Orbit 57069 Sprinkler System Hard Wired Rain and Freeze Sensor

by Orbit

Product Features

• Delays watering during rain or freezing conditions
• Adjustable rain sensitivity from 1/8 In. to 1 In. of precipitation
• Digital freeze sensor prevents watering in freezing conditions reducing hazards and damage
• Works with most existing sprinkler systems
• Mounting options: threaded, slip and rain gutter, or flat surface

Product Details

• Item Weight: 12.3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000A7SPPU
• Item model number: 57069
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,452 in Patio, Lawn & Garden (See Top 100 in Patio, Lawn & Garden)
  • #14 in Patio, Lawn & Garden > Plants & Planting > Watering Equipment > Automatic Irrigation Equipment > Underground Sprinkler Systems

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Rain and Freeze Sensor prevents your automatic sprinkler system from watering during a storm. The rain sensor is adjustable to accommodate rainfall from 1/8 In. to 1 In. The freeze sensor reduces hazards and damage to your pipes from freezing water.

Product Description

Digital freeze sensor prevents watering in freezing conditions. Reduces hazards and damage from freezing water. It is universal and will work with new and existing sprinkler systems. Adjustable rain sensitivity with 5 settings from 1/8'' to 1''. Automatic rain delay with adjustable duration. 3 mounting options threaded, slip, and rain gutter.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The sensor would stay triggered no more than 10 hours., June 9, 2010

By 

QYZ (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Orbit 57069 Sprinkler System Hard Wired Rain and Freeze Sensor (Lawn & Patio)

I bought this sensor and tried it several times under spring rain. The sensor will be triggered by the rain, but it took a while (about a half hour heavy rain) to start. That causes a lot of waste of water if your system happened to start during this time. I guess this is the shortcoming of this type (disc expansion) of rain sensor. In addition, the sensor supposedly can stay on for a period of 1 or 2 days depends on the evaporation setting on the sensor. I set the evaporation window to fully closed in order to test the longest delay time. After several heavy rains, the sensor can only stay on for no more than 10 hours. That means 10 hours later after a heavy rain, the system can still start to water your lawn. I am disappointed about this sensor. Nevertheless, the sensor looks pretty solid, and sleek.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another great Orbit product....., April 24, 2009

By 

Ryan Hanan (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Orbit 57069 Sprinkler System Hard Wired Rain and Freeze Sensor (Lawn & Patio)

Works as advertised...great quality....easy to understand and install...several installation options available and all parts for several installations included. Adds piece of mind of watering automation. Great for vacation properties or apartment complex installation.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rain sensor, July 28, 2011

By 

R. Lawrence (S.E. Michigan) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Orbit 57069 Sprinkler System Hard Wired Rain and Freeze Sensor (Lawn & Patio)

The rain sensor is hard-wired. There is also a model which is wireless. The hard-wired unit is wired to interrupt the electrical current going to the irrigation zone solenoids. There is no way to override it, so if it rains enough to trip the switch you have to either go up and re-adjust it, or just do without watering until it dries out. This can be bypassed by the user just installing a simple switch between the wires that go to the rain sensor, essentially bypassing the switch.

The switch does not contain a float mechanism. It works by rain causing expansion of some fibrous washers which in turn presses a micro-switch to interrupt the electrical current to the irrigation valves solenoids.

There are two adjustments on the switch- one for how much rain it takes to trip it and the other for how quickly it will be allowed to dry after it gets wet. There is a calibration on the side for how much rain is needed to trip it.

Overall the switch has worked quite well. I set it for 1/4 inch of rain when I installed it and that has been about right. I've only had one tim when it didn't come on and I wanted it to, and one time that it didn't turn off, probably because the switch didn't have time to react to the rain.

The system obviously can't predict if it is going to rain later in the day which would eliminate the need for the irrigation system to run earlier in the day. That is up to the user and there is a system delay button on the irrigation controller to do that.

Overall a 4 star rating. I'd give it 5 stars if it had a way to manually bypass the switch. I believe that the wireless sensor does have that feature. If I had known about the wireless sensor I would have gotten that, assuming it wasn't too costly. Not sure how reliable the wireless one is or how often one has to change the batteries. Probably worth a try!