io_guy Posted July 28, 2015 Posted July 28, 2015 With ISY V5 I'll be releasing an app to support the RainMachine series of irrigation controllers. I'm playing around with the Mini-8 right now and these things are slick. They can grab forecast info from the internet and plan your irrigation schedule. Thus far it's been working well for me. RainLink will integrate an irrigation controller node into the ISY and allow users to see status and toggle the various zones. For users in a location where forecast data is not available (RainMachine are working on an International firmware), RainLink still provides a nice option for people looking for an alternative to EZFlora.
Michel Kohanim Posted July 28, 2015 Posted July 28, 2015 Hi io_guy, That's fantastic, thanks so very much! With kind regards, Michel
hart2hart Posted July 29, 2015 Posted July 29, 2015 hi io-guy, I took quick look at api and didn't see anything but wondering do you see method to integrate a local rainfall gauge? Our weather in Tennessee is pop-up storm dominated in summer so weather stations less than mile away can be and are useless for rainfall. I'm using one of the Hydreon RG-11s that others posted and am pleased with reasonable accuracy. Paul PS if V5 opens up rainfall for local updates probably use current irrigation module since EZFlora been fine with me.
io_guy Posted July 29, 2015 Author Posted July 29, 2015 RM can use an external sensor plugged into it directly (not API) but only if you do not use their forecast data. RM works a little different in how it gets and calculates data: http://rainmachine.com/howitworks.html But yes, you could use the ISY's calculation and RM as a networked basic controller.
paulbates Posted July 29, 2015 Posted July 29, 2015 Paul, I didn't read the link, but I'm wondering if it supports tipping bucket versus "it rained"? The difference might be a nit, but I use tipping bucket to "overrule" fase forecasts and determine how much delay for the next watering. I agree with you that there is no substitute for measuring actual rainfall as my SE Michigan forecasts are all over the place rain wise, and often wrong. One option may be to keep your current ISY program and substitute exflora valves for the rainmachine valves.
hart2hart Posted July 31, 2015 Posted July 31, 2015 The rg11 supports tipping bucket mode. I have it register hundredths of an inch.
paulbates Posted July 31, 2015 Posted July 31, 2015 Paul, I meant would the rain machine support tipping bucket mode from the RG11.. that's one advantage my ISY programs get with the RG11 and iolinc. That's not something i want to trade off.
hart2hart Posted July 31, 2015 Posted July 31, 2015 Sorry. I read too quickly. Would be great but doubt a direct hookup in tipping mode would be possible.
kohai Posted January 12, 2016 Posted January 12, 2016 I was just googling the forums and came across this. I wish the units supported more than a max of 16 zones. These look nice. I'm sure I use a lot of water -- fully landscaped 1/2 acre. I have a bad history of killing plants by being too conservative with water so now I tend to be pretty liberal about the water. I wonder if a more scientific approach to controlling watering times would do better than me and not kill things. (I did note that opensprinkler can do 56 zones.)
paulbates Posted January 13, 2016 Posted January 13, 2016 You can have multiple ezfloras to get there with the ISY. I have 14 zones on 2 ezfloras. Not cheap at $125 for 8 zones, but irrigation has been one the of the few HA projects that has easily paid for it self. This includes the climate module and a hydreon sensor, by saving water by pushing off schedules after it rained, and skipping based on forecast. I configured HAD to have a tab for the sprinklers so I can use my phone to activate zones to do fall blow out and maintenance.
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