Sprinkler timer EOL'd bad LED display, New one w/Ethernet options?

[the86d]

I am wondering anyone has researched, or currently implement a remotely configurable sprinkler timer? Which one(s)? Links?

It know it is not needed, but if the display goes out on a new one I will have the ability to care-less, as I could program it remotely from a good viewable source (Ethenet, Wifi, Etc).

My last one was a PITA to program (probably due to it being programmed before I owned the home, and although I got the hang of it, it never really worked correctly [double=>tipple watering for no logical reason, even after checking all programs and disabling B, and C] so it was going bad up to a year+ ago), and when it started having problems I thought I'd milk it along until the LED started displaying something like the numbers on a Predator's V.A.T.S./mini-nuke display.

The Open Source one looks great, but appears to only be configurable for 15min watering Min&Max (not 5 min, or 3 min).

[FatCity67]

All the majors make a wifi compatable sprinkler timers to interface with your PC/tablet

Your gonna pay a lot more for it though.

Unless you have a really complicated irrigation system I'd just buy another standard programmable timer.

Toro
Hunter
Irritrol
Rainbird

etc.....

As with most things it's the user that is the issue and not the system itself.

I've installed thousands of Residential and Commercial sprinker systems and VERY rarely is it a timer issue when the system goes haywire or the timer is not working as the client thinks it should.

[the86d]

Yup, going on 2x a day when one can only set to 1x a day, per program, and as stated B, and C were set to 0 minutes, so it clearly must have been my fault...
Enlighten me?

It's hard-wired and as I also stated it showing non-numbers, but partial-numbers (glyphs, one might say), so I think it took too many power hits. It is hard-wired from the prior owner as far as I can tell... I haven't taken it off the wall so far...

[MaHoTex]

Have you unplugged it and removed the backup battery to reset it?

The last similar issue I have that is what I did to resolve the problem.

[the86d]

Have you unplugged it and removed the backup battery to reset it?

The last similar issue I have that is what I did to resolve the problem.

It appears to be hard-wired (unless plugged into a hidden outlet behind the mounted unit), but if I am going to take it off the wall (and unplug it) I might as well get a warranty with a new one and hopefully not have to deal with any issues for a while. So "I would like to only do it once", and only if I have a replacement at the ready, during a weekend when I will have time to work on the issue and have time to replace it. There is no battery backup in the unit per my last check, but I was hoping that it would take a power hiccup, and reset to NULL and I could start over, but with the display completely whack... I am going to replace it.

With the display phasing in and out, I doubt a power cycle will resolve the issue (although the slim chance does exist, but I might as well start from scratch with a new unit, as my grass and fruit trees are being watered now).

[FatCity67]

Brand name? model number? Picture?

[the86d]

I think I am just going to buy a cheap (well not the cheapest, of course) replacement, as if it dies with a non-expensive replacement I won't be so pissed if the new one dies and has to be replaced in the near future. The home was MFR'd in 2k5, so I assume it is just about as old, and a new one should last about that long at least (well aside from the AC adapter that will be in the box of a new one, I have bad luck with those, but that is an easier future-fix).

Thanks!

[the86d]

It was a Hunter ProC system, probably about 7 years old. I purchased a ~$25 Orbit timer with a 6 year warranty. I turned off the power to the only labeled garage on the panel, but it didn't make the wires to the panel cold, so I had to run everything hot, but didn't get zapped... this time.

The Hunter was indeed hard-wired to 110v, but with the changeover to a timer with an AC adapter, I had to drop a electrical box in. Since I was doing that, I daisy-chained a second plug in, so I spent the second half of the day extending wire-runs into the garage, chipping a wire-run large enough for a PVC extension through, with an additional drive to Lowe's for the PVC that I didn't have, but gained a new sprinkler timer that is wired cleanly, and gained additional quad outlet in the garage that had no power in that area.

Again, thanks for the recommendation to just "buy another standard programmable timer", FatCity67. It was indeed a better option.

[FatCity67]

No problem, too bad you had to go thru all the extra wiring trouble.

Why they would want to direct wire it in the first place in beyond me.