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Just to briefly revisit this issue (ok, I guess more of a feature request than an issue?):
Do you by chance know if the planned ET-based weather algorithms you mention above will be compatible with the current hardware, to be added via a simple firmware update, or will they require upgraded hardware to implement? (if it’s possible to know, currently) Is there any (reasonable) chance they will require new hardware, or are you relatively confident the new features will be made available for the current platform?
Is there any news on the EPA WaterSense certification? Then is would qualify under the SoCal WaterSmart program. See: http://socalwatersmart.com/index.php/qualifyingproducts/wbics
I’m VERY interested in getting an OpenSprinkler controller to replace my POS Orbit controller. If OpenSprinkler can get certified on that list, though, rebates up to $200 become available, so I can get it for FREE! “Only WBICs that are EPA WaterSense certified qualify for SoCal Water$mart rebates.” It’s ironic that the main feature of those smart controllers (weather integration) is somewhat wasted, given the mandatory minimal watering we are allowed, on a fixed schedule. But as discussed in this thread above, rain delays are key.
I really want a computerized controller for my sprinklers, primarily for logging and verification purposes, so can I know for certain when/if and for how long my lawn watering runs. (It’s a small lawn, but I’ am loathe to give it up) I can foresee this being a big issue in the future, as our drought here in California continues and water restrictions tighten further.
I have looked at other options, like the Rachio Iro, which is pretty slick, but I have major issues with cloud-reliant devices. I want something that’s going to work 100% no matter what the state of my internet connection (and no matter if the manufacturer goes out of the business and turns off their servers, rendering your expensive hardware useless!). No such issues with OpenSprinkler.
I’m especially impressed by the option to connect my own personal weather station to Weather Underground, and point the OS to that for rain stoppage: Then any weather forecast-related options actually work as intended! Los Angeles is a massive city, and an 80% chance of rain could easily mean neighborhoods 10 miles away get drenched while my lawn doesn’t get a single drop. No such issue if the sprinklers are controlled by a rain sensor on my own property.
Helpful (and I’ve read the manual), but my concern is quite simply that he’s not very bright, and I don’t trust him not to mess something up. If it’s not bonehead simple so a 5-year-old couldn’t mess it up, I just don’t trust him to mess with anything. If we were talking about someone truly literate and known to be able to think things through, it would be less of an issue, but unfortunately, given his track record… I’d rather have a separate collection of buttons that he literally can’t screw up.
It seems possible I could set up custom programs called simply “Stn 1 – 2 min test” and “Stn 2 – 2 min test” and so on, but it’s hard to visualize the exact button presses (and resulting screen displays) needed to get to those test programs.
Is it really difficult to add the hardware buttons as I originally described?
