Obit Sunmate Automatic Yard Watering Kit, available at the Home Depot. Comes with a 4 connection Y, digital timer(programmable for 3 times per day), and two valves. Cost $39.99

Additional valves are available for $14.99 each

Thanks eastpenna, I saw that one too but it seems to get really mixed reviews. Are you using that one?

I'm using it and I've already had to return a broken timer. The valves also are known to fail. I couldn't find any other options so I'm stuck with it. It does work and will do the job.

paulinct, yes I am. Purchased this summer and have hade no problems (knock on wood). For the money it did seem like the best deal going. BTW min. pressure is 10 psi. and max is 80 psi. I am at like 75-80 psi.

It does come with a six year warranty.

I purchased 2 Orbit Kits and they have worked very well. My only complaint is that you cannot program each valve separately. They all have to function on the same time schedule and watering duration. If it could do that, it would be fantastic!

jenniferemily:

Does that mean that all 4 hoses coming out of that splitter are running at once? The range on the sprinklers must be abysmal if that's the case.

I'll be starting my overseeding project in another week or so. I've got about 7k SF to cover and 2 hose bibs. I'm looking for the best watering solution.

Boatboy,

From what I have read the zones are activated sequentially based on the program: if watering is to start at hour x for y minutes, then zone one turns on at x for y minutes, then turns off and zone two turns on for y minutes, then turns off, etc. If this is how it works I would be fine with that just to get my seeds started.

Is that correct guys?

Paul

P.S. I am the Paul who recently lost his digital camera (while gaining supreme authority over all lawn renovation projects) on that other forum, let me know what you go with!

Does that mean that all 4 hoses coming out of that splitter are running at once?

Nope, they run one after the other.

I got two and returned them, upgrading to a manifold. Of the 8 valves, three didn't work, two worked spottily, and after replacing the valves it was still inconsistent.

On the 1 to 4 star range I'd give it 1 star. Surprising, that, as I have other Orbit products and like them.

Morpheus, when you say "upgraded to a manifold" do you mean you went with another product? If so curious what that was and whether it has worked for you.

A friend of mine who used to own a lawn care business had nice things to say about Toro, but I have not found a hose-end timer by them that is more than rudimentarily programmable.

Thanks!
Paul

Morpheus, what do you mean by "upgrading to a manifold"? So you found another option besides this orbit thing? What is it and where do we get it? I'd like to buy a setup like the orbit in individual pieces but with better quality, maybe metal valves, etc. Does such a thing exist?

As Paul stated, it runs sequentially, not at the same time. I have had no problems with it. It worked great for my seeding. I just would not recommend it if you want one valve for seeding, for valve for shrubs, one valve for annuals, etc. If all four valves have the same requirements, I would highly recommend it.

I went with a 1" DC manifold and the DC controller for it (so I didn't have to run wires). Everything's revoltingly waterproof and easy to hide.

Note: sticker shock. The full manifold and connectors and controller runs $200 or so. For each manifold. For me, it was worth it for the increased flow and pressure (I got an extra three feet each out of my Hunter PGPs and could go with a slightly higher flow as well).

One minor disadvantage (very minor) was that I had to use Teflon tape on the linkages or they leaked a bit. Regardless of the advertising that says you don't need any...

Since it's a 1", you need to jumper to a standard hose for input/output. I have the (very short, inexpensive) list of items if anybody's curious.

The DC Controller

The 1" DC Manifold

Morpheus: Your set up sounds pretty cool. If teflon tape is the biggest problem, I'd say you did pretty well. :-)

I'm looking for a very inexpensive solution (assuming there is one). What I'm looking for is basically a "splitter" for the hose bib, and a timer that can control the extra valves so that one at a time would run for 15 minutes or so, twice a day. I think that Orbit timer will do the trick.

Thanks for the input everyone!

Boatboy, yea it will do the trick, but make sure you save the receipt from home depot or wherever you get it, so you can exchange it if/when it fails.

What I'm looking for is basically a "splitter" for the hose bib, and a timer that can control the extra valves so that one at a time would run for 15 minutes or so, twice a day

I know Melnor makes a dual-zone timer that's electronic and run by dials. It's not horribly expensive, but I have no direct experience with it.

Oh, the other problem (BIG problem) I had with the Orbit was water hammer. The connection snapped closed so fast the pipes shook hard. The manifold doesn't do that, at least.

This is basically it:

Thanks again everyone.

Here is a link that might be useful: Orbit Timer/Splitter

Morpheuspa,

I am really interested in your set-up. Do you have pictures of it that you would be willing to share? I like the Orbit but the lack of flexibility with programming does not work for me. I have been looking for an alternative. How does the controller connect to it?

Thanks!

Jen

Been down the same road with Orbit...some times it would work, others not. Got frustrated with it and bought two Melnor 3015 battery timers from HD for about $17 a piece. It's pretty simple to set. You can set the start time, frequency up to 3 times a day/1 to 7 days a week,and the watering duration time. It just doesn't support zones.

It doesn't have a manifold either, but I run a Y-spliter and can run a 2 hose setup or just one. The 2 hose is gonna run at the same time, unfortunately, so I don't use that much. It still beats getting up at 4am and the expense of an inground system.

Oh, and don't do what I did once. I forgot to flip the water release lever to "on", so all the great settings in the world won't work if the water won't come out. :)

Thanks everyone for all the great advice! I'll definitely include some kind of water hammer arrestor, thanks for mentioning that Morpheus. Water hammer is already a big problem for me here, and I don't need worry about joints failing inside the house while I am at work...

Do you have pictures of it that you would be willing to share?

I don't, but that doesn't preclude me from taking some this weekend. I'll ask for a pardon in advance for the waterproofing on the wires. It's kinda ugly.

The controller's wired to each valve for four total main wires, and then attaches neatly (if you want to, I didn't) atop any of the valves. The back hooks almost directly to the hose bib, the front dodges out of the garage, through a garden, down under the walkway through a PVC pipe, and finally reaches the manifold.

Morpheuspa mentioned water hammer being a problem for him with the Orbit unit, it was for me too. I have pretty bad water hammer already from my washing machine, but it was a bit worse with the sprinkler valves. So I found a couple of cheap (12 bucks) Oatey "Quiet Pipes" arrestors and a pair of caps to close them off, and just attached them to the two unused valves on my manifold, opened those valves, and water hammer is totally gone. Maybe one would be fine and two are not needed, but I bought two so that I can reinstall them on my washing machine permanently when I take the sprinklers down. Makes me feel better about leaving the house with the timer on, just thought I'd mention this cheap fix in case someone else out there has scary water hammer like mine.