality-of-the-rainpoint-tuya-app-for-rainpoint-irrigation-computers.html Fri, 25 Jul 2025 13:49:16 +0000 https://www.irrigation-guide.com/?p=3336 In this post, I describe the functionality of the RainPoint Tuya app for RainPoint water timers with web connectivity. RainPoint currently offers three different apps for its water timers, although not all RainPoint timers work with every app. I describe the two other RainPoint apps, HomGar and RainPoint Home, in the following two blog [...]

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In this post, I describe the functionality of the RainPoint Tuya app for RainPoint water timers with web connectivity. RainPoint currently offers three different apps for its water timers, although not all RainPoint timers work with every app. I describe the two other RainPoint apps, HomGar and RainPoint Home, in the following two blog posts:

Blog post: How the HomGar app works
Blog post: How the RainPoint Home app works

All RainPoint TTV water timer models can be controlled with the RainPoint Tuya app. These are the orange models and the white TTV102B water timer. The app works the same for all of these models, although the TTV102B water timer does not include a water flow sensor and therefore does not have the associated functionality.

In this post, I describe the individual features in detail and conclude by discussing how the RainPoint app compares to the two other RainPoint apps and to competitor water timer apps.

Product overview of RainPoint models with the RainPoint Tuya app

Before, an overview of all RainPoint models that use the RainPoint Tuya software presented here. The screenshots shown were taken using a TTV203WRF with two outputs; however, the models with one output essentially have the same functionality, except that, logically, only one output can be programmed.

RAINPOINT WiFi Water Timer, Smart Hose Timer WiFi Irrigation Controller, Wireless Watering System Valve, APP & Voice Control, Weather-Based Automatic Rain Delay, Brass Inlet Brass Single Zone Timer
RAINPOINT WiFi Water Timer with Brass Inlet & Outlet，2 Zone WiFi Hose Timer for Lawn,WiFi Sprinkler Controller via APP/Voice Control,Automatic Watering System by Time/Weather/Quantity/Soil Moisture Yellow 2 Zone
RAINPOINT WiFi Water Timer, Brass Inlet Smart Hose Faucet Timer, Automatic Irrigation System Controller for Yard Watering, APP Control via 2.4Ghz WiFi and Bluetooth (V2, 2025 Release)
Computer
RainPoint TTV103WRF with 1 output
RainPoint TTV203WRF with 2 outputs
RainPoint TTV102B water meter with 1 output
Zones
1
2
1
Which App
RainPoint Tuya
RainPoint Tuya
RainPoint Tuya
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
4 AA batteries
3 AA batteries
Variants
Optionally available for an additional charge of approximately $15 to $25 with brass threads instead of plastic threads at the inlet or at the inlet and outlet.
Optionally available for an additional charge of approximately $15 to $25 with brass threads instead of plastic threads at the inlet or at the inlet and outlet.
Price
$63.49
$88.79
Price not available
RAINPOINT WiFi Water Timer, Smart Hose Timer WiFi Irrigation Controller, Wireless Watering System Valve, APP & Voice Control, Weather-Based Automatic Rain Delay, Brass Inlet Brass Single Zone Timer
Computer
RainPoint TTV103WRF with 1 output
Zones
1
Which App
RainPoint Tuya
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Optionally available for an additional charge of approximately $15 to $25 with brass threads instead of plastic threads at the inlet or at the inlet and outlet.
Price
$63.49
RAINPOINT WiFi Water Timer with Brass Inlet & Outlet，2 Zone WiFi Hose Timer for Lawn,WiFi Sprinkler Controller via APP/Voice Control,Automatic Watering System by Time/Weather/Quantity/Soil Moisture Yellow 2 Zone
Computer
RainPoint TTV203WRF with 2 outputs
Zones
2
Which App
RainPoint Tuya
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Yes (via wireless connection)
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
4 AA batteries
Variants
Optionally available for an additional charge of approximately $15 to $25 with brass threads instead of plastic threads at the inlet or at the inlet and outlet.
Price
$88.79
RAINPOINT WiFi Water Timer, Brass Inlet Smart Hose Faucet Timer, Automatic Irrigation System Controller for Yard Watering, APP Control via 2.4Ghz WiFi and Bluetooth (V2, 2025 Release)
Computer
RainPoint TTV102B water meter with 1 output
Zones
1
Which App
RainPoint Tuya
Integrated water flow meter?
Rain sensor connectable?
Soil moisture sensor connectable?
Manual watering at the touch of a button?
Batteries
3 AA batteries
Variants
Price
Price not available

Main Menu/Navigation

When you start the app, the following overview is displayed, from which you can navigate to the individual functions:

This view appears quite clear at first glance. It contains the following key areas:

  • Current Weather
  • Overview of the connected devices
  • Main Menu

In the following screenshot, I have visually highlighted the three areas:

The first area displays the weather for the selected location. The data displayed here is also used for control via weather data, and you can, of course, also use it manually as a basis for a manual irrigation pause. In addition to the displayed values, you can also display the wind speed by clicking on this area. However, only the current weather is displayed, not forecasts or historical values.

The second area shows which smart devices are currently stored in the software. In my case, this is the irrigation computer and the associated hub (gateway). The socket included in the hub is also displayed separately. If you were using the additional soil moisture sensor, it would also be displayed here.

The third section is the actual main menu with three menu items, which always automatically starts with “Home.”

Setting options for the irrigation computer

In the first part, I’ll show you the setting options available after clicking on the irrigation computer. You’ll be taken to a dedicated irrigation computer homepage, which in turn contains its own menu:

Here you can see an overview of the most recent and next scheduled watering cycles, as well as a separate menu with the following items:

  • Parameter (this is the irrigation computer start screen just shown)
  • Manual
  • Plan
  • Sensor
  • My

I’ll describe these items below.

The option to switch directly from degrees Celsius to Fahrenheit in the menu is rather unnecessary. However, this system runs through the entire app. Settings like these, which you either never or very rarely need, belong in the basic settings and not directly in the functions. This only makes the display confusing.

Manually start an irrigation run

This function is very simple: You set the duration in a circle (up to 60 minutes is possible), and clicking the play icon starts manual watering. Clicking it again allows you to stop it early. In my case, the water computer has two outputs, so the cycle can be started separately for Zone 1 and Zone 2.

Setting up an irrigation program

This is done in the Plan menu and at this point you will first see a program overview:

In this screenshot, no irrigation program has been created yet. To add one, click on Plan A, B, or C. The following options will open:

There are essentially four options here:

  • A regular irrigation schedule that waters at a specific start time on specific days for a specific duration.
  • The same, but without a specified duration. Instead, a specific number of gallons or liters is defined to be watered.
  • A cooling misting schedule for a specific duration on specific days (cooling misting = short spray irrigation intervals interspersed with breaks).
  • The same, but with a specific, specified amount of water.

The mist mode can be used for the typical cooling mist found in some coffee house gardens.

In addition to the start time, the three values of misting time, mist time, and interval must be defined. The misting time determines the length of time the cooling mist program should run; up to 12 hours is possible. The mist time determines how long the cooling mist should be generated continuously; up to 59 seconds is possible. And the interval defines how long to wait after a cooling mist is generated until the next cooling mist is generated. A maximum of 16 minutes is possible here.

A cycle and soak function, as known from other irrigation timers, which allows you to divide irrigation runs into multiple intervals to give the precipitation time to seep in, cannot be implemented with this option. The definable values are too narrow for this; an irrigation phase of a maximum of 59 seconds makes no sense for a typical application.

A plan overview with three created programs would then look like this, for example. The days on which the programs run are marked here with dots in the program color, the key data for the programs is listed and the green activated control indicates that the program is active.

Note: A limit of three programs is already very limited! Especially since these programs are relatively inflexible! Within a program, it’s not possible, for example, to set different start times or run times for different days of the week. Instead, you can only run the same program in the same way every day. And with only one start time per program! This is very limited compared to the competition and significantly limits your program design!

Rain Delay

In the schedule settings, you can also set a 24, 48, or 72-hour irrigation pause. This applies to all programs; it is not possible to set a separate time for each program.

Sensor

Under the “Sensor” menu item, you can activate an optionally available soil moisture sensor and view the soil moisture sensor’s measured values. Optionally, you can switch to water flow to see the amount of water applied.

With the sensor activated, you also have additional options in the automation area (“Scene”) described below.

My

The last menu item in the irrigation computer menu doesn’t offer much insight at first glance: “Instruction” redirects you to product information on the RainPoint website, and “Contact us” redirects you to contact information on the RainPoint website. Both, however, are sloppily redirected to the Chinese language version, so you first have to find the correct language switch to get anything done.

You can access the essential settings by clicking on the pencil symbol in the top right corner:

And in this way calls up the following irrigation computer settings:

The following functions can be found here:

Connect with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant

It’s also possible to control the watering computer via voice control using Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. However, don’t expect miracles, as this is limited to the most essential functions. The connection itself is established via the Alexa or Google Assistant app. Detailed instructions on how to do this can be found under “Device Info.”

Device Information

Here you will only find a virtual ID of the device, which may be helpful in case of complaints or troubleshooting.

Automation

This button leads to the same automation options available in the Scene menu. Since I’ll describe these in detail below, and the Scene menu will usually be the place from which you access them, I won’t go into them further here.

Group devices

This can be useful if you have multiple devices stored in the app so that you can operate them all in a single step. However, in my example, with only one watering computer, this isn’t possible.

Give other people access

To grant another person access to the irrigation computer, they must first be added as a home member. This is done via an invitation in the global settings, see below.

Only after the person has accepted this invitation, also registered with RainPoint Tuya, and is added as a member of the home can they be granted access to the irrigation computer. To do this, simply enter the person’s account name and the name as it should appear in the app:

Automatic notifications

Automatic notifications can be activated for four events:

  • Low battery level
  • Irrigation has stopped
  • Irrigation has started
  • Leakage alarm

Unfortunately, there is no further information on how it works, which would be particularly relevant for the leakage alarm, which is supposed to notify you if the water computer doesn’t close properly.

Oddly, the software displays six different notification events instead of just four. Some of them are again poorly translated. This unfortunately confirms the very sloppy overall impression of the app.

This activation/deactivation of notifications can be done independently for the app’s internal notification center, for push notifications on your mobile phone, and for SMS notifications. Unfortunately, SMS notifications are only available for an additional fee. Notification packages are offered within the app; for example, 200 SMS messages cost $12.99.

The real drawback: There is no notification option via email, which is usually standard in competitors’ apps!

Further automation of irrigation

“Further” because irrigation is already essentially automated with the system as an irrigation program. However, the “Scene” menu item also offers the option of making this automation dependent on additional conditions.

The automation menu appears to have been taken from the Tuya software, which is a very powerful, comprehensive automation software. This theoretically offers a multitude of possibilities, including in conjunction with other Thuya devices. However, this only works if these other devices are also stored in the app. Unfortunately, this multitude of theoretical possibilities makes the menu very confusing and unnecessarily complex for pure irrigation computer users who are not interested in comprehensive automation solutions.

In terms of irrigation computer control, the weather control option is almost exclusively of interest. To use this, click on the plus symbol in the menu and then select the sub-item “When the weather changes.” You will then be asked which type of weather change should be taken into account:

By selecting “Temperature,” you can define events based on the measured temperature (exceeding or falling below a certain temperature value). By selecting “Humidity,” you can define events based on the measured humidity (“Dry,” “Comfortable,” or “Humid”). By selecting “Weather,” you can define events based on the general weather situation (“Sunny,” “Cloudy,” “Rainy,” “Snowy,” or “Hazy”). By selecting “Wind Speed,” you can define events based on the measured wind speed (exceeding or falling below a certain value). By selecting “Sunset/Sunrise,” you can define events based on sunrise or sunset.

Once you have defined the condition—in this example, that the weather is rainy—you specify what should happen when the condition is met. To do this, click the plus symbol next to “Then”:

Now you can select the type of task you want to perform. For the average user, the “Control single device” option is particularly relevant, along with the “Send notification” option. The first option allows you to control the watering computer depending on the “If” condition; the second option allows you to receive a notification when the condition is met (either only in the app or via SMS, though SMS is only available for an additional fee). Below, I’ll show you the “Control single device” option:

Selecting the device is trivial here, as there are hardly any options available. Actually, only the water computer itself is available, and theoretically, after selecting “Wifi Socket,” you could also turn the socket on the hub on or off in this way.

In this example, I select the water computer and am then given the option to choose from four control options:

  • Left Valve – Turns the left output of the computer on or off.
  • Left Valve: Watering Delay – Activates a 24, 48, or 72-hour watering pause for the left output of the computer.
  • Right Valve – Turns the right output of the computer on or off.
  • Right Valve: Watering Delay – Activates a 24, 48, or 72-hour watering pause for the right output.

Under the “Precondition” heading, you could now define additional conditions that must be met for the task to be executed. For example, you could specify that a certain weather situation must coincide with a certain temperature for watering to be stopped or postponed.

You can also specify that the condition is only checked at specific times; by default, it is checked throughout the day.

A created scene would then look like this. In my example, one scene was defined for temperature (watering should not occur if the temperature is below 41 degrees Fahrenheit) and one for rain (watering should be paused for 24 hours during rainy weather).

Global Settings

The global settings can be found in the “Me” menu item on the home page:

Unfortunately, this is unnecessarily confusing, so it takes a while to get an overview of the possible settings. You can do the following essential things here:

Give another person access to your home control system

This is a prerequisite for this person to also have access to the irrigation computer (as described above). To do this, select “Home Management” and then “My Home.” Under the “Add Member” link, you can invite the desired person via email, WhatsApp, SMS, etc. They will then receive a message with a code that must be entered into the app.

Notification History

Under “Message Center” you can track the notifications you have already received.

The actual global settings are well hidden behind the gear icon in the top right:

After clicking on it, you will come to the following menu, which contains the actual setting options:

The most important functions are described below.

Personal Information, Account and Security

Here you can enter a profile picture and name, as well as change your email address and login password.

Changing the Language and Temperature Unit

RainPoint is inconsistent here. Some of the units used in the app can be changed directly on the display, as described above. However, this does not apply to the temperature unit and the language; these can be changed here in the basic settings if necessary.

Notification Settings

Here you’ll find the important setting for receiving alerts not only as push notifications on your phone, but also via SMS to a specified phone number. As already mentioned, this unfortunately requires the purchase of paid SMS packages; email notifications are not available.

Privacy Settings

Here, you can specify which phone functions the app should have access to (e.g., location, camera, microphone), and the extent to which the app can collect data and suggest personalized products.

Interfaces

As mentioned above, integration with the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice control systems is possible. Interaction with other products that use the Tuya standard is also possible, which could be particularly interesting if you want to integrate the irrigation computer into a more comprehensive smart home solution.

Conclusion and Recommendation

My impression of the RainPoint Tuya app is very mixed. The whole thing is theoretically quite powerful and might appeal to some smart home enthusiasts with a Tuya preference. However, if you’re simply looking for a standalone solution for a smart irrigation computer, you’ll have to unnecessarily struggle through the complexity of the software, which is also very illogical in places. Probably the most cluttered irrigation computer app I’ve tested so far; it takes some time to get used to it.

On the positive side, there’s the option for (limited) weather control. This distinguishes RainPoint Tuya from the second RainPoint app, HomGar, which doesn’t offer any weather control. Depending on the general weather conditions, temperature, humidity, and wind speed, you can pause or postpone irrigation. You can also receive notifications when a specific weather event occurs.

Unfortunately, the events are only so broadly defined that the weather control can only be influenced to a very limited extent. Instead of being able to adjust the irrigation program specifically based on a certain amount of rainfall in the past x hours or the next x hours, as with competing products, RainPoint Tuya can only refer to a general “rainy weather situation.” This is very poor and of limited use.

The lack of email alert notifications is also a major drawback. The same goes for the very limited options for setting up irrigation programs.

The RainPoint Tuya app is an alternative to RainPoint’s HomGar app if the (very limited) weather control or integration into the Tuya universe is very important to you. If you’re primarily looking for a simple remote control option for your irrigation computer so you can operate it while on vacation or on the go, then you’re better off choosing HomGar, which is a much more logical, clearer, and better-designed app. The third alternative from the RainPoint range also includes weather control (even slightly expanded), but is based on HomGar in terms of navigation, so RainPoint Home is currently the best of the RainPoint apps for me.

Compared to the apps of its best competitors, Hunter Hydrawise, LinkTap, and OpenSprinkler, all three RainPoint apps fall significantly short. These are simply much more sophisticated and offer much more functionality. So, if you value a truly sensible and well-functioning weather-dependent controller or things like automatic seasonal adjustment, proper monitoring of the computer for leaks, etc., then it’s better to research competitor products further! They cost more, but also offer significantly more!

Orbit B-hyve is also an alternative in the very affordable range. It’s only slightly more expensive than RainPoint, but has significantly more comprehensive and better software.

I don’t recommend the smart Gardena or Rain Bird computers as alternatives. These are significantly more expensive, but have very limited software that can’t keep up with the best products mentioned above. In that case, it’s better to go for the affordable RainPoint!

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]]> Gardena Smart Water Control web-controlled irrigation computer in practical testing https://www.irrigation-guide.com/gardena-smart-water-control-web-controlled-irrigation-computer-in-practical-testing.html Wed, 08 May 2024 14:25:10 +0000 https://www.irrigation-guide.com/?p=2817 The Smart Water Control is the current top model from the European irrigation company Gardena. In the following practical test I describe what functions it includes, how to install it, how well it all works in everyday life and how it compares to the competition. The Gardena Smart Water Control belongs to the category [...]

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The Smart Water Control is the current top model from the European irrigation company Gardena. In the following practical test I describe what functions it includes, how to install it, how well it all works in everyday life and how it compares to the competition.

The Gardena Smart Water Control belongs to the category of irrigation computers that have the solenoid valve built into the computer and through which the water flows directly. In contrast to the second type of irrigation computer, which does not come into contact with water and only sends switching pulses to the connected solenoid valves via a cable connection. The Gardena Smart Water Control is also one of those irrigation computers that allows the use of the automatic water distributor.

The Gardena Smart Water Control is available in different versions:

  • Just the watering computer
  • Set consisting of watering computer and necessary gateway (“Gardena Smart Water Control Set”)
  • Set consisting of watering computer, gateway and smart sensor
  • Set consisting of watering computer, gateway, smart sensor and smart robotic lawnmower (“Gardena Smart System Start Set”)

In any case, you also need the gateway for operation; this is the basis for being able to operate one of the Gardena Smart products. Only if you already have this at home, e.g. because you already own the Smart Sileno robotic lawnmower from Gardena, can you forgo the purchase and purchase the irrigation computer alone. At the time of my research, the Gardena Gateway is not available to purchase individually. If you need it, you have to buy it in one of the sets listed above. The set consisting of an irrigation computer and gateway costs around 240 USD; you can get the irrigation computer alone for around 130 USD. Multiple irrigation computers can be operated at the same time with one gateway.

Gardena Smart Water Control on Amazon:

Table could not be displayed.

The counterparts of the Gardena Smart Water Control in the field of web-controlled irrigation computers are the Eve Aqua, the LinkTap G2 and, above all, the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer, which I put to a practical test too. You can find a key data comparison of the web-controlled computers in the sprinkler timer comparison post.

Scope of delivery

I ordered the Water Control Set, consisting of an irrigation computer and gateway, for 220 USD:

Gardena Smart Water Control set

Below are the parts included in the set. Everything makes a valuable impression. At first glance, the irrigation computer appears robust and well made. The enclosed descriptions are very brief, as the installation is explained in the app to be downloaded.

Parts included

The scope of delivery includes:

  • The irrigation computer
  • The gateway
  • A power cable for the gateway
  • A network cable to connect the gateway to the LAN network
  • Reducer to 1/2 inch or 3/4 inch for connection to the tap
  • Information sheet on compatibility with the Apple Homekit
  • 2 instructions for installing the gateway and smart devices

Functions

Below is an overview of the functions included in the Smart Water Control:

Program watering plan

The app allows for very flexible irrigation planning: According to the Gardena homepage, 6 irrigation runs per day are possible with the Smart Water Control. This limit set in the software seems to have now been lifted; in the test I was also able to complete more than 6 runs in one day. I stopped my attempt on the 11th run. I then found further information on the web, according to which 36 runs per day are possible. Nevertheless, the limit of a maximum of 6 zones that can be controlled with the computer remains, as the automatic water distributor required for this only goes up to a maximum of 6 zones.

An irrigation plan is created by creating individual irrigation runs. Each watering run has a specific start time and a specific end time. In addition, it must be defined on which day of the week (Monday to Sunday) this should take place. Alternatively, you can run a run on several days a week.

Each additional desired irrigation run is stored in the same way. In this case, I leave a 5-minute break on Monday after the end of the first run because I use an automatic water distributor and it needs the break to continue switching.

Automatically created watering schedule

The app guides you through an automatically created watering schedule using an assistant in “Gardena Support Mode”. Questions about the garden and the plants it contains can be answered in 7 steps. Don’t be surprised if in the automatically created irrigation plan each sector always has two irrigation runs that start in quick succession: this corresponds to the current state of knowledge, which sees an advantage in slightly moistening the soil a few minutes before the actual irrigation. This is intended to ensure that it can absorb moisture better during the actual irrigation run. Gardena also sets the irrigation runs in the morning hours by default. The proposed schedule can then optionally be further refined manually.

Automatic adjustment to sunrise and sunset

This option is only available if the watering schedule was created in Gardena supported mode, not if it was freely set. If it is activated, Gardena automatically adjusts the start times of the irrigation runs to the changing sunrise times throughout the year, so that watering is always carried out with as little evaporation as possible. The duration of the runs remains the same.

Take rain forecast into account

Since the June 2020 update, the app includes local weather data. To do this, the location of the irrigation must be stored once in the app. This weather data can be used to skip an irrigation run if there is an 85% probability of heavy rain. In principle, this is a very useful function that was already known from LinkTap and other systems. Unfortunately, the implementation is currently much worse than with LinkTap: currently only the next 6 hours are taken into account for the function; rainfall that occurred before irrigation is not taken into account at all. And you can’t adjust the behavior and the parameters to be taken into account as needed. There is still a lot of room for improvement in future updates!

Take data from the Smart Sensor into account

This option is available if you have also integrated a Gardena Smart Sensor into the network. This is not included with the irrigation computer but can be purchased separately.

The Gardena Smart Sensor is first of all a classic soil moisture sensor that is inserted into the soil in a representative location for the garden and then periodically reports back how moist the soil is. Based on this information, Smart Water Control can cancel scheduled watering runs if the moisture level exceeds a certain percentage.

In addition to the soil moisture, the Smart Sensor also measures the temperature. The temperature measurement is currently only used for an automatic frost warning, apart from that it can only be displayed in the app for information purposes.

Activate hibernation function

This option pauses all programmed watering runs until further notice. However, they remain stored and can be reactivated again by ending hibernation.

Start and end the irrigation run manually on the computer

By pressing the push button on the computer twice, a watering run can be started immediately without using the app. Pressing it again will end it again. The watering duration of the run cannot be entered on the computer; instead, the length of the last manual watering run carried out is automatically used. If you want a different length, you have to change it via the app. This also works for an irrigation run that has already started. This function is possible regardless of a functioning connection to the gateway.

Pressing the push button twice starts an irrigation run

Miscellaneous

  • Battery life according to Gardena: 1 gardening season
  • 25 smart devices can be connected per gateway, meaning several irrigation computers can be operated per gateway
  • Up to 36 watering cycles per day possible (Note: There are different information from Gardena about this, see above in the article)
  • Maximum watering time: 600 minutes
  • Shortest possible watering time: 1 minute
  • Operating pressure: 7 to 174 psi (0.5 to 12 bar)
  • Two-year manufacturer’s warranty (excluding damage caused by improper use)
  • Integration into Apple Homekit and voice control via Siri possible
  • Voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assissant is also possible via the web service IFTTT.com (If this than that)

Alerts

The Gardena Smart System offers push notifications about device errors, warnings, information about updates and the connection status of the product. You can specify which alerts you would like to receive in the push notifications menu.

Smart Home Integrations

In addition to the Gardena Smart System, the Smart Water Control can also be integrated (at least rudimentarily) into other smart systems, although often only the absolute basic functions can be used:

Installation

The entire installation of the gateway and watering computer took me about half an hour. The individual steps are quick to complete, but the installation is also used to update the device to the latest software version and this software update can take a few minutes.

It is very convenient that the gateway can be installed using both LAN and WiFi. You can either simply connect the gateway to an existing modem, router or repeater, or you can let it establish a wireless connection to the WiFi instead. The same applies to ongoing operation: The gateway can be connected directly to the LAN or integrated via WiFi.

The installation steps are explained in the two enclosed brochures. But the easiest way to install the device is to download the Gardena smart app right at the start and then follow the steps shown in the app. Just install the app via Google Play (Android phones) or the App Store (Apple phones). Simply search for “Gardena smart” there.

If you don’t have a cell phone available or would prefer to install and/or operate the device via your PC, you can do so using your computer’s web browser at https://smart.gardena.com.

The app guides you through the installation step by step:

  • Create an online account on the Gardena Smart Platform
  • Switch on the gateway
  • Go to the Wi-Fi settings on your phone and select Gardena there
  • Connect to the gateway and save your home Wi-Fi and access password
  • Select the watering computer from a list of Gardena products and insert the batteries
  • The computer is recognized and the software is automatically updated

Ready to go, now the computer only needs to be mounted on the tap or after a pump.

Please note:

  • During registration, you may not need to re-register if you have already used other Gardena services that require a login, such as the Gardena myGarden irrigation planner. The same login is always used here.
  • The LEDs on the gateway and irrigation computer show you whether the Internet connection has been established correctly.
  • Gardena supplies a 1/2 inch tap connection for the output of the irrigation computer. This should ideally be replaced with a 3/4 inch tap connection, otherwise you will create an artificial bottleneck.

Be sure to replace 1/2 inch with a 3/4 inch tap connection

In addition to the irrigation computer, there are a number of other Gardena products that can be controlled via the gateway:

  • Smart Sensor
  • Sileno lawn mower
  • Water pump
  • Socket
  • Gardena Smart Irrigation Control irrigation computer (sister product to Smart Water Control for controlling external solenoid valves)

How well does the device work in everyday life and how does it compare to the LinkTap G2 and the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer?

The installation was easy for me. After downloading the app, everything is explained step by step and everything worked as stated. At around half an hour, the installation takes a little longer than when I tested the competitors LinkTap and Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer, but Gardena also updates the device to the latest software during the installation. So most of the half hour is just waiting time, during which you can do other things; the tasks you have to do yourself take maybe 5 to 10 minutes. Screwing the computer onto the tap takes 2 minutes.

I find the option of starting a watering cycle directly on the watering computer very convenient compared to the competition. If you don’t have your cell phone with you, you don’t have to turn around, you can just start a simple cycle. It would be even better if you could also set the running time directly on the computer (the device always uses the last running time used, a change can only be made via the app).

The computer software is good and user-friendly, you can quickly find your way around. It is also nice that you are always kept up to date on the status of the network connection and the battery.

The connection between the watering computer and the gateway worked perfectly in my test. The gateway is on the first floor, the watering computer hangs on the outside water tap in front of the house, about 20 to 23 feet (6 to 7 meters) away as the crow flies. According to Gardena, much greater distances are also possible, up to 330 feet (100 meters) in good conditions. For a while, Gardena offered additional antennas that could be used to increase the range of the gateway. These are no longer available because, according to the information on the Gardena homepage, they did not result in a substantial increase in range and thus brought little improvement.

You don’t have to be within range of the gateway to operate the irrigation computer, but you can do it from virtually anywhere in the world using your cell phone. In theory, you can start the irrigation run from work or when you’re on vacation. Or, as a more realistic scenario: you can decide directly from your vacation whether to carry out irrigation or to skip it if it has rained enough in the previous days.

Compared to the LinkTap G2 and also the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering tTmer, you are informed of far fewer events via push notification on your cell phone or email. With the competitors, you can choose from a variety of events that you would like to be informed about or not, with the Smart Water Control you are currently only informed about the most essential things such as defects. Gardena still has room for improvement here! At least a notification about the start of irrigation runs programmed in the irrigation plan or a warning about frost would be a very practical thing, because then you can be sure that everything is working correctly.

The Gardena computer has significantly fewer watering modes compared to the LinkTap G2: one compared to six. However, with the one mode you can basically set everything you need or that can occur in practice, so in my view this is not really a disadvantage.

I do find it a little disappointing that there is no separate mode for the in-house automatic water distributor. You can of course program this – as with other providers – by correctly arranging the start times and leaving the necessary pause in between, but this could be offered in a more convenient way, especially because both come from the same company. Such a mode was already available in previous Gardena watering computers.

It is pleasing that local weather data is now finally available for watering at Gardena. Only the implementation of the function is still rather disappointing in the first step, there is still a lot of potential for improvement. The main problem is that only future rainfall is taken into account. But if, for example, it has already rained properly on the day of watering, then watering will still take place. This definitely needs to be expanded. And the gallon or liter values ​​at which watering is no longer necessary and the period to be considered must be able to be set by the user as required, as is usual with LinkTap. In this respect, LinkTap is still the clear winner, even if Gardena has now managed to catch up a bit. And Orbit B-hyve also offers extensive weather control options and even the possibility to connect your own weather station.

The possibility of control with the Smart Sensor is basically a big plus point. Control via soil moisture is a very intelligent thing and works well. But here too, Gardena can still do much better in terms of the app and also make good use of the other functions of the Smart Sensor (measuring temperature, the measuring of light intensity has been discontinued in the new model).

I personally am not very enthusiastic about the sunrise function, the benefit is too small for me. Nice gimmick, but in my opinion not really necessary.

The winter break, on the other hand, is very useful so that you can interrupt the program without any problems without having to delete it.

What I also noticed in principle is the fact that Gardena sets very strict limits for users in some areas where it actually does not seem necessary in terms of software. Be it manual watering, which can last a maximum of 60 minutes, or the watering plan created with Gardena’s help, where you can exclude a maximum of one day from watering. I find it difficult to understand the reasons for this. Although this is not a major problem, it may offend one or two users with their individual usage scenarios. LinkTap and to a some extent Orbit us an opposite strategy here and allow the software to do what the technology allows. I think this is the better strategy.

A big plus point compared to the LinkTap G2 and to the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering timer is the much larger possible water flow of the Gardena computer. In my test with the LinkTap, the limit was around 350 gallons/hour (1.300 liters/hour) and a zone that requires a lot of water could no longer be watered correctly. With the Gardena computer, the same zone works without any problems. Gardena uses the same inlet and outlet sizes here as with the previous models.

3/4 inch inlet of the Gardena Smart Water Control

Conclusion and recommendation

So what is my conclusion about the Gardena Smart Water Control? First of all, I have to say that a lot has improved since the product was introduced in 2016. In my opinion, the product didn’t initially deserve the “Smart” designation, as the functions that could be carried out via the web were too few, so that the computer was more or less a classic watering computer that could be operated via a mobile phone.

Since then, software updates have been released every few months and new functions have been added one after the other. The app downloads these updates automatically, so that you as a user benefit from every new feature.

The Gardena Smart Water Control now has a range of functions that justifies the high price. In my test, the whole thing worked as user-friendly as you would imagine.

But there is still a lot of room for improvement. Some functions that are already offered for computers from other manufacturers are still missing or are not yet available in the desired quality. The fact that there are almost no push notifications is also a deficit that should actually be quite easy to fix.

Nevertheless, in my opinion, the Gardena Smart Water Control is a recommended purchase in the area of ​​web-enabled irrigation computers! This is because the hardware works well: Gardena has years of experience in this area and builds computers that correctly take into account the important basics such as the necessary flow rate. The fact that you can still operate the device directly (start and stop) is also something that makes sense in my opinion. This way, you are not completely at the mercy of the web and can also intervene manually if necessary. The closest competitor, the LinkTap G2, is on par with Gardena in terms of software and in some areas even a bit more ambitious, but has a significant hardware deficit in the important area of ​​flow rate. Another strong competitor is the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer, which cannot keep up in terms of hardware either, but is superior in terms of software and is also much cheaper than the Smart Water Control.

Der Beitrag Gardena Smart Water Control web-controlled irrigation computer in practical testing erschien zuerst auf Irrigation Blog for Do-it-yourselfer.

]]> Cheapest WiFi irrigation computer on the market in the test: Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer https://www.irrigation-guide.com/cheapest-wifi-irrigation-computer-on-the-market-in-the-test-orbit-b-hyve-smart-hose-watering-timer.html Tue, 23 Apr 2024 14:58:48 +0000 https://www.irrigation-guide.com/?p=2778 In terms of price, the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer is a challenge to the smart competing products from Gardena, LinkTap, Eve Aqua and others. But can it keep up with these providers in terms of quality and software? I looked at the irrigation computer and compared it with the competitors. Who is [...]

Der Beitrag Cheapest WiFi irrigation computer on the market in the test: Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer erschien zuerst auf Irrigation Blog for Do-it-yourselfer.

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In terms of price, the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer is a challenge to the smart competing products from Gardena, LinkTap, Eve Aqua and others. But can it keep up with these providers in terms of quality and software? I looked at the irrigation computer and compared it with the competitors.

Who is Orbit?

Orbit is a US manufacturer of irrigation products that, alongside the big three Hunter, Rain Bird and Toro, has now achieved a fairly significant position in the end-user market. Not only with irrigation computers, but also with numerous other irrigation products such as spray nozzles, pipes, connectors, sensors, solenoid valves and other valves, water distributors, etc. Outside the USA, Orbit’s level of awareness is currently significantly lower; the Orbit irrigation computers are currently primarily offered here.

In terms of price, Orbit is positioned below Hunter, Rain Bird and Toro. In 2021, Orbit was taken over by Husqvarna, the parent company of European competitor Gardena.

Model comparison Orbit B-hyve and Orbit B-hyve XD

In the segment of smart irrigation computers that can be attached directly to a tap, Orbit currently offers two models:

  • the very affordable Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer presented here
  • and the Orbit B-hyve XD Smart Hose Timer, which is available in several versions with up to 4 water outlets

Below is a brief comparison of the two models:

Orbit 21005 B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer Gen 1 Bluetooth 1-Pack
Orbit 24634 B-hyve XD 4-Port Smart Hose Watering Timer 4-Port Bluetooth
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Timer
Orbit B-hyve XD Smart Hose Timer
Zones
1
1 to 4 outputs depending on the model
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
3 programs with 4 start times each
4 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$59.99
$69.44
Orbit 21005 B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer Gen 1 Bluetooth 1-Pack
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Timer
Zones
1
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
3 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$59.99
Orbit 24634 B-hyve XD 4-Port Smart Hose Watering Timer 4-Port Bluetooth
Computer
Orbit B-hyve XD Smart Hose Timer
Zones
1 to 4 outputs depending on the model
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
4 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$69.44

For both models you need an additional WiFi hub to connect them to the WiFi. According to Orbit, the hub should be placed within 50 feet (15 meters) of the wireless router and the irrigation computer should be placed within 150 feet (45 meters) of the hub. The hub is simply plugged into a socket and the hub and irrigation computer communicate with each other via Bluetooth.

For the B-hyve XD you need the newer 2nd generation WiFi hub. According to the manufacturer, this should be a little more powerful than the first generation, which is used in conjunction with the B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer presented here. If you operate several irrigation computers, a common hub is sufficient. According to Orbit, the 2nd generation hubs are also able to communicate with B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timers, but the 1st generation hubs are not able to communicate with the XD Timers.

The big difference between the two computers lies in the water flow meter, which is integrated into the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer presented here. This automatically measures how much water is used and you can therefore easily track water consumption in the app. A very practical thing that you won’t find anywhere else in this price range. The XD does not include such a water meter.

In terms of price, the Smart Hose Watering Timer and the XD in the simplest version are about the same at around 80 to 90 USD for the computer including the hub. Attention: Packages of computer and hub as well as the computer alone are offered on the web. So pay close attention to what you put in your shopping cart!

The Smart Hose Watering Timer is only available in a single version, namely with one water outlet. The XD, on the other hand, is available in 3 different versions with one, two or four water outlets. There is also a small difference in the number of programs: With the XD, for reasons I don’t understand, one more is possible. But that shouldn’t really matter for the majority of users; you can usually get by with 3 programs without any problems.

Scope of delivery

I purchased the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer in a shared bundle with the associated WiFi Hub:

Apart from the watering computer and the hub itself, the only other things in the package were a power plug, an information sheet and a small quick guide:

Simply plug the hub into the USB input of the included power plug:

No batteries are included. The battery compartment is located at the front of the computer, two AA batteries must be inserted. Attention: I had problems during the test because one of the batteries accidentally didn’t click into the device properly. The computer had power and everything seemed to be working correctly, but I was unable to establish a connection between the hub and the irrigation computer. The power of one battery alone is apparently not enough. Only after I discovered the error and pushed the battery all the way into the battery compartment did it work!

Hardware

At first glance, the computer appears to be of good quality. I had previously had similar experiences in the test with the sister product, the Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor. The battery compartment can be removed without tools and with little effort, but is still anchored very securely.
No settings can be made on the computer itself, so operation and programming is carried out exclusively via cell phone, tablet or desktop computer. A manual watering run can be started by pressing the power button for 3 seconds. By default this lasts 10 minutes, the length can be changed online in the program. By pressing the power button, watering that is already running can be stopped manually at any time.
The LED diode on the computer also gives you information about the status of the computer: A red flashing diode means that the batteries are weak and need to be changed, a yellow flashing diode indicates that the next watering run has been missed due to rain (rain delay). If the diode flashes white, the software on the computer is currently being updated.
The B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer works with water pressure between 10 and 100 psi (0.7 and 7 bar). With the smart computers tested so far, the water supply was often a point of criticism. Only Gardena makes this large in its Gardena Smart Water Control so that there is as little pressure loss as possible. In this regard, the B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer cannot stand out positively, the inlet is also quite narrow, see picture with the dirt filter removed:

If you have enough water pressure available at the tap or the irrigation system is designed with a buffer, then this will not play a major role in practice. However, if the water pressure is already limited, then this is a disadvantage.

At the water outlet, Orbit – like all other manufacturers – supplies the computer with a 1/2 inch tap connection. In practice, this is an unnecessary brake that costs a lot of water pressure and should definitely be replaced with a 3/4 inch tap piece. You can get one of these for $2 to $3 on Amazon or at a hardware store.

A water flow meter is integrated into the B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer, which is why it has a somewhat strange shape at first glance. There is a wheel built into the computer. Based on the rotations of this wheel, the computer calculates the amount of water that has passed through the device. When setting up the device for the first time, you will be asked to calibrate the sensor. At first glance, this seems illogical and raises the question of whether the amount of water is not measured live but is extrapolated based on the calibration result. According to my test, this is not the case, the amount of water is determined live during operation, regardless of the calibration result, even if no calibration is carried out! Why is calibration needed then? As it appears, this only serves to display an extrapolation of the expected water consumption when manual irrigation starts.

Water consumption can be viewed via software and compared on a daily, monthly or annual basis. Hardly any other manufacturer offers an integrated water flow meter; I can only think of the LinkTap G2, which you can purchase including a flow meter for a small additional charge.

The computer does not have a sensor output, so no rain or soil moisture sensor can be connected.

Putting into operation

To get the computer ready to go, it must first be equipped with 2 AA batteries. These are not included in the scope of delivery.

And the WiFi hub must be plugged into a socket not too far away from the WiFi router.

You can save yourself the time of looking at the operating instructions; instead, in the next step you simply download the app, which explains everything else step by step. Depending on the device, you can download the app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store. If you already have a B-hyve account, you can log in to it, otherwise you will need to register for free on the B-hyve platform.

At the end of the registration you will be asked whether you want to set up a new device or to control a device that has already been set up. The first is the case when you set up a newly purchased device, the second is an option that gives you access to a device that has already been set up, for example if a family member has already set it up and now another family member should also get access to it. Or if you want to give your neighbor access to the system while on vacation.

The device to be installed must now be selected from a list of all smart B-hyve devices. If, as in my case, you want to install the irrigation computer together with the hub, then you have to select the entry from the list that shows both the computer and the hub.

The hub will then automatically be installed first, followed by the computer. This is done in a very simple and convenient way for the user, as the system automatically detects the plugged-in hub and the switched-on watering computer in the vicinity of the cell phone in just a few steps. Finally, you just need to enter your WiFi access data and you’re ready to go.

If you want to use weather-dependent smart irrigation, it is also necessary to tell the computer the location of your own garden.

Programming the irrigation computer

If you want, you can have a setup assistant help you set up the program, or you can set up the individual settings yourself using the menu.

Link tip: I explain in great detail what setting options there are and what they do in the blog post about the Orbit B-hyve system.

In the Orbit B-hyve system, the user has two different options for programming the irrigation computer:

  • You create programs yourself
  • The irrigation is carried out fully automatically using the autopilot of the B-hyve system, taking into account local weather data and data about the garden and the plants to be watered (“Smart Watering”)

In the first mode you can set up the irrigation precisely according to your own ideas, but you have no or very limited options to automatically include weather data in the irrigation. In the second mode, the system basically freely determines the irrigation and determines how often, on which days and at what times it is watered and when irrigation runs are skipped. However, as a user you have the option to limit these freedoms and, for example, exclude certain days and times from watering.

I explain in detail how the setup of both modes works and what setting options are available in the B-hyve system in the previously linked article.

The key data on the B-hyve software are summarized below:

Key data on the B-hyve software

Orbit 21004 B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer with Wi-Fi Hub Gen1 Smart 1-Pack
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor
Software system
B-hyve
App runs on
Apple iOS devices, Google Android devices
Accessible via web browser?
Setup wizard for initial setup?start circuit?
Type of programming
On a program basis
Programs
4 (only the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Timer has only 3)
Start times
4
Watering duration
1 to 240 minutes
Types of irrigation
Time-dependent watering plan or Smart Watering Autopilot (system decides independently when, how often and how much to water)
Definition of irrigation templates?
Local access without an internet connection?
Give access to other users?
Assigning different user authorizations?
Yes - access only to basic functions or to advanced functions
Additional functions for contractors?
Warning notifications?
Irrigation calendar?
Reports on irrigation, water consumption, weather, ...?
Connection of a flow meter?
Orbit 21004 B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer with Wi-Fi Hub Gen1 Smart 1-Pack
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor
Software system
B-hyve
App runs on
Apple iOS devices, Google Android devices
Accessible via web browser?
Setup wizard for initial setup?start circuit?
Type of programming
On a program basis
Programs
4 (only the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Timer has only 3)
Start times
4
Watering duration
1 to 240 minutes
Types of irrigation
Time-dependent watering plan or Smart Watering Autopilot (system decides independently when, how often and how much to water)
Definition of irrigation templates?
Local access without an internet connection?
Give access to other users?
Assigning different user authorizations?
Yes - access only to basic functions or to advanced functions
Additional functions for contractors?
Warning notifications?
Irrigation calendar?
Reports on irrigation, water consumption, weather, ...?
Connection of a flow meter?

Continuation

Orbit 21004 B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer with Wi-Fi Hub Gen1 Smart 1-Pack
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor
Define irrigation triggers?
In Smart Watering mode, triggers for suspending irrigation can be actively influenced; self-created programs cannot be influenced
Using local weather data?
Weather station selectable?
Updating weather data
No information, probably once a day
Integration of your own weather station possible?
Available at no extra charge via integration on the PWSWeather.com website
Seasonal adjustment definable per month?
Suspend watering x days?
Cycle and soak phases?
System decides automatically in Smart Watering mode, no manual setting possible
Lawn growth program?
Start watering run manually?
Define a sensor yourself?
Valve delays definable?
Voice control with
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Ongoing costs?
None
Orbit 21004 B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer with Wi-Fi Hub Gen1 Smart 1-Pack
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor
Define irrigation triggers?
In Smart Watering mode, triggers for suspending irrigation can be actively influenced; self-created programs cannot be influenced
Using local weather data?
Weather station selectable?
Updating weather data
No information, probably once a day
Integration of your own weather station possible?
Available at no extra charge via integration on the PWSWeather.com website
Seasonal adjustment definable per month?
Suspend watering x days?
Cycle and soak phases?
System decides automatically in Smart Watering mode, no manual setting possible
Lawn growth program?
Start watering run manually?
Define a sensor yourself?
Valve delays definable?
Voice control with
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Ongoing costs?
None

Below is further information on some of the points mentioned:

Access options

In addition to access via the app on the cell phone, the software can also be accessed via a desktop computer in the web browser at my.orbitbhyve.com.

Programs/start times/watering duration

With the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer, up to 3 programs with a maximum of 4 start times and a maximum running time of 240 minutes each are possible. This is one program less than the other Orbit B-hyve computers. The reason for this restriction is unclear, but it won’t matter for 99.9% of users, as you can usually get by with the 3 programs without any problems.

With the 3 programs, each with one zone that can be watered per program, it is fundamentally not possible to use them in combination with an automatic water distributor, because this would require the ability to define 6 independent irrigation runs one after the other. With restrictions, you can still use such a water distributor by programming the missing irrigation runs with additional start times, for example:

  • Program 1, 1st start time 2 p.m., running time 50 minutes
  • Program 1, 2nd start time 2:55 p.m., running time 50 minutes
  • Program 1, 3rd start time 3:50 p.m., running time 50 minutes
  • Program 2, 1st start time 4:45 p.m., running time 20 minutes
  • Program 2, 2nd start time, 5:10 p.m., running time 20 minutes
  • Program 3, 1st start time, 5:35 p.m., running time 10 minutes

In this case there would always be a 5 minute break after the end of one irrigation run until the start of the next one. Restriction: Only one watering duration can be set within a program, so a maximum of 3 different durations are possible. A different duration for each of the six irrigation runs cannot be defined.

Local access to irrigation computers

Direct access to the irrigation computer is also possible via Bluetooth without an existing WiFi connection. To do this you have to be in close proximity to the computer.

Granting access to other users

By generating a code in the program, you can give other users access to the irrigation computer. Be it family members or people who should have temporary access to the computer because of vacation, for example.

Alert notifications

Four different alert notifications can be set up:

  • Rain delay
  • Completed irrigation
  • Device error
  • Device switched off

Flow meter

No alert notification can be set up for the flow meter. You cannot therefore use this to secure irrigation in order to be aware if a valve does not open or close properly.

Use of weather data

The system automatically selects a weather station near the entered address. This can be replaced with another weather station. By default, public weather stations are available to choose from; optionally, you can also display or select private weather stations from the website PSWWeather.com. In this way it is also possible to use your own weather station in B-hyve by creating the weather station on PWSWeather.com and then selecting it in B-hyve. There are no additional costs for this.

Define seasonal adjustment (per month)

In Smart Watering mode, the system decides independently whether to increase or reduce the irrigation runtime depending on the season. If you use a manual program, there is no way to specify in advance that it should run shorter in April than in July, for example; you can only specify a percentage adjustment that takes effect immediately. So, for example, from now on only allow 80% of the defined running time to be watered.

Suspend watering x days

Skipping watering can be delayed for a period of 12 hours to 32 days.

Cycle and soak phases

If you choose the intelligent Smart Watering mode, the system automatically divides the irrigation runs into irrigation and soak phases if it makes sense. This is usually the case if the soil is clay soil that is impermeable to water, or if you have a steep slope in the garden. The system gives the soil time to absorb the water properly. If you set programs yourself, no cycle and soak phase function is offered.

Conclusion and recommendation

The Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer makes a decent impression in terms of manufacturing quality and ran almost problem-free in my test: During the test period it happened twice that it did not respond to the command I sent via Wi-Fi, but it worked when I switched to Bluetooth then and a short time later it worked again via WiFi. However, this doesn’t necessarily have to do with the device, but could also have been due to temporary problems with my WiFi connection.

The big opponents are the Gardena Smart Water Control and the LinkTap G2. The Eve Aqua is also in principle an opponent, but in a very limited form, as it has significantly less functionality and no intelligent control options and only works with Apple devices. The big international players Hunter and Rain Bird do not offer smart tap irrigation computers, but only irrigation computers for external solenoid valve switching.

The whole big plus point of the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer is the price! The computer and hub cost around 85 USD and even has an integrated water flow meter for this price. The LinkTap G2 costs around 160 USD, also including a water flow meter, and the Gardena Smart Water Control costs an impressive 220 to 230 USD, each including the necessary hub/gateway. The B-hyve price is currently unbeatable on the market and offers consumers the opportunity to purchase a smart irrigation computer for reasonable money.

Do you pay for that with worse software? No! Especially compared to the Gardena Smart System, the B-hyve software is the much more ambitious software and it feels like a lot more developer hours have gone into it. Gardena has recently done its homework here and finally integrated the use of weather data into the software. But this was done in a very tentative way, which works but still leaves a lot of room for improvement.

The B-hyve software is a big step further: On the one hand, you can simply use it to remote control your computer from anywhere in the world and store traditional programs via a mobile phone app or in the browser or, alternatively, have the irrigation controlled fully automatically by artificial intelligence (Smart Watering Mode).

The way B-hyve works is that you first describe the garden and the conditions prevailing there as precisely as possible using predefined questions. And then use the system in combination with the weather data obtained from a local weather station, such as rainfall that has already occurred and is still forecast, temperature, humidity and wind speed to determine the irrigation days, times and duration. This doesn’t work optimally in my test at the beginning, but B-hyve allows you to make numerous adjustments to the automatic system so that you can get closer and closer to the desired result.

What you cannot do, or only to a very limited extent, is to use the weather data to adapt manually set programs. So you can’t, for example, schedule a watering run every day and then skip it if it has previously rained a certain amount or if there is a certain probability of a certain amount of rain being forecast for the irrigation day.

If you prefer this approach of specifying the programs yourself and then defining additional weather rules for them, rather than describing the conditions on site and having an autopilot derive the correct program from it using weather data, then the LinkTap G2 may be the better alternative. This offers very useful options in this direction and, in my opinion, is on par with the B-hyve system in terms of software. The LinkTap G2 does even better when it comes to the ability to use automatic notifications: more notification types are offered and you can use the integrated water flow meter in combination with an automatic notification to be notified immediately when water consumption shouldn’t fit. For example, because the irrigation is not running or the valve has not closed properly after the irrigation has ended.

Der Beitrag Cheapest WiFi irrigation computer on the market in the test: Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer erschien zuerst auf Irrigation Blog for Do-it-yourselfer.

]]> Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor irrigation controller in the test https://www.irrigation-guide.com/orbit-b-hyve-smart-outdoor-irrigation-controller-in-the-test.html Wed, 27 Mar 2024 15:52:50 +0000 https://www.irrigation-guide.com/?p=2727 The web-enabled Orbit irrigation computers are a comparatively inexpensive alternative to the irrigation computers from established providers such as Hunter, Rain Bird or Racchio. In this article I put the Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor to a practical test and took a closer look at its performance data and the Orbit B-hyve software. I also [...]

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The web-enabled Orbit irrigation computers are a comparatively inexpensive alternative to the irrigation computers from established providers such as Hunter, Rain Bird or Racchio. In this article I put the Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor to a practical test and took a closer look at its performance data and the Orbit B-hyve software. I also compare the Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor with the two previously tested competitors Hunter Pro HC and Rain Bird ESP-TM2.

Orbit is a US provider of irrigation products that is particularly popular with its irrigation computers. Orbit has a number of computers in its range of both web-enabled and classic irrigation computers without a web connection. The web-enabled computers all use the same B-hyve software.

As with all other alternatives, you need a WiFi connection to use the computer. With the Orbit smart hose timers, an additional WiFi hub is required to connect the devices to the WiFi. It is possible to connect several computers to one hub. The other smart Orbit computers, including the one described here, have WiFi functionality integrated as standard.

In addition to access via WiFi, the computer can also be accessed via Bluetooth. It is controlled via the B-hyve app, which can be downloaded free of charge for Android and Apple iOS devices via Google Play or the Apple App Store. Alternatively, access from the desktop computer via the web browser at my.orbitbhyve.com is also possible.

Orbit smart irrigation computers – Range of products offered

Below is a brief overview of the web-enabled Orbit irrigation computers currently available on the market:

Orbit 21005 B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer Gen 1 Bluetooth 1-Pack
Orbit 24634 B-hyve XD 4-Port Smart Hose Watering Timer 4-Port Bluetooth
Orbit 57915 B-hyve 4-Zone Indoor Smart Sprinkler Controller 4-Zone Controller
Orbit 57946 B-hyve 6-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller 6-Zone Sprinkler Controller
Orbit 57985 B-hyve XR 8-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Timer
Orbit B-hyve XD Smart Hose Timer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Indoor Irrigation Controller
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor Irrigation Controller
Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Sprinkler Timer
Zones
1
1 to 4 outputs depending on the model
4 or 8
6 or 12
8 or 16
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
Indoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
3 programs with 4 start times each
4 programs with 4 start times each
4 programs with 4 start times each
4 programs with 4 start times each
4 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$59.99
$69.44
$61.44
$90.99
$113.99
Orbit 21005 B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer Gen 1 Bluetooth 1-Pack
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Timer
Zones
1
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
3 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$59.99
Orbit 24634 B-hyve XD 4-Port Smart Hose Watering Timer 4-Port Bluetooth
Computer
Orbit B-hyve XD Smart Hose Timer
Zones
1 to 4 outputs depending on the model
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
4 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$69.44
Orbit 57915 B-hyve 4-Zone Indoor Smart Sprinkler Controller 4-Zone Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Indoor Irrigation Controller
Zones
4 or 8
Indoor/Outdoor
Indoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
4 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$61.44
Orbit 57946 B-hyve 6-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller 6-Zone Sprinkler Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor Irrigation Controller
Zones
6 or 12
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
4 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$90.99
Orbit 57985 B-hyve XR 8-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Sprinkler Timer
Zones
8 or 16
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
4 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$113.99

The first two models are irrigation computers that can be connected directly to the tap and through which the water runs. The last three, including the B-hyve Smart Outdoor presented here, are irrigation computers for switching external solenoid valves. In contrast to the cheaper B-hyve Smart Indoor, the outdoor version is weatherproof, so it can also be installed outdoors. The more expensive XR model also supports the modern Dual WiFi radio standard.

For the two hose timer computers you need an additional WiFi hub in order to be able to connect them to the WiFi; this is not necessary for the three other models.

Package contents

In addition to the computer, the box contains a thin operating manual, an information sheet and a small bag with a screwdriver, two keys with which the computer can be locked if necessary, as well as screws and dowels for assembly.

Unlike the Rain Bird and Hunter computers tested, the power cable is included with the Orbit and is already permanently connected.

Package contents B-hyve Smart Outdoor

Back of computer with mounting holes

Side view with outlets for cable entries

With the lid open

After opening the inner lid you gain access to the connection options

The connections in detail (this model has 6 zone connections)

Open battery compartment with 3V battery included

Hardware

Following is an analysis of the structural features of the Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor:

Orbit 57946 B-hyve 6-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller 6-Zone Sprinkler Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor
Zones
6 or 12
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Sensor connection
1 (for normally closed sensor)
Connection for master valve/pump start circuit?
Can it be controlled directly via the computer?
Yes (program creation and basic functions, but no Smart Watering settings)
Lockable?
Additional WiFi module required?
Additional gateway necessary?
Price
$90.99
Orbit 57946 B-hyve 6-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller 6-Zone Sprinkler Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor
Zones
6 or 12
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Sensor connection
1 (for normally closed sensor)
Connection for master valve/pump start circuit?
Can it be controlled directly via the computer?
Yes (program creation and basic functions, but no Smart Watering settings)
Lockable?
Additional WiFi module required?
Additional gateway necessary?
Price
$90.99

Housing

The B-hyve Smart Outdoor has relatively compact dimensions at 8.7 inches wide, 6.3 inches high and 3.3 inches deep (22 x 16 x 8 cm). The housing of the competitor product Hunter Pro-HC, for example, is significantly larger. As with the competition, the case makes a high-quality and stable impression. Nothing wobbles, the door doesn’t hang crooked and opens cleanly. The lock is rather simple and will certainly not withstand professional break-in attempts. However, that is not the usual purpose of such a lock, where the main aim is to prevent children from playing around on the computer or an unfavorable neighbor from disturbing something in passing.

The B-hyve Smart Outdoor is, as the name suggests, suitable for outdoor use. If an indoor model is enough for you, Orbit offers a slightly cheaper alternative with the B-hyve Smart Indoor (Amazon Link) (available for 4 or 8 zones).

Number of zones

A 6 and a 12 zone model is offered. The price difference is not too big. Therefore, if it could be tight with 6 zones or if future expansions are planned, it is better to go for the larger model straight away. The 12 zones should be sufficient for 99% of private users. If not: Of the smart competitors, the Hunter Pro-HC models offer up to 24 zones and the OpenSprinkler even offers up to 72 zones.

Connection option for sensors

There is a sensor connection for a normally closed sensor. Not only sensors offered by Orbit, but also all competitor products that work according to the normally closed principle can be used on the connection. The type of sensor is not restricted, so not only a rain sensor can be used, but also a soil moisture sensor, for example.

The two poles to which the sensor is to be connected are bridged by default with a jumper. If you do not use the sensor connection, it must remain in place, otherwise the computer will assume that the sensor has interrupted the irrigation!

The rain sensor can be activated by pressing the rain delay button for five seconds. It can also be deactivated again in the same way, for example to bypass the sensor if it is not yet dry again but water is still needed again.

Battery

The purpose of the button cell contained in the computer is to ensure that the computer does not lose the time and date when it is unplugged. The programmed settings are saved in non-volatile memory regardless of the battery.

Manual watering

Manual watering can be started with just a few clicks: use the selection wheel to switch to “Manual”, select the zone, set the time and start watering. Alternatively, you can also manually select a specific program.

Rain delay function

The computer has a practical rain suspend function with which you can suspend irrigation for 1 to 32 days at the push of the “Rain Delay” button. This can be an advantage, for example, if you are renovating the garden and therefore do not want to water it for a while. Or if you exceptionally hold a children’s birthday party in the garden this week at the time when the watering is normally running. Irrigation then stops for the defined number of days and then continues again in the rhythm of the programmed irrigation program.

Master valve/pump start circuit connection

A master valve or a pump start circuit can be connected to the connection marked “Pump”. This connection is switched when each zone is activated and deactivated. This gives you the opportunity to install additional protection if the solenoid valves do not close properly.

Monitoring proper valve wiring

Orbit does not specify such a function in its product description, such as the milliampere sensor on Hunter or the automatic short-circuit detection on Rain Bird, which warn you of improper valve wiring. However, one of the automatic notifications states that it warns you if there are problems with the cabling. So there seems to be some monitoring.

Control/programming directly via the computer

The Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor can also be easily operated and programmed directly via the computer. This is done with the help of a selection wheel in the middle of which there is a confirmation button and the 4 other buttons “Back”, “Clear” “Prog A, B, C, D” and “Rain Delay”. You can store programs, carry out manual irrigation runs, activate irrigation delays and make seasonal adjustments. What cannot be set directly via the computer, however, are the extensive Smart Watering options; these can only be changed via the app or a web browser.

Display on the watering computer

Additional accessories required to make the computer WiFi ready

Nothing else is required to connect the computer to the in-house WiFi. So no additional WiFi module and no additional gateway. The computer also has a Bluetooth interface, which is particularly practical when setting up the device for the first time and allows you to access the computer via an app even without a WiFi connection.

Installation

The best way to start the installation is to download the app, which will then guide you through all the further steps. The B-hyve app is available for Android and Apple iOS devices and can be downloaded free of charge from the Google Play and Apple App Store. After starting the app, you need to create an account (“Create account” menu item). If you already have a B-hyve account, you can skip this step by logging in with an existing account,

The next step is to enter the name and email address information necessary to create the account and define a password.

Next, you can define whether you want to be informed about events such as irrigation that has taken place or irrigation that has been canceled due to rain delays. What is stored here is not set in stone and can easily be changed later in the program.

If you have purchased the device new, continue with “This is a new device”. Alternatively, there would be the option to continue by entering a code if you want to add a device that is already installed.

Now you have to select the device type that corresponds to your own product.

The computer must then be switched on by plugging in the power cable before continuing to the next point.

The app now finds the irrigation computer and displays it. If it is the correct one, i.e. the MAC address displayed matches the one specified on the inside of the computer, then you can confirm the displayed computer and the connection to the device will be established.

At this point I encountered a small technical problem during the test: the system indicated that the device was already being used in another account, even though I was installing it for the first time. Even after several attempts I couldn’t get to the next point. The only way to fix the problem was to exit the app and go through the installation process again. Then it worked without any problems and the message no longer appeared. This is just a tip if you have a similar problem!

The next step is to select your own Wi-Fi connection from the ones found and enter the Wi-Fi password required for access. This completes the installation. Finally, if necessary, the software contained in the computer is updated with a firmware update.

You now specify the address to be used for weather data use.

All you have to do now is wire the zone outputs with the solenoid valves as stated in the operating instructions to get the irrigation system ready to start (one pole of the solenoid valve to the zone output and a common pole to the com output).

The irrigation computer can now be programmed according to your own requirements. More on this in the next point.

Software

Below you will find an analysis of the B-hyve software used to control the computer. I will present the various functions and setting options of the Orbit B-hyve software in even more detail in a separate article:

Blog post: This is how the Orbit B-hyve software works

Orbit follows a computer-independent approach with its software, as does Hunter with the Hydrawise system: This means that all the possibilities offered by the B-hyve software can be used to their full extent on all B-hyve computers, regardless of the computer model used . In contrast to the Rain Bird software, which when operated via the app only allows what would also be possible when entered directly via the computer interface. You are only logically limited when things are not possible due to a lack of hardware requirements. For example, if the irrigation computer only has one zone output, then logically only one can be used in the program.

Key data on the B-hyve software:

Orbit 57950 B-hyve 12-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller 12-Zone Sprinkler Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor
Software system
B-hyve
App runs on
Apple iOS devices, Google Android devices
Accessible via web browser?
Setup wizard for initial setup?start circuit?
Type of programming
On a program basis
Programs
4 (only the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Timer has only 3)
Start times
4
Watering duration
1 to 240 minutes
Types of irrigation
Time-dependent watering plan or Smart Watering Autopilot (system decides independently when, how often and how much to water)
Definition of irrigation templates?
Local access without an internet connection?
Give access to other users?
Assigning different user authorizations?
Yes - access only to basic functions or to advanced functions
Additional functions for contractors?
Warning notifications?
Irrigation calendar?
Reports on irrigation, water consumption, weather, ...?
Connection of a flow meter?
Orbit 57950 B-hyve 12-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller 12-Zone Sprinkler Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor
Software system
B-hyve
App runs on
Apple iOS devices, Google Android devices
Accessible via web browser?
Setup wizard for initial setup?start circuit?
Type of programming
On a program basis
Programs
4 (only the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Timer has only 3)
Start times
4
Watering duration
1 to 240 minutes
Types of irrigation
Time-dependent watering plan or Smart Watering Autopilot (system decides independently when, how often and how much to water)
Definition of irrigation templates?
Local access without an internet connection?
Give access to other users?
Assigning different user authorizations?
Yes - access only to basic functions or to advanced functions
Additional functions for contractors?
Warning notifications?
Irrigation calendar?
Reports on irrigation, water consumption, weather, ...?
Connection of a flow meter?

Continuation

Orbit 57950 B-hyve 12-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller 12-Zone Sprinkler Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor
Define irrigation triggers?
In Smart Watering mode, triggers for suspending irrigation can be actively influenced; self-created programs cannot be influenced
Using local weather data?
Weather station selectable?
Updating weather data
No information, probably once a day
Integration of your own weather station possible?
Available at no extra charge via integration on the PWSWeather.com website
Seasonal adjustment definable per month?
Suspend watering x days?
Cycle and soak phases?
System decides automatically in Smart Watering mode, no manual setting possible
Lawn growth program?
Start watering run manually?
Define a sensor yourself?
Master valve useable?
Valve delays definable?
Voice control with
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Ongoing costs?
None
Orbit 57950 B-hyve 12-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller 12-Zone Sprinkler Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor
Define irrigation triggers?
In Smart Watering mode, triggers for suspending irrigation can be actively influenced; self-created programs cannot be influenced
Using local weather data?
Weather station selectable?
Updating weather data
No information, probably once a day
Integration of your own weather station possible?
Available at no extra charge via integration on the PWSWeather.com website
Seasonal adjustment definable per month?
Suspend watering x days?
Cycle and soak phases?
System decides automatically in Smart Watering mode, no manual setting possible
Lawn growth program?
Start watering run manually?
Define a sensor yourself?
Master valve useable?
Valve delays definable?
Voice control with
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Ongoing costs?
None

Below are further details on some of the points mentioned:

Access options

Access is possible via the app on Google and Apple devices. You can also log into your account using the web browser on your desktop PC at my.orbitbhyve.com and access the irrigation computer.

Different watering modes

If you create programs on your own, programming is done in the classic way on a program basis. If you activate “Smart Watering” instead and let the system water on autopilot, then the zone is defined in detail and there is no need to create a program. The system then decides independently on which day, at what time and for how long it will carry out irrigation runs. However, this freedom can be restricted with additional smart settings (exclude certain days or times from watering). You can also intervene in the logic of when irrigation runs are skipped by adjusting the underlying percentages and limit values. One drawback is that you cannot use smart watering logic with self-created programs, which is certainly possible in the Hunter Hydrawise system.

Programs/start times/watering duration

With 4 programs, 4 start times and a maximum watering time per run of 240 minutes, 99% of users will probably be satisfied. These things rarely represent a bottleneck in practice.

Use of irrigation templates

All created programs are also saved as templates and you can save additional ones. For example, it is possible to save your own program for newly sown lawns that you can then use as needed.

Local access to irrigation computers

The computer can be accessed via Bluetooth even without an existing WiFi connection. To do this you have to be in close proximity to the computer. However, this access requires a connection to the Internet, otherwise the app cannot be started. So you don’t need WiFi, but you do need web access on your cell phone to access the irrigation computer via Bluetooth!

Granting access to other users

In the program you can create a code that allows other users to access the irrigation computer. A distinction can be made between two authorization levels. The “Guest” access code allows the user to use the essential functions of the device; with the “Manager” access code the user has all rights. Unlike the Rain Bird system, a time limit on access is not possible.

Alert notifications

There are 4 different alert notifications available: Rain Delay, Watering Complete, Timer Error and Device Power Off. You can activate or deactivate these individually in the software. Compared to Hydrawise and the Rain Bird system, which allow 9 and 8 different notifications respectively, this functionality is currently rather modest.

Flow meter

A flow meter can only be integrated into the system by integrating a Flume Account; this is not possible directly via the irrigation computer and there are no warning notifications in the event of a leak or if irrigation cannot be carried out as planned due to a lack of water. This is better solved in the Hydrawise software, where practically every flow meter available on the market can be connected.

Use of weather data

Based on the location stored in the system, local weather data is used for Smart Watering mode. Unlike Hunter Hydrawise, it is not possible to trace which weather service is used and exactly which data is obtained. The local weather station used, however, is transparent and the user has the opportunity to select the desired station from the available stations. Weather stations from PWSWeather.com are available here. A very positive thing is the possibility of integrating your own weather station for free via PSWWeather.com, which costs extra with Hydrawise.

Define seasonal adjustment (per month)

The system does this automatically in Smart Watering mode. If you create a program yourself, then you have no option in B-hyve to store a seasonal adjustment for the different months. You can only increase or reduce the program runtime by a certain factor at the current time, so that the change takes effect immediately.

Suspend watering x days

You have the option at any time to suspend irrigation for 12 hours to 32 days.

Cycle and soak phases

In the Smart Watering Autopilot, the system independently divides the irrigation into irrigation and soak phases, so, for example, only irrigates for 20 minutes and then takes a 10-minute break to allow the water to completely seep in. If you define programs yourself, you have no option to use a cycle and soak phase function.

Conclusion and recommendation

At around 80 USD, the Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor is significantly cheaper than the Rain Bird ESP-TM2 with an additional WiFi module and the Hunter Pro-HC that I previously tested. With the Rain Bird ESP-TM2 + module you have to expect around 220 USD, with the Hunter Pro-HC it is in the 300 USD range.

You don’t notice this in the computer’s hardware: the case, like the competitors, makes a high-quality impression and is even lockable like the Hunter Pro-HC. It is also slightly smaller and more compact than its competitors. Compared to the high-end Hunter Pro-HC irrigation computer, the only thing missing is the second sensor output. The control and operation directly via the irrigation computer is, in my opinion, a little more user-friendly than with Rain Bird and Hunter, thanks to the comparatively large display screen and the selection wheel.

There’s also not much to complain about when it comes to software: In my opinion, the B-hyve system clearly outshines the Rain Bird Smart Watering System and offers far more options. Also, unlike the Rain Bird system, it can also be accessed via the normal web browser and there are no restrictions in the software depending on the computer model used, all B-hyve computers have all software options.

In comparison to the Hydrawise system from Hunter, B-hyve remains second in my opinion: Hydrawise offers much more precise and extensive options for using intelligent irrigation options tailored to your own ideas for irrigation. B-hyve’s Smart Watering mode carries out its automatic watering based on the irrigation and garden characteristics defined by the user for each zone. The whole thing happens in a black box that is incomprehensible to the user and the result in my test was not such that I was satisfied with it. Irrigation runs have been skipped far too carelessly and the system rains whenever it suits the system. But you can get these things under control with other smart settings that are a little more hidden in the system. Take a look at my extensive article on the B-hyve system! This ultimately results in a very useful autopilot. I still prefer the transparent and 1:1 comprehensible rules of Hydrawise, which, unlike B-hyve, can also be applied in manual mode. Hydrawise remains my favorite when it comes to intelligent weather control.

In comparison to Hydrawise, there is also no option to define sensors yourself. This is an important issue for those who plan to use sensors for irrigation control and for those who plan to use a flow meter.

Conclusion: Whether you like the B-hyve system more or prefer the one from Hydrawise is certainly partly a matter of taste. In any case, B-hyve has a clear advantage over the Rain Bird Smart Watering System and also over the Gardena Smart System. Especially when you put the performance in relation to the price, which is significantly lower than its competitors, the Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor really offers a lot for its money. A very good alternative if you want a good computer with smart watering functionality without having to dig too deep into your wallet.

Der Beitrag Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor irrigation controller in the test erschien zuerst auf Irrigation Blog for Do-it-yourselfer.

]]> This is how the Orbit B-hyve system works https://www.irrigation-guide.com/this-is-how-the-orbit-b-hyve-system-works.html Wed, 06 Mar 2024 15:11:30 +0000 https://www.irrigation-guide.com/?p=2589 In this article I describe how the Orbit B-hyve system works, which is used in all web-enabled Orbit irrigation computers. This allows the irrigation computer to be programmed and operated from anywhere in the world via app or web browser and includes additional functionalities for intelligently controlling irrigation depending on weather and other events. [...]

Der Beitrag This is how the Orbit B-hyve system works erschien zuerst auf Irrigation Blog for Do-it-yourselfer.

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In this article I describe how the Orbit B-hyve system works, which is used in all web-enabled Orbit irrigation computers. This allows the irrigation computer to be programmed and operated from anywhere in the world via app or web browser and includes additional functionalities for intelligently controlling irrigation depending on weather and other events.

The article has become a little longer because the software contains very extensive options and I tried to describe them in as much detail as possible in order to provide a deep insight into the system. If you are only interested in individual details, then I have provided a table of contents in which you can jump directly to the points that are of interest to you. You can find my conclusion and a comparison with the previously tested systems from competitors Hunter, Rain Bird, Gardena and LinkTap at the very end of the article.

Orbit B-hyve product overview

The B-hyve software is currently used in the following five Orbit smart irrigation computers:

Orbit 21005 B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer Gen 1 Bluetooth 1-Pack
Orbit 24634 B-hyve XD 4-Port Smart Hose Watering Timer 4-Port Bluetooth
Orbit 57915 B-hyve 4-Zone Indoor Smart Sprinkler Controller 4-Zone Controller
Orbit 57946 B-hyve 6-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller 6-Zone Sprinkler Controller
Orbit 57985 B-hyve XR 8-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Timer
Orbit B-hyve XD Smart Hose Timer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Indoor Irrigation Controller
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor Irrigation Controller
Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Sprinkler Timer
Zones
1
1 to 4 outputs depending on the model
4 or 8
6 or 12
8 or 16
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
Indoor
Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
3 programs with 4 start times each
4 programs with 4 start times each
4 programs with 4 start times each
4 programs with 4 start times each
4 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$59.99
$69.44
$61.44
$90.99
$113.99
Orbit 21005 B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer Gen 1 Bluetooth 1-Pack
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Timer
Zones
1
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
3 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$59.99
Orbit 24634 B-hyve XD 4-Port Smart Hose Watering Timer 4-Port Bluetooth
Computer
Orbit B-hyve XD Smart Hose Timer
Zones
1 to 4 outputs depending on the model
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
4 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$69.44
Orbit 57915 B-hyve 4-Zone Indoor Smart Sprinkler Controller 4-Zone Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Indoor Irrigation Controller
Zones
4 or 8
Indoor/Outdoor
Indoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
4 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$61.44
Orbit 57946 B-hyve 6-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller 6-Zone Sprinkler Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve Smart Outdoor Irrigation Controller
Zones
6 or 12
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
4 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$90.99
Orbit 57985 B-hyve XR 8-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor Sprinkler Controller
Computer
Orbit B-hyve XR Smart Sprinkler Timer
Zones
8 or 16
Indoor/Outdoor
Outdoor
Additional gateway necessary?
Integrated water flow meter?
Programs and start times
4 programs with 4 start times each
Price
$113.99

The B-hyve Smart Hose Timer and B-hyve XD Smart Hose Timer are water-flowing irrigation computers that are suitable for attaching to a faucet. The other three models are irrigation computers for solenoid valve control. These do not come into contact with water, but open and close connected solenoid valves through which the water flows.

Depending on which type of Orbit B-hyve irrigation computer is used, operating and programming the computer is also possible in a limited form directly on the device, or only via the app or web browser.

Main menu/navigation of the software

Navigation through the program is done using the following menu bar with 5 program items:

Help Symbol

  • Calendar: Provides a calendar overview of the planned and already carried out irrigation runs.
  • Program: Up to 4 irrigation runs (A, B, C, D) can be set up here.
  • Home: Home page when opening the app. Here you can see the next planned irrigation runs and can start manual irrigation or set a rain delay.
  • Zones: Here you can set up the irrigation zones and optionally make Smart Watering settings for the zone.
  • My B-hyve: There are a variety of settings hidden here, e.g. for the B-hyve account, the device used, Smart Watering, automatic notifications and much more.

In the program you will encounter the following question mark symbol in numerous places. If you click on it, you will see further information on a topic.

Help Symbol

Set up zones

When you select the “Zones” menu item, a certain number of possible zones are displayed, depending on the computer model used. A zone corresponds to a sector output on the irrigation computer, whereby zone 1 also corresponds to output 1, zone 2 to output 2, etc. etc. So, for example, if you have planned 5 irrigation sectors in your garden, then zones 1 to 5 would have to be created. With the watering computer B-hyve Smart Hose Timer, which only has one output, there is only one zone to define.

The zone can be activated by clicking on the plus symbol. If you then click on it again, the zone settings can be made:

  • Name of the zone (ideally as descriptive as possible so that you can tell from the name which sector it is (e.g. “lawn in front of the house” or “vegetable patch” or “strip of grass behind the house”)
  • optional: A picture of the zone (not really necessary, but nice to see in everyday use)
  • Activation/deactivation of Smart Watering for the zone (more on this in the chapter “Smart Watering Zone Settings”)
  • Smart Zone details (only required when using Smart Watering, see chapter “Smart Watering Zone Settings”)
  • Watering events (nothing can be actively entered here. As soon as the zone has been assigned to a watering program or Smart Watering has been activated, it will be listed here when the next watering is planned or the last one took place)
  • Specify soil moisture (also only required when using Smart Watering, see chapter “Smart Watering zone settings”
  • Test (by clicking on the test link at the top right, irrigation for the zone can be activated for a few minutes as a test)

To create a simple zone without a Smart Watering function, you basically only need to assign the name of the zone:

When using an Orbit B-hyve smart hose timer that has an integrated water flow meter, the zone menu also displays information about the zone’s water consumption (in gallons or liters per minute) and you also have the option of resetting the water flow calibrate. This calibrated value is used to extrapolate the water flow for manually executed irrigation runs, but has no effect on the actual measured water flow.

If you want to control the irrigation computer in the classic way with a program you specify yourself, then you should now continue with the point “Setting up programs”. If you would like to have the zone watered independently using artificial intelligence instead, then the necessary Smart Watering settings must be made in the zone as described in the next point. There is no need to create a program for such zones, as they would otherwise be watered twice (once with the manually created program and once due to the Smart Watering automatic).

Make Smart Watering settings for the zone

Orbit B-hyve offers the option of having irrigation carried out fully automatically by the artificial intelligence included in the program. The system then autonomously decides on which days and times to irrigate or when irrigation is to be omitted, as well as the length of the irrigation runs. It does this with an algorithm that uses the following three types of data:

Weather data and irrigation data

Using its WeatherSense™ technology, B-hyve obtains local weather data. If there is a 30% chance of rain forecast for today, the system will skip the irrigation run (this percentage can be adjusted). Based on the irrigation runs that have taken place in the past, the system also knows how much water the lawn has already received and when it was last watered and takes these parameters into account in the planning.

Type and slope of the soil

Different types of soil absorb water at different rates. The B-hyve automatic takes this into account when planning the irrigation duration and frequency and, for example, waters sandy soils at a denser rhythm than clay soils because they cannot hold water for as long. In addition, the water can be better absorbed into the soil in flat gardens than on slopes, where some of it drains away before penetrating the earth. In order for these factors to be taken into account correctly, the B-hyve system must be fed with some information about the garden.

Type of plants and evaporation

From the information about what type of plant is being watered in the sector, the system determines what water requirement this type of plant has. Based on temperature, humidity and wind speed, it calculates how quickly the water will evaporate. The higher the evaporation, the greater the water requirement of the plant.

Saving the Smart Watering settings works as follows.
Calling up the “Zone Detail” menu item:

As detailed as possible information about the garden and the irrigation system must now be stored here in order to give the system the best possible working basis.

  1. Define soil type

    Here you have to choose the one that comes closest to your own from 6 types of soil:

    By default, “Unknown” is selected, with a intake rate of 0.35 inches/hour (9 mm/hour), which corresponds to a clay soil. If your own soil is sandier or more clayey, then it needs to be changed accordingly.
    If you know more about the soil and can quantify the infiltration rate exactly, you can enter this yourself in the advanced settings:

    Impact: A higher infiltration rate increases the maximum possible running time as it reduces the risk that the soil will not be able to fully absorb the water.

  2. Define plant species

    There are 6 different plant types to choose from:

    If you want to add a lawn, you should define “warm turf” in areas where it doesn’t freeze in winter, otherwise “cool turf”! Each type of plant is assigned a specific root zone depth, for warm climate lawns this is 6 inches (15 cm). Here too, you can precisely determine the root zone depth in the advanced settings.

    Effect: A greater root zone depth leads to longer watering intervals and longer running times. In this way, the soil can be supplied with enough water so that it is moistened right down to the root zone. The type of plant selected has an impact on the estimated water requirement; for a lawn this is higher than for desert plants, for example.

  3. Determine type of irrigation

    This point is about determining the precipitation rate, i.e. how much water the sprinklers or micro-irrigation system used release per hour. This rate is expressed in inches per hour or millimeter per hour. The system offers 3 different irrigation types to choose from:

    The first group includes spray sprinklers, which release a very large amount of water in a short time, the second includes gear sprinklers, which have a significantly lower precipitation rate, and the third includes irrigation with a drip hose. Here it is definitely advisable to use the advanced settings to determine the precipitation rate in detail, because the rates stored for the three groups are very imprecise and can vary greatly depending on the system actually used and amount to several times or even just a fraction!

    For example, with the sprinkler I recommend in the blog, the Hunter MP Rotator, the precipitation rate is only about 0.4 inches (10 mm) per hour, i.e. about half of the value assumed here. You can find an overview of the precipitation rate for common sprinklers in the sprinkler performance data overview offered here on the website.

    Impact: A higher precipitation rate leads to a shorter runtime because the soil must be able to absorb the water.

  4. Define number of hours of sunshine

    This point is about how sunny or shady the zone is. You can choose between a more shady and a more sunny garden, with anything under 6 hours of direct sunlight per day being considered a shady garden and anything above that being considered a sunny garden:

    In the advanced settings you can define the hours of sunshine even more precisely.

    Impact: This point has an impact on the calculation of evaporation and consequently on the calculated water requirement. The more sun, the higher the water requirement. In addition, more sun means longer running times.

  5. Determining how much of the natural rain arrives in the zone

    For most zones this will be complete rain, i.e. 100%. However, it could also be that the zone is in a covered area or that only part of the rainfall reaches the zone due to certain structural conditions. Normally you leave the setting here at “Most of the rain”, otherwise you switch to “Some of the rain” (corresponds to 40%) or, if there is no rain at all, to “None of the rain”:

    In the advanced settings you can again specify this in detail (0 to 100%).

    Impact: Has an impact on the calculated water requirement. The more natural rainfall there is, the less additional water is required.

  6. Determination of the slope of the terrain

    At this point you determine whether the zone is flat or sloped:

    In the advanced settings you can define the inclination in detail

    Effect: The flatter the terrain, the longer the maximum possible running time, as there is then less risk of the water running off unused.

  7. Determination of the drought factor

    The Drought Index is used in the United States to predict the likelihood of wildfires. You can look up which factor applies to you in the B-hyve software using a US map; there is no information for areas outside the USA. The correct setting should then usually be “None”, i.e. no drought.

    An exact setting would also be possible here in the advanced settings.

    Impact: The impact of the drought factor is not clearly stated, but it probably affects the spacing between irrigations and water requirements.

In addition to these 7 points in which the Smart Watering settings can be made, there are three further points in the Smart Zone Details:

  • Advanced Details
  • Schedule adjustments
  • Catch cup test

Below is a description:

Advanced Smart Zone Details

Here you can see a compilation of a total of 13 parameters, which on the one hand reflect the seven previously made settings and on the other hand additional ones that are based on these. By changing these parameters, you can influence the calculated water requirements, the intervals at which watering occurs and how long the irrigation times are. The first four parameters that influence the amount of water are application rate, efficiency, plant factor and microclimate factor.

If you change parameters already known from the 7 points mentioned above, such as the root zone depth, then this change is directly reflected in the correspondending menu item. So it makes no difference whether you change the setting here or there.

However, two of the parameters can only be changed in the Advanced Details: Efficiency and Management Allowed Depletion (reflects the desired soil-water deficit at the time of irrigation).

Image excerpt from the extended details:

Extended Smart Watering Details

Watering schedule adjustments

Based on the values entered, the B-hyve system uses an algorithm to estimate the frequency with which irrigation will take place and the running time that the irrigation runs will have. Both values are not constant, but change depending on the weather conditions during a season. You can see this estimate in the watering schedule adjustment menu:

Irrigation schedule estimates of the system

The system would therefore not water at all from January to April and from September to December and would water every 3 days in the warm months. A watering run would last approximately 25 minutes and would be carried out in one cycle, i.e. not divided into multiple cycles.

If you now observe that the system leaves a too small or too large gap between the individual irrigation runs, i.e. waters again when it is not yet necessary or desired, or waits too long to water, so that the lawn or plants suffers, then you can shorten or increase the interval so that watering occurs at smaller or larger intervals. This setting has no influence on the months in which watering takes place.

Set watering more or less frequently than estimated by the system:

If you move the slider to the left, watering will occur more frequently in a month, for example 4 times instead of 3 times. If you move it to the right, you will water less frequently. To the same extent, the running time of irrigation is reduced or increased, so that this change has no effect on the total amount of water used, the water is just used differently.

If instead you observe that the intervals would be ok in principle, but the running time is too short to supply the zone with sufficient water, or, conversely, unnecessarily long so that water is wasted, then you can adjust the running time of the irrigation. This change does not affect the intervals and therefore increases or decreases water consumption 1 to 1.

This is how you can set a longer or shorter running time:

In the example, the system estimates a running time of 25 minutes. With this the efficiency would be 75%. 100% would be the theoretically possible optimal efficiency, in which as much as is necessary is poured precisely. However, exhausting this is associated with a very high risk that the plants will temporarily receive too little water and suffer as a result, so it makes more sense to take a certain reserve into account. The B-hyve system automatically sets to 75% efficiency. If you extend or shorten the running time using the slider, this reduces or increases the efficiency of the irrigation and at the same time the water consumption for the zone.

Catch cup test

This menu item has no direct influence on the B-hyve system. It contains a test that can be used to determine the precipitation rate and the uniformity of irrigation and, as a result, reveal potential for improvement in terms of uniform irrigation. Suitable collecting containers are required to carry out the test. How the test works is explained in detail in the app.

In order for the Smart Watering to work, it now only needs to be activated:

In order to have the most correct starting point possible for planning the irrigation runs, the current soil moisture level in the zone must finally be estimated. In my experience, you would have around 80 to 90% if the soil was completely moistened up to the root zone after an extensive irrigation run or rain shower, and only 20 or 30% if the soil had not received any water for a few days. If you are unsure, 50% is probably a good compromise.

Set restrictions for smart watering

If you activate Smart Watering for a zone, the system basically decides independently on which day and at what time watering runs are carried out. That can work for you. Or not, if, for example, you are subject to certain restrictions in the garden on which days you can water or you consciously want to have the watering carried out at certain times or days. Or you might want to exclude certain days or times because you want to use the garden on those days.

B-hyve gives you the opportunity to restrict the automatic system according to your wishes. These options are hidden in the program menu under the “Smart” menu item:

Clicking on it takes you to a page that shows you which zones are currently being watered with Smart Watering and where you can set a preferred start time for the automatic system:

The system will – as far as the automatic system allows – orientate itself to this preferred start time, but is not guaranteed to adhere to it. If you want to be absolutely sure that irrigation runs are not carried out on certain days or at certain times of the day, then these values must be stored as restrictions. This is done by clicking on the “Smart Watering restrictions” link:

In the following mask, a certain from/to period can be excluded from irrigation and it can be precisely defined on which days irrigation can take place and on which not. In my example, I have excluded watering for the period from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and specified that watering is not allowed on Sundays:

Fine tuning of the Smart Watering events that suspend watering

This important setting can be found quite hidden in the My B-hyve menu under Devices and Weather Adjustmens. In Smart Watering mode, the B-hyve system monitors rainfall, wind and temperature and decides based on this whether a planned irrigation run takes place or is cancelled. This works with the limit values and probabilities listed here in the settings. Irrigation is suspended if the following applies:

  • If there is a 30% chance that it will rain and at least 0.16 inches (4 mm) of precipitation is expected.
  • If the forecast wind speed exceeds 20 mph (32 km/h)
  • If the forecast temperature is below 37 degrees Fahrenheit (3 degrees Celsius)

If one of these events occurs, the suspension of the run is stored and announced in the home menu. If you want, the suspension can also be canceled so that the irrigation run takes place as planned.

If these standard probabilities and limit values turn out to be unsuitable for your own practice, you can adapt them here according to your own ideas. They influence the Smart Watering mode and do not interfere with manually created programs. Even with manually created programs, however, if one of the events occurs, you will be shown on your cell phone an option to suspend the planned watering run at the push of a button.

Choosing a weather station

The B-hyve system automatically selects a weather station near the user’s address from which the current weather data is obtained for smart irrigation control. In order for the station selection to work, the address where the irrigation computer is used must be entered in advance in the My B-hyve menu under the device details and a name for the irrigation computer must be specified. The program doesn’t indicate this anywhere, so you may only come across it if the smart irrigation doesn’t work.

To set the address, simply click in the address field and the system can then determine the current position using the GPS function of the cell phone.

The weather station selected by the system can be changed to another station by the user in the device details in the Weather Adjustments sub-item.

Click on “Select Weather Station”:

A Google map section around the specified address is displayed. The station marked with the B-hyve logo is the weather station closest to the address automatically selected by the system. Alternatively, another public weather station can be selected. If you activate the slider under “Personal Weather Stations”, private weather stations registered with PWSWeather.com will also be available for selection.

In this way it would also be possible to use your own personal weather station in B-hyve. To do this, it must be created in advance on the PWSWeather.com website in order to be available for selection here. Unlike the Hydrawise software, there are no additional costs for using your personal weather station.

Set up programs

The prerequisite for setting up a program is the prior creation of at least one zone. If the zone is already watered automatically with Smart Watering, then no additional program needs to be created. But you can of course have some of the zones watered automatically with Smart Watering and store a manually created program for the other part. If Smart Watering is in use for at least one of the zones, then this will be displayed at the top of the program menu:

A program can be imagined as similar to a washing program in a washing machine. In this, different phases are run through one after the other (washing, rinsing, spinning); instead in the irrigation program, selected zones are processed from the specified start time. All zones directly one after the other and for the time period specified for this zone. A program could, for example, consist of:

  • 50 minutes Zone 1 (lawn part 1)
  • 50 minutes Zone 2 (lawn part 2)
  • 35 minutes Zone 3 (shady lawn)
  • 120 minutes Zone 4 (hedge)

The program requires one or more start times and one or more days of the week on which it should run. For example, if you set Monday as the day of the week for the above program and 6:00 a.m. as the start time, then the watering of zone 1 would begin on Monday at 6:00 a.m. and the program would end up 4 hours and 15 minutes later at 10:15 a.m.

B-hyve offers 4 programs A, B, C and D. Only when using the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Timer only 3 programs are possible for reasons I cannot understand. However, I saw in older videos on the web that other B-hyve models, for which 4 programs are now possible, were previously limited to 3 programs too. The B-hyve hose timer so may also be increased to 4 programs in the future.

Up to 4 start times can be defined for each of the programs. An additional start time means that the same program is carried out a second time on the same day. This is usually not an issue when watering the lawn. On the contrary, the principle applies: water less frequently but water properly! But when reseeding a lawn it is usually necessary. Since the lawn seeds can dry out very quickly, it is recommended to water up to 4 times a day for a few minutes in the first few weeks so that the seeds always remain slightly moist. Even sensitive potted plants in exposed locations may need to be watered several times a day.

A program is activated by tapping on the program slot. You then get to the program settings menu.

The following settings must be made:

    1. Program name:
      A name that is as descriptive as possible helps you to distinguish between the programs when you create several programs. In this case, I create the “Lawn” program, which should contain the zones defined as lawns:
    2. Start time:
      A program requires a mandatory start time at which it begins to run. At the start of the start time, the program begins with the first zone assigned to the program and then all other assigned zones are processed in the defined order without interruption. A maximum of 4 start times can be defined. In my example of watering normal lawns, one start time is enough for me. Click on Add start time:

      Select start time:

      By clicking OK the start time is added:

    3. Zones:
      Here you define which zones in the program should be irrigated. At least one zone must be selected, the maximum possible is the number of zones present in the irrigation system, whereby each zone can only be selected once within a program. It is therefore not possible for example to water zone 1 at the very beginning and then again at the end of the program. In my case, I select the lawn zones for my lawn program. I water the two sunny areas for 50 and 55 minutes, and 30 minutes is enough for the shadier zone. The maximum possible runtime of the system is 4 hours, the shortest possible 1 minute.
      Click on Change/Add Zone:

      Select the desired zone:

      Set the zone’s run time:

      After repeating this process for the two additional lawn zones, a total of 3 zones are added to my irrigation program:

    4. Watering days
      Here you can either select one or more days of the week or set it to rain every other day on odd or even days. The third alternative is to freely specify the watering interval. Here you can choose between every 1 day (= daily) to every 32 days. In my case, watering once a week on Monday is enough for me. Select the desired day(s):
    5. Program schedule
      Normally you will not need this and you can leave the setting unchanged (= without a time limit). In special cases, e.g. a growth program for a freshly sown lawn, it can be helpful to limit the program to a specific date. Both the day on which it should start and the day on which it should end can be freely selected. In my case, I leave the setting unlimited:
    6. Seasonal adjustment
      This point is called “Watering Budget” in the B-hyve system. Without prior knowledge, you won’t be able to figure out what you can set here. It is used to be able to adjust the irrigation duration very quickly without having to change the program.
      By default, the budget is set to 100%, which means that the water will be irrigated for exactly as long as defined in point 3. Normally you set this running time for the hottest time of the year, so my set 55 minute running time would be for mid-summer. However, not all months are as hot as in midsummer and in March or April, for example, it is enough to water the lawn for less time.
      In my example, if you only want to water zone C for 15 minutes instead of 30 minutes, then you can change the irrigation budget from 100% to 50%. If you want to water twice as long, change from 100% to 200%. Settings between 10% and 200% are possible. In my case, I leave the budget at 100% at the moment.

The lawn program is now created. Up to 3 additional programs can be defined. In my case, I let the fourth zone, the vegetable patch, run in its own separate program because it has to be watered at a different rhythm than the lawn zones. After creating this additional program, two finished programs will finally be displayed in the program menu:

Save program templates

B-hyve offers the ability to save templates for programs for later use.

To do this, select the menu item “Saved Programs” in the program menu. All previously created templates will now be displayed. These also include the two previously created programs, which were automatically saved as a template, and an additional program template that I defined for newly created lawns. By clicking on the plus symbol you can create another template. The system works in the same way as described previously when creating a program.

Irrigation calendar

The Calendar menu shows a monthly overview of when the next irrigation programs will take place and on which days in the past they took place. The programs are displayed with the colors known from the program menu, so that you can easily see at a glance which program is running when. By clicking on a day, detailed information about the program such as start time, running time and zones included are displayed.

Irrigation history

This menu item can be found under My B-hyve. Here you can track the number of minutes that were watered on a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly basis. This makes it easy to compare whether you have saved water or not compared to the previous year or month and see which programs or zones use the most water.

If the Orbit irrigation computer you are using has an integrated water flow meter, as is the case with the Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Timer (Amazon Link), then the actual water consumption in gallons or liters is also displayed. For the other B-Hyve models that do not have an integrated flow meter, Orbit offers an option to integrate a flow meter by coupling it to a Flume account. Flume is a provider of a smart flow sensor.

Home page

When you open the app, the home menu is automatically started. The next planned program run is displayed here.
In addition, the home menu contains the menu items “Rain Delay” and “Water Manually”. I will describe their functionality below.
There are two options hidden behind the WiFi symbol at the top left:

  • Control the irrigation computer via Bluetooth
  • Adjust the Wi-Fi settings

The first might be necessary if you don’t have Wi-Fi reception. Then you can operate the B-hyve Computer via Bluetooth instead. For this to work, you have to be in close proximity to the computer. Adjusting the Wi-Fi settings becomes necessary, for example, if you change your Wi-Fi provider or change your Wi-Fi password.

At the top right there is also a symbol for the current weather as well as the daily high and low temperature.

Start manual watering run

By clicking on the “Water Manually” menu item in the home menu, a spontaneous watering run can be started regardless of the programming. There are 3 options to choose from:

  • Water one or more zones
  • Water all zones
  • Run a program

To water a single zone, simply click on the zone name and then set the watering duration. If you then click on the play icon, the irrigation will be carried out. If you click on the tick icon instead, the zone with the specified time period will only be selected in the first step and you can add further zones. By clicking on the play icon at the bottom, watering will be carried out for all selected zones for the specified period of time. When using a B-hyve Smart Hose Timer with an integrated water flow meter, the system will show you how many gallons or liters of water it will use before the irrigation run starts.

To run a program, click on the “Programs” link at the top right and select the desired program. The program is played in the length specified in the program and with the assigned zones.

Once a manual irrigation has been started, it can be stopped at any time by clicking on the stop button. When watering manually, you can also set a watering suspension for a desired number of days for the irrigated zone by clicking on the rain delay button, so that it is not watered a second time by a scheduled program.

Suspend the irrigation run manually (rain delay)

This option is practical if you do not want to carry out a scheduled watering run for certain reasons, for example because you did it manually as an exception. Or if, for some other reason, you absolutely want to prevent watering from being carried out in the next x hours or x days and you don’t want to change the programming specifically for this. To suspend irrigation, click on the Rain Delay menu item in the home menu and select the desired duration between 12 hours and 32 days.

Enable/disable automatic notifications

The system offers the option of activating automatic notification for 4 events:

  • There is a rain delay (watering run is skipped)
  • An irrigation run has been completed
  • The irrigation computer cannot run a program due to an error (e.g. communication problems or damaged wires)
  • The irrigation computer has been turned off

The notifications are sent to the cell phone as push notifications. For this to work, the “Activate notifications” option must be activated in the Notifications menu item in the My B-hyve menu and the events you want to be notified about must also be activated:

Change B-hyve account settings

The name and password stored in the system can be changed under My B-hyve/B-hyve account. It is also possible to change the units from the imperial to the metric system and vice versa. So if centimeters and liters are incorrectly displayed instead of inches and gallons, this can be changed here.

B-hyve can also be integrated into Google Home, Alexa and Flume here.

Change B-hyve device settings

I have already described the most important setting options hidden here under My B-hyve/Devices with the “Smart Watering Restrictions”, “Fine-tuning of Smart Watering Events” and “Selecting the Weather Station” earlier in the article. Apart from that, there are also the Wi-Fi settings and the ability to control via Bluetooth, both of which can also be carried out via the home menu and you can switch off the computer from here, initiate an update of the software on the device or remove the device from the app.

A function that makes sense in practice is to automatically switch the system on and off on a specific date. In this way you can ensure that the irrigation computer is switched off before winter and then automatically wakes up again in time for the start of the new season. You only need to define the switch-on and switch-off date once and you can then have it repeated every year on the same date.

The device sharing function is also important here, as it allows you to give other people access to the irrigation computer. For this purpose, an access code can be generated for managers (have extensive rights) or guests (can only carry out operating functions) and passed on to the desired person. By entering this code into the app, the person then gains access to the irrigation computer.

When using a B-hyve smart hose timer with an integrated water flow meter, the menu item “Preset running time” is additionally displayed. This can be used to determine how long the irrigation will run if it is not started via the software but directly on the irrigation computer by pressing the on/off button. By default, 10 minutes are stored here.

Conclusion and comparison

At first glance, the B-hyve software seems quite unspectacular with its five menu items and seems limited to the essential functions. However, this first impression is deceptive, as the submenu items contain a lot of functionality that gives you numerous customization options.

You don’t have to use these options: If you want, you can easily save a classic irrigation program. And limit the smart functionality to the fact that you can start or cancel your irrigation from anywhere in the world and are always and everywhere informed about the current status of the irrigation. This means you can keep watering at home under control even when you’re on vacation.

If you want to exploit the possibilities of smart control, you can alternatively use the Smart Watering mode. In this case, you define the conditions at the location as precisely as possible and leave it to the artificial B-hyve intelligence to create the most effective program possible. The software then decides on which days and at what time the irrigation takes place, as well as how long the runs last and whether everything is done in one run or the run is divided into several shorter runs for better infiltration. This is referred to as cycle and soak phases. How the whole thing happens is basically a black box and can only be understood to a very limited extent.

Since this auto-logic will not produce perfectly usable results in all cases or because you would like to decide or at least limit certain things yourself, such as the time at which watering takes place, B-hyve offers a few options for intervening in the automatic system. So if the automatic processes do not work as expected, you can change the stored limit values that influence the auto-logic. So if the lawn turns brown because B-hyve skips too many irrigation runs, you can, for example, specify that irrigation runs will only be skipped when there is a higher probability of rain or when more rain is expected.

B-hyve’s Smart Watering mode is roughly equivalent to Hydrawise’s Smart (ET) schedule mode, although B-hyve even has a small advantage here, as you can enter more parameters for irrigation and the plants, giving the system a finer basis for decision-making. If you don’t want to worry too much about your watering and want to let the system do it yourself, then this is the ideal mode.

The B-hyve software itself generally makes a good impression, the interface is designed to be quite user-friendly and you can tell from the range of functions that many thousands of developer hours have gone into it. However, some things still seem a bit half-baked and in some places the functionalities are very poorly explained, so that even with extensive prior knowledge of the subject you can only guess what exactly they are supposed to do. You also sometimes get the impression that the programmers have already built in things that people in marketing and product design haven’t even noticed about, and some functionality can be found in places where you wouldn’t have expected it. This is better in the Hydrawise system, which has been established on the market for a long time, where everything is described in great detail and appears comparatively structured.

In my opinion, a significant shortcoming compared to Hunter Hydrawise is that you cannot use the smart functionality for independently created programs. With Hydrawise you can create your program and define a series of rules that either suspend irrigation completely or adjust its length or run it more often or less often. With a little observation of your own watering and tinkering, you can find the perfect setting for you over time. In the B-hyve system you have to decide between storing the program yourself or Smart Watering mode. A solution that includes both like Hydrawise is not offered. At least when using your own programs, you will be given recommendations for suspending irrigation runs if the weather forecast turns out accordingly. In my opinion, Hydrawise is ahead here and offers more options for those who want to go into detail when setting up the irrigation solution.

Orbit also lacks the very useful options for integrating sensors like Hydrawise. Hydrawise makes it possible to define sensors yourself and, if necessary, to connect a flow meter to the sensor input.

I see B-hyve as having a clear advantage compared to the Rain Bird Smart Watering System, which primarily includes the ability to control irrigation remotely, but only offers very limited smart functionality. Here the B-hyve system is much more ambitious in comparison and contains much more functionality. And all at a comparatively lower price.

B-hyve also has a clear advantage over the Gardena Smart System, which currently only allows control depending on weather events to a very limited extent.

The LinkTap system used in the LinkTap G2 irrigation computer is functionally completely different, but not bad in comparison. It is less detailed, but its functionality allows for sensible weather control and, compared to B-hyve, it has advantages in terms of automatic notifications, of which LinkTap offers significantly more types. For example, the very useful point of water flow monitoring, which warns you if water is escaping uncontrollably or if no water is available.

Ultimately, Hunter Hydrawise remains my personal favorite because it allows even more detailed control of irrigation based on weather data and, in my opinion, this control is more transparent than with B-hyve. In Hydrawise you can react directly to the weather data with certain rules, in B-hyve you first define the situation at the irrigation site and B-hyve derives the appropriate program from the system perspective in its black box and runs on autopilot. Whether you like it that way is a matter of taste, I prefer to be able to tell the system clearly what it has to do in which situation. If you want to be less involved, you might like the other approach more. That’s why Hydrawise offers both options in the system. Hydrawise also seems more mature and stable; you can tell that most of the teething problems have already been eliminated. B-hyve started the software later and has not yet completed this stage.

However, there are also important arguments in favor of the B-hyve solution. First of all, there is the price: The B-hyve computers cost a lot less than the competitor products! Rain Bird and LinkTap are easily 50% more expensive, Gardena costs more than twice as much since you have to buy an expensive gateway, and the premium solution Hydrawise has an even higher price for its quality. With Hydrawise you can argue that with the performance it offers, I think LinkTap is equivalent, but in my opinion the smart software from Gardena and Rain Bird is currently inferior to the Orbit software. So if you’re looking for a decent smart computer at a very fair price, then you can’t go wrong with a B-hyve computer! And if the B-hyve development team maintains its current pace, then you can expect further improvements and the elimination of the remaining weak points soon.

Der Beitrag This is how the Orbit B-hyve system works erschien zuerst auf Irrigation Blog for Do-it-yourselfer.

]]> This is how the Hunter Hydrawise system works https://www.irrigation-guide.com/this-is-how-the-hunter-hydrawise-system-works.html Fri, 22 Dec 2023 15:59:59 +0000 https://www.irrigation-guide.com/?p=2345 The following article introduces the possibilities of the popular Hunter Hydrawise irrigation system. This is cloud-based and is used on the web-enabled Hunter Hydrawise computers HC, Pro-HC, HPC, HCC and the X2 in conjunction with the Hunter Wand module. In principle, all of the functions presented can be used regardless of the computer model [...]

Der Beitrag This is how the Hunter Hydrawise system works erschien zuerst auf Irrigation Blog for Do-it-yourselfer.

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The following article introduces the possibilities of the popular Hunter Hydrawise irrigation system. This is cloud-based and is used on the web-enabled Hunter Hydrawise computers HC, Pro-HC, HPC, HCC and the X2 in conjunction with the Hunter Wand module. In principle, all of the functions presented can be used regardless of the computer model used; there are only restrictions on individual small details. In this case, this will be pointed out separately in the article.

The Hunter Hydrawise system is used via the Hydrawise app for Apple and Android devices. Alternatively, it can also be accessed directly via the web browser.

When you start the system for the first time, a setup wizard guides you through the individual steps. If you have fairly simple requirements, this can be enough. If not, the system allows you to make very extensive adjustments. Below is a detailed overview of how the Hunter Hydrawise system works and what can be adjusted.

Watering Triggers

The watering trigger menu essentially contains the heart of the Hydrawise system. Here you can choose from a range of watering rules that you can adapt to your own needs. On the one hand, these rules rely on historical precipitation data from a virtual weather station and, on the other hand, on predicted local weather values (precipitation, temperature, wind, humidity) based on data from the Weather Company (weather.com). Irrigation based on these predicted values is called “predictive watering” at Hydrawise. The virtual weather station means that Hydrawise obtains the weather data via the Weather Underground service from a nearby airport weather station. Hydrawise has a total of 10,000 different airport weather stations to choose from.

If you upgrade from the Home to the Enthusiast plan, Hydrawise obtains the data from up to 5 different nearby weather stations and consolidates them into a common virtual weather station in order to be able to provide even more reliable data. In this case, private weather stations are also available and you can choose from a total of 120,000 private and airport weather stations. This upgrade to the Enthusiast Plan costs 66 USD per year and can be completed through Account Settings. With the Enthusiast plan it would also be possible to choose a self-operated weather station. To do this, it must first be added to the Weather Underground service and can then be selected.

You can define 2 rules from the measured precipitation data from the virtual weather station, and 6 rules can be stored based on the predicted weather values from weather.com. 5 of these rules ensure that irrigation is stopped when the rule arrives:

  • The temperature forecast is below a certain number of degrees
  • The chance of rain exceeds a certain percentage
  • The predicted wind speed exceeds a predefined level
  • The day before it rained more than a predefined amount
  • In the previous three days it rained more than a predefined amount

For example, if you have defined that there should be no irrigation if there was 1 inch per square meter or more of precipitation the day before and it rained 1.1 inches the day before, then irrigation will be canceled. Only the subsequent planned irrigation takes place again. Before this, it is checked again whether one of the rules applies. So if it rains enough for weeks, then there will be no irrigation for weeks.

You can set the values according to your own ideas. And you can activate or deactivate the rules. If a rule is deactivated, it will not be available for selection when a zone or program is created and therefore cannot be used. Conversely, activation does not mean that the rule is used; it must also be selected when the zone or program is created. Here you only define whether it should be available for selection and what the limit values should look like.

Two of the rules lead to longer or more frequent watering:

  • Reduce watering time by a predefined percentage if the temperature forecast is below a certain value
  • Water by a predefined percentage more when the temperature forecast is above a certain value and the humidity is below a certain value (whether this rule, if applicable, results in a longer watering time or additional watering runs can be defined in detail when creating zones and programs)

According to Hunter, the data used for the adjustment is automatically transmitted between midnight and 2 a.m. Approximately 1 hour before the start of the first watering run of the day, the watering schedule is then updated based on this data. If you have taken out the paid subscription to the Enthusiast Plan, the weather data will also be determined and the irrigation plan updated one hour before each other program start of the day. In this way, very current data can be included in the decision-making process.

Applicability of irrigation rules

Not all rules are possible in every application scenario. Depending on the irrigation modus selected, the following rules can be used:

Rule Time based watering type Smart (ET) Watering Virtueller Solar Sync
Do not irrigate if rainfall in the last 24 hours is greater than x inches Yes No Yes
Do not irrigate if rainfall over the last x days is greater than x inches Yes No Yes
Do not water if the temperature forecast for the day is less than x degrees Fahrenheit Yes Yes Yes
Irrigate x percent less if the temperature forecast for the day is less than x degrees Fahrenheit Yes No No
Irrigate x percent more if the temperature forecast for the day is higher than x degrees Fahrenheit and humidity is below x percent Yes No No
Do not irrigate if the probability of precipitation is greater than x percent Yes No Yes
Do not irrigate if the wind speed forecast for the day is greater than x mph Yes No Yes
Use temperature forecasts to predict smart watering No Yes No
Use rainfall forecasts to predict smart watering No Yes No

Selection of programming mode

Hydrawise offers you two modes to choose from:

  • Standard mode
  • Advanced mode

Standard mode is the programming mode traditionally used in the irrigation sector, advanced mode is the mode that was newly introduced by the company Hydrawise. After Hunter took over Hydrawise, the customer is now offered both modes to choose from. Except for the Hunter HC, which was designed by the Hydrawise company back then, in which only the advanced mode is possible.

Which of the two you prefer is to a certain extent simply a matter of taste. In standard mode, hardly anything can be defined about the zones themselves, apart from their names; all the settings such as running time, start time and additional settings happen when defining the irrigation programs. In advanced mode, however, the running time and additional settings are defined in the zone; only the start time is then specified in the program. Some functions or additional features can only be used in one of the two modes. Below is an overview of the main differences:

Topic/Function Standard Mode Advanced Mode
Industry standard Yes No
Zones can have several different running times Yes No
Irrigation programs can have multiple start times Yes No
Irrigation programs can be named Yes No
Creation and use of irrigation templates No Yes
Using the Smart Evapotranspiration option to determine when irrigation occurs No Yes
Using the Water More Often When It’s Hot Option No Yes

Standard mode gives you somewhat more options if you need to create more complicated irrigation programs. For example, if a zone should not always be watered for the same number of minutes, but rather 20 minutes on Monday and 40 minutes on Wednesday. It would not be possible to store this in the advanced mode because the running time is determined once for each zone. In return, a few of the additional smart options such as Smart (ET) mode can only be used in advanced mode. You don’t have to do without the basic possibilities of the mode itself, even in standard mode, you just need to set the individual “predictive watering” rules so that they achieve the same result. You just can’t rely on a ready-made “automatic” system here.

Both modes will normally be suitable for the usual requirements. Only if you have more unusual wishes can it happen that these can only be implemented in one mode or the other. You can change the mode at any time after you have made your choice, even later. Practical: The zones already created in the other mode are retained. Information will only be shortened or expanded if necessary. The programs must be created separately in each mode. However, the system remembers the programs created in the previously used mode in the background, so that you do not lose any information by switching the mode back and forth, but can return to the previously used status.

In the controller settings, the programming mode can be changed by clicking on the edit symbol.

Programming the irrigation schedule

These settings are made in the “Zones & Programs” menu. How exactly this works and what options are available to you differs quite significantly depending on the mode you choose. What is the same regardless of the mode is the maximum number of 6 programs that can be set, each with a maximum of 6 start times (exception: Hunter Wand: max. 3 start times). How many zones can be created depends on the computer model used, i.e. a minimum of 6 to a maximum of 54, depending on how many zones the computer hardware supports.

Due to the quite large difference, I explain the programming separately first for the more extensive Advanced mode and then for the Standard mode.

Programming the irrigation schedule in advanced mode

Add zone

Step 1: Enter basic data

  • Naming the zone
  • Selection of which zone output should be used
  • Selecting a zone symbol
  • Selecting an irrigation type

Entering the zone basic data

The naming of the zone and the assignment of a zone symbol serve to better identify and differentiate the individual zones. If you want, you can upload a photo of the zone later.

Setting the zone number determines which zone output on the Hunter controller the zone should use. For example, if you have 6 zone outputs available, you can choose a number between 1 and 6. Numbers that have already been selected for another zone cannot be assigned again.

In advanced mode, in addition to the standard type “Time-based irrigation plan”, you can choose from the following two irrigation types:

Smart (ET) type

If this irrigation type is selected, the system automatically determines when to irrigate based on precipitation and evaporation. It automatically takes these values from the connected virtual weather station for the past or extrapolates them for the future from the weather.com online source used. An average, sandy soil is assumed. The values to be entered in the next step differ from the time-based irrigation plan because certain selections are not possible due to the choice. Note: Smart (ET) schedule is not possible in standard mode.

Virtual Solar Sync

When Virtual Solar Sync is selected, the system simulates the use of a Solar Sync Sensor. Instead of a physical sensor, however, the data from the virtual weather station or weather.com is also used. Depending on the projected evaporation values (evapotranspiration), the system automatically adjusts the running time of the programmed irrigation runs.

Which irrigation type is right for you?
There is no one best type among the three offered. According to Hunter, in principle the same water savings can be achieved with all three. Which one you choose depends on your own requirements and also on how much you want to deal with the system itself or how much you want to leave to fixed program logic.

Choosing a time-based irrigation plan offers you the opportunity to plan the irrigation program in great detail according to your own specifications. The days on which watering should take place as well as the start time and duration of watering can be set precisely. And you can define exactly which weather-dependent parameters should ensure that irrigation is canceled, added or takes place longer or shorter. If something doesn’t work exactly according to plan, you can adjust the parameters very finely and get closer and closer to the desired result. Conversely, this mode also requires the most attention to the options offered by the system if you want to exploit the full potential.

The Smart (ET) Schedule makes many decisions for you. You just need to define how long the irrigation run should be and how many days apart it should take place during the peak period (= hottest time). The system obtains the necessary weather data online and uses it to calculate the evaporation relevant to the irrigation location on a daily basis. In this way, it calculates, just as a connected soil moisture sensor would, what moisture there is in the soil at the current time and when watering needs to be done again. So watering is not done on fixed days, but rather the system determines these independently. The irrigation duration, however, remains at the predefined value and is not adjusted, which can be advantageous if you value intensive irrigation that moistens the soil down to the roots.

Virtual Solar Sync mode works very similarly to Smart (ET). Again, based on rainfall and evaporation, the watering schedule is automatically adjusted. However, in this case this happens as it would if a physical Solar Sync sensor was used. Watering is carried out on fixed days specified by the user, but the length of watering is adjusted based on the weather data. This is particularly advantageous if you have to or want to water on specified days and don’t want to water on the other days. For example, if it is agreed with the municipality that watering is only allowed on certain days or if you share a common pump with neighbors.

Step 2 – Option 1: Define time-based irrigation schedule

These steps must be carried out if the irrigation type “Time-based irrigation schedule” was selected when creating the zone:

  • Choose between defining time and frequency or using a preconfigured watering schedule

If using a watering schedule was selected:

  • Choice of desired schedule. Most of the other settings are then no longer necessary as these are taken over from the predefined plan.

If Time and Frequency Definition is selected:

  • Enter the watering duration in minutes
  • Selection between irrigation at every program start and interval based irrigation
  • Activation/deactivation of the predictive watering triggers
  • Setting a monthly adjustment

If you select the option “Enter Time and Frequency below”, then the start time and how often the zone should be irrigated must then be defined. If the “Use a Preconfigured Watering Schedule” option is selected instead, the values from a template can be used so that no new definition is necessary. Provided you have created a suitable template beforehand or if your own garden is looked after by an irrigation company, they can also make their in-house templates available to their clients. The purpose behind it: You don’t always have to think about which settings are best, but you can use predefined settings for a specific application, practically like a template that you use again and again. If you create such settings yourself, it also has the advantage that you only need to define them once and then you can use them again and again for different zones. A possible template would be, for example, “Law was newly planted,” in which the appropriate irrigation settings for a newly created lawn that needs to be watered very often at short intervals are then explicitly stored. From now on, if you plant a new lawn in a zone, you can use this template for the necessary settings.

When it comes to irrigation frequency, you can choose between depending on the programs you have created (these are defined afterwards) and a fixed interval entry. The first option is shown on the left in the previous screenshot, the second on the right. The interval entry is somewhat misleadingly named: If you enter 3 days, this means that the water will be irrigated every 3 days. Optionally, you can also switch to weeks or define how often you want to water per day.

In the “Predictive Watering” section you can specify which of the previously defined trigger rules should be applied to the zone by checking or unchecking them. There are 5 different triggers to choose from that prevent watering from occurring and three that lead to additional watering runs or to an extended or shortened watering time.

The exact limits are defined separately in the “Watering triggers” menu as described above. At this point you just define which of the rules should be taken into account. There is one more rule to choose from than can be defined in the Watering Trigger menu. This is because the rule “Water x% more if the temperature forecast for the day is higher than x degrees and the humidity is below x degrees” can be applied in two ways: If you choose “Water longer when hot” the running time of the irrigation runs is increased in order to follow the rule. If you select “Water more often when hot” then the additional irrigation requirement results in an additional irrigation run. To do this, it is necessary to define a second, optional start time, which in this case would be used for additional irrigation.

Monthly adjustment

In addition to the Predictive Watering rules, a monthly adjustment can be defined for the zone. This increases or reduces the programmed running time of the irrigation in a certain percentage ratio on a monthly basis. This means you can automatically water for a shorter time in the cold months and longer in the warm months.

Each month it can be defined that 100% of the running time (= as programmed) or more or less is watered

Cycle and soak phases

Using this option it is possible to extend the irrigation time, which is then divided into irrigation phases and pause phases. This can be useful if you are irrigating a clayey soil where the water takes a long time to be absorbed into the soil. Or even when irrigating sloping terrain. You define the maximum amount of time you should water in one go and how long you should allow a break afterwards to give the water a chance to seep in. In this way, as much of the water as possible actually reaches the ground and as little water as possible is wasted.

Adjustment of cycle and soak time

If only one zone is programmed at the start time, then the running time of the zone is simply extended accordingly. For example, if a start time of 4:00 p.m. and a watering duration of 1 hour are stored and you have defined a maximum cycle time of 20 minutes and a soak time of 10 minutes, then this would lead to the following process:

4:00 p.m.: Start irrigation and run the irrigation for 20 minutes
4:20 p.m.: 10 minute break
4:30 p.m.: 20 minutes of watering
4:50 p.m.: 10 minute break
5:00 p.m.: 20 minutes of watering
5:20 p.m.: End of irrigation

In the example, the entire irrigation run would take 20 minutes longer.

If several zones are programmed at the start time, they would alternate so that the overall running time would not be extended. Let’s assume that zones 1, 2 and 3 are programmed with a start time of 4:00 p.m. and each have a watering duration of 1 hour. As before, the maximum cycle time should be 20 minutes and the soak time should be 10 minutes. The process here would be as follows:

4:00 p.m.: Start zone 1 and run the irrigation for 20 minutes
4:20 p.m.: zone 1 stops, zone 2 starts and 20 minutes of watering
4:40 p.m.: zone 2 stops, zone 3 starts and 20 minutes of watering
5:00 p.m.: zone 3 stops, zone 1 starts and 20 minutes of watering
5:20 p.m.: zone 1 stops, zone 2 starts and 20 minutes of watering
5:40 p.m.: zone 2 stops, zone 3 starts and 20 minutes of watering
6:00 p.m.: zone 3 stops, zone 1 starts and 20 minutes of watering
6:20 p.m.: zone 1 stops, zone 2 starts and 20 minutes of watering
6:40 p.m.: zone 2 stops, zone 3 starts and 20 minutes of watering
7:00 p.m.: End of irrigation

The total irrigation running time would therefore not change because the break in one zone is used to irrigate the other.

Water adjustment

Last but not least, an option is offered with which you can increase the irrigation times for the zone globally by a certain percentage. This can be useful if you notice that the current settings are watering a little too much or too little, but you don’t want to adjust the watering in detail, but simply want to make a quick adjustment up or down. This option makes no sense in the initial creation of a zone, because then you could simply define the duration as longer.

By moving the slider, watering times can be extended or shortened by up to 100%

Step 2 – Option 2: Define Smart (ET) Schedule

The following steps must be carried out if the “Smart (ET)” irrigation type is selected instead of a time-based irrigation plan when creating a zone:

  • Choose between defining time and frequency or using a preconfigured watering schedule

If using a watering schedule was selected:

  • Choice of desired schedule. Most of the other settings are then no longer necessary as these are taken over from the predefined plan.

If Time and Frequency Definition is selected:

  • Enter the watering duration in minutes
  • Selection between irrigation at every program start and interval based irrigation
  • Activation/deactivation of the predictive watering triggers
  • Setting a monthly adjustment

Definition of a Smart (ET) schedule that automatically controls irrigation based on calculated evaporation

In Smart (ET) mode, the irrigation duration is specified by the user; the system independently adjusts at what intervals and on which days the irrigation takes place. For this purpose, the reference value is specified as to how often irrigation must be carried out at the absolute peak time. So if the sun burns down at 95 Fahrenheit for a week in midsummer, how many days apart should be irrigated? Optionally, you can switch the selection from days to weeks here.

The box “Run this zone at the next available start time” can be checked if the first watering is already overdue, meaning the plants or lawn are already thirsty for water. Otherwise, the automatic system would only plan the first watering in a few days instead of starting immediately.

In the “Predictive Watering” menu item, there are significantly fewer options to choose from in Smart (ET) mode than if you define the irrigation completely manually, since the automatic system takes over a large part of the decisions. You can specify that watering should be stopped completely at a certain outside temperature. You can also define which parameters the Smart (ET) automatic system should work on. You can choose whether it should only use evaporation values (forecast ET ) or also precipitation values (forecast rainfall). What leads to better results may vary from case to case in practice and is best tried out.

Monthly adjustment

A monthly adjustment can also be defined in Smart (ET) mode (for an explanation of this, see the time-based irrigation plan above).

Cycle and soak phases

Likewise, irrigation can be divided into cycle phases and soak phases (explanation also as before).

Water adjustment

And you can also increase or reduce the irrigation globally by a certain percentage for fine-tuning (explanation also as before).

Step 2 – Option 3: Define Virtual Solar Sync Mode

The following steps must be carried out if the “Virtual Solar Sync” irrigation type is selected instead of the two previously described options when creating a zone:

  • Choose between defining time and frequency or using a preconfigured watering schedule

If using a watering schedule was selected:

  • Choice of desired schedule. Most of the other settings are then no longer necessary as these are taken over from the predefined plan.

If Time and Frequency Definition is selected:

  • Enter the watering duration in minutes
  • Selection between irrigation at every program start and interval based irrigation
  • Activation/deactivation of the predictive watering triggers
  • Setting a monthly adjustment

Definition of the zone in Virtual Solar Sync mode

Unlike in Smart (ET) mode, the irrigation duration is adjusted automatically here. The irrigation duration entered serves as a reference value; this is lengthened or shortened depending on the calculated evaporation. Following the same principle as using a Solar Sync Sensor with the irrigation computer. The system does not change the specified days, so you can rely on the fact that there will be rain on these days.

In the “Predictive Watering” menu item, not all eight possible options are available in the Virtual Solar Sync mode, but with 5 options, significantly more manual intervention can be done than in the previously described Smart (ET) mode.

Monthly adjustment

A monthly adjustment can also be defined in the Virtual Solar Sync mode.

Cycle and soak phases

Likewise, irrigation can be divided into cycle phases and soak phases.

Watering adjustment

And you can also increase or reduce the irrigation globally by a certain percentage for fine-tuning.

Add program

A program is always created in the same way, regardless of which mode (time-based irrigation plan, Smart (ET), Virtual Solar Sync) the zone was defined in.

Step 1: Enter program data

  • Enter start time
  • Selection of watering type
  • Selection of watering days

Definition of program data

Entering the time at which the program takes place with a 12 hour clock. So up to and including 12 noon with the addition of “am” and after 12 noon with the addition of “pm”.

The watering type can be selected between normal weekly irrigation, irrigation only in even weeks, irrigation only in odd weeks and low priority irrigation time. A low priority irrigation time is only used if the system needs to schedule additional watering runs in addition to the scheduled watering runs (“Water more often when hot” option).

When selecting the irrigation days, you can choose between “Selected days of the week”, “Even days” and “Odd days”. If you choose “Selected days of the week”, you can specify whether you want to rain for each day from Monday to Sunday. In the example shown, watering would occur on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. If you define the days of the week for a program that is used for a zone with a Smart (ET) schedule, then a restriction of the days of the week means that the program logic can no longer freely choose the best day, but is limited to those available and therefore, it may sometimes only be able to water later than would be optimal.

Step 2: Select the zone(s)

Now you have to determine which zones should be executed with the defined program start time on the defined days. Only a single zone or several zones can be selected. You can also optionally select that the program should apply to all zones. Alternatively, a predefined irrigation schedule can also be selected.

In the case shown, the “Drip irrigation” zone is added to the program

Programming the irrigation schedule in standard mode

Add zone

Step 1: Enter basic data

  • Naming the zone
  • Selection of which zone output should be used
  • Selecting a zone symbol

Creation of the zone

Creating a zone in standard mode is limited to naming the zone, selecting an icon, and assigning it to a zone output on the Hunter computer. At this point you cannot choose between different irrigation types; this definition only takes place when the program is created. In standard mode, irrigation duration, irrigation frequency and rules for triggering irrigation are also not defined in the zone, but in the program.

Step 2: Definition of cycle and soak phases and water adjustment

As in the advanced mode, it is also possible in the standard mode to define cycle and soak phases and to define a global adjustment of the irrigation by a certain percentage.

Definition of cycle and soak phases

Definition of a global watering adjustment

Add program

Step 1: Enter program basic data

  • Naming of the program
  • Selecting a program type

Entering the basic program data

As in the advanced mode, the time-based irrigation plan and the virtual solar sync are available as program types. The Smart (ET) option is not available in standard mode.

Step 2 – Option 1: Define time-based irrigation plan

These steps must be carried out if the program type “Time-based” was selected when creating the program:

  • Selection of irrigation days
  • Definition of program start times

Definition of irrigation days and start times

You can set specific days of the week to water, or you can set watering to occur on odd or even days. The fourth option is to set watering intervals, i.e. watering every x days.

Up to 5 different start times can be saved for the program.

Selection of zones and definition of watering duration

The next step is to select one or more zones that should be processed in the program and define how long irrigation should last for each of these zones. In the example shown below, 3 zones with 50 minutes each are added to the program. With a start time of 5 a.m., the first zone would run for 50 minutes, then the second zone for 50 minutes and finally the third zone for 50 minutes.

Selection of zones and definition of watering times

Predictive watering rules

In standard mode, the predictive watering rules are set in the program. The rules available for selection are the same as in advanced mode; an explanation of the individual rules can be found there.

Adjust irrigation based on predictive watering rules

Grow In program

This option is only available in standard mode. Here you have the option of having the irrigation program start and/or end at a specific start or end point in order to allow newly sown lawns to be watered more frequently and more intensively with this program for a while before switching to the standard irrigation program.

Define the start and end times of the growth program

Monthly adjustment

The monthly adjustment allows you to increase or decrease the programmed watering time by a certain percentage for each month of the year.

Enter monthly adjustments

Step 2 – Option 2: Define Virtual Solar Sync Mode

If the “Virtual Solar Sync” irrigation type is selected when creating a program instead of a time-based irrigation plan, the settings work exactly as described previously for option 1, with the only exception that there are slightly fewer predictive watering rules to choose from.

Predictive watering rules possible in Virtual Solar Sync mode

Creation of an irrigation template

In the Zones & Schedules menu in Advanced Mode there is also the option to create irrigation templates, which can then be used when defining new zones. If you let a professional irrigation company manage the irrigation, then they can make their templates available globally to all customers they support.

The following information is stored in the template:

  • Name of the template
  • Irrigation Type Used (Time Based Irrigation Schedule, Smart (ET) Schedule, Virtual Solar Sync)
  • Watering duration
  • Watering frequency
  • Predictive watering rules
  • Monthly adjustment

Add sensor

Hydrawise offers very extensive options for working with sensors. There are two sensor inputs available on the irrigation computer, to which a rain sensor, soil moisture sensor or flow meter can be connected as standard. Which sensor can be connected to which input is not fixed, but is simply defined when the sensor is added. When connecting a rain or soil moisture sensor, you can also choose whether they work according to the “normally open” principle or the “normally closed” principle. This is very positive, as in principle the entire range of sensors available on the market is available for use. When it comes to flow meters, you can also choose from a number of different models. For the added sensor it can be defined for which of the zones it should work.

Does it make sense to use a sensor?

Using a flow meter gives you the ability to monitor the system for proper water usage and quickly detect problems. But why do you need a rain sensor or soil moisture sensor with a Hydrawise computer? In principle, this function should already be covered by obtaining the weather data via the web?

In my opinion, using a soil moisture sensor usually doesn’t make sense unless you want your system to be extremely precise so that you don’t want to rely on the extrapolated Hydrawise values. The extrapolated values are created once at the beginning of the day based on the weather forecast valid at that time. If the weather then behaves differently than predicted, for example if there is a short, intense downpour that was not predicted, then irrigation may occur even though the soil moisture values would speak against it. This won’t happen too often over the course of a year and won’t make too much of a difference, but if you want to avoid it at all costs, then using a soil moisture sensor can make sense. Alternatively, this inaccuracy could also be reduced with the paid upgrade to the Hydrawise Enthusiast plan, which entitles you to update the weather data more frequently (more on this in the section “Change account settings”)

The same argument applies to the rain sensor and there is another one here: an additional rain sensor also makes sense if it is important to you to 100% rule out watering when it starts to rain. So if irrigation that has already started should stop immediately when rain falls. For example, to avoid strange looks from neighbors who make fun of watering when it rains at the same time.

You can find out more about how rain and soil moisture sensors work in principle in the following blog post: Rain, soil moisture and other sensors

Add your own sensor type

If you don’t find the desired flow meter among the selectable flow meters, or if you want to use a completely different sensor type, you can create a new one in Hydrawise.

Adding a flow sensor

When installing a flow meter, the liter per pulse value of the flow meter must be stored. Communication with the flow meter does not work in such a way that the liter output flowing through is transmitted as a numerical value, but rather, like rain and soil moisture sensors, the sensor only sends electrical pulses to the irrigation computer. The liter per pulse value indicates after how many liters have passed through the sensor sends an electronic pulse to the irrigation computer. For example, if the sensor sends one pulse per 10 liters and it has sent 6 pulses, then the irrigation computer knows that 60 liters have flowed through. The smaller the liter value per pulse, the more precise measurements are possible.

Installation of a customer-specific flow meter

Adding an alternative sensor type

If you want to use a sensor other than a rain sensor, soil moisture sensor or flow sensor in Hydrawise, you can create a new one in the system. In the following screenshot I have shown an example of a motion sensor that should start watering when a motion is detected. When you create your own sensor, normally open and normally closed sensors are possible. And these can either start or turn off the zone. In addition, a specific minute value can be stored within which the sensor is prevented from being triggered again.

Installation of a new type of sensor

Add alerts

Under the menu item Account – Alerts you can define events about which you would like to be actively notified.

It is currently possible to create the following 4 alerts:

  • Notification if the control unit has not had an internet connection for x days
  • Notification when there is a high current flow in the solenoid coil of a zone (short circuit to the solenoid)
  • Notification when there is low current flow in the solenoid coil of a zone (defective cable on the solenoid coil)
  • Notification when a watering run has been skipped

With an additional flow meter, the following 4 notifications can also be created:

  • Notification when a zone’s water consumption is x% higher than the last run
  • Notification when a zone’s water consumption is x% lower than the last run
  • Notification if more than x liters of water have been used in the last minute even though no zone was active
  • Notification if more than x liters of water were used within the last hour even though no zone was active

And if you have a rain sensor, the following notification can also be created:

  • Notification when rain sensor status changes

When creating an alert, you can choose whether it should apply to all control devices stored in Hydrawise or only to certain ones. If an alert occurs, it will always be added to the event log in the app’s Account – Events menu. In addition, you can also have the warning actively displayed as a push notification on your cell phone, which I would definitely recommend because it could easily be overlooked in the menu since you don’t normally check it regularly. If you have upgraded to the paid Enthusiast plan, you can also have the warning sent to you as an SMS.

Selection of the alert type and determination of the limit value

Determination which control device(s) the alert should apply to

Select how you would like to receive the warning message

Change Controller Settings

In the controller settings menu, various basic settings of the irrigation computer can be changed. As already described above, this includes the possibility of changing the program mode from standard operation to advanced operation or vice versa. Apart from that, the following settings can also be made here:

  • The name of the control device can be changed
  • You can decide what the irrigation computer should do when it does not have an internet connection. By default, it continues to use the most recently transmitted watering times; alternatively, you can select that no watering takes place in such a case.
  • The time zone used for the settings can be changed
  • Valve delays can be stored. The master valve delay determines the minimum number of seconds that should pass after the master valve opens before a zone valve is opened. The inter-zone delay determines how many seconds should elapse after a zone closes before the next zone’s valve opens. In certain setups, these settings can help you build the necessary water pressure for irrigation before opening the zones.

Possible controller settings

In the Weather Stations tab you can specifically select from which weather stations the weather data is obtained. However, this is very limited by default (selection only from airport weather stations and limited to one station); only with a paid upgrade to an Enthusiast plan can you choose from up to 5 private weather stations. And then it would also be possible to select a weather station that you operate yourself.

In the Expanders tab, the use of additional hardware modules for additional sector outputs can be stored so that more zones can then be supplied.

In the Offline Adjustments tab, monthly adjustments can be stored that would be applied if the irrigation computer was not connected to the Internet for a long period of time.

Change Account Settings

In the Account menu item, a few interesting settings relating to the Hydrawise account can be made. The possibility of creating warning messages has already been described above. In addition, you can view warning messages that have occurred in the Events submenu and, under the event type “Info”, you can see a history of the changes made in the system and irrigation runs that have taken place.

In the Messages submenu you have the option of contacting a Hydrawise authorized contractor near your home directly. To do this, authorized dealers within a 20 mile radius are suggested and their contact details are displayed. You can now contact them by phone or email or directly using the chat function integrated into Hydrawise.

In the Account Details submenu you can change the language and the units of measurement used in the program, as well as change the email address. If you want, you can also upload a photo of yourself or your garden.

If you want to upgrade your Hydrawise account to the Enthusiast plan, you can do so here too. This currently costs 66 USD per year and can be paid directly via the app with Paypal. You can then select several weather stations from a larger pool of stations for predictive watering and it is also possible to integrate your own weather station. The watering times are updated not just once a day, but 1 hour before each program starts and you can add up to 5 instead of up to 3 control devices to your Hydrawise account. In addition, the report history is longer at 365 days and you have more image storage at 100 megabytes. Warning messages can also be sent via SMS.

Hydrawise Enthusiast Plan

In the My Controllers submenu it is possible to add up to two additional irrigation computers to the account or to remove an existing control device and replace it with another one.

In the Users submenu you can see which users currently have access to the Hydrawise account and you can create access for additional users. They can then also access the Hydrawise account via the Hydrawise app on their cell phone or on their desktop computer via the web browser at https://app.hydrawise.com/config/dashboard.

To do this, simply enter the user’s name and email address and determine which of the two possible authorization levels he should have:

  • Can modify configurations and run zones
  • Can view configurations and run zones manually

The first level should be reserved for users who are more familiar with the system and are able to make adjustments. The second level is good for users who only want to use the system but do not want to change any settings. If you give such users this permission level, you avoid the risk of something being accidentally changed. If you work with a professional operator, you may only receive limited authorization for daily use and the operator, as an admin, will make changes to the configuration.

Adding a new user

Finally, electronic files can be stored and accessed under My Files. This could be an issue if the system is operated by a professional who provides the user with instructions for daily use. If you operate the system yourself, I can’t think of any useful application.

Menu item Home (Home Page)

The Home page is the start page of the Hydrawise system, where you can see an overview of essential information.

  • Created irrigation runs (click on a run to get detailed information about it)
  • Weather forecast for the next 3 days
  • Observations on temperature and precipitation
  • Information about sensors used
  • Information about the control unit

This information can be seen on the home page

By clicking on one of the zone symbols it is also possible to quickly start a manual watering run. After selecting the zone, all you have to do is enter the desired running time and start irrigation.

Menu item Zones and Programs

The zones and programs created are displayed under the menu item Zones & Programs. You can change the settings by clicking on the edit symbol. You can also set here whether a master valve is used for irrigation. Such a master valve is automatically opened when each zone valve is opened. It is installed directly after the water connection and serves as a safety net should the zone valve not close properly. Alternatively, it can also be used to start a pump.

Menu item Reports

A range of information can be found in the Reports menu item:

  • The irrigation runs planned for the next 30 days are displayed in calendar form. The planning is always based on the current weather forecast, so it can change again the next time the weather data is updated. You can also look up which irrigation runs took place in the previous days.
  • A detailed weather forecast is available for the next few days
  • The values measured by the weather station can be accessed in detail (wind, precipitation, temperature). The calculated evaporation can also be tracked.
  • Comprehensive water consumption statistics (if an additional flow sensor is present)
  • Historical weather data

Example of an overview of planned irrigation runs

Bluetooth control

The Bluetooth control menu item offers an alternative to controlling the irrigation computer via cell phone if Wi-Fi is not available. To do this, you must be in close proximity to the watering computer (maximum approx. 70 feet away).

Purchase a Hydrawise irrigation computer

In my experience, particularly the the Hunter HC and the Hunter Pro-HC are suitable for the usual private user, although I myself tend towards the Pro-HC, which is a little more expensive but has better manufacturing quality and is also offered as an outdoor model. Another alternative would be to use a traditional Hunter X2 irrigation computer of the latest generation and make it web-enabled with an additional Hunter Wand WiFi module.

Hunter Pro-HC on Amazon:

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Hunter HC and Hunter X2 with Wand on Amazon:

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Conclusion and Recommendation

The article has become very long and there is a good reason for this: Hydrawise’s setting options are actually very sophisticated and extensive. I can hardly think of a scenario that couldn’t be covered with this. The product created by the then Australian startup company Hydrawise was absolutely revolutionary at the time and was cleverly further improved by Hunter technicians after the company was taken over, so that it is now a mature product that works well in practice. By intelligently using the weather data available online, you can actually save a lot of water when watering, thereby protecting both the environment and your own wallet. The comparatively high purchase price is somewhat put into perspective when you consider that in return you save yourself having to purchase additional sensors. Also unlike some other systems, you don’t need an additional gateway to connect to the web.

With the abundance of setting options and small wheels that you can turn in the Hydrawise system, some people may be afraid that they will be completely overwhelmed by the software. In my opinion that is not the case! The software is cleverly structured in layers so that the essential things can be set very easily and with the support of a setup assistant. Only for further optimizations you have to go deeper into the system. If you want to squeeze every last percent out of the system in order to use as little water as possible and irrigate as efficiently as possible, then it is best to gradually approach the optimal setting. So make a small change, try it out for a few weeks to see what effect it has, evaluate whether it has had a positive effect and then think about the next change step. This only requires minimal effort and little by little you will find your perfect setting.

In my opinion, you can usually get by with the free basic version of the software, so an update to the paid Enthusiast plan is not necessary in order to have a suitable product; you can also use the software in the basic version . An update may make sense if you have a large area to irrigate and want to maximize water savings with even more current weather data and measurements from your own weather station.

In my opinion, Hydrawise is the best smart irrigation system currently available on the market. And it is very likely that it will remain in that position for the next years, because developing such complex software requires thousands and thousands of developer hours, so this technological advantage can only be made up with an immense amount of money. Every user automatically benefits from further improvements to the Hydrawise software, as the software is always updated to the latest version.

Der Beitrag This is how the Hunter Hydrawise system works erschien zuerst auf Irrigation Blog for Do-it-yourselfer.

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