Irrigation Controller

[carealtor]

Currently our property has 2 entirely independent sprinkler systems.  One controller is in the garage with wiring to its respective bank of valves, and a second controller in the shop with wiring to a second bank of valves in a different location.  Again, 2 completely separate systems.
 
I want to tie the 2 together and wondering if what I'm envisioning even exists.
 
I'm envisioning a main station panel and a remote station panel that communicate with each other over WiFi.  The main station panel would have a touchscreen for programming the entire system.  The remote station panel would just be a box with no screen or controls.
 
Anyone know of a system like this?

 

[pete_c]

Anyone know of a system like this?
 
Here using software (embedded) with a web interface. 
 
MCSprinklers
 
The touchscreen could be anywhere I wanted it to be.  I have mine above the irrigation box which is in the garage.
 
The software is running on an old Seagate Dockstar and has one USB to serial device plugged in to two serial controllers.
 
You have two manifolds with relays connected autonomously to two controllers.  (relays that control the solenoids).
 
You can utilize one piece of software that controls the two controllers you have configured and have the two controllers talk to the same software.
 
Nowadays much software / controllers is managed in the cloud.   You would just configure the controllers and zones to one piece of software.
 
Commonly utilized is Rainbird.  Look inside of your irrigation box and you will see a cluster of wires coming from the manifold solenoids.
 
The multiple zone Rainbird firmware controls the zones.  You would replace the inside of the irrigation box controller and add software.
 
Plug n play. 
 
Here are pictures of first and second generation touchscreen / controllers.
 
Here started out with a regular installed Rainbird irrigation system and gutted it utilizing only the Rainbird box.  The original set up was using RS-232 via catxx baluns to the mothership.  Over the years switched the irrigation software to running on an ARM CPU box (Seagate Dockstar).  I was able to fit two controllers an the Seagate dockstar inside of the box with Gb connectivity.  Over the years here have totally gutted whatever was installed by the Rainbird folks and redid it all. 
 

 

 

 

[znelbok]

I would have a look at the ClickPLC range of PLC's.  There is an Ethernet version now so you can communicate with them and between them easily.  There is also a touchscreen available for it as well.  You will have to do the programming but its not hard at all.
 
Should the system grow in size, just add more output or input modules as required.
 
I find the price of the PLC processor is much less than any irrigation system on the market and its so much more flexible.
 
Go have a look at www.automationdirect.com

 

[carealtor]

Thank you for the replies, but not quite what I had in mind.
 
Right now I'm thinking a RainMachine 16-zone.
 
http://a.co/08zqYan
 
This will give me the Wi-Fi and touch screen that I want.
 
To control the second set of valves I'm thinking something like this:
 
https://www.controlanything.com/Relay/Device/MirCR85
 
I would hook this up to the 9-16 outputs of the RainMachine and could then control the second set of valves with the one RainMachine.
 
Conceptually this is exactly what I was wanting to do.  I do feel the remote relay boards are overkill for this though.  Gets expensive too when adding in the enclosures and power supplies.  What I need is something with the same function, but of residential/hobbyist quality and price, not industrial.

 

[pete_c]

What I need is something with the same function, but of residential/hobbyist quality and price, not industrial.
 
It isn't really industrial. 
 
There is a cheap and smart irrigation controller out there.  It is the Orbit 57950 and it around $100 for 12 zones.
 
Reading reviews it sounds like it is not soup yet. 
 
The basics for any irrigation system are still the same.
 
1 - zones are divided up at the manifold which have electronic solenoids. - today these can be wireless or wired
2 - at the controller side you have relays that control the solenoids
3 - then the brains and console access
 
Like a smart thermostat you pay for the brains and easy peasy console access (typically a phone and typically using the cloud).
 
You can do better DIYing #3 sort of.
 
OpenSprinkler is a popular fully featured DIY irrigation controller.
 
Here originally had a Rainbird ESP irrigation controller installed by a Rainbird dealer around the beginning of 2000's or so.
 
I was in to automation tinkering and removed the controller from the controller box and installed a pair of serially controlled devices called Rain8Net from WGL.
 
Today Rainbird has a drop in replacement ESP modular 4 zone smart irrigation controller for ~$200.