Alvin Maker
This is basically a software project with a small hardware component.
The OpenSprinkler project currently has the software and hardware control on same board. I want to break this link and have the hardware control separated from the software. I intend to do this over WiFi. A RaspberryPi will be the main controller for two reasons... I have one already and it should have enough horsepower to expand into more home automation tasks I have planned. Another plus is that the OpenSprinkler Pi project is programmed in Python. I'll need to read through the code and find all the places where the actual hardware is being controlled or read and modify that. I'll use JSON for the machine-to-machine communication.
For the remote relay control station, I want to use the fully broken out ESP8266 module from adafruit.com to control the relays. It should be perfect for this since it has 9 GPIO and I have 8 sprinkler zones and a rain sensor. I don't think the current output capability of the chip is enough to drive the relays so I'll have to use a buffer chip. Another option is to use an I2C port expander to control the relays which would take care of the buffering too. Other than that, I'll need a regulated DC power source. Pretty easy when you don't need a display or buttons! I hope to be able to program the relay station using MicroPython but if that proves to be too buggy I'll use Arduino instead.
Alexander Else
Pierre CHARLIER
andriy.malyshenko
deoscode
Hi Alvin.
I searched a lot regarding projects with RainBird WR2-RFC, but I found just your post here.
As I see it is an old project, and I hope you are still present in this forum.
I'll tell you what my project is: I need to close automatically an attic window when rain starts. And because this package has a controller with battery indicator, signal strength, ... and the wireless sensor I'm thinking this will fit perfect with my needs, but it has problem:
- the kit reaction is too slow, because the sensor reacts only when the rain is too heavy (5 liters/sqm); it is OK for an irrigation system where time reaction doesn't matter but for my attic will be a disaster.
So, I came with an idea to open the sensor and somehow connect it to a rain sensor like this
https://shop.bb-sensors.com/en/Humidity-measurement/Humidity-switching-devices-controllers/Rain-detector-unit-in-housing-24-V.html
But, I don't know how the sensor works. I know that it is using hygroscopic discs, which in presence of water will press a mechanical contact which will wirelessly will send a message to the controller.
This is my question: doing your hack, you saw how the sensor functions; do you think that I can bypass the mechanical contact, to link my rain sensor to the rainbird sensor somehow?
To close the window, I'll use a raspberry with a hacked sonoff SV.
By the way: I didn't buy the kit, because I didn't know if I can make the modifications.
Regards,
Calin