With Rachio, you have the option of using a rain sensor or rainfall data from a network of reporting stations. This data goes into a soil model to determine when to irrigate next. Regarding your specific question, it will also look at forecasted precipitation as part of the calculation to determine whether to irrigate or not. The decision to irrigate or not is made on a daily basis. Both the observed precipitation and the forecasted precipitation are part of the calculation as to whether to irrigate or not. Since there can be considerable variation in warm season precipitation, it is certainly possible that precipitation measured by the network of reporting stations is not applicable to your location. However, over time, this should average out. Using your own rain gauge will minimize this effect. The same thing applies for the forecasted precipitation. I have not seen any issues in either regard with my Rachio. I use the network of reporting stations instead of a rain gauge. One of the nice features of the Rachio (and all Wi-Fi controllers) is the ability to turn zones on and off from your cellphone. This is really handy when checking your irrigation heads as you don't need to keep walking back and forth to the controller in the garage.
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Originally Posted by Ken D.
Curious, both systems are based on forecasts? I read often times the rain misses our area, and the sprinklers are automatically turned off. Is that true?
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