Why did it water today?
Interesting my program for every 2 days started as programmed at 16:00 which technically is correct given the last watering was in fact 2 days ago. But why did it start anyway seeing that it rained most of the night, some today and the forecast (NOAA) data appears to be have accommodated for it:
Any ideas or more data need to provide. I saw the alert and heard my pressure pump start so turned it off.
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Hi Ian,
From the graph I see that it only wanted to water 2%, it means that the moisture accumulated in soil was nearly enough for your plants but there was still a small quantity needed. RainMachine would replenish that.
If you don't want these small moisture replenishes to happen please select Adaptive Frequency on the program settings.
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So thinking about the response a little more @Nicholas made me do calculations - I do that if I don’t get something: does it work mathematically. With my 20 mins program per zone or 1200 seconds of run time, 2% duty relates to 24 seconds of zone on time. Realistically by the time pressure builds and heads pop, you’d get 15 seconds only if that. I know there is a minimum time setting in programming but would it make sense to do something better with such small numbers - ie do nothing for less than 10%. At least in my case I’d get a couple of minutes if it really needs a top up otherwise don’t bother to water.
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Indeed, that's what Adaptive Frequency does but in relation to root depth/soil/moisture. By default we allow small watering duration for some mist sprays applications.
The minimum time setting, as you observed, can also be used for this or, for example, forcing rotors to do their full rotation.
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