I would like to add the Everydrop wired flow meter to my system but the controller is literally on the opposite corner of the house, a good 75 feet LOS, making wireless a no-go. I happen to have several hundred feet of 22 AWG shielded twisted pair cable (West Penn 291) that was left over from an audio job (microphone jack floor pockets to patch panel) and was wondering if that would suffice for about a 120 foot run from the flow sensor against the back side of the house, through the basement, and up into the garage where the controller is mounted. The “Toro sensor wire” is at least $0.79 per foot, but I have a ton of this foil-shielded, 2-conductor 22 AWG stranded cable with drain wire. The “recommended” cable is 16 AWG. Is there a problem with voltage drop if I use the 22 AWG for about 120 feet?
If you’re planning to bury it, don’t do it. Audio wire isn’t made for burial, nor is 22 gauge usually. The shielding is important, but not nearly as important as using a tough buriable cable. I highly recommend you pony up for good cable so you never have to visit this item again. Some vendors discount 100’ rolls, or will cut whatever you need. If you have a golf course nearby, ask the greens superintendent if he’d part with some cable (100’ is trivial for him) for a good price.
The 22AWG is less of a problem than the insulation material standing up to being buried in the ground. EveryDrop sells the right cable for $0.90/foot. You can buy it yourself, but most places just sell big spools of the stuff. I wouldn’t dismiss wireless so easily. Is the 75’ line of sight going through the house (then it’s not really LOS :-)? How many walls? You can always buy the new WL-1200, do the range test, and get at least most of your money back if it fails the range test. They will soon have the STX-100 which converts any wired meter to wireless and has a better antenna than the wireless meters. But it probably won’t be cheaper than a bunch of the good wire 
BTW, the cable recommended by ED is 18AWG, not 16.
Thanks for the inputs. I would be running it through the house (meter would be installed a few inches from the exterior wall. I would not be burying the cable and would protect the exposed part with conduit as it’s definitely not UV resistant jacket. That said, I really don’t want to do it twice just to try and save $100, and I want it to work for many years, so I think you all have convinced me to bite the relatively small bullet.
Hi! It’s at least four walls, the hardwood floor, and poured concrete basement wall. The TX would be along the concrete basement wall, back of the house, south west side, while the Rachio 3 Pro is inside the garage, on north east corner at grade. If it were just vinyl siding, drywall and insulation I’d be more confident. I also like the idea of never having to change a battery.
I used CAT5e ethernet cable to run from my Everydrop wired flow meter, which like your house is on the opposite side of the house from where my Rachio box is in the garage. I did not bury the cable, I was able to run it by zip tying along a 1” dia metal conduit external power that ran under the overhanging house siding, a foot above the ground. The total run was about 80’. Yeah, it’s not outdoor rated cable sheathing, but CAT5e cable is pretty durable, the cable I used has 4 twisted - shielded pairs of solid copper wires (stranded may be fine too), and I’m only using one pair. I will mention I did use the waterproof / gel wire nuts (an absolute must for any outdoor connection like that). Even if one pair only lasts 5 years, I’ve got 3 sets of backups to switch to.
Interesting. I did not think of Ethernet cable. @jadwin79 pointed out that Everydrop’s cable (I did not see that at first on their site) is only 0.79 per foot, so not much more than shielded direct burial Ethernet cable, but good to know that works!
Make that 0.90/foot (sorry @jadwin79!)
Contact SiteOne about 2 conductor plus drain signal cable. They can get you shielded buriable or armored (!$) shielded buriable cable. I wouldn’t mount cable above ground strapped to a metal conduit for 80 ft. in Texas. My Rachio would probably be fried by now. But, as always, YMMV.