Comments on: Controlling my sprinklers with mControl and Windows Home Server on a Friday night

By: Happy_Macomb

Happy_Macomb — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 00:34:10 +0000

It does — thanks!

By: Timothy Daleo

Timothy Daleo — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:16:07 +0000

I think the scope of this project has strayed. I bought standard brass valves from Home Depot that were about $50 each. You could also buy the plastic ones for a third that price. Your two biggest expenses are the EZFlora controller (and AC adapter) for $135 and mControl. The EZFlora will work with most any standard irrigation set up.

In the most simple translation all that WHS-mControl-USBPowerLinc-housewiring-EZFlora-irrigationwiring-sprinklervalve-water-happyplants does is just open a valve.

Hope this clear it up a little.

Tim

By: Happy_Macomb

Happy_Macomb — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 21:36:32 +0000

I contacted Hunter to see if I could use their valves with an internet connection, and they said: yes “but the software starts at $4,999 and requires an ACC controller, ACC-COM-HWR, and a CCC-USB. In other words, we can do it but it is not inexpensive.)” Ouch!

What brand valves have you used?

By: Happy_macomb

Happy_macomb — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 15:53:27 +0000

Tim — thanks so much for letting me go off-topic. I’m going to start with one spigot and go from there. I’m fairly confused — I appreciate the hand-holding!

By: Timothy Daleo

Timothy Daleo — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 14:20:12 +0000

It sounds like you have a lot of work ahead of you. Without seeing your property I would suggest branching off your current spigots and adding a two valve manifold at each of the three locations. Once the valves are installed run basic PVC from each valve with 6 “heads” each to good locations for the drip. At the ends attach the 8 way drip lines and then have those little mini sprinkler heads on each one. If you have 65 psi (normal) then this should be enough pressure.

This whole set up will give you 12 heads at each spigot and 8 drip lines at each head. This amount multiplied by three locations and you are looking at 288 drips. Over your half acre (assuming a normal size house) you would have good coverage.

The system I described is about $1000 as described but you can always scale it back. I have a side yard with four raised organic beds and 12 rose bushes and I run a similar system.

I know this is not an irrigation site so enough of the mechanics. I LOVE my WHS controlling the sprinklers and automating my home. My system has grown slowly so I would suggest the same to most other people. Just by one module a paycheck if you can. The first time you turn on your sprinklers from your laptop is a great feeling!

Tim

By: Happy_Macomb

Happy_Macomb — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:25:43 +0000

I’ve been looking at that site — it is very helpful, but way more complex than I had intended for my little 1/2 acre. I need a glorified drip system, but I have three separate outdoor spigots I’m working from, and I’m tired of crouching down to set the timers — inevitably it is dark and the wrong temperature and the mosquitoes are out. I currently have battery-operated timers, so I suppose they must be both controller and valve. Clearly I have a lot to figure out. I had hoped this would not be a major project –that is, I know it would be a project to install, but I had hoped it would be easy to decide what to buy and install! In any event, thanks very much for your help. I am working through the information you have given me.

By: Timothy Daleo

Timothy Daleo — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:05:49 +0000

You should have a valve outside that controls your sprinklers. You can either turn that valve on manually, usually by sliding or turning a knob, or by connecting power to it. If you have a valve that is only manual you should talk to a contractor or local Home Depot, Lowes etc. before you proceed.

The EZFlora controller, as with all irrigation controllers, just sends the electrical signal to your valve to open it. When the mControl macro runs it sends a command signal and that signal is received by the EZFlora controller via your home wiring. The EZFlora module then converts that signal to 24V and sends current to your sprinkler valve with the attached wiring. The valve opens with that current and stays open with that current.
The fourth picture down above shows the EZFlora controller in my garage. The WHS mControl signal comes in through those metal conduits to the white module. The 24V is connected to the module with the white wires and is plugged in to another outlet. The black, red and orange wire to three valves in my backyard and the small white wire is the common for those valves.

A good site I have used for irrigation basics can be found at:

http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/sprinkler00.htm

Hope this helps.

Tim

By: Happy_Macomb

Happy_Macomb — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:44:08 +0000

I have a really basic question — I think I am missing something here. How do the hoses connect to the Insteon-Compatible irrigation timer from Smarthome? It looks as if you have the controller inside, and their website recommends an indoor application. But my backyard is outside. What am I missing?

By: katrash

katrash — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:23:21 +0000

Paul,

The EZ irrigation module used doesn’t allow running all zones simultaneously; they have to go in sequence – the first stats, stops, then the second and so on until the 7th or 8th (depending whether zone 8 is set as a pump or not).

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Fri, 17 Jul 2009 22:56:23 +0000

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Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:28:57 +0000

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By: Tim Daleo

Tim Daleo — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 18:41:18 +0000

Currently all four zones fire in order but with different durations. I have never tried to get them to go all at once. I have 65 psi with 6 full head equivalents on each zone so even if I tried it I would probably end up with bubbles at each head.

I am glad that you have built your own system. I am finishing up my garage this weekend and will have one final article for mControl tying everything together.

I had a professional alarm system installed last year so I will not use those functions but I will show everything else I have done with mControl for the final article next weekend.

Have a safe holiday if you are on this side of the pond.

Tim