Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller: 16 Zone | Simple Auto Schedules, Quick Run, Local Weather Intelligence. (Save Water w/ Rain, Freeze & Wind Skip)

I have a Hunter sprinkler system that we had installed about a decade ago. It works great, but the controller had outlived its usefulness. I decided to upgrade. I wanted a controller that I could access from my iPhone. I wanted a controller that would be easy to program and easy to use. I wanted a controller that would take the guesswork out of when to water and for how long. My research led me to purchase the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller ... and I am completely satisfied with my purchase!My purchase decision came down to the Rachio 3 and the Hunter HydraWise. I probably deliberated longer than I needed to ... but that was because I have a Hunter sprinkler system and I had a bit of anxiety about buying a controller not made by Hunter. I was ultimately swayed by Rachio's app capabilities ... and professional reviews. The Rachio 3 seems like a sprinkler controller reinvented. The Hunter HydraWise seems like an old fashioned sprinkler controller with an app. 21st century technology (Rachio 3) vs. 20th century (Hunter HydraWise). I am a futurist ... 21st century for me.The Rachio 3 is an app-based controller ... there are no programming buttons or knobs on the controller itself. The app is easy to navigate and simple to program. I opted to let the Rachio 3 determine when and how long to water. The app uses weather data from several resources to determine when to water my lawn. The app sets the duration using a creative method of alternating the watering time per zone to maximize water retention in the soil. I'm a gadget guy, so I had to give this a try ... though I was skeptical about the "intelligence" of this system. Well, I am convinced the app has the right approach. My grass looks fantastic! The soil is never dried out ... no brown patches ... no soggy soil from over-watering. The plants in our garden look great, too.The app set my sprinklers to come on overnight. In the morning I wake to a notice that the watering cycle is complete. If I want to see how long the sprinklers were active I merely have to look in the app ... all the data is there ... and I can access historical watering data, too. I have received alerts that the Rachio app is postponing watering due to rain and due to high winds. If I want to turn on the sprinklers all I have to do is open the app and tap the zone I want to water then set the duration. Simple. The Rachio app takes any manual watering per zone into account for future watering cycles. This app is so cool!The Rachio 3 was simple to install. It took me less than 30 minutes to disconnect my Hunter sprinkler controller and then install the Rachio 3. I powered up and connected to wifi without issue. Setting up the app took another 10 minutes ... over which about 5 minutes was me just exploring the app. So easy and simple. I consider myself technically adept at installs like but by no means an expert. That means I am confident I can do it ... but still need to follow the directions step-by-step. If I could install this controller, so can you.There is no charge for the Rachio 3 app. All that functionality is paid for upfront when you buy the controller. Seems like an incredible value to me.I am extremely pleased with my Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller ... and highly recommend this unit to anyone with an in-ground sprinkler system. An enthusiastic five stars!

It was ridiculously easy to install. It replaced my old Irritrol expensive controller which I got tired of not being able to turn it off when it rains. This Rachio is elegant and worked the first time numbing a used one and saved over a $100 easy. We wil see how long it lasts but being able to control it via WiFi is awesome. I bought the 16 station. Only needed 10. Still trying to figure out the watering schedules. I like the fact it checked the weather and will not water if rain is forecasted.

I replaced an existing controller with two 16 zone Rachio 3 units. The old controller handled all 20 zones but an expensive monthly subscription service and additional module are required to achieve remote access and weather data for the controller to use in modifying the watering schedule. It would have been nice if Rachio offered a 20+ zone option or a 12 zone option, but it is nice to know I can add up to 6 zones per controller in the future without upgrading the hardware.I'm very happy with the Rachio controllers and discovered I can operate two zones simultaneously (one on each controller) which reduces the total time required for watering. Initially I wished the app did not treat each controller separately, but this actually is a nice feature. Admittedly this might not work well in areas that don't have necessary water pressure.I located the Rachio units outside so I also purchased the weatherproof outdoor enclosures. The need for two controllers located outside complicated the installation, but once I had the wiring sorted and the outside enclosures mounted, the remaining installation was very easy. Connecting the zone wiring to the controller could not be easier and was completed in about five minutes for each controller. I don't doubt that replacement of an existing indoor controller or installation of a new indoor controller is as easy as Rachio and the many positive reviews indicate.The controllers fit perfectly in the outside enclosures and the provided holes in the enclosures worked perfectly with the 1" PVC that protects the zone wiring and the flexible conduit I used for the AC wiring. The enclosures are very sturdy and appear to be designed to properly block moisture. We haven't had any rain since the installation to confirm their effectiveness.The Rachio app is great and is reason enough to go with the Rachio product if everything else is equal. It is intuitive and very easy to use. Rachio also offers browser access to the controllers and I found it was a bit easier to set up the zones that way. One can use the default wide-area sourcing of relevant weather data, select a nearby weather reporting station or use a personal weather station. The nearest reporting station is nearly two miles from my home so I've ordered a Tempest unit to maximize the accuracy of the data used by the Rachio system to determine the watering requirements for each zone.