How many stations can a smart sprinkler controller support? We steer you to products you'll love and show you how to get the most out of them. This flow meter monitors your sprinkler system for leaks, but only it’s compatible only with the third-generation Rachio smart sprinkler controller. Not the most elegantly designed unit. You can change the watering amounts or times in the middle of the day, track how much water you use, and adjust the schedule as you see fit. If you are looking for the best wifi sprinkler controller in the market, Hunter is not the only choice though their Hydrawise software is the most complete Wi-Fi irrigation control system that gives you total control of your watering. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. With a smart WiFi controller, not only can you control your system with your smartphone, some controllers even have the ability to save you a substantial amount of water and detect leaks. Initial Wi-Fi setup/pairing can be a bit tricky. Get exclusive content, advice, and tips from BestReviews. The Most Complete Wi-Fi Irrigation Control System. I was first considering RainMachine because it does not need the cloud to operate, so if RainMachine’s servers are down (or i… Excellent value for money. Water Sense certified. Unfortunately, most sprinkler system controllers are still dumb devices that only operate with a fixed schedule set at the control panel. Control multiple timers – Both homeowners that worry about more than one property and lawn care professionals can easily access a timer no matter where they are Put control of your sprinkler system in the palm of your hand with a Smart Irrigation WiFi Timer from Rain Bird. Every other day? A reasonably priced option that gives more expensive competitors a run for their money. See it. Cannot be mounted outdoors without purchasing the appropriate case. Once the system is set up, you can let it run and rest assured your lawn is getting the water it needs and not one drop more. It gives you complete visibility and control over the irrigation system. Rachio WiFi Smart Lawn Sprinkler ControllerMany of the best WiFi irrigation controller alternatives … An exceptional, but high priced smart sprinkler controller. That’s The Intelligent Use of Water™. 4.6 out of 5 stars 6,286. The Rachio Smart Lawn Sprinkler System is one of the best wireless sprinkler controllers for maintaining your yard from afar. $139.99$139.99 $149.99$149.99. A Sprinkler System that Saves Water. 4.4 out of 5 stars 216. After looking around, seems like Rachio and RainMachine both had integrations with Home Assistant (my chosen Home Automation platform) and had good reviews. You can conveniently connect your phone with this system using the app and take control of the irrigation system with confidence. Low-end models, particularly those designed to work with hoses, are easy to install; simply plug and go. The Blossom 7 can control up to seven sprinkler zones independently. One of the best things about a smart sprinkler controller is the ability to forget about it. The following are comparisons of the three top Smart Controllers for Irrigation Systems on the market: Hunter’s Hydrawise Controller, Rainbird, and Rachio. Customizable zone input to optimize watering schedules. A. This controller is a little more pricey than the Orbit 57950, but users love it for its convenience and easy setup, with an awesome in-app installation tutorial. Many smart sprinkler controllers offer similar features, but since this is a new technology, it may pay off in the long run to go for a high-end model. Orbit 57946 B-hyve Smart Indoor/Outdoor 6-Station WiFi Sprinkler System Controller, Compatible with Alexa By orbit 8.5 View Product 8.5 6: … Check with your utility company to see if a rebate is offered in your area for the use of a smart sprinkler controller. Spruce Irrigation Sprinkler Controller. But its … A few controllers can even import legal watering restrictions information for your zip code, to ensure you aren’t watering on prohibited days. Orbit’s second-generation B-hyve smart sprinkler controller has lots of bells and whistles, and it can even withstand being mounted outdoors without needing an accessory (although it’s not completely waterproof).Â. For example, a particular zone of your yard might need less water than another zone because there is more clay in the soil. Learn about the products you’re wondering if you should buy and get advice on using your latest purchases. Other Wifi Sprinkler Controller. Like most connected devices, you can control smart sprinklers with an app. Indoor/outdoor mounting: Are you mounting the unit inside or outside? Once again, there’s no contest: The Rachio 3 succeeds the second-generation Rachio as the best smart sprinkler controller on the market. Utilizes multiple leading weather data sources to calculate the perfect volume of water. Eight stations can be supported by many systems. Number of zones: In irrigation parlance, a zone is an area controlled by a valve and its connected irrigation tubing. Rachio Wireless Flow Meter. What exactly does a smart sprinkler controller do? Its exterior is, of course, less sophisticated, as the screen is … Smart sprinkler controllers have a WiFi-enabled sensor unit you install in your yard. In some cases, yes. A. Hunter's lineup offers an array of user-friendly features and smart controller water-saving options built to fit any landscape irrigation system. TechHive |. Q. Home Automation. Netro Sprite Smart Sprinkler Controller – Best Water-Efficient Controller. 99 $109.99 $109.99. Some smart sprinkler controllers make the adjustments themselves; others require a manual override. Q. BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing, and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. Water Sense certified. Even low-end ones made to hook up to a hose are designed for use with downloadable apps for your smartphone. Expect this to change as these products mature. Features WeatherSense technology for personalized watering based on individual garden conditions and local weather forecasts. WaterSense models actually control the watering based on the weather. on Rachio. It can be challenging in the hot summers with old-fashioned irrigation system timers. Watering the lawn and garden is a thankless chore, and it tends to be especially wasteful if done with a hose in one hand and a beer in the other. Get it as soon as Sat, Nov 21. Water Sense certified. There are other smart sprinkler controllers that are worth considering. Scheduling flexibility: How often do you want to water? These apps allow you to easily control your watering system from anywhere. However, in-ground moisture sensing devices are often sold separately. Freelance Contributor, If you install your smart sprinkler controller far from your router, you risk losing your connection in bad weather. Do you have a sprinkler system already? Many are designed with specific voice commands that work with controllers like Amazon Echo and Amazon Alexa. Handy plant library with 1,000+ species. You can control it yourself, or can choose a system with a WaterSense design that uses WiFi to check the forecast. Basic smart sprinkler controllers turn any irrigation system into a device you can control from a smartphone app or with your Amazon Alexa. These will allow you to use the smart technology with any sprinkling system. At BestReviews, we want to help you find the best smart sprinkler controller for your landscaping needs. The world’s best smart sprinkler controller gets even better, with new features, better wireless connectivity, and smarter water management. This system can easily control 16 different sensors throughout the park. It’s a completely “smart” system that can sense when your lawn needs water by checking the weather forecast and, in some cases, checking ground moisture. Easy installation and use. Compare the top smart sprinkler systems for your lawn and garden. Effortless installation, programming and functions. Save 10% with coupon. Other options New and used from $59.20. Q. This can be handy if you have multiple people using the system or, especially, want to give a gardener access to the controller without having to set him or her up on the app. Wi-Fi: 2.4 GHz. The controller determines the ideal watering amount for each zone based on factors such as the following. TechHive helps you find your tech sweet spot. Zones: 6. User friendly interface. They’re a major step up from the timer-driven models most homeowners use. Smart sprinkler controllers can potentially eliminate needless watering by up to 50%. When we moved into our house it came with an older Rain Bird system that runs on 24V AC. A. Keep your smart sprinkler within range of your WiFi router. Orbit B-hyve 4-Zone Smart Indoor Sprinkler Controller. Complies with local water regulations/restrictions. Consult with a landscaping expert first if you are installing a sprinkler system from scratch, in order to plan out your zones in advance. Many smart sprinkler controllers use in-ground moisture information to help with watering schedules. Can I use a smart sprinkler controller on my manual lawn sprinkler? Uses the same wires as standard timers for hassle-free installation. Clay is known for its water-retaining properties. Netro (12-Zone)The final smart sprinkler controller is one by Netro. Installing a real sprinkler system can be a big task that requires professional help—particularly if you have a large yard or garden—but upgrading to a smart controller from a “dumb” one isn’t difficult. Both approaches to date have shown some merit. 5) Wait for the controller to load. Orbit might be a graybeard in the world of irrigation, but it’s giving Rachio a run for its money in the smart home market. An affordable option, but with considerably fewer features than its counterparts. Orbit 57946 B-hyve Indoor/Outdoor 6-Station Smart WiFi Sprinkler System Controller – A Cut-Rate Wi-Fi Option This is the only cheap and functional Wi-Fi product available on the market. Ultra quick and easy setup. Note: When you purchase something after clicking links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Spruce Irrigation, 16 Zone Wifi Sprinkler Controller. Home Control. Its sprinkler controller is an affordable choice as long as you don't mind the bulky, industrial design. 10% coupon applied at checkout. We dug into the product space to learn more; the product recommendations at the top of this page are our favorites. Smart sprinkler controllers are made to be compatible with your devices. (Note: There is also an 8-zone model that sells for $249.99). The unit controls your irrigation system, giving you the ability to make watering adjustments from your smartphone based on the weather. Keeping the flowers beautiful and the grass green is something nearly every homeowner tries to accomplish. FREE Shipping by Amazon. On specific days of the week? and give us feedback about your visit today. BestReviews wants to be better. Some vendors sell separate indoor and outdoor versions of their controllers. Smart-home hub support: Want to tie your sprinkler system into your smart-home hub? We only make money if you purchase a product through our links, and all opinions about the products are our own. All smart sprinkler controllers are designed to give you some kind of interface with an app on your smartphone. Controllers that are certified by the WaterSense program provide you with system access via a smartphone app, but the device is designed to work more like a thermostat than a pre-set timer system. Push notifications are common, but many only notify you when the watering has completed, not when it starts (which is arguably more useful). Christopher Null is a veteran technology and business journalist. The B-hyve WiFi sprinkler is Orbit's initial venture into the smart sprinkler realm, though the company has been in this business for 40 years. If outside, you’ll need a weatherproof enclosure for the system. See the benefits. If you’d like to experience the future of irrigation with your own wifi irrigation controller and wireless rain sensor, contact Wetscape, a Royal Irrigation Company, today at 732-993-7300.We’ll put the power of smartphone irrigation control in your hands. CR’s take: The Rachio 3 8ZULW-C is a solid sprinkler controller that's easy to connect to WiFi and is highly responsive to local forecasts, receiving a Very Good rating for that capability. Notifications: It’s helpful to be notified when your watering system is running, but different products deal with the mechanics differently. Works with Amazon Alexa. A healthy, beautiful garden needs just the right amount of water to thrive. Manual watering feature only works one zone at a time, requiring a manual startup for each consecutive zone. Designed to give you remote access via smartphone to your sprinkler system, a smart sprinkler controller can help you easily control the amount of water you use on your yard. Robust, weatherproof case can be mounted indoors or outdoors. Higher end models can be expanded to support up to 20 or more zones. Updated September 18, 2020 to add our Orbit B-hyve XR smart sprinkler controller review. Saves water by automatically adjusting to weather/seasonal fluctuations. Get it as soon as Thu, Oct 15. Ultra modern and sleek unit with touch screen controls. This is rapidly changing, as smart sprinkler controllers enter the market. You can easily adjust zone watering and also track how much water and time your system is using. We buy all products with our own funds, and we never accept free products from manufacturers. A smart sprinkler controller can customize the amount of water received by various zones in your yard. A. Irrigation systems have made home watering simpler and more efficient, and while the bulk of any sprinkler system revolves around plastic pipes and a set of motorized valves attached to the water supply, the brains of the operation has always been in the controller. The modular design of the Pro-C®, Pro-C Hydrawise™, ICC2, I-Core®, ACC and ACC2 controllers sets yet another industry standard for easy-to-use and expandable automatic irrigation controllers. It is simple to setup customized watering schedules that can be adjusted automatically all year long to ensure a healthy, beautiful landscape saving you time and money. Shareable access. These better controllers offer a much greater ability to save water. Others sell an outdoor enclosure as a separate add-on. Get exclusive content, advice, and tips from BestReviews delivered to your inbox. Other forms of notification (email, text) aren’t common, so consider a unit that supports IFTTT if you want to get fancy with notifications. ST8 2.0, 8-Zone Smart Irrigation WiFi Sprinkler Timer Put control of your sprinkler system in the palm of your hand with a Smart Irrigation WiFi Timer from Rain Bird. Can I install a smart sprinkler controller myself? They run regardless of the weather – even if it’s pouring rain – which can be a waste of energy and resources. Read our, What to look for when shopping for a smart sprinkler controller, Orbit B-hyve XR smart sprinkler controller review, Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller (16 zone), Orbit B-hyve Smart Hose Watering Timer (with Wi-Fi bridge), Rain Bird ST8I-WiFi Smart Irrigation Indoor Timer/Controller, Scotts Miracle-Gro Blossom 7 Smart Watering Controller, Better Water Intelligence features improve conservation, Revamped wire connectors make setup even faster, Onboard controls offer easy access to manual runs, Old Rachio units don’t get access to the same software treatment, Significantly cheaper than the standard version, Still offers world-class water management capabilities, Thrive application is easy (and the included expanding hose is great), Thrive fertilizer subscription is expensive, Lots of scheduling options, fairly easy to understand, Onboard display is handy for at-a-glance status updates, Can be mounted outdoors without an accessory (though not fully waterproof), Wiring leads might require some finagling to successfully connect, Onboard hardware controls are far from intuitive, Precision irrigation based on your specific landscaping and current environmental conditions, You can open the valve and have it automatically shut off based on elapsed time or gallons of water, More expensive than timers that don’t connect to your home network, Smart scheduling is better than most competitors, Streamlined, modern design makes it suitable for interior use, Onboard hardware controls aren’t intuitive, The app is capable of managing multiple controllers, Relatively cumbersome installation (both hardware and software), Very slow and rather limited mobile app (apart from the multiple controller feature), Simple and streamlined; one of the easiest watering systems to master, Handy features like hibernation and soak cycles are available if you hunt for them, Simplified interface may not offer enough configurability for many users, Smooth integration with an existing Rachio 3 smart sprinkler controller, Can reduce water waste by shutting down your sprinkler system if it detects a leak, Most buyers will want to hire a professional to install, Not compatible with first- and second-generation Rachio smart sprinkler controllers. 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