Customer Reviews

Orbit 62001 Lawn and Garden Digital Watering Timer

5 star:		(95)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

This timer uses 2 9v batteries. I just think people need to know that so they can have the correct batteries on hand when they get the timer. Hopefully Amazon.com will use my edit on their info page and add that information. :) It's like getting a new battery operated toy at Christmas and not having the correct batteries so you can play with it. NOT GOOD. The 9v batteries are very easy to install. Remove 2 phillips head screws on the back and pop the batteries in...NO SNAPS TO CONNECT. Very easy install.

I, again, had to replace 3 timers this year (seems to be a yearly occurrence) and after purchasing a cheap, poorly made Gilmore timer I decided to try the Orbit. I purchased my first one in the Spring and it has worked very well all season. Since it continued to do its job, a few months ago I purchased a second one and today I received my third one.

The timer is a no brainer as far as programming it goes. It's very simple and the basics are on the lid that covers the program panel. It does come with a book with more indepth instructions though. You can program it to water Monday-Sunday.....choosing any particular days you wish to water. Or you can choose every 2 days or every 3 days to water. It has the capability to water 4 times a day if you so choose. You can water manually by pushing the manual button and setting a length of time to water at that time and then it shuts off automatically and goes back to "auto run" which is your programmed settings. You can cancel a watering for 24 hours by hitting the "clear" button. After that, it goes back to "auto run". You can stop the watering indefinitely by pushing the "off" button which cancels the "auto run", but that will not cancel out your programmed settings. To use your programmed settings again, just hit "auto run" and you're good to go. The timer seems to be sturdy and reliable. *knock on wood* The timer I purchased this Spring is still using the original 9v batteries too and I water every morning.

So far, I love this timer. IF it should fail next season, I will update my review. I use to be able to buy a timer and use it for years and years, but in recent years it seems I can only get one summer out of them...if I'm lucky. I always bring my timers in the house for the winter and remove the batteries before storing them, but the last 4 timers (before the Orbits) I bought all died after one season of use. A Gilmore piece of junk I bought this Spring lasted only weeks and wouldn't shut off.

I can recommend this timer, highly, with the caveat....I've only had mine for one Spring and Summer. Only time will tell if it lasts for years. I can only hope. If it fails to work next Spring, I will let you know.

UPDATE: May 5, 2011

I just hooked up my 4 Orbit timers and all 4 work perfectly! If anything changes, I will update again.

It is the best on the market and very reliable. It may cost more but is worth the price. It is very convenient being able to slide-out the timing mechanism, making any adjustment, and then reattaching. I do not like timers that do not have a clock or do not readily indicate a malfunction. This does it all.

MNS

These timers are great, very dependable even through our hot Arizona Summer! We usually put ours on in April or early May and they run on fresh batteries until we take them off in November. (don't let them freeze!)If it's true that this model has been discontinued, I think the company should reconsider.

I live in the high desert. In winter the temperatures reach 0 fh. This is the only hose timer that continues to work in cold temperatures. (Not designed for it, but it does work) I've tried so many other timers this is the only model that lasts. Great product I now have 5 of them.

I've owned this product for about two months now.

PROS:
* Built like a brick - very solid
* Reliable - does what it's supposed to do
* Easy to program - the digital interface is nice
* Brass faucet connector - much better than plastic
* Removable timer - You can program the unit remotely without unplugging the hose
* Solid mechanics - uses a solenoid to turn water on and off - simple and low power consumption.
* Several modes - you can pick which days of the week to water on, or you can pick an "every 2" or "every 3" day mode
* Manual mode - lets you easily set the device to manually water for a certain number of minutes

CONS:
* Uses two 9V batteries. Kind of expensive. Hope it doesn't eat through these
* Plastic hose connector - kind of cheap. Wish it was brass. Plan to add a brass nipple.
* No rain detector - it will water even on rainy days

Overall, this is a very solid product and I expect it to last for a long time. Because it's digital and uses very simple moving parts (a solenoid), it should last a very long time. The batteries should last for a long time for the same reasons. For the money, I think this is a best buy.

This is my second unit of this brand and type and so far it is the most dependable, versatile and durable timer I have used. The only negative is the fragile display cover. The clock is accurate with easy to read instructions.

I just finished disconnecting this timer, and tomorrow I will return it to the hardware store where I bought it. I have had it for about two weeks. The timer mechanism works just fine, but apparently the valve doesn't: I have a continual leakage when the water is supposed to be off. I just placed an order on Amazon for two more Gilmour timers to add to the ones I already have--they are the only timers I have used that have always been reliable.

I was trying to avoid having to install an electric powered watering timer and did research on battery powered watering timers. Most of the reviews indicated that this product worked very well. I purchased in June 2008 and the product has held up very well even in 108+ deg days in sunny Arizona. The control module is very easy to remove from the valve unit in order to program, programming is easy and the unit takes two 9V batteries. Great product!! I highly recommend.

I am using this timer on a garden sprinkler system that requires 115 PSI. Originally, I purchased another Orbit watering timer (w/ 2 dials) but it could not handle high pressure above 80PSI and allowed water to leak through the valve. I exchange it for this model a couple weeks ago and haven't had any issues with leaking water. I believe the manual rates this timer up to 80PSI though.

I have used this model before, buy could no longer locate at the local hardware store. Found it right away on the Amazon site. This is the best battery powered water controller I have found thus far enabling up to 360 minutes of use. It is perfect for our misting system over our Arizona room. The controller lasted over 6 years in the Arizona heat until the selnoid gave out (controller still works).