[H-ned]

‘Just bought and moved into an 11 year old house in the Village of Collier. The original Hunter Pro-C (Model PCC-600i with green buttons) irrigation controller for the existing 4 zones is not wifi-capable and cannot be retrofitted to accommodate my need to occasionally monitor and change settings remotely from Atlanta. The rain sensor is also not working. Can any of you please share your best recommendations for a reliable replacement irrigation controller and rain sensor that are wifi-capable and can be controlled remotely? Thanks!

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by H-ned

‘Just bought and moved into an 11 year old house in the Village of Collier. The original Hunter Pro-C (Model PCC-600i with green buttons) irrigation controller for the existing 4 zones is not wifi-capable and cannot be retrofitted to accommodate my need to occasionally monitor and change settings remotely from Atlanta. The rain sensor is also not working. Can any of you please share your best recommendations for a reliable replacement irrigation controller and rain sensor that are wifi-capable and can be controlled remotely? Thanks!

Rachio 3 (4 zone). Currently $129 at Amazon. Very reliable, and easy to use and install.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by H-ned

‘Just bought and moved into an 11 year old house in the Village of Collier. The original Hunter Pro-C (Model PCC-600i with green buttons) irrigation controller for the existing 4 zones is not wifi-capable and cannot be retrofitted to accommodate my need to occasionally monitor and change settings remotely from Atlanta. The rain sensor is also not working. Can any of you please share your best recommendations for a reliable replacement irrigation controller and rain sensor that are wifi-capable and can be controlled remotely? Thanks!

I replaced mine with the Hunter X2 and a WAND wifi module. I paid a service to replace it but after watching them I could have ordered it off Amazon and installed it myself for much less.

I did not replace the rain sensor. The combination I have uses a weather service somewhere that monitors several stations around me and makes a reasonable guess at what my weather will be. It has been pretty accurate so far.

There are at least two others that many users will recommend. I'm happy with what I have but the others might be just as good or better.

[birdiebill]

2nd suggestion for Rachio 3.

[retiredguy123]

You may be able to repair the rain sensor by replacing the discs, available from Amazon.

Amazon.com

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

You may be able to repair the rain sensor by replacing the discs, available from Amazon.

Amazon.com

Buy the cheapest rain sensor you can find. Orbit is $20 at Lowe's or online. Hunter makes a Rain/Freeze, for $35. If your controller has Solar Sync, those sensors are considerably more.

[metoo21]

Rachio 3. You don't need a rain sensor. It uses weather data to determine if you received rain. If there is a weather station close by on Weather Underground you can link it to that specific station for temps & rain actually in your area instead of relying on regional weather data.

To see if there is a station in your neighborhood, go to: Local weather stations

Where it says Wildwood Station | Change, click on change. This will open a map with station locations. Locate the area of your neighborhood and zoom in if necessary. Find a station close to your home. Select this station when you set up your Rachio 3 controller. These stations are set up by individuals (I have one but am in the southern part of the villages) who upload data to the internet. It looks like "The Villages KFLTHEVI449" station is in the village of Collier. There are a couple others that may be closer to your house.

Very easy to install. Open your current controller where you can see the wires attached. Take a photo so you'll know which color wire goes to which zone. Remove all the wires, remove the current controller, mount the Rachio. When you connect the wires to the Rachio, just insert and push. You don't need to press the little clip. That is for removing wires.

[metoo21]

///

[Altavia]

B-Hyve is easy to install and works well also.

Smart Watering, Irrigation & Sprinkler Systems
– OrbitOnline

Rain sensors here dry out too fast in the Florida sun to be effective.

Flume will let you monitor your water usage and can notify you if things go outside of normal. E.g. if a sprinkler head breaks.


Monitor Your Water Use | Stop Leaks Fast | Flume 2 Smart Water Monitor

[rsmurano]

Orbit b-hyve. My last couple houses had them and I converted a dozen of my friends to b-hyve. I tried putting in the wand in the new hunter controller, what a piece of junk. The wand cost 2x the cost of the b-hyve. I can be anywhere in the world and operate my controller.

1 more tip, it’s a fallacy to think you can connect to any weather station and get a reliable reading of the weather. You can’t. Unless the weather station is within a couple of blocks from your home, then you aren’t going to get an accurate reading of wind and rain that your smart controller will need. I put in my own personal weather station and all of my data from this weather station is up on weather underground and other country wide weather databases so your smart controller and all your close neighbors have a PWS they can link too

[rjn5656]

Wifi controller, manage it from your smart phone. Syncs with local weather station to determine if you need to water or not.

[photo1902]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

Orbit b-hyve. My last couple houses had them and I converted a dozen of my friends to b-hyve. I tried putting in the wand in the new hunter controller, what a piece of junk. The wand cost 2x the cost of the b-hyve. I can be anywhere in the world and operate my controller.

1 more tip, it’s a fallacy to think you can connect to any weather station and get a reliable reading of the weather. You can’t. Unless the weather station is within a couple of blocks from your home, then you aren’t going to get an accurate reading of wind and rain that your smart controller will need. I put in my own personal weather station and all of my data from this weather station is up on weather underground and other country wide weather databases so your smart controller and all your close neighbors have a PWS they can link too

You’re exactly right regarding the PWS connection.

[TomPerry]

I installed an Orbit b-Hive 4 Zone controller, about $62 after the Veteran’s Discount at Lowe’s. Took about 1/2 hour to install and I set it to use the rain delay based on a Weather Underground personal weather station about 1 mile from our house. Works great and I can control it from anywhere from my cell phone.

[BobGraves]

I got the b-hyve on Amazon. Easy to install and works great.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1

[jrref]

Get a Rachio 3.