Customer Reviews for Melnor RainCloud Internet Controlled Smart Timer

I'm in my second season of using this. It was easy to set up, runs flawlessly. I dried out my product and sealed it in a zip-lock bag for the winter. Stored in a freeze proof area. New batteries and I was back in business. Zone 4 is for my misters. Really great turning them on while I'm outside. Con: 4 hour minimum repeat. Not a huge deal, but I use zone 4 for misters and would rather run them hourly. I live in the desert and the Plumeria and other tropical plants love it.

I use it since three years and is the BEST WATER TIMER EVER there were some small Issues at the begin but they were fixed thru an update right at he begin, Now it works perfectly strong connection and flawless easy and clean application I have the setup with one base and two 4 zone valves i would like to buy one more but unfortunately Home Depot is always out of stock i recomended it to many of my friends who are actively looking for it

Used it for one season and had issues from the start. Continually we go off-line. Hooked it up this season 2022 and could never get the stupid thing to power on. MOST OF ALL BOUGHT A NEW ONE 5/3/22 AND SET UP A NEW ACCOUNT AND NEW REGISTRATION AND IT WILL NOT HOOK ONLINE. SO LAST YEARS $300 PLUS DOLLARS DOWN THE DRIAN!!! This years purchase will be returned tomorrow.

I've been looking for a simple DIY way to water our not-so-big front and back yards, after some guess work, we estimated we need 6 separate zones.. there are literally zero products in the market that does that unless you go the controller route besides this (and this only does 4).. so I bought it.. the device itself seem fine but: 1) the hub only connects through ethernet (wired) connection... It's not the 1990s you know! 2) the software (on iPhone) is just a rendered webapp and a terrible one at that. It's slow. It's simply not responsive.. looks old and outdated. 3) it doesn't connect with HomeKit, Google or Alexa ... So, does it work? Yes it does... Do I enjoy using it, absolutely not...

I have been using the Melnor Rain Cloud system with a single controller and two valves, for about four years. It has worked pretty well overall, with a couple of glitches. The various components have worn out one at a time, and I have replaced them, not real durable, but they do live outside seven months of the year. Replacements have been easy to get, but not cheap. I just replaced a valve and the system would not recognize it. I decided to start over and de-register the control Unit and then re-register it. The next step is to use a smartphone to "introduce" the Control Unit to the home Wifi. No Android apps available, and that is what I have. Customer Support is not responsive, still hiding behind "COVID" issues in a canned message. I can accept occasional glitches from the system, and they are usually easy to fix. Without the app to get the system on WiFi, I am dead in the water (or without water). Why the WiFi "handshake" is not part of the app that runs the system is a mystery as well. Quality, when it works is in the 3-4 range, Value would be a four (because when it works, it beats digging trenches for irrigation), but because of no support is Zero. I cannot recommend this system currently.

You must have the hub within eyeshot. Challenging for an outdoor device. You cannot have a port that is continuously on (for example attached to a motion activated sprinkler). It went offline more than it was online. Manual override was not easy. I went back to my manual four port hose attachment in one day. Really disappointed.

I have two hose bibs and 7 irrigation zones in my yard, and the RainCloud (plus RainCloud additional unit) seemed like a great solution. Able to adjust the schedule remotely? Water sensor that prevents the sprinklers from running if it's raining? Yes and yes. Perfect, right? Not so much. Issues: * Lack of history: There is no way to see when a zone was last watered, and if the device or the service is offline (both of which seem to happen frequently) during a scheduled watering, the watering is skipped. But there's no history, so if you weren't staring at the app or outside during the scheduled watering, you can't confirm whether watering occurred. * Lack of notifications: If the device or the service is offline, there's no notification. Combined with the lack of history, you have to just cross your fingers that everything was online when watering occurred. * It randomly starts watering off schedule: All of my zones are set to water in the morning, but sometimes I'll be sitting outside and hear my sprinkler randomly go on late in the day, usually for just a moment or two. My neighbor bought the RainCloud on my recommendation, but only has two hoses connected to it. I'll randomly hear water gushing from their unused spigots, and I'm sure it's the same issue. * Can't see moisture meter levels: You need a separate moisture meter for each RainCloud, but there's no way to see the moisture level, so it's tough to tell if you have it in a spot that's accurate, or if the moisture meter is even working. * The device connectivity seems to be intermittent: If I try to manually water a zone for 5 minutes, for example, it may take 3 minutes for the RainCloud to get the signal -- yet my 5 minute timer has been running the entire time, so I only get 2 minutes of watering. * The RainCloud server seems to go down a lot. I've been using this for about 3 months and I've seen multiple extended outages of the RainCloud server. * Plastic parts: Gardeners know that plastic takes a beating, and the best hose-related gear is made of brass. This is largely a plastic device, and I worry about its ability to work for years. (I've only had mine for 3 months.)

Works exactly as expected. Easy to use on underground sprinkler system and moveable sprinklers. I travel frequently and use the app to water as needed.

I have tried several times to get these to work. They both leak. They won’t stay connected. It was a very bad purchase for me. I contacted melnor and they sent 1 controller but didn’t respond when I asked to return them. I went back to my Dig timers that work very well. I just wanted to manage my system when I was away from home. Several reviews indicate a similar problem either on the design or website. I wish I had listened to the others who had problems as well.

I have been using this product for a couple of months on a daily basis and it works great. The set up was easy. I have two sprinklers programed to go on and off 6 times a day and one regular hose I turn on and off using the button on the front of the unit and everything works great. I have also used the app to turn the programing on and off and to water manually and that works well too. The app could be designed better to fit on a phone screen, but it works fine and gives you a lot of options in setting up your watering programs. I would definitely recommend this product.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

I purchased two of them. These things are amazing. The app is simple and I can control my sprinklers from anywhere. AMAZING!!!

The wifi controlled smart timer works great. It met my expectations. Just need buy a wifi extender to reach the control.

The control unit wouldn't connect to the valve unit at first. It was frustrating. Wrote an email to the company with proof of purchase and serial numbers and they sent a replacement unit. It connected right away and has worked flawlessly ever since.

Did not get it when promise it went back

easy to set it up. easy to download the app. I felt very comfortable accessing anywhere. Once I could not able to connect to their website because it was under update. I plan to buy another one, I was looking for either 2 or 3 connection not 4 though.

IT is a good system, but it could be better. I have two of these running 8 hoses for my front and back yard. The only area of improvement that I would recommend is that when either of the two control units lose contact with the wireless, it automatically reconnects on its own. The current system you have to insert a white pin and reset in inside box. If you are not home for a vacaton, you can be without water for however you are away. It just shuts off and does not attempt to reconnect on its own. But I still like the unit, and when it is working it works well. Great application on your phone to control the system. So good, but could be better. John M.

The timer works great. It was easy to install, and it's easy to operate. I am very pleased with the simplicity of it.

Works great! I love that I can water my garden when I’m on vacation.

the Melnor RainCloud Internet Controller Smart Timer absolutely works great! Scheduling and use couldn’t be simpler. Took a whole 5 minutes to setup.

works flawlessly. would definitely reccomend

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

Just recently bought and I’m rating based on packaging, ease of application and meeting my expectations. I needed 4 zones, 3 of which for timed irrigation drips and 1 for as needed hosing. I can conveniently override and/or activate any zone from my phone anytime, anywhere. I also like the ECO as well as rain delay features.

This model is horrible, couldn’t connect to the internet (I’m a computer savvy) even manually the zones sometime don’t open Or close. Then I got the Bluetooth model which basically have the same problems, I returned both and now I’m trying the 4 zones digital model let see if this one works.

We have a greenhouse with a drip watering system. I wanted something which would allow me to control the time and duration of watering the two different piping systems (one for tomatoes, one for herbs and other plants). The Melnor RainCloud fits the bill. The control unit and the manifold connect to our WiFi system, allowing daily scheduling for watering, plus the option to delay for a day (for instance, on a colder day), or add more watering time (for instance, on a hot way). The interface is pretty easy to use.

Great product. I'm having a lot of fun soaking the kids by turning the sprinkler on with my phone.

Works well. Connects to the internet seamlessly. Thank you!

Dry disappointed it stops and starts on its own! Wish I could have found something else.Don Free

I would highly NOT recommend this product. You can set it up on the timer or push one of the buttons for manual watering. It works intermittently, meaning sometimes it works as programmed and sometimes not. Not reliable. The manufacturer stated it was an issue with the programming/blue tooth, needed an update and that it was fixed. This took months literally. My plants have suffered. Living in SoCal, I need a reliable watering system.