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We’re excited to announce the release of OpenSprinkler Unified Firmware 2.2.1(3). This is a minor update that introduces the following new features:
- Multi-Day Average Watering Levels – Uses multiple days of historical weather data to provide more accurate adjustments for programs that don’t run daily.
- Weather Restrictions – Allows programs to be skipped automatically based on conditions like low temperature or forecasted rain.
- Overcurrent and Undercurrent Fault Detection – Monitors current draw anomalies and notifies you when issues are detected.
- Additional Enhancements – Includes notifications for skipped programs, improved handling of manually started programs, and other bug fixes.
Release Notes:
https://github.com/OpenSprinkler/OpenSprinkler-Firmware/releases/tag/221(3)Suport Documents:
https://support.opensprinkler.comUpgrade Notes:
- If your controller is already on firmware 2.2.1(0) or later, updating to this firmware will preserve all settings and programs. No re-configuration is needed.
- If your controller has an older firmware, like 2.1.9 or 2.2.0, updating to this firmware will trigger a factory reset. So make sure to export a copy of your current configurations before proceeding, to restore the settings and programs after the firmware update.
As always, if you have questions, comments, bug reports, or suggestions, feel free to post here or open a support ticket via the link above.
Thanks for your continued support!
– The OpenSprinkler TeamHi guys,
I have been using my current setup for many years, without any serious problems.
I run opensprinkler with motorized ball valves. I just upgraded to this latest version, and now i get an error on all my stations:
“Overcurrent Fault detected when opening station x!”
Resulting in any irrigation program stopping, so no irrigation at all!
when i disconnect the relevant station(s), there is no problem at all.
This happens for all stations.
I suspect that the current required or drawn by the ball valve is ouside the given parameters in the new software.
For now I will try to downgrade to the previous version.
What possibilities do you see for fixing this in future releases? (perhaps widen the current range or make it adjustable in settings, also , reporting the recorded value that caused the error message and the threshold value would be helpfull)
kiind regards,
spanno
Just a quick update, I downgraded to version 2.2.1 (2) and everything is working as before.
When activating a station, the app reports current drawn 522mA max. (i don’t know if this is the actual max amperage because i don’t know how this is measured, at an interval or at state change, I suspect interval, so it might be even more)
So for anyone in the same situation: When you use motorized ball valves, please downgrade your firmware before you start replacing your valves!;)
kind regards,
spanno
Hi, please do NOT give such advice to other users — the overcurrent fault detection was added for a reason. If it trips on your valve, that may be because your valve draws more current than regular 24VAC valves. In which case you can simply increase the threshold in Edit Options -> Overcurrent limit. Downgrading the firmware just disables the overcurrent detection, and you are losing other features in the new firmware.
In addition, I encourage you to read the Release Notes of the new firmware:
https://github.com/OpenSprinkler/OpenSprinkler-Firmware/releases/tag/221(3)
it says specifically the overcurrent threshold is adjustable. Additional information, including the current reading, and the threshold being used is sent to notification channels such as MQTT, Email, IFTTT, if you enable any of them.Ouch, my bad! I am really sorry, I acted impulsively. I hadn’t realized there already is an option to adjust overcurrent limit.
Next time, I’ll be sure to look beyond my nose!
Will (re-)upgrade.
Thanks Ray, for the correction!
all the best!
Sure thing. Just keep in mind that when we introduce a new feature we usually provide adjustable parameters and a way for users to opt out if the feature doesn’t work out for them. In the case of overcurrent, you can adjust the threshold, and, if you don’t want it, you can set it to the maximal value which disables overcurrent detection all together.
Thanks Ray,
FYI:
I had to set it to maximum (2550 – disable) because anything lower (like 2540) still tripped the safety.The valves I use are rated AC/DC 9-24 volt, max. 5 Watt. The power adapter powering the controller delivers 7,5 Watt, 1 Amp. I have been using this setup for over 5 years without any valve problems.
My take is that the motor controlling the ball valve really draws a high (inrush) current at startup (apparently over 2 amps) for a very short time (like induction motors tend to do).
A suggestion might be to include a configurable delay function (for lack of a better name) for over- and undercurrent protection where you set how long that threshold has to be passed for before tripping the safety. Perhaps anywhere from milliseconds to seconds perhaps? That would provide users like me with the option to use the safety feature when using opensprinkler with these type of valves (no idea how many people use them, though).
anyways, thanks for your quick replies!
have a nice weekend!
I am surprised the valve draws that much current. Over 2 amp is a lot for a single valve, and it’s pushing the limit on how much current the solenoid driver can handle. You said “7.5Watt 1 amp” — did you mean “7.5 Volt 1amp”? Do you have a DC or AC-powered OpenSprinkler? If you have a DC-powered OpenSprinkler, disabling overcurrent is more or less ok since the DC power adapter itself is regulated and usually have internal overcurrent protection in hardware. If you have AC-powered, drawing 2 amp even for a small amount of time risks damaging the triac (solenoid driver) as it’s not rated to handle that much current.
It’s not a good idea to delay the current detection beyond a certain time — if a solenoid or wiring is shorted, the overcurrent happened right at the moment the zone is open, and that’s the best time to capture the fault. If you delay by some small amount of time, the damage could be done already and the overcurrent detection isn’t that useful anymore.
For now, the best solution for you is to set the overcurrent to 2550 to disable it. Particularly if you have a DC-powered OpenSprinkler, this is generally ok due to the power adapter having regulation already. I honestly have never seen valves drawing that much impulse current. This is just something new to me so we will keep it in mind for the next firmware revision.
Another option is to suitably increase the impulse extra:
https://github.com/OpenSprinkler/OpenSprinkler-Firmware/blob/master/defines.h#L163
which is the additional margin of current allowed when a zone has just opened. This accounts for impulse current. The firmware adds this extra margin for fault detection when a zone just opened, and then lowers it to the regular threshold about 100ms after a zone opens.You are right, the power adapter is 7,5 volts, and yes the controller is the DC model. As far as I can see any of the 5 valves installed draw more than the maximum allowed current in the firmware. However, they are working just fine and have been for many years. Unfortunately I do not have the equipment to test inrush current that lasts just a few ms.
About setting #define OVERCURRENT_INRUSH_EXTRA 600 // in mA. Do I understand correctly that when overcurrent protection is set (for instance) to 2200 mA, the threshold is raised to 2200 + 600 = 2800 mA for the first 100 milliseconds? And that this is the default setting that is already applied? (so my testing the limit up to 2200 actually already allowed an inrush of 2800 mA for the first 100 ms).
I believe the procedure to increase this value would be to:
1) download source code
2) adjust setting
3) recompile the firmware
4) update the controllerCan you suggest an alternative setting for the 600mA? or would just setting a very high value basically disable overcurrent protection for the first 100 ms?
For your information, I use these valves (the ADC 9-24 v version cr04):
thanks for all your help so far!
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