A Smart Controller is a device that will manage the operation of your irrigation system with software that is in the cloud and accessed through a Wi-Fi connection. The program can be set up, reviewed, and managed by your iPhone, iPad, tabloid, android, and/or desktop. You need to have an optimum connection to your Wi-Fi and then you will be able to manage your irrigation system.
Smart Controllers can be programmed to be time or weather based, or a combination of both. Time based is similar to traditional controllers where you can set the days and times you want to start and duration of each zone. It is simple to program and to make changes. A smart controller will save you time, money and water savings of approximately 30%!
Weather based application is basically setting up parameters to water that include such factors as current rainfall, temperature and wind speed. The software will pick the days and run times for each zone. Weather based application takes control of your watering and irrigation occurs solely on weather conditions.
I prefer a combination of time based and weather based that is easy to set up and control with many of the brands now on the market. Having set days to water at specified times is important since there are many other services occurring on most residential and commercial properties. Combining both applications allow some of the weather based options to assist in saving water such as knowing that it is going to rain tomorrow and be hot next week. The smart controller will automatically prevent the system from watering. When the weather turns hot, e.g. above 90 degrees it will automatically increase watering 30% when the weather turns cool or cold it will automatically reduce watering 30%.
To go one step further, connecting a flo-meter with your Smart Controller will alert you to your actual water use and should a break occur or a sprinkler head break you will also receive an alert to a problem.
Hunter, Toro, and Rainbird do an excellent job with manufacturing and with software concerning their Smart Controllers. I have installed many of the Hunter Hydrawise Smart Controllers and have had great success monitoring my client sprinkler systems and providing them with a healthy landscape.
To learn more visit our website at www.rainrich.com. You may also call us at 631-423-2211 or request more information online.
