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Choosing an Irrigation Timer - Let your garden do the talking.
Irrigation timers are the brains of your home's irrigation system.
Timers are the component you interact with most, so many people
assume the timer is the place to start when choosing parts for a
new irrigation system. Not true! Let your garden do the talking!
Select an irrigation timer after all the other parameters, like
water pressure, landscape layout, the types and numbers of plants
in your landscaping, and the size of your property have all been
figured out and factored in. These things will dictate the capacity,
in zones, of the timer you need. There are other factors to consider
when choosing a timer, here are some of the more important ones.
Indoors or out?
Automatic timers are permanently installed, either inside the garage,
in the house, or in the basement, or outside in a weatherproof enclosure.
Generally the interior/exterior choice is dependant on where your
water supplies are located. Either way, automatic timers run on
normal household current so they can store complex, multiple programs
for indefinite periods of time. However, you should be sure that
the timer you choose has some type of memory backup, whether that
is a traditional battery, or modern non-volatile memory, to prevent
loss of your schedules due to a power failure.
Expansion - A garden's got to grow.
One feature that you can't afford to ignore is expandability. Expandable
irrigation timers allow you to add more zones to your irrigation
system after it has been installed without having to buy a new timer.
Instead of purchasing a totally new unit, all you need to do is
buy an inexpensive expansion module that plugs into the existing
timer and supplies additional terminals for connecting new valve
controls.
A great tip to keep in mind while installing your system - whether
using an expandable timer, or a traditional one, is to always install
more valve control wires than you need. It is easy to do when the
system is going in, but could be a headache if you have to do it
later on.
Programmability
Whether it is a simple hose-end model that runs one schedule on
one zone, or a commercial irrigation timer that controls dozens
of watering zones and independent schedules, all timers execute
a program supplied by the user. The only real difference is the
level of scheduling complexity the timer can handle. So, whether
you are buying a simple hose-end timer, or a cutting-edge Toro digital,
multi-program model, what you should look for above all else is
ease-of-use. Ease-of-use is what it's all about. You should be able
to figure out how to set-up and use your timer without too much
trouble even if you don't have the instructions. Look for:
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Large, easy-to-read display screens
- nothing is easy when you can't see it. |
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Programming buttons - with programming
buttons, less is usually more. Look for buttons that are straightforward
and well organized. |
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Simple program dials - Once again,
if you can't read it, you can't program it. Are the dials easy
to turn? Are they easy to grip when wet? Do they feel solid? |
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Switches - Modern timers use all
sorts of switches to make it easier to select functions, for
example the multiple program selector switch available on better
timers. Is it sturdy? Are the positions easy to feel and see?
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PC-based timers - The Next Big Thing
The next big thing in residential timers will be PC-based irrigation
timers. PC-based timers will take advantage of powerful, dedicated
software to make creating multiple irrigation schedules simpler
than it has even been before. All the functions and controls will
be presented and accessible to you on your a home PC. The timer
software walks you through the whole process, from start to finish,
and builds your schedules for you based on your input. You will
be able to access and set every function right from the comfort
of your desk chair. When you are done creating your schedule the
software will then transfers it out to the timer.
Be sure to choose the timer that's right for the needs of your
garden, your lifestyle, and your demand for quality. The higher
the quality, the less time you will have to spend thinking about
your timer. It will go on doing its job for years to come and leave
you free to spend your time enjoying the fantastic results.
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