A rain sensor is a great thing to add onto your sprinkler system and it does not take a lot of time or money. A rain sensor is great because you can attach it to your sprinkler system to automatically turn off while it rains. The rain sensor can help decrease the amount of water used on your lawn at the time when it rains. Allowing the sprinkler system to turn off automatically when it rains can make sure your grass or plants do not get too saturated with water which will keep your lawn healthy. Installing a rain sensor in your sprinkler system is a great idea and it also is something you can do yourself without needing any special skills.
When you are thinking about installing a rain sensor to your sprinkler system you need to first figure out where to place it. You want to make sure the rain sensor is in a location where it can be exposed to both the run and the rain. The location should also be somewhere that gets the same weather locations at your lawn and it should not be covered up by a roof or other structure. The sensor should also be placed in a location away from the sprinkler or other structures containing water. If you place the rain sensor too close to another type of water source then it might automatically shut off the sprinkler system even if it is not raining.
When you are installing the rain sensor you also need to figure out what position the vent ring should be in comparable to your location. The vent ring is important because it will determine how quickly or slowly it will dry out. In an area of higher humidity or warmer conditions, the vent ring should be almost completely open to ensure quicker drying. If you live in a low humidity area then you should keep the vent ring positioned lower.
You can now mount the rain sensor to the mounting bracket using the screws provided to you in the rain sensor box. After the sensor is mounted to the bracket, you need to mount the bracket to a wall or other location. You need to use mounting fasteners that will work with the type of material you are mounting the rain sensor to. The bracket should be within 30 feet of the unit for best results.
The wire from the sensor should be run to the controller box which should be plugged into an electrical outlet. The wire should be fastened about every foot to keep the wire in place and to prevent damage. Each sensor might have a different voltage requirement so you need to make sure you read the instructions on the specific rain sensor you bought. Anything higher than 120 volts should be connected only by a professional because of the increased risk of electrical shock or fire.
You can also choose a rain sensor that has a closed wiring system which means there is little wiring work you have to do on your own. The only wiring you will need to do for the closed wiring sensor is just to plug the wire assembly into the controller and the sensor in order for it to work. This is a better option if you choose to install the rain sensor yourself because you do not have to worry about the electrical aspect of installing the rain sensor if you are not skilled in electrical work.
The wires of the rain sensor should then be run to the sprinkler system controls where you can adjust the settings. The rain sensor settings allow you to adjust the amount of rain you can get before the sensor will turn off automatically. The shutoff settings can be used anywhere from a half inch to an inch of rain. When the weather is dry then the water will just evaporate from the sensor. After you have adjusted the settings to your personal preference, you are done and the rain sensor should be working automatically. Installing a rain sensor is a great project you can do and requires little work or time.
