Modding OpenSprinkler DC Version for Latching Valves?

[Florian Erl]

Hello everyone,

I recently purchased the OpenSprinkler DC version but realized after the fact that my irrigation system uses latching valves. Unfortunately, returning or refunding the unit is not practical for me due to international shipping and customs (I’m in Europe, and the product is from the US).

I was wondering if anyone here knows of a way to modify the DC version to work with latching valves? Perhaps there’s a hardware mod or some workaround?

Additionally, is it possible to connect an extension board designed for latching valves to the DC version of OpenSprinkler? Could I use the extension board to control my latching valves even if the main controller isn’t the “DC Latch” model?

Thanks in advance for any advice or guidance!

Best regards,

Flo

[Ray]

1) You can submit a support ticket at:
support.opensprinkler.com
and arrange to purchase a Latch driver board. It’s a lot cheaper than buying a new controller and you can replace the driver yourself. This way you can reuse the same logic board and enclosure.

2) There is no easy way to modify the DC driver board for latching valves. Latching valves require an H-bridge to operate because you need to be able to reverse the polarity when opening vs. when closing, which the DC driver doesn’t have. At best, some latching valves have 3 wires in which case it can take 2 ports on DC controller to operate. Still, even that requires a firmware update, which is probably not worth your time.

3) We no longer sell latching expanders — the demand for latching controller is very small to begin with. It make no economic sense to carry latching expander any more. You can NOT use DC expander for latching valves, again, because the way they work is quite different.

[Florian Erl]

Hi Ray,

thanks a lot for your quick response.
I already ordered a latching expander (together with a latching Opensprinkler) in the European store, so my last question still stands. Could I use the extension board to control my latching valves even if the main controller isn’t the “DC Latch” model? I could use the non-latching ports to control some relays, pumps, and so on while using the expander for the latching valves.

[Ray]

Our German distributor, Stefan, does still have a few latch expanders. Latch expander MUST be used with latch main controller — non-latch main controller does NOT have the internal circuitry to operate latch expanders. You can contact Stefan to see if he has a latch main controller that you can swap with, or as I said, you can send a support ticket to us and we can sell you a latch driver board. You just need to replace your main controller’s driver board and it can become a latch controller.

[Florian Erl]

Thanks again for the clarification! I’ll open the support ticket then. 🙂

[Author]

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