122 sold. Netro has a new model, the Spark, and it is offering the Sprite for a $29.99 annual subscription option, which we do not recommend. $100 to $200: This price range is the starting point for in-ground watering system smart sprinkler … From a conservation perspective—and saving money on your water bills—smart controllers are critical. The app sends timely and consistent notifications to your smartphone and email, the most useful being a warning that the sprinklers are about to turn on, sent a few seconds before they do; this saved us from unexpectedly soaking some party guests. And though the Sprinkl Sense soil-moisture sensor we tested worked far more reliably, all WaterSense-certified controllers are required to function without the need for rain or soil-moisture sensors. We tried to enable this recipe with each device that was compatible with IFTTT, but it worked reliably only with the Rachio 3. If the controller loses its cloud connection, it will still water your garden using the last schedule; if you’re running a flexible schedule, a “backup flex schedule” will kick in. All smart sprinkler controllers rely on a science called evapotranspiration (ET)—the sum of evaporation and plant water use—to figure out when to water your yard and for how long. The A, B, C, D system it uses may be familiar to irrigation experts, but it’s just a confusing holdover from basic clocks and not useful for the average homeowner. Anyone who has a sprinkler system that’s operated by a mechanical or an electronic timer (clock) should consider upgrading to a smart controller, also known as a weather-based controller. It’s far too complex compared with competing models, and yet it lacks smart-home integrations. Based on this, we evaluated how each controller responded to changes in weather during testing and whether it allowed us to select a weather station versus a data source chosen by the controller. We had the most fun with the IFTTT integration: We set up an applet that turned on the sprinklers for five minutes in the zone we named “chickens” whenever the temperature exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Rainmachine HD uses one of the zone terminals as the connection for a master valve, so if you have one, you get only 11 or 15 zones. And I’ve lived in homes with underground sprinkler systems for 16 years, giving me plenty of hands-on time with electronic controllers. Whether you’re outside in the garden or away from home, you’re always … This provided a nice, cooling shower to the chickens in our coop. Orbit B-hyve 12-Zone Indoor/Outdoor Smart Sprinkler Controller, Works with Amazon Alexa (1165) Model# 57950 $ 96 81. But its watering method and forecasting are less precise than the Rachio 3’s. Some water utilities offer rebates if you install WaterSense irrigation controllers; rebates can cover a large portion of the cost of the device. Hunter's lineup offers an array of user-friendly features and smart controller water-saving options built to fit any landscape irrigation system. The system … Orbit also has a 12-zone smart controller that is weatherproof and has full on-device controls. Rachio 3 Smart Bundle: Includes Rachio 3rd Generation-8 Zone Smart Sprinkler Controller (Alexa Co… It works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, and SmartThings, and its app is much easier to navigate than when we first tested it. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Smart smoke alarms send alerts to your phone if a fire or carbon monoxide leak occurs. But if you want to dig deeper, it’s less intuitive. But its … Also, it has a big plus in its favor: We are still testing the original review unit we received in 2017, and all of the features and upgrades RainMachine has received in the interim have come to this device, including HomeKit compatibility. Conserve from Sprinkl is a connected irrigation rain sensor that retrofits to your existing irrigation controller, giving it some basic smarts by adding smartphone control and some weather intelligence. Our top pick, the Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro, is small and attractive, and can be used in multiple ways. The schedule calendar is confusing, providing only a rain cloud to indicate that the device is not going to water, as opposed to the detailed forecasts that the Rachio 3 and others offer. After testing six new models (and seeing one former pick get discontinued), we still think the Google Nest Cam Outdoor is the best outdoor security camera. In a few cases, the sprinklers didn’t turn on for an entire week due to rain. (For a deeper dive on the science behind these sprinklers, see How smart sprinklers work). We also tested the company’s soil-moisture sensors, but two of the three failed (the third was eaten by our lawnmower). Packaged lighters are classified as a cartoned, expanded … It also has a built-in plant library with more than 1,000 common species, so your … An excellent web portal lets you tinker with your system’s settings from the comfort of a larger screen. It optimizes your in-ground irrigation system by auto-adjusting to weather and soil conditions, making it easier to maintain a healthy landscape while cutting water use. This model’s built-in touchscreen allows on-device control without needing an internet connection. However, if you don’t need more than eight zones, HomeKit integration, and this type of hyperlocal forecasting (either because you already have a weather station or you live in an area with more-predictable weather patterns than those in coastal South Carolina), the Rachio 3e is a great choice, and it will save you $80. Inside the Rachio Thrive kit, you’ll find a revolution in yard care. "Pete from Rain Dance Irrigation did an amazing job installing a sprinkler system in our front and back yard. Fire sprinkler systems have been around for more than two centuries and have seen significant improvements over the years. Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller, 8 Zone 3rd Generation, Alexa and Apple HomeKit Compatible wit… Also, the app doesn’t have notifications. Our most popular products based on sales. Accurately predicting and responding to weather in your immediate area. Both options let you input watering restrictions, if you have them, and both can tie in to the Weather Intelligence Plus feature, so the system will adapt its watering to local conditions. There is the option to choose your own weather station and view basic watering history, but there are no water-use reports. We also collect controller data (e.g., water usage, zone starting/stopping, schedule starting/stopping). They use an internet connection to get weather data and for remote control, so you need to have a good Wi-Fi signal where your device is installed. You can also share access with a landscape tech, using a temporary access PIN, and choose from a variety of weather services, including private weather stations. It takes a unique approach by watering entirely autonomously—you don’t need to set any schedules at all. During our testing, the RainMachine would regularly drop offline, which is something that rarely happened to the Rachio 3, despite their being connected to the same network. Spruce Irrigation, 16 Zone Wifi Sprinkler Controller. General Design Requirements for Sprinkler System. After three seasons of testing more than a dozen models, we think the Rachio 3 is the best smart sprinkler controller for most people. All of the controllers responded appropriately to rainfall, but the authors speculate that adding a rain sensor could help prevent controllers from possibly overwatering. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. For users with remote service enabled, the mapping between email and device ID is stored in an AWS database with limited access and AWS authentication access. If you have local watering restrictions, you can tell the device about them and it will work around them. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. Plus, because Control’s soil-moisture sensor works over a radio frequency, it had excellent range in our test garden and continued to dictate the watering schedule even if the internet went down. And for it to work effectively, you need one sensor per zone, which gets expensive for larger yards since the device is $225 and the sensors are $45 each. The automatic sprinkler systems for the buildings indicated on the drawings shall be designed in accordance with NFPA 13, this specification and all … Smart controllers are for use only with underground sprinkler systems that have wired controllers; they will not work with battery-operated controllers or hose timers. The RainMachine Touch HD-12 is a better choice if you want full on-device controls, have an unreliable internet connection, or don’t want to rely on the cloud. Based on our research and testing, we determined that the best smart sprinkler controller is one that’s easy to install, offers an intuitive user interface, and sets intelligent schedules for you—but also one that allows you to adapt and tailor schedules and evapotranspiration (ET) settings to your specific needs. The Tailwind iQ3 is our pick for most everyone. A smart garage-door controller lets you open or close your door remotely—some will open it when you arrive home. We really like B-hyve’s simple on-device control—its designers packed a lot of functionality into a single LED-lit button. It will, however, suggest optimal run times, which Weather Adaptive Watering mode adjusts each day. And to help you understand what data the companies you’re bringing into your yard are harvesting, we’ve asked them to complete a privacy and security questionnaire. The Gro Controller by Scotts (formerly Blossom) supports up to eight zones, is simple to set up, and is one of the least expensive options. Their software algorithms use this data, combined with predicted and actual rainfall and information you input about your yard (soil type, vegetation type, slope, shade, types of sprinkler heads) to create and adjust watering schedules tailored to your garden’s needs. I’ve spent many hours testing smart-home products—including smart thermostats, smart garage-door controllers, and smart smoke alarms—for Wirecutter. Unless you need the extra zones, we recommend getting the indoor model, since it’s less expensive and easier to program, and we prefer its design. Setup took about 30 minutes, including having the app walk us through taking pictures and answering questions about each zone—from the types of plants and soil to slope, sun exposure, and nozzle-head types. The controller is fully automatic and adjusts the sprinkler settings based on weather data and the time of day. 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