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I need a controller where different zones be controlled by the Rain-detector. Here's my situation... I want the lawn to be controlled by the rain-sensor. But, I have flower-boxes that do not get rain, and I still want these to activate not dependent on the rain-sensor. Help?

We'll probably need name brand and access to the online manual, and even then...

Rain detectors can be a bit problematic in terms of programming due to temperature/wind both interfering with the amount of irrigation required, so it can be quite a complicated ruleset. Many systems just aren't up to the task of doing it properly. But you always have the option to judge it as a human and set it off manually.

It seems this will fit my needs: https://rachio.com/rachio-3/?utm_source ... 65K_xhHLAo

I have the Rachio, and no complaints.

andy10917 wrote: ↑

June 3rd, 2021, 8:47 pm

I have the Rachio, and no complaints.

Good to hear!

I have the Rachio 3 controller as well, and although it's great, it doesn't do exactly what you listed.
This has been a feature request for 4 years or so it seems.

If you use their intelligent rain skip function (uses internet weather data to skip), you can set up zones on schedules that ignore this feature.
However if you hardwire a rain sensor directly to your controller, it will turn off all zones if the sensor is activated.

So you have two options, one is to not use a rain sensor and only utilize the build in functionality to skip in case of rain for the zones you want to enable this one. The benefit of this feature is that it will skip if rain is predicted as well, so it will save you more water.

Or you could wire up the rain sensor directly to the common wire of the zones you want to disable, instead of the controller.
Though the latter would probably mess up the Rachio's scheduling ability, as the Rachio can't "see" the rain sensor status.

Understood. I have decided not to use the wired rain-sensor. Everything is working as I want... So far. Something I did... On the initial set-up of the zones, the controller calculated based on no rain; From experience a few of the zones were off on their times. So not to over-ride the auto-calculation function, I made a few adjustments to the sun/shade and slope parameters. Rachio is now in control of my lawn, shrubs, and flowers... Only time will tell just how smart it is!

Keep an eye on the rain skips, just to make sure there was actually rain.

I read that the weather data is more accurate in some regions versus others.

So far here in MA it seems to be doing a pretty good job.