[jonathon]

Does the firmware upgrade script automatically backup the previous configuration? I was prompted to upgrade to the latest firmware from the app on my phone and I wasn’t expecting the upgrade process to delete the previous configuration without warning. I only have 12 zones so it’s not a big deal to rekey the data, but for some OpenSprinkler users with large systems, this could be a huge annoyance. Love the product regardless!

[jonathon]

I too would be interested in purchasing OpenThermostat especially if you create a version for the Pi. For what it’s worth, here’s the list of features I would find valuable. I’d be interested to hear the features others would like to see.

Powered by the HVAC system — the same 24 VAC that powers other digital thermostats and OpenSprinkler.
Onboard real-time clock (like OpenSprinkler) in case the internet connection dies
Switches 24 VAC to control heating stage 1, heating stage 2, A/C, Fan (blower) from automatic to always on
Connects to one or more wired or wireless temperature sensors
I know this sounds extravagant, but self learning algorithms are really important for high-efficiency HVAC systems. Without self learning algorithms it’s difficult to know when to schedule the heat or AC to start in the morning because it can take an hour to raise the temperature by 1 or 2 degrees.
Mobile app to display current temperature, override current scheduled temperature and control scheduling.

I would suggest that rather than attempt to develop a slick looking box to mounting on the wall (think Nest), it would be better to located the OpenThermostat in the furnace room or unfinished space. Slick looking boxes are expensive and people (like my wife) are picky about how something looks on their wall. By mounting OpenThermostat in an out of the way location, the appearance of the box won’t be as important and the mobile app can handle all the functions.

[jonathon]

HI Sepp, try changing your Weather Underground IP to: 38.102.136.138
I too was initially using the wrong IP address. I assumed that I should enter the ip address for api.wunderground.com but was corrected by the helpful users of this forum.

[jonathon]

Can you please amend your code so it can start accepting zip code from other regions as well other than USA / Canada.

Hi himanshulotia,

Rather than using a zip code, I think you should be able to use the “PWS ID. The PWS ID can be found on the Weather Underground site in the header of each weather station. For example, see image attached.

[jonathon]

Basically, you can set up multiple programs, each with the same start / end / interval time, but with different stations and run times.

I think the Open Sprinkler hardware combined with Samer’s mobile app is fantastic. I love the flexibility that comes with the open source model and the suggestions and ideas that an active community generates. I’m curious about the decision to have all stations in a program share the same run time. I can see it would work well in a commercial environment when each station irrigates an identically sized area, number of trees or rows of vines etc. But in my limited experience of residential systems, it’s unusual to have any two stations run the exact same length of time. The front lawn, for example, may need slightly more watering time than the back lawn that’s in shade.

I may be out of touch on this, but from my perspective the user interface would make more sense if each station’s run time could be adjusted within a “program”. I know it’s possible to create a Program for each station and set its run time, but that seems unnecessarily messy. Does anyone else share my concern?

Again, I love the app!!

[jonathon]

Can any of you suggest how to schedule the mobile app to irrigate some stations more than others? As far as I can tell (and I’m a newbie to Open Sprinkler and this forum), each “Program” in the mobile app runs each station for the same length of time. So, for example, the front lawn gets the same time as the side beds. In the “Run Once program” each station can be set to run for a specific number of minutes. But, I can’t see how a station’s irrigation time can be varied in a scheduled program. Any ideas?

[jonathon]

I don’t know where you got that IP address, but I’m using 38.102.136.138, as indicated in Rich’s screenshots, and it works 1/10 times, but I don’t get Comms failure messages.

Thanks Leigh! Switching to 38.102.136.138 works. I almost always get a Communication Failure message. In case it helps someone else, I’ve found clearing the error message and pressing [F5] is frequently successful.

[jonathon]

Hi,

Apologies in advance, this is a newbie question. My sprinkler_pi says “Communication Failure” when doing a WUnderground Check. I’ve checked that I my API key is correct. I’m using 69.192.200.120 for the WUnderground IP.
I’ve tried using both a zip code (98101) and a PWS ID (IBCVICTO1) but none of those changes appear to make any difference. Is there a log I can check?

[Author]

Posts