Anybody know of an existing z-wave sprinkler controller? I am on a well and its capacity has dropped since we put in a screen last year to reduce sediment getting to the submerged pump. I have a pretty big yard with 12 zones in total. It takes about 2-3 hours to run a full cycle, there are already 24V AC valves in place and I doent want to replace these valves I just want the ability to program or manually turn them on/off remotely via my z-wave network. The problem is I need to give the well a chance to refill after every 3 zones or so to ensure sufficient pressure to heads. I’d like to be able to individually control each zone independently. If such a controller doesn’t exist are there any 24V AC relays that are z-wave controllable? I could build a box that houses 12 of them and supply 24V AC to them. This would be an expensive option but I really want to get the sprinkler system under z-wave control so I can program and control the system remotely. I’m new to the z-wave world so please excuse my ignorance if there is an existing simple solution but I’ve searched the web and cant find anything that is z-wave compliant.
Not Z-Wave, but controlled via Vera, that might be what you’re looking for: check this page and search for Etherrain. There’s links to the relevant forum thread and the plug-in code there. Courtesy of @325xi.
The Etherrain looks good but I really want a stand alone control system that doesn’t require a computer to be always on. I’d prefer it is controlled from my vera 2 via z-wave only and that I can generate the on/off control on each zone separately with or without a timer and/or scenes to setup and run different cycles. Most importantly for me I need to be able to put in a programmable delay between one zone turning off and the next turning on.
I love the EtherRain, but it is Ethernet connected and if Vera isn’t controlling it then it would need web access to http://www.lawncheck.com/ for scheduling.
If you want a Z-Wave solution, I think you’d have to use appliance modules connected to some 110VAC relays that would switch the 24VDC (provided by a wall transformer), you’d need one set for each valve and could house everything in a weatherproof enclosure.
[quote=“daragh, post:3, topic:168428”]The Etherrain looks good but I really want a stand alone control system that doesn’t require a computer to be always on. I’d prefer it is controlled from my vera 2 via z-wave only and that I can generate the on/off control on each zone separately with or without a timer and/or scenes to setup and run different cycles. Most importantly for me I need to be able to put in a programmable delay between one zone turning off and the next turning on.
Thanks,
Daragh.[/quote]
Etherrain is as standalone as it can be.
No computer is involved, and Vera isn’t really controlling it.
All it does is sending a command describing cycle you’d like to run.
Once done, you can switch everything off, including network, and Etherrain will do its job autonomously.
I understand that “Ether Rain” does have a plugin for it witch is great! But just wanted to check for some other irrigation type web controllers that might also be good.
Thanks
I would be interested in a plugin for the IrrigationCaddy as well. I am wondering if it will be as easy as taking the EtherRain plugin and changing to work with IrrigationCaddy.
Any one interested in making this device work? I have some programming background, but very new to Vera
I think it wouldn’t be quite that simple, as it seems like the etherrain has a defined API and the irrigationcaddy just mentions control via the built in webpages.
However, the irrigationcaddy has a ‘run now’ command so you could probably perform scheduling with that.
EtherRain works very well. We do most of our scheduling with LawnCheck but have Vera do individual valve control for when we’re adjusting our heads.
We could have Vera run the schedule too, but LawnCheck is free and just seems more pracitcal for that task. It has things like weather and temperature based scheduling built in. To do that with Vera would require a luup script and a weather plugin.
I have finally figured out how to use socket.http to POST to the IrrigationCaddy. I am using FireBug to gather the commands in use by IrrigationCaddy. They appear to be very straightforward so far.
Scheduling commands are for the programs and are posted to index.htm. e.g. RUN NOW is Program #4, with zone 5 set to 5 mins:
“http://192.168.xxx.xxx/Index.htm”, “pgmNum=4&doProgram=1&runNow=1&z1durHr=0&z1durMin=0&z2durHr=0&z2durMin=0&z3durHr=0&z3durMin=0&z4durHr=0&z4durMin=0&z5durHr=0&z5durMin=5&z6durHr=0&z6durMin=0&z7durHr=0&z7durMin=0&z8durHr=0&z8durMin=0&z9durHr=0&z9durMin=0&z10durHr=0&z10durMin=0”
I am assuming I can create a device and incorporate HTTP POSTS commands to schedule and retrieve statuses. Does anyone have a recommendation on the Device implementation that I should start with? i.e. will the above fit well with an EtherRain device code as a starting point?
You might want to take a look at the Fibaro switches (Wireless Smart Home and Home Automation | FIBARO). These are single or dual relay units, with the nice feature of having the relay outputs electrically isolated from the 220v live/neutral. I plan to use these switches to control the 24v solenoid valves in my irrigation system, as well as the 220v well pump and 12v outdoor lights.
I think this would work for your needs, has manual control at the switch and you can do all the programing thru Vera so the computer doesn’t have to be on all the time.
I have the EtherRain and now with UI5 and the Aeon Minimote, it can be easily controlled for each zone. I created a scene for the zones and allocated them to the Minimote. This way, I can turn them on without have to log on to the Vera. With the Minimote, you can it is a scene controller in UI5 see http://forum.micasaverde.com/index.php/topic,8630.0.html
I wanted an irrigation controller to replace the old “mystery box” (the first pic) crammed with relays, timers and wires, installed by one of the previous homeowners. It should be Z-wave controllable of course, but also with the ability to control stuff locally via pushbuttons, and with LED indicators. It controls 220v lights and pumps, 12v lights, and 24v valves.
This is what I built out of 4 Fibaro switches and some elbow grease (The capacitors and diodes on the PCB are to drive the LEDs directly off 220v/24v AC)
wow that looks like the previous owner was a PLC admin. I use a intermatic pe653rc panel to control my irrigation (its a pool control) but it has 4 dry contacts and one hot (110 or 220 depending on setup) you could use it to control pretty much anything and if need be a a few LFM-20’s to fill in the gaps (or just use all LFM-20’s, though I am not sure they support 220v unless you use a dpst relay in there too)
The biggest downside (mainly based on the price of the unit being high) is the lack of wireless built-in. You could add a cheap wireless bridge but that takes up more space and another power plug on the wall. Not great for several reasons. For the price they charge, they should have built-in wifi.
Can the Vera plug-in program it?
Can the vera plug-in be used for adhoc triggering on/off, short time bursts for zones?
(The capacitors and diodes on the PCB are to drive the LEDs directly off 220v/24v AC)