Irrigation Product Listings & Reviews
Irrigation Controller or Timer Reviews
Key to common controller features in the table below:
- Stations. Maximum number of valve stations. The actual number of stations may be less depending on which model is purchased. In most cases you need one station for each automatic valve.
- Programs. Number of programs available. Each program can have different start times, operation days, and run times for the irrigation valve stations. You need to use different programs for areas with different water requirements. For example a lawn might need to be watered every other day, but drought tolerant shrubs might need watering only once a week or less. Without separate programs they would both be watered on the same days and the shrubs might drown. More programs allows more flexibility resulting in water savings and healthier plants. Most homes need at least 2 programs, one for the lawn and one for the shrubs. Few homes need more than 4 programs.
- Smart Controller. A "Smart Controller" adjusts the watering schedule by itself throughout the year. Smart controllers are quickly becoming mandatory by law in much of the Western and Southern USA. To read more on Smart Controllers see the Smart Controller FAQ. If the controller has Smart features the following key indicates what system is used:
- H Historical. Adjusts watering based on historical water use records.
- HS Historical with a sensor. Fine tunes historic data using current condition sensor.
- OS Off-site data via phone, radio, Internet, etc.
- WS Weather station. Has it's own weather station.
- MS Uses a soil moisture sensor.
- Master Valve Has a control circuit for a master valve and/or pump start switch. An important feature if you use a pump.
- Rain Sensor Has a circuit for attaching a rain sensor. Shuts down if rain detected (typically the sensor itself is not included.)
- Non Volatile Memory is non-volatile, retains data without a battery even in a power failure.
- Delay A delay can be programmed between valve stations to allow time for slow closing valves to close fully. Another important feature if you have a pump, or if you have low water pressure.
| Manufacturer/ Product Name Click on Name to Read Review |
Part No. | S t a t i o n s |
P r o g r a m s |
S m a r t C o n t r o l l e r |
M a s t e r V a l v e |
R a i n S e n s o r |
N o n V o l a t i l e |
S t a t i o n D e l a y |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gwytech PC Timer |
V 1.0 | 8 | 4 | X | X | X | X | ||
| WeatherTRAK ETplus |
WTPLS-06 | 6-48 | 3 | OS | X | X | X |