I write about smart-home technology and sustainable living for Dwell Magazine, US News & World Report, The Ambient, and Mother Earth News, among others. Available in eight- or 16-zone models, the WaterSense-certified Rachio 3 is our top pick because it was the most accurate controller in our testing. Rachio 3 Smart Bundle: Includes Rachio 3rd Generation-8 Zone Smart Sprinkler Controller (Alexa Co… It basically ran every day, unless rain was in the forecast, in which case it would skip waterings for two to three days around the rain event. 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. 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. Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller, 8 Zone 3rd Generation, Alexa and Apple HomeKit Compatible wit… We also found the RainMachine app confusing. However, Yardian’s smart scheduling is still mystifying, running each of our zones for only four minutes every day. I’ve spent many hours testing smart-home products—including smart thermostats, smart garage-door controllers, and smart smoke alarms—for Wirecutter. 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. 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. Fire sprinkler systems have been around for more than two centuries and have seen significant improvements over the years. RainMachine has almost as many smart-home integrations as Rachio, including Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, SmartThings (using a device handler), and IFTTT (If This Then That), and it has an API for control on a local network. Also, it’s relatively inexpensive. If you live in an area that has high water prices and/or water shortages—40 out of 50 states have at least one region that’s expected to face a water shortage in the next decade—a smart sprinkler controller could be a valuable addition to your home and community. WIP is available only on the Rachio 3; the lower-priced Rachio 3e (essentially a spruced-up version of the now-discontinued Rachio 2) uses standard weather forecasting from local weather stations, the same as the other controllers we tested. If you’ve got a bigger lawn than most, or one that’s a bit hilly and hard … We installed each device in the covered porch of a 1960s home in Charleston, South Carolina. (If you have rain restrictions in your area, you can force the RainMachine not to run, but that messes with the device’s plans for optimally watering your garden.). 0. The B-hyve is small, effective, and inexpensive, but it lacks some key features. According to experts we spoke with, many weather-based controllers fail to calculate ET effectively and often end up watering when they don’t need to. Almost all newly built commercial or industrial buildings require automatic fire sprinkler systems for life safety, the protection of the property, the safety of the firefighters, and to minimize business interruption. The RainMachine is not weatherproof. For optimal irrigation management always convenient, as far as possible, have automatic irrigation control systems. You also need to use one of the zone terminals for a master valve or pump, so if you have either of these, you get one less zone. Updated hourly. After three seasons of testing more than a dozen models, we think the Rachio 3 is the best smart sprinkler controller for most people. For example, one day it told us, “Your device is in auto rain delay for 24 hours” and “Your next watering will be in 12 days.”. Introducing the new ST8-WiFi Smart Irrigation Timer. Name, email, and address which is used for weather-related features. Or it can let you run the show while automatically adjusting to save you water if rain, freezing temperatures, or heavy wind is in the forecast. So, in theory, you don’t actually need them anyway. Sprinkler valves control the flow of water to the sprinkler heads on an irrigation system. A Yard Map feature lets you draw virtual boundaries for each zone in your yard and specify how many sprinkler heads are in it and where, which Rachio says will improve water-usage reporting. A smart garage-door controller lets you open or close your door remotely—some will open it when you arrive home. This provided a nice, cooling shower to the chickens in our coop. The Yardian (eight or 12 zones) has a built-in security camera with motion detection and 24 hours of free cloud recording. He was very knowledgeable and always showed up on time. We also have integrations with most of the popular smart home platforms which require user authentication. A sprinkler should have at least 2 programs for variation, though the more significant number of applications, the better. Currently, sprinkler controllers can’t be added to HomeKit Automations or Scenes. And I combed through Environmental Protection Agency research and reports on weather-based sprinkler controllers and their impact on water conservation. Consider upgrading your sprinkler system with a smart controller. Netro Smart Sprinkler System. (For a deeper dive on the science behind these sprinklers, see How smart sprinklers work). About Reliable Sprinkler Reliable Manufacturing Headquarters, Liberty, SC. ), Guy Fipps and Charles Swanson, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, phone interview, March 14, 2019, Irrigation Controllers, US Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense, US Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense Labeled Irrigation Controllers (PDF), US Environmental Protection Agency, August 1, 2017, WaterSense Labeled Weather-Based Irrigation Controllers (PDF), US Environmental Protection Agency, July 1, 2012, Guy Fipps and Charles Swanson, Evaluating the Operation of Residential WIFI Based Irrigation Controllers (PDF), December 2018, John R. Delaney, Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller, PCMag, May 15, 2018, Christopher Null, Rachio 3e Smart Sprinkler Controller review, TechHive, May 26, 2020. 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. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. Rachio data is stored in a virtual private cloud using. We’ve added details on the new Wyze Sprinkler Controller to What to look forward to. These systems are designed and installed as prescribed in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems … There’s also a handy Quick Run button, and a pause button appears whenever a zone is running—which is useful when you want to take a shower and you need more water pressure, or when you’re dining al fresco and you don’t want a shower. An excellent web portal lets you tinker with your system’s settings from the comfort of a larger screen. It works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. I’ve been a writer and editor for 20 years and have spent the past decade trying to live a greener lifestyle (and writing about it). (Since we began this guide, Rachio has launched four different models, only one of which is HomeKit-compatible.). "Pete from Rain Dance Irrigation did an amazing job installing a sprinkler system in our front and back yard. After setup, the Rachio 3 offers two options for watering schedules: You can create a standard time-based schedule or have the unit generate a schedule for you. But its watering method and forecasting are less precise than the Rachio 3’s. Orbit 57946 B-hyve Indoor/outdoor 6 Station WiFi Sprinkler System Controller. All data is encrypted in transit and sensitive data is stored according to industry best-practices. It also has a built-in plant library with more than 1,000 common species, so your … The RainMachine Touch HD-12 (available in versions for 12 or 16 zones) can be controlled by an onboard touchscreen, a smartphone app, or a web interface. These devices connect to the internet and use real-time weather data to adjust the frequency of watering so you don’t … The Orbit B-hyve XR is a slick, higher-end version of our budget pick that should offer a greater wireless range for bigger yards. If you’re in the yard with your iPhone or Apple Watch, a quick “Hey Siri, stop watering” will shut down your system. You can also set an optional delay between zones (say, to allow a well to refill), select a different weather station, or connect to a personal one, such as a Netatmo. The experts we spoke with said that a controller that doesn’t ask for enough information (a tradeoff for making setup simpler) has to make assumptions about your yard, so the results may be less accurate. We let the Rachio 3 set our schedule, choosing Flexible Daily, which updates every day based on estimated soil moisture. We like the option of using the extensive (if not comprehensive) onboard controls (in lieu of the app), and that it works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit, among others. Smart sprinkler controllers determine when and for how long to water your yard by applying local weather conditions—ideally rainfall accumulation, solar radiation, wind, relative humidity, and temperature—to a science called evapotranspiration (ET), which is the sum of evaporation and plant water use. 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. Rain Bird puts control over your sprinkler system in the palm of your hand. But if you need to install it outside, the company recommends the Orbit 57095 Sprinkler System Weather Resistant Outdoor Mounted Control Timer Box Cover. The first professional grade Rain Bird sprinkler system designed for homeowner installation, it provides everything you need to keep your lawn green season after season while saving water. (It should be noted that on some sites this pick is also listed as model SPK3-1.) Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. And adding any more schedules is fiddly. We really like a new device called Control (16-zones), from Texas-based startup Sprinkl. (If your Wi-Fi goes down, they will continue to operate based on a preprogrammed schedule.) Sprinklers - Valves & Accessories - Grooved … Rachio 3 works with Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, HomeKit, IFTTT, SmartThings, Wink, Xfinity, Control4, and Nexia—far more integrations than any other device offered. A smart controller also automatically adjusts watering based on the season, so once you set it up, you don’t have to reprogram it. And I’ve lived in homes with underground sprinkler systems for 16 years, giving me plenty of hands-on time with electronic controllers. You can even set different schedules for each of your system’s zones. RainMachine’s app is less intuitive than the Rachio 3’s and doesn’t automatically create schedules, making it more daunting for novice gardeners to use. The wording can get a bit clunky, leaving lots of room for miscommunication: “Alexa, ask Rachio to start zone four for 15 minutes,” or “Alexa, ask Rachio to stop watering.” We found the HomeKit integration to be the most seamless. on Rachio. The company says HomeKit compatibility is coming soon—we’ll revisit this device when that’s available. 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. The RainMachine also has an option to tweak rain and wind sensitivity, to prevent overwatering in inclement conditions. 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. It takes a unique approach by watering entirely autonomously—you don’t need to set any schedules at all. The Pro doesn’t have a camera, and it can be installed only indoors. There are also two less expensive models—the RainMachine Pro-8 and Pro-16—which have a smaller touchscreen interface with full controls and an Ethernet connector. Most smart controllers connect to smart-home systems such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, and a few also work with Apple HomeKit, and Wink and SmartThings hubs. It works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa but no smart hubs. The Rachio 3 is the most flexible and comprehensive device we tested, offering the best balance of setting it and forgetting it and maximum control when you want it. And without a separate rain sensor, it doesn’t have a rain delay. 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 think Sprinkl shows promise, and so we will keep testing Control long-term to see if those planned updates make it a pick. Beyond setup, however, the app becomes a bit too simple and unintuitive. A feature we like is Adaptive Frequency, which skips a schedule if RainMachine’s algorithms determine it needs to water for only a few minutes and then adds those minutes to the next watering. Gro integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but it doesn’t let you choose a weather station and has no water-use history. The sprinkler has a shutoff valve in the system to give you control over watering from your smartphone or other internet-capable device. It provides necessary … B-hyve works reliably with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to control your sprinklers with voice. Read the report, which contains a detailed breakdown of how each controller operated in different landscapes, here (PDF). In addition, the RainMachine’s app won’t automatically create a custom schedule for you, as the Rachio 3’s can. We selected the best smart-home devices to work with your Alexa speaker, based on our extensive testing and real-world use. 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. The EPA says that a WaterSense controller could save the average home 8,800 gallons of water a year (PDF). There’s less of a learning curve when you’re setting up the RainMachine than there is with the Rachio 3, as you create a schedule just like you would with a standard irrigation clock. (The app also has a tab for Rachio’s new lawn-care subscription service, Thrive. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Some of the most reviewed sprinkler timers are the Orbit B-hyve 12-Zone Indoor/Outdoor Smart Sprinkler Controller, Works with Amazon Alexa with 1,143 reviews and the Rain Bird 6-Station Indoor Simple-To … A tiny device with a nice, responsive touchscreen display to access controls, the RainMachine is a WaterSense-certified controller that comes in 12- and 16-zone models. Integration with smart-home systems, to extend value. We determined that the happy medium here is a controller that does the heavy lifting for you during setup, but that also lets you go in and manually adjust the ET parameters in settings, if you find the controller is not working as you wish. However, you still can’t choose a weather station (it uses darksky.net) or allow shared access. All data specific to a user is stored locally on the user RainMachine device. For 40+ years, Fire Control Systems remains a trusted provider of fire safety equipment, services and instruction in the Southeast. We will update this guide in Spring 2021 when we’ve tested these new models. (The Gardena system is also not WaterSense-certified and works only with soil sensors. He was extremely thorough and meticulous during installation. It also tested that each zone was working—a useful feature for people who aren’t experts at programming sprinkler systems. The home screen shows the controller status, the forecast, the last run and the next run, and a graphic of how much water has been used versus saved (an estimate). We tried to enable this recipe with each device that was compatible with IFTTT, but it worked reliably only with the Rachio 3. The notable differences are the design (the B-hyve Indoor model is smaller and cleaner looking), that it has full on-device controls (which are like those of traditional controllers and confusing to use), and that it comes in a waterproof, lockable case (so there’s no extra expense if you want to put it outdoors). 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