Customer Reviews for Rainmachine 8 Zone Smart Wi-Fi Sprinkler Controller

Purchased several months ago, it works beautiful. Simple to program and saves a ton of water. Check my lawn, flowers and vegetables, with a moisture meter, all good based on weather and evaporation. Highly recommend The app is GREAT

The ease of installation (followed instructions and there were no hitches or surprises). The ability to manage all from my phone makes this unit great! I paired it with a rain sensor and the system works perfectly. The only part I could have a slightly irritated comment about would be Home Depot and its shipping to stores. They are slow about moving product to you. Other than that I would highly recommend this unit to anyone who is upgrading. An added bonus for my area is that the City Water Division is offering to rebates on upgrades like this. So after all is said and done I ended up getting back 80% of what I spent for the until and the rain sensor!

Works perfect. I have 8 zones for water, 1 for kavk forty trees 1 for misters. Two for sessonal drips to hanging baskets and porch and deck plants. For lights. I have it hooked up to alexa. On a hot day i can activate anything. I have it hooked to three weather sources. NOAA, Dark Sky and a local weather undergoeound. It averages them for predications. It also updates past rain predictions with actual rain every 4 hours. Then it adjusts watering based on actusla. If the internet is down it uses last ten years history. It also has another fail safe to water the same as last day. I never have had one failure. It has software api that rocks. It has full local ip connection control or world wide web control if you choose. Full logging of eventes and os errors. Only down side is it only has wifi dobgle and no hard wired ethernet. But that was well documented. It also has an un-needed method for rain detextion. Pretty lame. Last it can run a pump or that circuit could be used to have a master valve before your entire system to assure a system failure is limited. With the api you could even monitor excess water from base line and send notices but that would be up to you to program, however, it is super cool that you can mist system dont even give you that option. On notices it sends text messages for everything. I have it send one for shorted valves and freeze condition. It also graphs last 30 days and last years use. I extended the location 50 feet just so I could have it in the house to see the weather forcast and easily access the sweet touch screen. It has a responsive touch screen with all the cobtrol the phobe offers. Buy it if you are a pro or want full control. Or if you just want to water at fixed times and durations then you can do just thst and build from there as you are comfortable. Either way you are set. I programed mine from my iphone and also from the control pad. Both worked well. The phone has features the panel does not have but nothing that required me to have to use both. The control pad has feature the phobe does not have but again those are related to how you want the control pad to display stuff like, sleep, brightness wtc. and its os stuff.

As described. Easy install and setup. Minimal space required. Adjusts watering schedule based on weather but can easily override or on demand/manually water areas/zones as needed. Within app you can add pictures to the zones to easily identify areas. Can access and program by smartphone or computer. Once installed no need to physically access unit. Makes watering fun.

The hardware is good. Sometimes the app takes too long to load or needs to reload itself to work. Only get this if you are willing to invest the time it takes to program the app to automatically water the plants. (it took me about 30 minutes to do the 6 zones in my yard, but it's capable of doing 8) If you run the program manually, it won't save water on cold or rainy days. You should program it to start automatically at certain times, then it will use the weather data to save water. Mine wasn't accessing the NOAA website correctly (the software thought that the min. temperature each day was zero degrees,) so i easily added another weather service, now it's working better. Sloppy app programming but easy workaround. If you want a better app and either have more zones or want to spend the extra money, try the one by Rachio.

What can I say? I'm just simply blown away by this tiny sprinkler controller. It's certainly very clean aesthetically speaking and installment was a breeze, virtually tooless with the exception of the 2 screws to mount to my sprinkler box. Setup was a breeze, I'm a network admin by trade and can honestly say a non techie person can set this up in their WiFi network. From open box to full programming took me less than 15 minutes. The cool camera feature allows you to take pictures of your zones that are active making for impressionable conversations. I origonallo bought the Orbit B-hyve and it was huge it wouldn't fit in my sprinkler controller box and then I read about this Rainmachine with a bit of skepticism and apprehension because of never hearing about this brand, but I'm totally sold on this idea gong forward. It totally makes sense that a controller box is simply that a small circuit board, no need for a monster size box. The only improvement I would recommend for Rainmachines next model is for a better outdoor box with weatherstripping, we live in the high desert and it gets cold. Other than that phenomenal piece of engineering!

We love being able to adjust the sprinklers from our phone. We just reseeded some of the backyard and its very easy to adjust/add additional time depending on the weather to keep the new seeds moist. Would definitely recommend this controller

Stop looking and get this one. This is the only Smart Sprinkler Controller I could find that is cloud independent--no fees, and will still work without an internet connection. It is not reliant on Rainmachine's cloud service. Hookup is very simple for up to 12 stations. Use either or both common wire connection points. Works with existing rain delay. TFT touch screen is all you need to get going and program. Use a smartphone or any internet connected device to dive deeper into the settings for better water control. Access, adjust, and change water setting from anywhere. Uses NOAA, or choices of other weather stations to automatically adjust watering. Total time for install and programming is about 15 minutes. Internet connectivity is very automated and has very strong signal even for a large home. PROS 1) Not cloud-based. No subscription charges. Will work as a standalone. 2) Super easy installation and setup. Integrates with any sprinkler system. 3) Access and adjust programming from your laptop, tablet, or anywhere. Lot's of adjustability. 4) Intuitive instructions. Easy to use large TFT (touch screen). CONS 1) You pay for what you get, and this system is a bit more than others. 2) So simple to set up, smart guys will overthink it a bit and wonder what steps they missed. You didn't miss any, it's just that simple. 3) This is nitpicking: You can't set the "soak" feature independently for each station--it's either all or none. Since Rainmaker updates their firmware from time to time, they may change the soak feature to be accessed independently for each station.

To start this is a very compact and minimalist unit. It was extremely easy to install, it had good instructions on how to wire it and I like that instead of having to screw wires in all you had to do was strip the ends of them and the push down a small spring loaded button and then simply insert the bare section of wire and release the button. Then when it comes to programing it you download the app to your phone where you can program it or you can use your computer and go online to program it. There are a lot of options and it may seem a little intimidating at first but once you start to use the program you realize how easy it is to use making it very easy to, program, adjust and operate things. The app works excellent and so does the online site you can use on your computer to program it. I started with the same base times I have always run my sprinkler zones on and I have already noticed it working according to the weather where it has canceled watering on days where it has rained a lot. I also like that your not tethered to a third party cloud service so there is never a fee to pay and your not dependent on single system. The WiFi on it works excellent and it is cool that you can access it thru an app on your phone or online on a computer anywhere or anytime. I have already got it programmed very easily and seems to be working very well and I will be interested to how well it works over the summer and I will update my review after I have used it a couple of months. As for now I have rated it 5 stars because it was super easy to wire and install, programming it thru your phone using the app or using the website on you computer is very straight forward and easy, and your not tied to a 3rd party cloud based service that you have to pay for.

I absolutely love this smart sprinkler controller! This controller is a life saver, lawn saver, and time saver! We recently reseeded our front lawn as it had become a bit patchy and weeds have invaded after last's year drought and watering restriction in California. With our old controller, watering everyday felt like a huge burden, since we had to do it manually. However, this smart sprinkler controller has completely changed lawn watering. The product is absolutely flawless. It is very easy to install, it took me no more than 5 minutes to put it on the wall and plug the wires, and a total of maximum 15 minutes to install the app and do the configuration. The controller itself is so simple, compact, and easy to install. The smart phone application works on both Android and iPhone. The app also is amazing, super simple to use and it never crashes. Besides that, it uses weather data to adjust watering. All in all, this smart sprinkler controller is super convenient and easy to use. Highly recommend to anyone, it is an amazing product!

I’m coming from an 8 year old unit that did its job, but I didn’t have the ability to run it remotely, track stats, and make many of the adjustments that I can now. I noted the pros and cons below and I do have a few cons that are minor but it does not change the fact that I really like this unit and I will be recommending it to anyone who wants to listen. Pros: • The size of the controller is small and that’s huge if you are tight on space. It’s about 25% of the size of my old controller. • The app is wonderful. Let me repeat, the app is wonderful. Someone give the developer a raise. I’m used to being annoyed with poor app development. They got this one right. It will do everything you need and then some. You can set programs, adjust times, you can add pictures of your yard onto the app for each zone, you can make seasonal adjustments, you can adjust the sensitivity of how weather will impact the watering cycle, and a ton of other things in the settings. Lots of options and too many to review here. • I like the weather tracking and the ability to adjust my watering needs on the fly. You actually input your exact address and it tracks local weather patterns. • It’s so easy to use and it will do everything you need. It really comes down to that. After you get it working there is probably 99% satisfaction for the average user. Cons: • No Google Home compatibility. Please add this Rainmachine. • The instructions are a bit lacking in some areas. It took me a while to realize that I needed to hook up the ‘master valve’ wire to zone 1 and my actual zone 1 to their zone 2 connection and so on. I then went onto the app and adjusted zone 1 to the ‘master valve’. Yes, there is a toggle button for that. I then renamed the zones on the app and everything was good. Probably partially my error but instructions could be clearer for those of us with master valves. • The controls on the wall unit are basic to say the least (by design I’m sure). You better have your phone nearby if you want to do anything other than start the water in a zone. I recommend. This will make anyone a great controller for their yard as long as they own a smart phone or tablet.

Unlike 12 zone this sprinkler system does not have display monitor to display all information about whether in your area and about the watering intervals, much simpler and you must have smart device to set it up and control it, the only thing you can do it is to manually start it up or run the cycle. Specifically I like about this device that is not dependent on any third party services or cloud servers. It works as you set it up with weather data automatically downloaded from NOAA whether station through your Wi-Fi, free for any taxpayer. It works with or without help from the manufacturer. They do provide a cloud service for your convenience, but you can completely run the device without it. Even if something happens to the company, you sprinkler controller would still perform as it should. I did not find that flexibility in any other controller. All others are depending on their own cloud system so they might be prone to fail. Fair warning for all of the users this device is not weatherproof and it may fail on extreme low temperature (-4F or lower) if installed outside, if you do have to install outside rainmachine recommend to install it in orbit weatherproof box. Installation is a breeze I took a picture of the old wires so that I know what zone it is. Settings are super flexible; I set up different programs for lawn (sprinklers) flowers and shrubs (drip lines) also it does ask you what type of soil you do have it does need that info for more efficient watering. Use the phone or tablet to connect and make changes. Best of all if you have service guy coming out to winterize your system he can start it up from control panel without you being there.

First, you need a smart device. Second, once you do it is really nice. So install was simple. Plugging in wires using the really easy to read guide. Once that is done(or before) you add it to your network with the app. Features include the ability to use the forecast and actual precipitation to adjust watering needs. You can setup programs to water differently based on zone. Then how often or any restrictions to watering can be entered. So say you want 2" on your lawn but it rained 1" today, their servers would adjust the watering based on some math. It also adjusts based on sprinkler head type. very pleased and I will be curious to see if it changes based on evaporation here in Texas in the crazy hot summer months. The front panel of the device itself lets you manually turn on zones but it's very minimal. Not going to ding a star for this because if you want a more interactive front panel, get the higher level model.

The Rainmachine irrigation controller is a WaterSense-certified system that can adjust your irrigation system watering daily as the weather changes. The Rainmachine is easy to install and has an Easy Installation Guide. This unit is designed for indoor installation only. If you have an outdoor controller, the web site offers a solution by purchasing a third-party weatherproof case and installing the controller into the case. I do not recommend this solution as it is clunky and awkward. Programming is done by using the Touch-Screen interface on the controller. In order to setup this controller, you have to program Start times, Run Days, Run Times, and other details. Essentially you are using this just like any regular controller, so you have to know your yard and plants and know what their water needs are. You generally will program it for the average hottest day of the year. There is a feature that is turned off by default: Settings>Weather>Hi/Lo Temps>Extra Watering For Hot Days. I recommend you turn this on. It should be on by default, in my opinion. This will add water on those occasional heat waves. Of course, you can control this unit from your phone and from any computer using an internet browser. Be sure your Wi-Fi signal is really strong wherever you place the controller. Daily, the controller will gather weather data for your area, and adjust watering times for the type of weather. It will even turn off the controller if there is rain in your area. Keep in mind, it is only as good as the closest weather station. Check to see what your closest station is. You cannot add an outdoor sensor to this model so you are reliant on the local weather station to shut off your controller automatically if rain is forecasted. Basically, this controller is really just a water budget manager. You have to tell it what the proper Run Times are for each zone in your system; all it does is adjust that number from 100%, down as needed to reduce water usage during cooler days. I have had several errors with the controller at startup and during run. I believe the system is based on open-source Linux, which makes it adaptable and connects to IFTTT systems (Smart House and Life Management Systems). Tech support has been good and responsive, but have not solved my errors yet. Fortunately, I just remove power for one minute and the controller runs fine again for a week or so. So far, the errors have not stopped my controller from actually watering and doing its job. Overall, this is the latest in a new generation of Internet-Enabled home management systems and Wi-Fi Irrigation Controllers. If you are looking for a Touch-Screen controller with all the latest bleeding-edge technology, integrating with IFTTT systems and features at a premium price, this is for you.

I was taken aback by just how small this thing is. It is very compact. Installation was really simple. After powering on the controller you are guided through all the steps of connection to your WiFi network, adding and naming zones, and creating watering schedules. You set the required duration for a sunny summers day, and the controller handles the rest. Like any controller, this one follows schedules. What makes this different is it can adjust the schedules based on predicated weather from NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). If it looks like rain then the controller skips the day or adjust the time accordingly. (if the internet is down then it uses historical data). Saving water and money. A couple of cool features are the "cycle and soak" option that splits up the watering in to smaller chunks to give the water time to soak in to the soil and prevent wasteful run-off; and the "delay between zones" to automatically pause between watering each zone. You can control (and view historical data) from the unit itself, from a smart phone, or from a web page. This is a great controller, super easy to set up, and takes care of adjusting the schedule to match the weather conditions.

While I've only had the RainMachine installed for 5 days, I did check to see if it actually varied the watering times based on it's daily calculated watering percentage ( you set the watering time for each zone at what would you like to be on a typical summer day and the controller varies it down based on the forecasted hi & low temps from NOAA as well as projected rain. It will also increase watering if the forecasted temps are significantly higher than the average summer temps for your location ). It does vary the watering times based on the daily weather forecast exactly as advertised. The Android apps run a little slow and could use some tweaking & upgrading but do allow you to fully program the controller as well as activate manual watering if you need to test the zone. The controller has a built in browser & can be accessed from either Safari or Google Chrome browsers from any computer on the same network. It's wifi enabled and the wifi is actually a thumb sized USB wifi unit that plugs into an external USB port on the top. A second USB port on the top is probably for future expansion. The whole front of the unit is a capacitive color touch screen display which not only displays the 5 day weather forecast and what percentage of the watering time you have set it will water that day ( if it's a day you have scheduled ) but also either the last 30 days or last years savings. You can also fully program the unit from the touch screen. The firmware is also remotely upgradable for future enhancements or improvements.

Replace my Hunter Pro C with a 16 zone Rain machine, the unit works great saved over 50% of the water usage so far this summer, i have called tech support and they gave me a work around to connect my rain sensor and it works, i have tried to run it during a rain event but the system stayed off.

Water rates are starting to go up everywhere and it's really beginning to have a noticeable effect on the pocketbook. Just like smart thermostats took their market by storm a few years back, smart irrigation controllers are poised to do the same for their market now. These things are fantastic! They can use data from the internet to know if they SHOULD be watering or not, or how much they should be watering. What's nice about this unit is that it carries the EPA certification for being a resource conserving unit, but it's not actually hooked to any big brother clouds where you lose control of the amount of regulation in place. The app is really friendly too. The whole unit only took minutes to install. VERY simple!

I purchased a rain machine sprinkle controller about 4 years ago. It has never been reliable, and about two weeks ago the rain machine company completely disconnected my remote access. As a result, I have had three trees die before realizing what Rain Machine had done. Poor reliability and poor customer support. I will replace it with a better system in the next week

Such a ripoff! Bought this because it connects to the internet which allows me to control my sprinkler system from anywhere and uses predictive weather technology to conserve water usage. But then they took away the ability to do either of those things UNLESS YOU PAY FOR AN ANNUAL SUBCRIPTION!!! R U KIDDING ME?!?! It’s for me if people buy it knowing going in that they have to pay for a subscription but not grandfathering previous owners is unacceptable!

One of the reasons I bought this thing was the free web control. Well, years later they have now decided that you have to pay a monthly subscription to access the controller programming. Mind you, they once advertised the feature as FREE as a selling point. What an unscrupulous company.

I've been using this product for the past three years. It works well enough with occasional issues connecting to my wifi. However, out of the blue, they decided to start charging for remote access and other features that were up until now provided without charge. $30/year doesn't seem too bad but what would keep them from raising the price on the future? If I were doing it over again, I'd look for one that guarantees no charge.

imagine your smart phone starts acting up but you have no customer support. I've had mine for 1 year plus and it's not sending notifications, nor starting watering programsetc.....its noir reliable. customer support is pretty much nonexistent/useless. when you have an issue you send a note on their website. the 1st issue I had was 2 months ago. after several weeks they contacted me... they didn't fix the problem and we sit here weeks later without resolution. the 2nd issue was watering programs aren't running. I notify customer service and 4 days later I've not heard from them. so we head into summer with a controller that's completely unreliable.

RainMachine company now charging big bucks to use internet access without warning, They advertise access from anywhere without saying there is a charge.

DO NOT BUY!! We purchased this sprinkler system to be able to monitor and control our sprinklers remotely from a phone. Two years later, they introduce a premium subscription, and you can no longer use this basic functionality unless you pay up. There was no indication of a subscription when we bought the device, and now we have no choice. Terrible company, will never buy from them again!!

Theyre charging for remote acesss now. Took it away and now charging for it. Bs. Get a rachio instead

I have had two years and now requires a subscription I will be switching, total crap.

For the last 6 years I've been able to use the app to access my controller. Now they decided to start charging for access. Bait and switch. I never would have bought it if I had to pay a subscription just to use the thing. It doesn't work that well anyway. Plenty of better options out there.

I’ve had this controller for 8 years. It worked fine. I turned it on in may, and off in October. Occasionally, I used the app to turn off the sprinkler from my bed. No longer. All app access now requires a $30 a year subscription. No thanks. I’ll be switching brands.

I would absolutely not buy this. They did not tell customers they would be charging for an annual subscription just to access via wifi. So when you purchase be prepared for $30 annually. Many better choices available. HOME DEPOT please stop selling.