Smart Irrigation Controllers

Discover the Best Smart Irrigation Controllers for Your Smart Home.

Smart irrigation controllers bring convenience and water efficiency to your garden. They offer precise control over when and how much water your plants receive. By connecting one to Homey, they can ensure your lawn and garden stay healthy. They also help in conserving resources.

This Best Buy Guide explores several top picks for irrigation controllers, highlighting models that integrate seamlessly with Homey and offer the best features.

Choosing an Irrigation Controller

Smart irrigation controllers have various features that can greatly impact their performance and compatibility with your garden and existing watering system. Consider these five key points to select the right model.

Number of Zones

The number of irrigation zones the controller supports will determine how effectively it can manage different areas of your garden. Controllers with more zones are suitable for larger, more complex setups, while fewer zones may suffice for smaller spaces.

Ease of Installation

Some controllers are designed for straightforward, DIY installation, while others may require professional setup. Make sure to choose a model that aligns with your technical comfort level. Also, consider your irrigation system’s existing infrastructure.

Power Source and Backup

Consider whether the controller runs on mains power, batteries, or solar energy. Additionally, models with backup power options ensure your irrigation system continues working during power outages, protecting your garden even in emergencies.

Advanced Features

Look for controllers with advanced features like flow monitoring, soil moisture sensor compatibility, and customized watering schedules. Features such as rain delay or freeze skip automatically adjust watering schedules based on local weather conditions.

Price

Consider the price-to-features ratio highlighted in our Best Buy Guide. Balance your budget with the controller’s long-term savings in water efficiency, ensuring you get the best value for your investment.

Brand	Model	Protocol	Zones	IP Rating	Price
Gardena	Smart Irrigation Control	Wi-Fi	1 - 6	IPX4	€197.45
Hunter	Hydrawise Irrigation Controllers	Wi-Fi	6 - 54	IP55	€310.85
LinkTap	Wireless Water Timers	Zigbee	1 - 4	IP66	€112.00
POPP	Flow Stop 2	Z-Wave	1	IP64	€89.99
Rain Bird	Irrigation Controllers	Wi-Fi	4 - 22	IP24	€119.95
Royal Gardineer	Irrigation Controller	Zigbee	1	IP54	€55.99

The Gardena Smart Irrigation Control is a versatile solution for automating and optimizing garden watering. It allows control of up to 6 irrigation valves, making it suitable for medium to larger gardens.

This intelligent control unit replaces the control system of an existing irrigation setup, bringing advanced features for more efficient water management. One of its standout features is the Auto-Schedule Assistant, which helps customize and optimize irrigation times based on the garden’s needs. The system adjusts automatically, responding to real-time weather data. For instance, if the forecast predicts rain or a dry spell has just ended, the app will adjust the schedule accordingly, ensuring plants receive the right amount of water.

You can combine the Gardena Smart Irrigation Control with the Gardena Smart Sensor, which measures soil moisture and temperature for even more precise watering. The sensor is compatible with any standard 24V valve, allowing you to integrate it into existing setups. The unit is slim and robust, making it ideal for outdoor installation without concerns about weather conditions, as it is splashproof.

You can integrate the Gardena Smart Irrigation Control system in Homey and Homey Pro. This system connects over Wi-Fi using the Gardena Smart Gateway, allowing you to control all irrigation valves individually and monitor their status.

Hunter Hydrawise offers a range of irrigation controllers. Their models can manage 4 to 54 zones, making them ideal for residential and commercial applications.

Among their premium offerings is the HCC model, designed for larger residential or commercial landscapes. It is expandable in increments of 4, 8, 22, and 54 stations, making it versatile for growing needs. The HCC model includes a plastic or metal wall mount with an IP55 rating, suitable for outdoor installations.

The controller’s 3-inch full-color touchscreen display simplifies programming and allows easy control from the unit. Additionally, the HCC has a built-in milliamp sensor that detects wire faults and provides alerts, ensuring system reliability.

Hunter’s Pro-HC model is another option for residential use, available in 6, 12, and 24-zone configurations. Like the HCC, the Pro-HC uses Hydrawise’s Predictive Watering® technology, automatically adjusting irrigation schedules based on local weather conditions.

You can integrate each controller into Homey Pro, which uses Wi-Fi out of the box. You can create irrigation schedules, control each zone individually, and change watering duration. However, Hunter irrigation controllers’ extensive feature set, modular design, and high-quality build come at a price. Their models are more expensive than comparable devices.

LinkTap’s Wireless Water Timers provide an efficient and user-friendly solution for garden irrigation. The G2S, a single-zone timer, runs on 4 AA batteries and includes an integrated flow meter that enables precise water usage monitoring.

Its IP66 waterproof rating ensures reliable performance in outdoor conditions. At the same time, the manual on/off button with a digital lockout feature enhances control and prevents unintentional changes. With a high flow rate of 30 liters per minute, the G2S is ideal for garden areas that need a significant amount of water delivered quickly.

The G2S is nearly identical to the two-zone D1 version, with the primary differences being shape, size, and zone control. Both models feature the same advanced capabilities, making them adaptable for various home irrigation needs.

For example, the Rain Skip function prevents unnecessary watering by using weather forecasts to automatically skip scheduled irrigation if rain is predicted or has recently occurred. This feature ensures water conservation and protects plants from overwatering.

For larger setups, LinkTap’s 4-zone water timer offers a unique two-part design: the ValveLinker, a 4-zone wireless valve controller, and the Q1, a 4-zone valve and flow meter unit. This model integrates all the features of the G2S and D1 while managing four zones, effectively replacing multiple single-zone devices, saving you money, and streamlining garden management.

Though LinkTap timers use Zigbee, they require their proprietary gateway to connect with platforms like Homey. With the LinkTap gateway, you can seamlessly integrate the system into Homey or Homey Pro, allowing full control over individual irrigation zones, schedules, and sensor and alarm status monitoring.

POPP Flow Stop 2 is a motor-operated shut-off controller designed to stop water and gas flow in pipes automatically. This device automatically rotates the existing ball valve commonly used in household irrigation systems.

The Flow Stop 2 has a 12V motor that delivers high torque, enabling it to close a ball valve in 10 seconds. Despite the motor’s low voltage requirement, it offers impressive power output, ensuring dependable operation.

Thanks to the clutch release bearing, the valve can be manually closed in case of a power failure, providing peace of mind during emergencies. Installation is straightforward but requires mounting the unit directly onto the ball valve handle, which may limit compatibility with some valves and handles. The device measures 74 x 120 x 195 millimeters and is IP64-rated, meaning it is protected against dust and splashing water.

POPP Flow Stop communicates via Z-Wave, allowing it to integrate seamlessly with Homey Bridge and Homey Pro. You can toggle the controller on or off, quickly starting or stopping garden irrigation.

Rain Bird offers a range of irrigation controllers tailored to different needs. The top-tier ESP-ME3 model is designed for residential and commercial use and stands out due to its flexibility. It allows users to start with 4 zones and expand to 22, depending on their irrigation needs.

The ESP-ME3 supports internet-based weather data, adjusting the irrigation schedule based on real-time conditions. This helps save water while keeping landscapes healthy. Its large, back-lit LCD makes it easy to navigate, even in low-light or direct sun conditions, ensuring usability in various environments.

Designed for indoor and outdoor installation, this model offers simple dial programming. It allows you to manage schedules efficiently without extensive technical knowledge. The ESP-ME3 also features built-in flow sensing capabilities, enhancing its ability to track water usage and detect issues.

The Rain Bird ESP-ME3 is compatible with Homey Pro, but you must purchase the LNK2 Wi-Fi module separately. Once integrated, you can control irrigation zones individually, set timers, and monitor each zone’s status from Homey.

If you need a more straightforward yet capable model, the ESP-TM2 is more suitable for smaller domestic projects. It is available in 4, 6, 8, or 12 zone versions and is compatible with Rain Bird’s Wi-Fi module and Homey Pro.

If you need straightforward 1-zone irrigation control, consider the Royal Gardineer Irrigation Controller. This affordable model offers a slim design that fits easily next to other valves on a valve manifold. This makes it convenient for compact installations.

It’s compatible with all standard taps with 1/2- and 3/4-inch threads, providing versatility for different setups. The controller features a built-in water consumption meter, enabling you to monitor water usage. You can activate manual irrigation with a single touch directly on the valve, allowing quick and straightforward control.

The device is designed for outdoor use, with a splash-proof housing rated at IP54, ensuring protection from water exposure. It operates between 0 °C and 50 °C, meaning it may not perform well in freezing conditions.

The Royal Gardineer Irrigation Controller uses Zigbee to communicate and pair with Homey Pro. Once integrated, you can toggle the valve, create schedules, and monitor battery levels. However, many users consider this device’s flow meter unreliable. Therefore, it may not be dependable for accurate water usage monitoring.