Sonoff for irrigation?

LandyMan said:
Ok, will check at the valves. If they do combine the commons at the valves, do I still need to daisy chain the common at the Sonoff, or just one into the Sonoff, similar to the Rainbird?
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I've never used a Sonoff device. Can't give advice ?
 
LandyMan said:
Hi all,
I am currently using a Rainbird STP6PL controller for my 4 sprinkler zones. The LCD panel has faded quite a bit (it is 12 years old) and I want to replace it (however new controllers with Wifi is about R5k, which ain't gonna happen :) )

So I am looking at the Sonoff 4CHPro R3, as I only need 4 channels. I have watched this video, but the wiring seems a bit different to what my Rainbird is, and what should go into the Sonoff (not knowing much about irrigation, I need som advice)

-> This shows how the common daisy chains over the 4 channels on the Sonoff. However, this is the current setup on the Rainbird:

View attachment 1483319

Am I right in assuming the "BUS" for common might be running behind the scenes between the ports on the Rainbird, and the cabling as per the video is correct for the Sonoff?
Click to expand...
Sonoff won't help with your rain sensor.
Maybe try the Wyze Sprinkler Controller if you still want that functionality.

Check my post here for wiring: https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/threads/sonoff-for-irrigation.1064456/page-2#post-26554722

The blue, white, brown and red wires will each go into an NO terminal on the Sonoff.
Your black common wire will go into one of the Com terminals, and you'll need to bridge that to every other Com terminal.

I can't see your power setup in the photo (i.e. how you're actually powering your solenoids), but I assume your Com wire is coming from the negative/neutral wire of your power supply and there is a positive/live wire already feeding to the solenoids.
 
hellfire said:
Sonoff won't help with your rain sensor.
Maybe try the Wyze Sprinkler Controller if you still want that functionality.

Check my post here for wiring: https://mybroadband.co.za/forum/threads/sonoff-for-irrigation.1064456/page-2#post-26554722

The blue, white, brown and red wires will each go into an NO terminal on the Sonoff.
Your black common wire will go into one of the Com terminals, and you'll need to bridge that to every other Com terminal.

I can't see your power setup in the photo (i.e. how you're actually powering your solenoids), but I assume your Com wire is coming from the negative/neutral wire of your power supply and there is a positive/live wire already feeding to the solenoids.
Click to expand...
Not too phased about the rainsensor (for now).

Ok, so I need to daisy chain the common ... thanks for that.
To be honest I haven't looked at exactly how the power is generated, only thought of this this morning when seeing that prices for replacement controllers :)
 
I currenlty have a weathermatic controller with active 12 zones. Looking at replacing to have more control in HA. My issue is I will need 3x4 sonoff channel pros or atleast 2 Wyze controllers. Is it possible to have 2 zones merged into 1- As in i combine 2 relays in 1 relay reducing the amount of individual zones?
 
AmazeBalls said:
I currenlty have a weathermatic controller with active 12 zones. Looking at replacing to have more control in HA. My issue is I will need 3x4 sonoff channel pros or atleast 2 Wyze controllers. Is it possible to have 2 zones merged into 1- As in i combine 2 relays in 1 relay reducing the amount of individual zones?
Click to expand...
I've been down this route and while it worked fine, both my 4CH PRO R3's blew so I wasted cash there..

Second time round I went with a dedicated Hunter controller and the WiFi module which works even though it's a more expensive route. Only thing I don't like how the integration seems to be cloud-only. No local/LAN control.

However I liked the fact that the Hunter auto-adjusts the watering program based on solar/rainfall values. That is all I was using the Sonoff's/HA for really and doing my own calculations in HA, so now I just let the Hunter do it's thing and only use the integration if I want to manually trigger a program for example which is rare/only to repair something.

I think I would have given Rainbird a go second time round. Can't speak from experience but it looks like it's local access so manual triggering will be quicker. I see they have a 12-zone ESP-TM2 which is WiFi ready, and HA has an integration.

Regarding your question, not sure if I quite understand, but yes essentially you can connect two zone wires together and they will both trigger under one zone. Just make sure you have enough water pressure.
 
fxit_man said:
I've been down this route and while it worked fine, both my 4CH PRO R3's blew so I wasted cash there..

Second time round I went with a dedicated Hunter controller and the WiFi module which works even though it's a more expensive route. Only thing I don't like how the integration seems to be cloud-only. No local/LAN control.

However I liked the fact that the Hunter auto-adjusts the watering program based on solar/rainfall values. That is all I was using the Sonoff's/HA for really and doing my own calculations in HA, so now I just let the Hunter do it's thing and only use the integration if I want to manually trigger a program for example which is rare/only to repair something.

I think I would have given Rainbird a go second time round. Can't speak from experience but it looks like it's local access so manual triggering will be quicker. I see they have a 12-zone ESP-TM2 which is WiFi ready, and HA has an integration.

Regarding your question, not sure if I quite understand, but yes essentially you can connect two zone wires together and they will both trigger under one zone. Just make sure you have enough water pressure.
Click to expand...
Problem is the units are WiFi ready, but then you still have to blow in the region of R2000 to R2500 for the WiFi module, which is @#$@ insane
 
I got one of these. Works a treat. They have a 4, 6 and 8 zone model.
1679904974641.png
 
fxit_man said:
I've been down this route and while it worked fine, both my 4CH PRO R3's blew so I wasted cash there..

Second time round I went with a dedicated Hunter controller and the WiFi module which works even though it's a more expensive route. Only thing I don't like how the integration seems to be cloud-only. No local/LAN control.

However I liked the fact that the Hunter auto-adjusts the watering program based on solar/rainfall values. That is all I was using the Sonoff's/HA for really and doing my own calculations in HA, so now I just let the Hunter do it's thing and only use the integration if I want to manually trigger a program for example which is rare/only to repair something.

I think I would have given Rainbird a go second time round. Can't speak from experience but it looks like it's local access so manual triggering will be quicker. I see they have a 12-zone ESP-TM2 which is WiFi ready, and HA has an integration.

Regarding your question, not sure if I quite understand, but yes essentially you can connect two zone wires together and they will both trigger under one zone. Just make sure you have enough water pressure.
Click to expand...
Thanks, thats exactly what i was wondering, got a variable speed pump so preasure should be ok, but ended up buying a 12 channel relay so wont need to. I was also looking at the 4 channel pro but seemed over somplicated needing 3 of them so stuck to a single 12 channel. The OEM kits are apealing but the cost was hard to justify when i could achive the same for substantially less. Also couldnt seem to find the wifi card for my weathermatic.
 
AmazeBalls said:
Have you got this in HA? what sensors do you get, saw a few posts you could only get the scenes fro tuya app in HA?
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No only using it with the smart life app. Not using any sensors. I have it on a schedule but most of the time I just activate the zones manually via the app. Working great so far.
 
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