Sonoff Irrigation system

[Doom5003]

Not sure if this has been asked and answered but here goes.

I'm looking at upgrading my irrigation system with a Sonoff 4Ch ProR3.

I cant find concreate wiring diagrams for connecting the solenoids/valves to the controller so if my understanding is incorrect, help would be appreciated.

Ill be powering the controller with either DC or AC.
Am i correct in wire the valves one cable to the COM port and one to the NO port?

Some sites/videos mention running a separate 12V or what have you, to the solenoid in place of connecting to COM on the controller.
This is the part i don't understand, why not connect directly to the COM port. Has this to do with the amount of power the controller supplies per channel and what the solenoid requires?

 

[The_Ogre]

The Sonoff will act as a relay, it will not supply the solenoid with power.

Unless I'm misinterpreting your post...

 

[InusB]

I'm guessing you'll do something similar to this video. Keep in mind most solenoids use 24V AC (I see this is also on of the first comments in this video linked)
Not sure if you can power this sonoff with AC or 24V DC and then "passthrough" the 24V AC through each of the channels (I did this with sonoff SV's)

 

[OCP]

I'm guessing you'll do something similar to this video. Keep in mind most solenoids use 24V AC (I see this is also on of the first comments in this video linked)
Not sure if you can power this sonoff with AC or 24V DC and then "passthrough" the 24V AC through each of the channels (I did this with sonoff SV's)

This

Hook up each solonoid to a Sonoff SV (DC) or MINI R2 (AC) as the relay to control them.

 

[acidrain]

Maybe this will help.

DIY Local Irrigation Controller · Issue #37 · brianhanifin/Home-Assistant-Config

Our battery and cloud powered Melnor Raincloud/Aquatimer has been flaky off and on for years. Now even new batteries aren't resolving the problem. Also, there appears to be possible battery acid in...

github.com

Obv 120v is the mains so 230 for SA.

 

[hilt_ctn]

Maybe this will help.

DIY Local Irrigation Controller · Issue #37 · brianhanifin/Home-Assistant-Config

Our battery and cloud powered Melnor Raincloud/Aquatimer has been flaky off and on for years. Now even new batteries aren't resolving the problem. Also, there appears to be possible battery acid in...

github.com

View attachment 1822599
Obv 120v is the mains so 230 for SA.

This is the way . That said I’d switch ( the relays ) on the live wire, not the neutral

 

[Doom5003]

Maybe this will help.

DIY Local Irrigation Controller · Issue #37 · brianhanifin/Home-Assistant-Config

Our battery and cloud powered Melnor Raincloud/Aquatimer has been flaky off and on for years. Now even new batteries aren't resolving the problem. Also, there appears to be possible battery acid in...

github.com

View attachment 1822599
Obv 120v is the mains so 230 for SA.

This is what i have been finding online.
Okay, thanks guys.
Will bookmark this for future ref.

 

[Doom5003]

The Sonoff will act as a relay, it will not supply the solenoid with power.

Unless I'm misinterpreting your post...

Looks like i misunderstood. Thought the power would feed into the AC/DC input and then be fed to each individual channel, thus no need for second power source.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Looks like i misunderstood. Thought the power would feed into the AC/DC input and then be fed to each individual channel, thus no need for second power source.

It will, but it will output what you input.

So you don’t connect it to AC as that will explode anything DC on the other side.

But as long as the DC power input matches what your solenoid requires it should do what you are expecting.

I say this purely in my experience with other Sonoff products, haven’t used this specific one.

 

[upup]

remember a fuse to the valve.

 

[acidrain]

But as long as the DC power input matches what your solenoid requires it should do what you are expecting.

Don't know what solenoid valves he is using but the hunter/rainbird brands I have both require AC. You can use DC but from what I've read you will burn the solenoid out quick.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Don't know what solenoid valves he is using but the hunter/rainbird brands I have both require AC. You can use DC but from what I've read you will burn the solenoid out quick.

Interesting.

My Irritrol setup is all DC again.

****

Actually checking now it may just be 24V AC and I assumed it was DC.

 

[Stephan Maritz]

Is there a specific reason you want to use Sonoff for this?

 

[maumau]

Is there a specific reason you want to use Sonoff for this?

What would you suggest as an alternative?

Or any reason not to use Sonoff.

 

[Stephan Maritz]

What would you suggest as an alternative?

Or any reason not to use Sonoff.

I use Sonoff products for most of my automation, which includes wellpoint and irrigation pump control, lighting, and so on.

For irrigation itself, I use this: https://www.takealot.com/rainpoint-wi-fi-irrigation-controller-8-zones-indoor-use/PLID95801264

Unfortunately it doesn't integrate into HA yet, or Ewelink for that matter. The app is awesome though, and I also have a rain gauge and temperature and humidity sensor which I use to skip irrigation cycles, trigger certain zones under certain conditions, etc.

I also made a post about it in the All about Automations thread, if I recall.

Compared to similar units from Rain Bird and Hunter, which you still have to buy wifi dongles separately, I thought this was bang for buck.

 

[W@P]

I am rocking one of these, has been flawless, not even 1 issue since I installed it couple of years ago.
This specific model seems to be discontinued.

 

[Stephan Maritz]

I am rocking one of these, has been flawless, not even 1 issue since I installed it couple of years ago.
This specific model seems to be discontinued.


View attachment 1822744

I have seen those as well some time ago. There is a reason I did not go with it, I think it's because it doesn't have a master valve output.

I stand to be corrected though.

 

[neoprema]

Not sure if this has been asked and answered but here goes.

I'm looking at upgrading my irrigation system with a Sonoff 4Ch ProR3.

I cant find concreate wiring diagrams for connecting the solenoids/valves to the controller so if my understanding is incorrect, help would be appreciated.

Ill be powering the controller with either DC or AC.
Am i correct in wire the valves one cable to the COM port and one to the NO port?

Some sites/videos mention running a separate 12V or what have you, to the solenoid in place of connecting to COM on the controller.
This is the part i don't understand, why not connect directly to the COM port. Has this to do with the amount of power the controller supplies per channel and what the solenoid requires?

1. Rainbird has Wi-Fi adapters for their controllers, not sure if that will help you.

2. I did some work on mine to see how it works as I was having problems. It has 9 zones, and the solenoids operate on 24V AC with a common ground. The reason for AC I imagine is that the cables run very far... The solenoid fails closed, so power is needed to force the springs back and open it.

3. You COULD do your own thing with a 24V supply, running common to the solenoid and then +24V through Sonoff switches. I do wonder if that will work out cheaper than a Rainbird though? It might, especially since you can build you own sensors and create rules etc of when to water - which on the Rainbird requires the moisture sensor, wifi controller etc. I have a new Rainbird after lightning struck the old one that came with the house. But I didn't get the Wifi. Should it decide to automate in the future I'll probably go the Sonoff/Shelly route as well as its painfully simple how it works.

 

[Imoe]

I used this a long time ago to develop a 5 port irrigation system. Yes I know, it's probably inefficient but the lack of good WiFi irrigations lead me to it. Still working to this day without any issues.

SONOFF 1 CH WIFI W/L 5V RELAY

SONOFF RE5V1C - 5V Wifi Inching/Selflock Relay Module Overview The 5VDC input, nano size and dry-contact output makes it different from traditional SONOFF product, this product is a wireless switch supports inching /self-locking mode. Users can add the device to the APP eWeLink in order to...

www.communica.co.za

There are now new and better which I will probably migrate to once the need arises, I suggest using this, it uses WiFi but also 2.4ghz remote.

BDD SONOFF 4 CH WIFI W/L RELAY

Four Channel eWeLink Smart WiFi Relay, 10A. Works with A 2,4GHz Remote, noT A 433MHz Remote. Input 7 to 48VDC or USB 5VFour Channel Ewelink Smart WiFi Relay Overview This is a four channel WiFi smart relay. One can control it via the eWeLink app to control devices on and off anytime and...

www.communica.co.za

It's cheap and will get the job done, albeit requires some wiring.

 

[Doom5003]

Check this out on takealot: Switch Mode Power Supply In=220v Out=24v @ 4.5a

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www.takealot.com

Could I use one of these to power the controller and solenoid?