11 Best Wifi Irrigation Control Units for 2024

The WiFi irrigation control unit is a device that enables you to control the irrigation system from your smartphone or tablet using a specific App, typically provided for free by the manufacturer.

In this purchase guide to the best wifi irrigation control unit, you will be able to discover all the information that will allow you to purchase the perfect model for your needs.

SaleRANK NO. 1
Rachio 3: 8 Zone Smart Sprinkler Controller...
  • WORRY-FREE WATERING - Our app helps tailor your watering schedule to the specific needs of your yard & plants.
  • EXCLUSIVE WEATHER TECHNOLOGY - Patented Weather Intelligence automatically skips unnecessary watering with features like rain skip, wind skip, freeze skip, & more.
  • SAVE MONEY & WATER - Rachio's intelligent app helps provide the right amount of water at the right time helping lower your water bill and conserve water at the same time!
RANK NO. 2
Rain Bird TRU8O Program-Based Indoor/Outdoor...
  • Flexible program-based settings allow specialized watering schedules for every area in your yard; upgrades to WiFi-based operation with a LNK2 WiFi Module (sold separately)
  • Easy-to-set with an intuitive programming dial and multi-function LCD display; permanently stores programming during power outages
  • Controls up to (8) valves with watering duration options from 1-minute to 6-hours; preinstalled in weatherproof case that withstands the harshest environments
SaleRANK NO. 3
Orbit 57946 B-hyve Smart Indoor/Outdoor 6-Station...
  • EFFICIENT WATERING SOLUTION - The smart sprinkler controller ensures automatic watering with precision, saving you time and effort.
  • INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PLACEMENT - This automatic watering system can be placed indoors or outdoors providing the maximum flexibility for installation in your yard or garden.
  • EASY-TO-USE DRIP IRRIGATION - The drip irrigation timer allows for hassle-free management of your garden's watering needs, ensuring healthy plant growth.
RANK NO. 4
Orbit 57995 B-hyve XR 16-Zone Smart Indoor/Outdoor...
  • SMART UNDERGROUND WATERING TIMER - Effortlessly manage your watering schedule with our advanced technology. Control and monitor your underground sprinklers from anywhere with WiFi connectivity.
  • WIFI WATERING TIMER - Experience the convenience of remote control and programming with our WiFi-enabled smart timer. Say goodbye to manual adjustments.
  • SMART WATERING TIMER - Optimize water usage and promote healthy plants with our intuitive smart timer. Automated schedules and weather-based adjustments ensure efficient watering.
RANK NO. 5
Rain Bird ARC6 App-Based Indoor Smart Irrigation...
  • Indoor WiFi timer puts control of your sprinkler system in the palm of your hand with intuitive Rain Bird mobile app
  • Use mobile device to set, monitor, or adjust schedules anywhere in the world; easily share control with family members, landscaping/maintenance professionals
  • Activate any schedule, delay watering, view upcoming watering schedules, manual watering, even check your local weather forecast
RANK NO. 6
Rain Bird ESP-TM2 Irrigation Controller (WiFi...
  • Quick to Install. Suitable for indoor or outdoor installations. Factory installed 6’ outdoor rated power cord for your convenience
  • Simple to Program. Quickly program a schedule in just 3 steps. NEW large back-lit LCD display for improved visibility in low-light and direct sunlight conditions WiFi Connectivity
  • Advanced Features. Contractor Default allows you to easily save and restore your custom schedule. Delay Watering up to 14 days and automatically resume watering after the set delay has elapsed.
SaleRANK NO. 7
tolviviov Smart Sprinkler Controller, 8-Zone WiFi...
  • Flexible Control Options: Enjoy both manual control via the intuitive panel and remote management through the app, with the ability to operate up to 8 zones , all with no subscription fees. Only works on 2.4GHz WiFi network, does NOT support 5GHz WiFi networks.
  • Smart Weather: Our Weather Intelligence technology smartly adjusts your watering schedule by automatically skipping cycles during rain, freezes, or other weather conditions, ensuring optimal water usage and a healthier garden.
  • Customizable Scheduling: Easily set and manage irrigation schedules with the built-in timer function, ensuring your lawn and garden receive water exactly when they need it.
RANK NO. 8
Rain Bird ST8I-2.0 Smart Indoor WiFi...
  • WiFi signal conveniently places control of your timer in the palm of your hand
  • Super easy to program; allows access to timer functions from anywhere in the world
  • Compatible with: Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple iOS 8 or greater, and Android 4.4 (KitKat) or later
SaleRANK NO. 9
Hunter Industries Hydrawise Pro-HC 6-Station...
  • Wi-Fi Enabled Controller: This durable indoor controller uses Wi-Fi to quickly connect to the Hydrawise irrigation management software
  • Multiple Program options: The standard programming option allows for 6 independent irrigation programs and 6 start times per program and advanced program option provides station-based programming with up to 6 total start times available
  • Sensor Inputs Available: 2 sensor inputs are available for use with any Clik sensor and HC Flow Meter, plus it has 1 P/MV output for pump start relay and master valve activation
RANK NO. 10
Smart Hose Watering Timer with Wi-Fi Hub,...
  • Easy App Control: After adding the WiFi water timer and WiFi hub to Smart Life APP ( Only 2.4Ghz WiFi), you can manage watering programs by the App anytime and anywhere and check watering history. you can easily manage your garden irrigation system.
  • Manual Watering & Rain Delay: Manual mode allows for on-demand watering at customizable times up to 23 hours 59 minutes without affecting scheduled irrigation. Rain Delay pauses scheduled watering for 1-7 days before resuming automatically.
  • 2 Independent Watering Zones: The 2 zones of the WiFi water timer work separately, each zone can be individually set the 2 watering schedule types and 10 watering schedules for your plant, garden, greenhouse, lawn, fruit/vegetable irrigation.
RANK NO. 11
Rain-Bird ESP-TM2 Indoor Outdoor Irrigation WiFi...
  • Controls 8 sprinkler zones, Quick to Install, Suitable for indoor or outdoor installations, Factory installed 6’ outdoor rated power cord for your convenience
  • Simple to Program. Quickly program a schedule in just 3 steps. NEW large back-lit LCD display for improved visibility in low-light and direct sunlight conditions WiFi Connectivity
  • Advanced Features. Contractor Default allows you to easily save and restore your custom schedule. Delay Watering up to 14 days and automatically resume watering after the set delay has elapsed

Buyer Guide to Choose Wifi Irrigation Control Units

The wifi control unit is an extremely advanced device, as, thanks to those above, it will be possible to independently program and manage the watering of your garden even if you are several kilometers away.

This device is extremely useful when, for work or holiday reasons, you have to leave home, and you cannot / do not want to entrust the keys to friends or relatives.

What Is a Wifi Irrigation Control Unit?

The programmers or controllers for wifi irrigation for the garden are devices that, replaced by traditional controllers, allow remote management of your irrigation system.

This is done through a dedicated app, downloadable from iOS or Android. The control panel of the app allows the complete management of the irrigation of your garden.

You can program the switching on and off, without position limits. In other words, it will be possible to have total control of the watering, even if you are thousands of kilometers away from your home.

Why Switch To Smart Irrigation System?

The home automation and smart home market are growing at a dizzying pace. The Internet of Things (literally Internet of Things) is spreading like wildfire even in Italian homes and gardens after the success achieved in the United States and some European countries such as the United Kingdom and Germany.

But why this growth? Many consider investments in technological gadgets of this type unnecessary, an avoidable and sustainable expense only by technology fanatics or by those who “can afford it.” Nothing more wrong. Let’s see why …

No More Waste

The purchase of a smart control unit for irrigation is the best choice to avoid wasting energy and water. In fact, in addition to the traditional programming functions, a smart control unit can access the weather forecast of the area, adjusting itself accordingly.

For example, if there is a thunderstorm in the afternoon, the control unit will avoid unnecessarily watering the lawn in the morning. This leads to a double advantage: on the one hand, you will save water, on the other, you will not flood your garden (as you know too much water is as harmful as the absence of it).

On the contrary, if the day is arid, irrigation will be more “generous.” Also, management via app or browser allows you to monitor water consumption instantly, to regulate it if not properly optimized. In short, an investment rather than an expense.

How does a wifi Control Unit work?

The operation of a wifi irrigation control unit is very simple. After installing a panel at your home (it is precisely the control unit), you need to download an application form in which commands can be sent.

To avoid excessive watering, you can also connect your control unit to a weather station to program it even more precisely and avoid damage to vegetation.

Another great advantage of the wifi irrigation control unit is the reduction to the minimum of waste of water and electricity, with a consequent saving on bills. The last important detail is the total absence of pipes that can ruin the aesthetics of the garden.

Its purchase, therefore, represents a real investment in the home economy and comfort; just think that it will no longer be necessary to water manually, and the risk of distributing the wrong amount of water will be only a distant memory.

How to Choose a wifi Irrigation Control Unit?

How do you choose an irrigation control unit for your garden? We face five important aspects:

  • Type
  • Supply
  • Programming
  • Display and controls
  • Rain and humidity sensors

Type

There are two types of wifi irrigation controllers: indoor and outdoor, which have specific characteristics to meet different needs:

  1. Indoor wifi Control Units: they are more common than outdoor ones, as they are capable of managing differentiated areas such as vegetable garden, garden, lawn, and so on. Usually, this type of control unit requires the presence of one or more concealed sprinklers, and the power supply is via solenoid valves. The latter is nothing more than electric valves controlled by the control unit, and one is needed per zone.
  2. Outdoor wifi Control Units: they are the same as indoor control units, but are provided with a special box for protection from bad weather and humidity. The box, therefore, allows the installation of the appliance directly in the garden. Still, to avoid unauthorized use or vandalism, it is highly recommended to make sure that it is equipped with a locking key. The prices of outdoor wifi control units are generally higher than those for indoor use, both for the presence of the protective box and for the use of much more sophisticated software.

Supply

The power supply of a wifi irrigation control unit can be battery or electric:

  • Battery Powered: the devices that work with the power above supply are usually equipped with a special warning light that warns when the time has come to replace it. The battery-powered control units are generally located outside;
  • Power Supply: the power supply control units require connection to a power outlet and are usually those for indoor use.
  • Programming: The Programming of the wifi irrigation control unit is the most convenient part, as it allows complete remote management: through your smartphone or tablet, it is, in fact, possible to establish the irrigation times, the duration time, and the areas to be watered.

The water distribution cycles can naturally be adjusted according to the weather forecast. To connect to the latter, the control unit is equipped with an automatic search system on the Internet. Still, for more precise predictions, it is recommended to tune it to a weather station compatible with its software.

This device proves to be very useful even for older adults or people with reduced mobility, who can have a perfectly watered garden without effort.

Display and Controls

The number of controls and the display change according to the model of the irrigation control unit. In fact, on the market, there are control units with manual buttons or touch screens.

For easier use, we recommend the purchase of devices with a large and easily readable display accompanied by intuitive controls. This will save a lot of time to understand how it works.

Also, do not neglect the instruction booklet: make sure that they are written in Italian, and if not, do not hesitate to request them from the manufacturer. It seems a trivial and obvious concept, but this will prove very useful when you need to operate the appliance for the first time.

Rain and Humidity Sensors

The rain and humidity sensors are critical not only to avoid unnecessary waste of water but also to avoid excessive watering, often cause plant malaise.

In the case of rain, therefore, a smaller quantity of water will be flooded. Otherwise, the watering will be more generous. For them to perform their function in the best way, it is necessary to follow these little precautions:

  1. Do not place them too far from the control unit to avoid adding anti-aesthetic extensions;
  2. Install them on a wall or a gutter, but in a place where they can receive rainwater well, otherwise, they will not be able to measure their quantity;
  3. Do not place them in an excessively sunny area, as they will dry out too quickly and could start premature irrigation.

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