[Paula]

We had an Accurite rain gauge - wifi but not smart phone connected - til it died recently. And then our ancient sprinkler system controller died. Replaced controller with a smart one. One problem, as mentioned earlier, is it relies on rain forecast, rather than actual rain. Installed free RainDrop app on phone, and it gives rain measurement at a specific location, ie our house. We've had only .26 in the last 48 hours, as opposed to several inches nearby! Sprinkler controller wants to stop sprinkling due to the surrounding forecast. We'll keep the app.

[dolphin]

OR. You can just shut it off When it rains.

Originally Posted by rsmurano

What a waste of water. Every house should be using a smart sprinkler controller and not the dumb Hunter controllers they put in each house.
For $60, you can swap out the hunter controller in 5 mins, install the new smart controller, and then take 15-30 mins programming your new smart controller.
While you are programming your new smart controller, you can point it to the many homes that have personal weather stations near you to get the most reliable data for the controller to use when calculating when it should run the sprinklers and for how long.
Many other benefits too, like turning on a station from your phone from anywhere in the world or inside your house. No more running to the garage to start and stop a station.

[aces_04]

You do you and realize there may be reasons for not upgraing to a SMART system.
“Every house should be using a smart sprinkler controller”.
1.Some may struggling to make ends meet. Upgrading to a SMART is the least of their priorities. “.. you can swap out the hunter controller in 5 mins.
2.Not everyone is able to utilize the features by mobile phone.
3. A suggestion for you, reread your post. Judging others is offensive. YOU DO YOU!

[huge-pigeons]

It’s not smart if it’s a manual process

[jrref]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

What a waste of water. Every house should be using a smart sprinkler controller and not the dumb Hunter controllers they put in each house.
For $60, you can swap out the hunter controller in 5 mins, install the new smart controller, and then take 15-30 mins programming your new smart controller.
While you are programming your new smart controller, you can point it to the many homes that have personal weather stations near you to get the most reliable data for the controller to use when calculating when it should run the sprinklers and for how long.
Many other benefits too, like turning on a station from your phone from anywhere in the world or inside your house. No more running to the garage to start and stop a station.

The external rain sensors typically last about 5 years or so and most have no idea if it's working or not or even what and where the rain sensor is. This is why you see people watering after we have significant rain. It's because their rain sensor has failed.

The smart controllers do a good job but the weather forcast here in Florida is so random that I have my external rain sensor connected to my Rachio. This makes sure that if we do get 1/4 inch of rain or more and the forecast shows none that the Rachio knows and doesn't water.

[HORNET]

Second house here has a Hunter( 6 year old) works fine, Between season Al setting and rain detector on roof! When we ( if here ) get a severe storm, I just go out and shut it off . Sometimes for several weeks, especially in late fall and winter!

[OhioBuckeye]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

What a waste of water. Every house should be using a smart sprinkler controller and not the dumb Hunter controllers they put in each house.
For $60, you can swap out the hunter controller in 5 mins, install the new smart controller, and then take 15-30 mins programming your new smart controller.
While you are programming your new smart controller, you can point it to the many homes that have personal weather stations near you to get the most reliable data for the controller to use when calculating when it should run the sprinklers and for how long.
Many other benefits too, like turning on a station from your phone from anywhere in the world or inside your house. No more running to the garage to start and stop a station.

I think they must have their rain gauge turned to a point that it shows no rain got into gauge to tell system they got no rain, then irrigation system will come on!

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by Pondboy

We’re just a wasteful society.

People don’t care that they are wasting natural resources. The OP has a point, if it’s raining at your house, turn off the irrigation system. If it didn’t rain, sorry. I understand the disappointment. But if it did, and you got 2”, please turn off your irrigation.

Become more involved in helping to save the planet for future generations. Being “Green” is not cheap, easy or convenient. There is technology readily available to prevent your lawn from being overwatered. No excuses.

What waste? Irrigation water not consumed by vegetation returns to groundwater or to stormwater ponds for reuse for irrigation while providing an ecosystem for wildlife.

[Jim1mack]

There’s an app called PWS Monitor where you can find home that have a Personal Weather Station that is hooked up to this app. Each station provides weather information that their station measures. You can also put a rain gauge in your yard.

I just turned my irrigation system yesterday after being off for two weeks because of all the almost daily rain we’ve been receiving.

[rsmurano]

The smart part of this process is not what a person can do, it’s what the system can do for you. I have my system programmed where it doesn’t go off if it’s windy < 16mph, if the prediction of rain is < 60%, if we got over .4” of rain. If we got .25” of rain, it will automatically adjust the runtimes per station.
Also, you can look at the calendar in the app and see when it’s going to come on and what each zone is going to run for.

[CybrSage]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

What a waste of water. Every house should be using a smart sprinkler controller and not the dumb Hunter controllers they put in each house.
For $60, you can swap out the hunter controller in 5 mins, install the new smart controller...

Go ahead and buy one for everyone if you are this concerned.

[BettyInFL]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

What a waste of water. Every house should be using a smart sprinkler controller and not the dumb Hunter controllers they put in each house.
For $60, you can swap out the hunter controller in 5 mins, install the new smart controller, and then take 15-30 mins programming your new smart controller.
While you are programming your new smart controller, you can point it to the many homes that have personal weather stations near you to get the most reliable data for the controller to use when calculating when it should run the sprinklers and for how long.
Many other benefits too, like turning on a station from your phone from anywhere in the world or inside your house. No more running to the garage to start and stop a station.

Last week, saw rain in front yard, but not out the back. The smart sprinklers look at how much HAS RAINED WHERE THEIR Sensor is. Don't judge others. Ours hasn't run for quite some time.

[jasamy2]

2.5” in what neighborhood?

[Shipping up to Boston]

Originally Posted by jasamy2

2.5” in what neighborhood?

The Village of.....Grenada!

[kcrazorbackfan]

Originally Posted by ThirdOfFive

2.5"? Maybe somewhere, in some isolated spots. But this is Florida. There can be a torrential downpour in one spot while another spot maybe a mile away can be dry as a bone.

I have our system on manual, with my eyes supplying the "data". During the rainy season I'll water after two dry days after a good rain (not a sprinkle) and follow that cycle pretty regularly. Winter, twice a week: usually Thursday and Saturday mornings before dawn.

Same here. Living here full time, I will turn it to manual after a good rain and then water as needed or turn it back off manual if it starts getting dry.