Pause and resume
Under Development
Why hasn't a pause and resume function been added yet? It is such a pain to stop a program then go back and start where it left off. Is this something that will never be added?
Love the HD-16 and all the improvements there have been since I purchased it over a year ago, but I find myself needing to stop a running program so often I am thinking of trying something different.
Please look into a pause and resume function (even if its just on the apps/webapp), would make it so much easier.
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There is a pause function. Under settings/snooze you can set a pause in one MINUTE intervals.
On the HD, under configure/settings/restrictions/snooze you can set a pause in one MINUTE intervals.
Very cumbersome to get to and it would be nice if the option was easier to get to, or under a different menu.
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Yeah, sorry I meant day increments. Looked at the unit and it is 1min. Only problem is I set it to snooze for 5mins during a running program and it is still counting down and running. Is snooze supposed to actually pause a program in progress, then resume right where it left off? Or just stop a program from starting?
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This sounds like a problem that I found.
To clarify, when you snooze a running program, does the water actually stop and the counter still runs? If you look at the counter, is it looping about 5 seconds, or just count down to 0 (zero). IE 5:20 - 5:19 - 5:18 - 5:17 - 5:16 - 5:15 - (and back to) 5:20 - 5:19 - etc. I picked 5:20 as an arbitrary time, mine has happened all over the place.
I have noticed this behavior if my program start time runs into the time restriction, and the program pauses (with the 5 seconds "loop"), then when the time restriction expires, the zone comes back on and the program continues where it left off.
I think it is a bug in the software, where the countdown timer doesn't stop but continues to try and run but is reset after 5 seconds, but continues to try and run. The zone does not come on though during this loop (which is good!).
I haven't tried it using the snooze feature, but you might have found a similar bug.
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Had some free time to mess around with it. Here is how mine is working (or not working).
Have a program that is currently in progress, zone 12 is running with 3 minutes remaining. I go to snooze on the rainmachine, and set it for 10 minutes. Both the rainmachine and android app instantly says "RainMachine is PAUSED! view current watering restrictions".
Zone 12 keeps running (both timer and water to sprinkler), when zone 12 finishes, zone 13 comes on. So basically, it does nothing during a running program.
I always thought snooze just kept programs from starting, but it does say "Temporarily pause all water activities" under snooze description, so I don't know.
Thanks for the help Bill
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Well I think I'll most likely get rid of my Rainmachine and go with another smart wifi sprinkler controller. Have a feeling a pause function will not be added since no one from Rainmachine responded here. No pause is kind of a deal breaker for me, my own fault for not fully researching before hand. Really is a shame though, everything else was near perfect for what I need.
Thanks again Bill for responding and helping out.
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Sorry to hear that the RM doesn't work for you.
I guess snooze and a water restriction "pause" are different then, and all a snooze does is 'inhibit" a program from starting, but once it is running does nothing and lets the program finish... NOT what I would think "snooze" should do.
It's kind of like the rain sensor... when rain is detected, it dumps all running programs in the que.. not what I thought it would do and pause the running program until rain was not detected, or the delay to "snooze" timed out... and then continue where it left off.
Yes, the RM is kind of above the rest out there, but a function that a person needs to work, and it doesn't kind of makes the controller useless. Sad to hear.
Hope you find one that will work for you!
Can't say ya didn't try!
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Currently we do not have a pause feature, but I can assure you this is something we are taking under consideration.
I agree this would be a great feature.
As was deduced here the Snooze feature only effects a program if started prior to running.
Thanks guys for your input and consideration.
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I got rid of a Rachio controller because they, too, have not come out with a pause/resume feature. That is the most sought after feature by Rachio owners and yet they will not accommodate. I just purchased the Rainmachine and find out the same problem exists with it!!! Come on!! GET WITH IT AND PROVIDE WHAT YOUR CUSTOMERS WANT! I, for one, will not hesitate to return this thing if not..
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I don't know what would be easier or less confusing for the user, but there could be an option in settings as to what snooze does... cancel a running program (which it does now), or pause all watering (including a running program), as well as inhibit a program that is going to run.
OR have snooze do what it does now with another option PAUSE that does NOT cancel a running program but stops watering for a preset time that can be changed by the user and/or a toggle.
PAUSE would be handy when testing and adjusting your sprinklers... stop and start from your tablet/phone while out in the yard or the back 40....
Just a thought....
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I think the way snooze works now is good, just add a proper pause function.
This is what I think would work good for the app.
Single press: pause
Long press: pop up window to set amount of second/minutes/hours to pause
While it's paused, just replace the orange pause icon with a green play icon to resume.
Rachio was what I was going to look into, not sure what I will do now if it won't pause and resume either. Really would have thought pausing a program would be a standard for a sprinkler controller. Might stick it out another season and hope it's added.
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JJ, Bill, Gary
You can't have that in a smart controller that you use to create schedules for the day.
In theory what you propose sounds easy - tap a button and pause the watering activity as much as you want, then tap it again to resume it from where it was paused.
Imagine this like an audio player - you can pause a music track, but you cannot play another one at the same time. So, your controller will be PAUSED (SNOOZED) for any other scheduled activities you may have until this one you just pause is over or completely stopped by you.These smart controllers work like timers with a watering queue where all the schedules are stored.
In reality, you have to know how long that pause is set, because once paused, a watering activity goes last in the watering queue. Then when you decide to resume it, it has to jump first in the queue and override a currently watering activity or delay it. Imagine what a mess will create this kind of action pause/resume a currently watering activity for all your schedules.rachio tried that and they failed and had to pull it back because create such a mess in user schedules.
Currently, on the market, there is no smart irrigation controller that can PAUSE a currently running watering activity. Trust me, I know. You can google it.Thanks.
Josh -
I'm sure it could be worked in somehow. Maybe on resume it could recalculate zone run times, so the program finishes at the original time.
Let's say I pause a running program for 20 minutes, on resume it will take a total of 20 minutes off the remaining zones run time. If a program stays paused to long or overlaps with another program, just cancel the paused program and start the new one. Could also have a setting to resume a program after being paused for x amount of minutes, if the user forgets to resume. Like after 60 minutes of being paused it will resume on its own.
There has got to be a way to pause watering for a short time, without having to manually set up all your zones to run again.
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Josh, I have to disagree with the statement “Currently, on the market, there is no smart irrigation controller that can PAUSE a currently running watering activity.”
The RainBird ESP-SMTe came out in 2009. I have an ESP-SMTe. It includes a rain gauge and a thermometer. It is programmed to SUSPEND watering when rain exceeds an amount that I program into it. The SUSPEND may be set for 1 or more days. If the water program is running when it rains it will SUSPEND the current watering cycle and resume the next day (or whatever value I have entered.)
I do wish that RainMachine would implement a similar feature.
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Here is another thing to think about...
I have a program that starts at 6 a.m. with 2 cycles.
I have a restriction set to start at 7:30 a.m. and end at 8 p.m.
When the program starts, it will water the first cycle for the programmed times as calculated by the weather and watering demands. Depending on the zone run times, it might make it into the second cycle before 7:30 restriction starts.
IF the watering restriction time starts (:730 a.m.) the controller will stop watering wherever it is and the controller displays where it was stopped (with a 5 second loop for that zone counting down.. possibly a bug), and when 8 p.m. passes, the paused zone and program will resume running, so it is possible to pause a program where it is then restart it.
If it can be done with an automatic program run, why can't it be done manually?
This is what would be desired with a manual pause... be able to pause the currently running program where it is, then restart it where it left off.
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@Josh...
According to what I have read on this forum, and have tried, when you snooze the controller ALL currently running programs are "cleared from the que" so they are basically cleared and NOT paused.
Snooze and pause are two different things... sure the snooze can clear the que, but a pause would simply suspend what is running, and be able to resume where it left off.
There could be a maximum time the pause could be so as to not accidentally leave the controller in pause which might interfere with other programs, but it is do-able.
The pause could be used for a short term temporary period for testing valves, for instance.
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Hi, Gary and mdvacca, all
Ok, but I was talking about currently smart irrigation controllers on the market and I looked at the main players right now. They do not have this implemented, rachio tried, but messed things up and pulled it out. Also, do you know if the RainBird has this PAUSE feature implemented in their mobile apps?look: http://wifi.rainbird.com/support/?search=Pause#search
I don't want to be the troll here, but I looked before I bought my RainMachine. I wanted cloud independent device, more than other things.@Bill - yes, you're right, SNOOZE clear the watering queue.
For testing valves we have manual start/stop operation, why will we need pause/resume. I don't say it won't be a good addition either, but there are other possibilities.And you're right about that hourly restriction enabled and then when it's over the program resume from where it was left, let's ask @RainMachine and find out more about this.
Thanks,
Josh -
Hi Josh!
You are not a troll AND you brought up some great ideas! At least for me...
I, too, didn't want a cloud based controller and RM is one of the very few, if not the ONLY one, that is local and NOT cloud based.
For me and my valve testing, a manual start/stop would be much easier than running a "test" program and pause it. Just turn the VALVE on, then off when I am finished. This would only be a once in a lifetime (well.. ok.. maybe twice or three times), necessity.
Even a quick and dirty short program that is not enabled, but have very short zone times just to test, would be what I could do and it wouldn't be really necessary to pause it. I have created such a program that runs each zone for 20 seconds with a 5 second delay between zones. Works for me and once again, a once/twice/thrice in a lifetime event, just for testing.
I had tried the Orbit controller and it seemed to be a little flakey and slow to respond, so back it went. I read about the Rainbird as well as the Richio and they all had a few things that I didn't like, so I shopped for the RM and found it at a good price and bought it.
I am still glad that I did, and am overall very happy with it.
The one thing that REALLY impresses me with the RM is the great support that can be seen in this forum from the users and the technical support. Much better than emailing support back and forth (in my opinion), because many more people (users and owners) can contribute great ideas that would be lost dealing with tech support ONLY. cumbyah...... (yeah right).
I just wonder how much processing power and memory is being used in the RM now, and how much space is available for more features...
This is MORE than just a sprinkler timer... it is a project and a learning experience (for me). fun! Alright... i'll quit now!
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Old Spaghetti,
We do offer this feature. In each program you have a option called "Rain Restriction" You can set how much rain will trigger the 1 days snooze.
Josh & Bill:
Your input is greatly valued, and I can guarantee our next meeting, we will be discussing the pause feature.
Thanks for your time and patience.
Brandon
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Following because I'd love to have this feature. I'd really just like something as simple as a hard-coded "snooze everything for 10 minutes" endpoint I could hit so I could have watering pause when I get in the shower and then auto-resume. I know it's still complicated on the back-end figuring out how to do that and account for when things overlap with a delay, but it would be awesome if you guys could come up with something that would work.
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A place to start with a pause feature could be - Keep the timer running, but shut off the valve. At the completion of the current zone, if the system has not unpaused, cancel the current watering task (in other words, skip the rest of the watering schedule for this current run) and continue with the next scheduled watering. Then let people chime in from there, at least it's a starting point that should have the least impact on the general population of users. Adding options for things like:
- pause for x minutes/hours
- pause only current zone (to allow remaining zones to get watered)
- pause for x cycles (essentially a skip specific zones function)
Or whatever could be future implementation considerations, but a basic pause would be a nice thing to have and start with and by keeping the timer running it doesn't have major impacts on any future/other cycles/timers.
Thanks!
-Chad
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