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In my previous post I gave a link to a low cost motorized ball valve from Amazon that looks like it could be used as an adjustable valve. All that is needed then is a flow rate sensor to drive the valve motor (probably with PWM to slow down the adjustment) until you get the flow rate you want. Lots of relatively low cost flow rate sensors seem to be readily available, and would only use one of the sensor pins.
I’ve done a ton of research trying to find electrically flow controlled valves, and it took a long time for me to find an option that wasn’t in the $250 and up range, with almost all being in the $500 and up and “industrial” grade.
BUT, my work seems to have paid off. The best option I have found so far are valves like these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0119ZI38U?th=1
I haven’t purchased one yet, but I think these should be able to be controlled using PWM to slow down the actuation speed to get more control of the position, and coupled with a flow sensor gives the feedback necessary to adjust it well, and even makes it possible to adjust for changes in pressure. Unfortunately I can’t find ones that are reasonably priced that work with 24VAC like regular sprinkler valves, so they will require a separate power supply or a voltage converter.The “low-tech” method that is not software controllable is to put a flow restrictor on each zone that will give the flow level you want. You can use fixed flow adapters or a manual ball valve that you adjust to get the flow you want.
Programmatic control of flow would require a flow meter in the line hooked up to one of the sensor connections, and use of an electrically controlled variable flow valve. Electric variable flow valves are typically only used in industrial settings and are consequently quite expensive (around $500 or more). I’m pretty sure that the software doesn’t yet support control of a variable flow valve, but it should be possible if you can find a suitable valve.
I actually found the opensprinkler project because I was doing research trying to build my own system that had software control of both pressure and flow. At the moment I’m trying to dig far enough into the hardware and software designs to figure out if OS can be adapted to do what I want easier than building my own system.
