Rain Sensors
 

We have had around a half-inch of rain today. Our neighbor is gone and their system is set for twice a week. Why on earth would the sprinkler system come on at the scheduled time today? I have the same problem, so I just leave the system off and then run Manual - All Stations when necessary.

Many controllers have a sensor bypass position. Maybe theirs was set to that position. So, even if the sensor was soaked, the sprinklers would come on.

Also, if the sensors are old and the insides have dried out from the sun, they will run anyway.

They need to be checked when the sprinklers come on after a rain storm and the insides replaced.

Thanks ya'll. I checked with him and the bypass has not be used any. We didn't realize that the innerds could dry out and have to be replaced, but that makes sense.

Next question. Is that a DYI or do you have to have someone else do it? Since they are gone, it will have to be someone else...I'm not a good DYI'er and certainly not if it involves ladders. Who do you call?

The sensor might just reduce the time, but not turn off the system.

My sensor didn't work for a long time and I couldn't figure out why. Finally I looked inside the control box and found that the installers left a jumper wire between the switch terminals that lead to the sensor. With a screw driver, I loosened the screws, removed the 1/4 inch long jumper wire and voila, the sensor now works fine.

JLK

I bought the replacement part for my sensor at Florida Irrigation Supply on 441 just north of TV. It was around 6.00 if I remember correctly.

The controller for my solar sync (rain sensor) failed. This is a seperate controller which is behind the regular irrigation controller. The house is just over a year old so I wasn't happy to be having problems. We have a Hunter system.
I called Jim Baumgartner and he took care of it. Jim's number is 352-504-2317
He's a good guy who knows everything about irrigation systems.

It's also possible that the installer didn't even hook up the sensor. That's what happened to ours. If it's a fairly new house, that could be the problem. The builders leave them off so the system will run and give the landscape water without relying on the sensor until the house is sold.

This was a really good post - Now I will know what to look for when we get back. Thanks all!

just like weed mat...they make the home owner feel good, cost money and do not work

I have found their reliability something to be desired. Keep in mind they depend on moisture to activate them. In this hot Florida sun they dry out quickly. If it rains today by late tomorrow they may have dried out enough to permit the sprinklers to operate.

Like another poster here, I operate mine manually. I also manually operate a snowbird neighbor's manually. I watch our lawns and when they start to show stress I turn them on and turn them off the next day.