Offer is valid today March 25, 2021 through midnight only or while supplies lasts.
Eligible for Returns within 30-Days in its original condition and packaging (details)
Our research indicates that Rachio 16-Zone 3rd Generation Smart Sprinkler Controller is $60.46 (30.23% Savings) than the next best price from a reputable merchant with prices starting from $215.99. -slickdewmaster
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If you go to the main page you'll find the Outdoor Enclosure on sale for 50% off too: https://gma-rachio.com/
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Offer is valid today March 25, 2021 through midnight only or while supplies lasts.
Eligible for Returns within 30-Days in its original condition and packaging (details)
Our research indicates that Rachio 16-Zone 3rd Generation Smart Sprinkler Controller is $60.46 (30.23% Savings) than the next best price from a reputable merchant with prices starting from $215.99. -slickdewmaster
Now this is the deal I've been waiting for! Thanks OP!
I've got a 20 year old controller. To save water I put a SONOFF smart relay in the box to disconnect the power to the ground wire. An IFTTT routine checks the weather and toggles the relay as needed. Not smart like Rachio by any stretch, but it made it "brighter" for a whopping $15 and I reduced water waste by a ton.
As usual, it depends.
If you want only the basic smart control of the sprinklers, then I'd recommend Wyze ($58). If you also want weather-based control, paying Wyze's recurring fee for Sprinkler Plus ($10/year) will still be cheaper than Rachio for the first 9 years.
If you have more than 8 zones, get the Rachio. If you want weather-based control, and you think your sprinkler controller would last longer than 9 years, the Rachio would be cheaper AFTER 9 years. (Of course, Rachio's Return-on-Investment is even worse with their regular price, instead of this deal price.)
Disclaimer: I don't have either one - so I cannot speak to other features, user-friendliness or reliability.
For me, from all these IOT/smart things craze nowadays, smart sprinkler systems is the most worthed. It actually save you money. I got mine (Gen1) for $95 4 years ago. Set it up once and never touch it anymore. It automatically adjust as seasons come and go. must have!
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Quote
from RVD26
:
That's actually a selling point for me. Just set it in the app and forget about it.
No need to worry about fiddling with the controller.
Plus you control it through your phone app, ipad app, etc. This thing pays for itself in gold. Prior to installing mine last year, I'd be too lazy to go into my basement and shut my sprinklers off when rain was coming, or I would just plain forget.
Now this things monitors it wirelessly and does it for me, plus I can easily turn it off/on from my phone manually.
Another big bonus to this is that is greatly cut down on the time/labor I used to do winterizing my system. I used to manually go into my boxes guessing which zone I was even opening/closing (my controller is in my house in the basement). Now, I just whip my phone out and I have each zone labeled so I know exactly what I am commanding open/closed. Cut down my labor time/headache in half which god darn it would be worth it just that in and of itself.
I have this and like it. But I gotta admit the adjustments for weather are crap. I've had my sprinklers running in the rain and right after a storm. It's easier to just check the app periodically, or when it's going to rain, and skip that section manually
I have been looking to get something for a while. Not a need, the manual system with a schedule works just fine for me.
However, if you want a good video to educate you on these systems, your choices and any pros/cons I can easily recommend this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALyT6hZXHQQ
Even though I am a Tech YouTuber also and he never answers my emails like other tech guys that I collab with lol.
Great deal. I should've bought one of these ages ago but kept forgetting and this reminded me to finally pull the trigger. Bonus is that I need to mount this outside and the outdoor enclosure is also 50% off. Here is the link to both: https://gma-rachio.com/
How is this working with Homekit now ? I know there were a number of problems with its native connectivity to it over the past year, any updates on this ?
Last year I had to completely reset my entire controller to get it BACK into Homekit.
But, it seems like they've fixed the issue (I'm not even 100% sure who "they" is: Apple or Rachio... or both?). Honestly though, I've only used the HK feature maybe 3x? Two of those was a time when I wanted to turn on a specific zone and the Rachio "cloud" was down, so I couldn't access it via their app. HK worked fine for it.
Also, let's say you put in some new grass seed in one zone. Programming it the way *I* would like it is actually not simple in the Rachio app. (eg water this specific zone for 2 min every hour but only during daylight hours.) In HK it's actually quite easy to do exactly that. In the app you have to make "compromises" (eg run it every hour 24/7 or use up every available scheduling slot but one and hope that additional one suffices for your other needs.)
But if it seems like I'm down on the product, I'm not. I actually really (REALLY) like it. Even for someone without HK or when they still had the issue of it disappearing, I still enthusiastically recommended it.
I have the 12 zone from Costco and I installed it myself without difficulty (11 physical zones.) I also received a $75 rebate from... well, I'm not sure. County or State. Some government entity.
Last edited by bakerzdosen March 25, 2021 at 12:17 PM.
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I am in for one to replace an earlier version 1 unit, tax applied for california shipping. The main difference I see is their Weather Intelligence Plus which is only now available on the model 3. (This allows tighter intelligence to my address, versus a weather station 8 miles away in my situation). It also allows operation with newer Wifi routers. I'll probably put my Model 1 on ebay for $75-100 or so.
Last edited by markharris2000 March 25, 2021 at 12:30 PM.
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Simple question. This or the Wyze?
As usual, it depends.
If you want only the basic smart control of the sprinklers, then I'd recommend Wyze ($58). If you also want weather-based control, paying Wyze's recurring fee for Sprinkler Plus ($10/year) will still be cheaper than Rachio for the first 9 years.
If you have more than 8 zones, get the Rachio. If you want weather-based control, and you think your sprinkler controller would last longer than 9 years, the Rachio would be cheaper AFTER 9 years. (Of course, Rachio's Return-on-Investment is even worse with their regular price, instead of this deal price.)
Disclaimer: I don't have either one - so I cannot speak to other features, user-friendliness or reliability.
Last edited by Johnny-Bravo March 25, 2021 at 12:36 PM.
I bought the Generation 2 8-zone model from a Woot sale over a year ago. Does anyone know the differences between it and this Gen 3? (other than the number of zones, obviously)
I must admit that I haven't yet checked the Rachio website FAQS. 🤔
does this make sense if you have unlimited irrigation water? No restrictions here in idaho, water as much as you please. I guess it could be cool with wireless integration to flip on sprinklers on that annoying neighbor that always wants to know everyone's business.
does this make sense if you have unlimited irrigation water? No restrictions here in idaho, water as much as you please. I guess it could be cool with wireless integration to flip on sprinklers on that annoying neighbor that always wants to know everyone's business.
I have no water restrictions being on a home well on top of a massive aquifer, but I still prefer to conserve this precious and limited resource. Especially with something so easy as this.
I pay a straight fee for irrigation water so it wouldn't save me any money but technology is pretty cool. I'll save my money for the bluetooth butt scratcher i've been wanting.
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As usual, it depends.
If you want only the basic smart control of the sprinklers, then I'd recommend Wyze ($58). If you also want weather-based control, paying Wyze's recurring fee for Sprinkler Plus ($10/year) will still be cheaper than Rachio for the first 9 years.
If you have more than 8 zones, get the Rachio. If you want weather-based control, and you think your sprinkler controller would last longer than 9 years, the Rachio would be cheaper AFTER 9 years. (Of course, Rachio's Return-on-Investment is even worse with their regular price, instead of this deal price.)
Disclaimer: I don't have either one - so I cannot speak to other features, user-friendliness or reliability.
How does your math work out like that? From what I can tell, it's a flat cost for the Rachio (no subscription).
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I've got a 20 year old controller. To save water I put a SONOFF smart relay in the box to disconnect the power to the ground wire. An IFTTT routine checks the weather and toggles the relay as needed. Not smart like Rachio by any stretch, but it made it "brighter" for a whopping $15 and I reduced water waste by a ton.
If you want only the basic smart control of the sprinklers, then I'd recommend Wyze ($58). If you also want weather-based control, paying Wyze's recurring fee for Sprinkler Plus ($10/year) will still be cheaper than Rachio for the first 9 years.
If you have more than 8 zones, get the Rachio. If you want weather-based control, and you think your sprinkler controller would last longer than 9 years, the Rachio would be cheaper AFTER 9 years. (Of course, Rachio's Return-on-Investment is even worse with their regular price, instead of this deal price.)
Disclaimer: I don't have either one - so I cannot speak to other features, user-friendliness or reliability.
Join The Conversation
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No need to worry about fiddling with the controller.
Now this things monitors it wirelessly and does it for me, plus I can easily turn it off/on from my phone manually.
Another big bonus to this is that is greatly cut down on the time/labor I used to do winterizing my system. I used to manually go into my boxes guessing which zone I was even opening/closing (my controller is in my house in the basement). Now, I just whip my phone out and I have each zone labeled so I know exactly what I am commanding open/closed. Cut down my labor time/headache in half which god darn it would be worth it just that in and of itself.
However, if you want a good video to educate you on these systems, your choices and any pros/cons I can easily recommend this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALyT6hZ
Even though I am a Tech YouTuber also and he never answers my emails like other tech guys that I collab with lol.
But, it seems like they've fixed the issue (I'm not even 100% sure who "they" is: Apple or Rachio... or both?). Honestly though, I've only used the HK feature maybe 3x? Two of those was a time when I wanted to turn on a specific zone and the Rachio "cloud" was down, so I couldn't access it via their app. HK worked fine for it.
Also, let's say you put in some new grass seed in one zone. Programming it the way *I* would like it is actually not simple in the Rachio app. (eg water this specific zone for 2 min every hour but only during daylight hours.) In HK it's actually quite easy to do exactly that. In the app you have to make "compromises" (eg run it every hour 24/7 or use up every available scheduling slot but one and hope that additional one suffices for your other needs.)
But if it seems like I'm down on the product, I'm not. I actually really (REALLY) like it. Even for someone without HK or when they still had the issue of it disappearing, I still enthusiastically recommended it.
I have the 12 zone from Costco and I installed it myself without difficulty (11 physical zones.) I also received a $75 rebate from... well, I'm not sure. County or State. Some government entity.
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If you want only the basic smart control of the sprinklers, then I'd recommend Wyze ($58). If you also want weather-based control, paying Wyze's recurring fee for Sprinkler Plus ($10/year) will still be cheaper than Rachio for the first 9 years.
If you have more than 8 zones, get the Rachio. If you want weather-based control, and you think your sprinkler controller would last longer than 9 years, the Rachio would be cheaper AFTER 9 years. (Of course, Rachio's Return-on-Investment is even worse with their regular price, instead of this deal price.)
Disclaimer: I don't have either one - so I cannot speak to other features, user-friendliness or reliability.
I must admit that I haven't yet checked the Rachio website FAQS. 🤔
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If you want only the basic smart control of the sprinklers, then I'd recommend Wyze ($58). If you also want weather-based control, paying Wyze's recurring fee for Sprinkler Plus ($10/year) will still be cheaper than Rachio for the first 9 years.
If you have more than 8 zones, get the Rachio. If you want weather-based control, and you think your sprinkler controller would last longer than 9 years, the Rachio would be cheaper AFTER 9 years. (Of course, Rachio's Return-on-Investment is even worse with their regular price, instead of this deal price.)
Disclaimer: I don't have either one - so I cannot speak to other features, user-friendliness or reliability.
Join The Conversation
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