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Final update:
Ive had both the 12 and 16 valve units for over a year now. Here are my impressions.
Pros:
The interface is so easy to use, its miles ahead of any manual controller I have ever used. I found old rainbird and other units quite complicated to operate and adjust. This is so easy you can control so many things and all on your phone or easily on the control panel screen.
If the unit loses internet for an extended period of time, it still waters according to any schedules programmed. This is helpful as you will see in the cons section.
Cons:
My 16 valve unit failed in the first 6 months. Rainmachine only repairs and will not do a return and replacement so that can make getting an issue worked out painful.
The units lose internet connection frequently, especially the 16 v one. Its resolved by unplugging and plugging back in. I worked with Rainmachine who suggested a different antenna. When I ordered the new antenna it didnt work at all so plugged the old one back in. Every few days I have to unplug and plug back in to control remotely on my phone app. Its annoying but in most cases I dont really need to access the controller once its set up.
If the unit loses internet for an extended period of time, it cannot adapt to weather conditions and save water. It will just operate on the pre planned schedule like any dumb controller would.
This is a really good product with a few kinks to work out. I do like them and hope with upcoming SW updates it will work better.
Update:
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4 months later, dead unit. Called in and all seemed like it was going to go off ok. They asked for my proof of purchase helped troubleshoot to identify the issue, then they dropped off the face of the earth. Three phone calls and three days later, Im still not sure if they ever shipped my new power supply so bought a new one on amazon. Two different agents fumbled the ball two different days so this is not a single support person problem. Still a good unit but be prepared for a very cheap Chinese power supply subject to early failure and non existent follow up from the Rainmachine support team. Once getting the replacement power, plugged in and no dice. The whole unit is dead. Called again and guess what, they dont send replacements, you have to send the unit back in to be fixed. This is a real hassle.
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Begin original review.
Holy smokes, where have you been all my life? After installing several different controllers that were impossible to figure out, I finally found this amazing little box. I am now controlling two houses irrigation systems on different coasts while in the Bahamas. What an amazing product.
The NOAA radio picks up weather info every few hours and adjusts the watering so you dont just dump money you dont need to into your water bill.
Install was easy, took 30 mins. No problems so far.
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From the manufacturer
RainMachine
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Easy to InstallNo expensive contractors needed for the job. Simple step by step DIY instructions. Live phone support available seven days a week! RainMachine installation is guaranteed to be easier than your old device! Need to say more? Welcome to the future! |
Weather Data SourcesThe RainMachine gets weather forecast from NOAA.GOV, Metno, Forecast.io, NetAtmo, or Wunderground Personal Weather Station for precise, realtime weather information. The RainMachine updates weather data several times per day just to calculate the right amount of water for your plants! |
Start Saving Now!Depending on your climate, and if weather permitting, record water savings of up to 80% (per week or even per month!) can be achieved with the RainMachine. Because of substantial savings on your water bill, the RainMachine will pay itself in less than two years, fastest payback of any green IOT appliance! |
WaterSense CertificationOur RainMachine is WaterSense Certified for efficiency and performance. (Certificate number 9291, by IAPMO R&T authority, 2019). Check for rebates with your local water agency and start saving now! Rebates up to the full cost of your RainMachine can be obtained from your Water Agency. Start saving now! |
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iOS and Android apps: RealTime MonitoringOur Dashboard displays everything needed to know about your garden and weather! Obsessing about details? Rotate the phone into landscape mode and dive into panoramic weekly/monthly/yearly graphs! Look for the free rainmachine app on Apple Store or Google Play Store and start controlling your RainMachine. |
Connect from anywhereGarden from any screen or web browser. PC and Laptops equipped with any kind of modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Safari, Edge, IE). The RainMachine can be accessed from anywhere in the world. Enjoy your RainMachine from home, work or when away in vacation! |
Local interfaceUnique touch interface on the device itself provides ultimate control experience. Starting or stopping a zone or a program are available from a simple splash-proof capacitive touch interface. Dark garage?: no problem! Our white LED illuminated touch keys to the rescue! Simplicity Perfected: When not in use, the RainMachine will display only one piece of information: a brightly lit Wi-Fi icon, visible from up to 20ft away. |
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| RainMachine Mini-8 2nd gen | RainMachine HD-12 2nd gen | RainMachine HD-16 | RainMachine Pro-8 | RainMachine Pro-16 | Other IoT Controller | |
| Number of zones | 8 (7 when using Master Valve) | 12 (11 when using Master Valve) | 16 (15 when using Master Valve) | 8 (separate Master Valve | 16 (separate Master Valve) | 8 to 16 |
| Cloud independent | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | No |
| Touch interface | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | No |
| Color TFT | No | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | No |
| Multiple Weather Services | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | No |
| Rain and Wind sensitivity | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | No |
| Forecast and Measured Data | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | No |
| Local Web Interface | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | No |
| Android & iOS app | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Ethernet (LAN) | No | No | No | ✓ | ✓ | No |
Compare with similar items
 | Rachio 16ZULW-C 16 Zone: 3rd Generation Smart Sprinkler Controller with Hyperlocal Weather Intelligence, 16 Zone (3rd Generation) | Rachio 3: 8 Zone Smart Sprinkler Controller (Simple Automated Scheduling + Local Weather Intelligence. Save Water w/ Rain, Freeze & Wind Skip), App Enabled, Works w/ Alexa, Fast & Easy Install | Rachio Sprinkler Compatible 3 Smart Controllers, Weatherproof Outdoor Enclosure | |
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| Customer Rating | (262) | (10638) | (10638) | (10638) |
| Price | Unavailable | $231.88 | $180.70 | $29.99 |
| Shipping | — | FREE Shipping. Details | FREE Shipping. Details | FREE Shipping. Details |
| Sold By | — | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
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Installed the RM this weekend, replacing a very old Hunter controller. And as my headline indicates, I REALLY wanted to give this a five star review based on my initial impressions of what this controller can do ... but unfortunately there was one issue that cost the RM a star... the wiring connection bar. My system is wired with 14ga, solid core wire ... the specification in the manual for the RM said it supported 14ga (though I suspect they meant stranded). The install took much longer than it should have, and a lot more work, since I had to compress each stations wire with a pair of pliers to flatten it out enough that it could be worked into the connection and tightened down. I'm hoping that these connections remain tight and don't work themselves loose, as there is only a small bit of wire in the connector to clamp down on. RM should spend the extra dollar on the connector and pcb board space and make sure that ANY reasonable gauge wire will fit. There is sufficient space for a slightly larger connection bar along that edge...UPDATE: This wire gauge issue really bothered me, and the mystery is now solved-ish. I was looking at the product photos on the webpage, and when the cursor is hovered over the picture the cover is "removed", but wait ... the HD-12 has a different color connection bar than the HD-16! As Bill & Ted would have said "something's a-miss"! Digging deeper, the specification for the acceptable wire gauges in the installation manual is NOT the same as that on the RM website. On the product description web page it specifies the HD-16 as accepting AWG 16-22, but the installation guide specifies AWG 14-22. And here I thought I was being forward thinking by looking at the installation instructions before purchasing ... I'd like to hear from the folks at RM on this one!Now to be fair, the rest of the installation and setup was very easy for any reasonably adept app user. I was able to get it setup and configured to run the same program I had with my older system, with the addition of the RM weather adjustments. So will be fine tuning the setup over the next couple of weeks, will update this review then, maybe by then I'll have gotten over the grief of dealing with the wire gauge incompatibility and upgrade to 5 stars!
Images in this review
