Automated sprinkler systems are a great way of watering gardens and yards. This convenient system allows you to control one or many sprinkler heads in a row, called a zone. The system comes with a watering brain box called an automated sprinkler controller. The box sports an incoming water connection (hose adapter) that feeds the system with water. It also has outgoing ports that feed each zone of sprinkler heads through devices called remote-controlled sprinkler valves. There are also hot wires that control these valves to turn the sprinklers on and off. A timer controls how long the system waters and then turns the water feed off.
Now you may say that's great, but what happens on rainy days? Does the system flood my garden or yard? Actually, no, if you have an additional device called a moisture sensor. This device is placed in your yard or garden and connected to the system to detect rainy days and override the system to stop watering. Even better, a weather-monitoring device can also adjust watering patterns for variables such as wind and humidity.
Now, for you couch potatoes, this system gets even better. With the addition of an optional power-line interface, you can actually control this outdoor watering system from the comfort of your easy chair in your living room. The system interface converts X-10 signals from the sprinkler controller through the power line and of course transmit from the the line to the device. This simply plugs into the automated sprinkler controller panel via a jack. To make this simple connection, an RJ11 telephone connector and standard phone line is used.
Let me tell you, I really like this system. In fact, I actually designed a watering system for my garden this year with electrical conduit, thinking that by drilling small holes in the pipe would act a a sort of soaker hose, but with a twist. My idea was to only drill holes, with a battery-operated drill, by the evenly-spaced plants, therefore not allowing watering to unused areas of the garden, likely where the weeds would grow. Unfortunately, I misjudged the sizing of the holes drilled, thinking they could be all the same size, being they were very small. Actually, due to the water pressure and length of the watering pipe run, I discovered I actually need to start with the tiniest hole closest to the water faucet and make the holes larger the farther out I go to the very end of the run. That way, the actual water flow from each hole equals out and each plant receives the same amount of water. This lesson learned makes for a nice watering system, but is unmatched by one I can control at the location of the garden or lawn or even from any location that connects to a phone line. How's that for automated?
So if you're you are looking for a simple way to keep your garden or yard watered for years to come the easy, automated way, the automated sprinkler system may be for you!
So let's recap what you have now. You go out to your garden, connect the hose to a sprinkler head of some sorts, either one that sprays water round and round or back and forth, or you have a hand-held sprayer attachment that ultimately gives you crippled hands from squeezing the trigger, right? For a few minutes, you may not mind this chore, but really, doesn't just make good sense to install a system like this that can do the work for you and give you free time to actually eat the vegetables that you grow in the garden? I say, this is just a great idea and a must have. Let me know what you think in the comment
