Rain Sensor Suggestions

[torgrimj]

Hi,

I am looking for ideas/suggestions as to rain sensors. The main reason i want is to not water while it is raining. I have 7 zones all controlled by ElkM1 Relay board. I have automation rules controlling the watering times and zones. THis has worked really well, and I have actually programmed in a sprinkler bypass rule, so i can turn off watering, while the bypass is active. I want to automate this bypass so that when a rain is detected in the rain sensor it automatically goes into bypass mode. Also when the rainsensor "drys up", that is clears the bypass mode.

Any suggestions on a rain sensor that could be hooked into my ELK System?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions

Jeff

 

[wuench]

Hi,

I am looking for ideas/suggestions as to rain sensors. The main reason i want is to not water while it is raining. I have 7 zones all controlled by ElkM1 Relay board. I have automation rules controlling the watering times and zones. THis has worked really well, and I have actually programmed in a sprinkler bypass rule, so i can turn off watering, while the bypass is active. I want to automate this bypass so that when a rain is detected in the rain sensor it automatically goes into bypass mode. Also when the rainsensor "drys up", that is clears the bypass mode.

Any suggestions on a rain sensor that could be hooked into my ELK System?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions

Jeff

I just bought one at Home Depot in the sprinkler section. Might be a Rain Bird sensor, not sure. These have a ceramic disc in them that soaks up water and triggers, then opens when it dries out. They are adjustable to determine how much pressure from the disc it takes to trigger the sensor (how much rain) and then openings you adjust to control how long it takes to dry out.

 

[Desert_AIP]

I have one of these.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...69203681&ss

It doesn't use any power, it provides a contact closure and is adjustable for amount of rain.
It has about 25' of cable attached.
I tested it stand alone with a multimeter but I haven't hooked it to my panel yet.
I'm pretty sure it will work well.

 

[Digger]

I have been installing the Hunter Wireless Rain Click sensors. They are not cheap (about $70 or so) but they go in fast and easy. Battery life for the transmitter is estimated at 10 years.

I found this when I was helping a friend who is a pro installer who had a customer that did not want any wires showing or any holes in the siding etc. For that installation we bought the optional rain gutter clip. We realized that it is just easier to use the wireless which also has a bypass button on the receiver which is powered by the 24 Vac transformer for the sprinklers.

A guy on ebay was/is selling them. I think it is International Sprinkler Supply and he may have his own website. He ships fast and has a whole host of other products for sprinklers and provides tech support etc.

 

[fleetz]

Hi Jeff,

I have used a RS1000 Irritol wireless sensor and works well.

www.irritrol.com/controllers/controllers_rainsensors.html

Regards,

Fleetz