[Toymeister]

I have seen posts about the Hunter controller before. It is a dumb controller meaning it does what you tell it to do with some input from the rain sensor.

I have suggested this before, consider a smart controller. One that knows (because you tell it) the type of soil, what you are watering (shrubs or grass, type of grass) slope and sprinkler heads. What it does -this is the smart part- is calculate the evaporation rate (because of the temp) the rain measured or reported by the weather station, looks to the past rain that has fallen, it looks to the future. After all this it decides if your grass needs the water. It can text or email you if it does skip a water cycle. It will give you a running tally of estimated water used and water saved. $199.00 at Amazon Rachio.

Almost forgot you control this all remotely. From you Lanai or your home in California.

[Aloha1]

[QUOTE=photo1902;1419013]

Originally Posted by photo1902

I think you're confused about how Solar Sync functions. Solar Sync works in conjunction with the Seasonal Adjustment setting on your irrigation controller. Solar Sync does not and cannot add days or times to your irrigation schedule. During the drought, if we looked, most, if not all of us around here, would have seen our Seasonal Adjustment at 100%. Meaning if you had Zone 1 set to run for 40 minutes, that zone would actually run the entire duration. If we had cooler temps, or rain, Solar Sync and the Seasonal Adjustment quite possibly would lower the setting from 100% to any less percentage, thereby shortening the run time of your zones. The Seasonal Adjustment setting can be permanently disabled by disconnecting a wire in the control box. That way, if you set it to 100%, it never changes. Lastly, disabling the Solar Sync will result in you being "that guy" whose irrigation is running when it's pouring rain.

I was actually advised of this by the water utility people and I have heard the same from other residents. If Solar Synch sees the area is in drought status it will increase the length of watering duration, at least on the newest controllers. And shutting off Solar Synch does not disable the rain sensor.

[photo1902]

[QUOTE=Aloha1;1419802]

Originally Posted by photo1902

I was actually advised of this by the water utility people and I have heard the same from other residents. If Solar Synch sees the area is in drought status it will increase the length of watering duration, at least on the newest controllers. And shutting off Solar Synch does not disable the rain sensor.

It will never increase watering time longer that your individual zone setting. It will only decrease it, depending on the conditions. Hunter Tech Support is fantastic, by the way, and I would suggest contacting them for accurate information on the product. And how does the rain sensor work without Solar Sync being active?

[skip0358]

House behind me has been empty since last year when the owner died. Everything was shut off except the electric. The only water the lawn has seen is the FREE stuff that falls from the sky. Guess what the grass is green and gets cut every week.