The Rachio team is excited to give our community a sneak peek and first dibs at the newest addition to our hardware family. The Rachio 3 Smart Water System includes the new Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler controller and Rachio’s new Wireless Flow Meter.
Enhanced Weather Intelligence Plus gives you hyperlocal weather for improved scheduling
Easy peasy installation with improved one touch connectors
On-unit Pause, Run, and Skip controls
Magnetic faceplate with access to on-unit controls
2.4 and 5gHz support
900MHz long-range radio to support wireless accessories (like the Flow Meter!)
Rachio Wireless Flow Meter Features:
High and low flow leak detection and notifications
Instant zone shut-off triggered by leaks
Highly-sensitive Vortex technology (no moving parts) that allow system maintenance like winterization without removing.
Amazingly accurate outdoor irrigation usage data
The Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller will be shipping in April 2018, and the Wireless Flow Meter will be shipping in May 2018. Learn more and PREORDER TODAY at https://rachio.com/smart-water-system/
Well this looks interesting! Any trade in deals being considered to soften to cost?
What radio tech is the flow meter using? My current gen 2 unit is kind of far from the water supply line in our basement where I’d have to attach it to the irrigation, and there are a few walls including a cement one between them. If it joins the same local WiFi periodically to report in that’d be awesome!
Yeah, we need some details about the flow meter such as pipe size. Also, is it for zones or the main line or both? In existing systems, it looks like you will need to buy a separate coupler to attach it (because the pipes in the existing system are buried and can’t stretch), is that right?
By chance is the flow meter compatible with the older rachios? Have two of them installed in our homes and would really love the flow meter, but am hoping not to have to buy another complete controller plus the meter plus installation…when the v2 controllers we have are working perfectly.
I have a pool auto-fill system that is piped to the irrigation line. Will this cause the flow meter to generate false positives for leaks when the auto-fill activates?
So the flow meter goes on the main line, eh. Well, the HOA I’m using it with has a 4" main line (why they did that I have no idea) and my house has a 2" main line. I’m betting that thing isn’t going to work with either one unless I neck them down.
Does the flow meter have to be installed after the backflow preventer? It says it is recommended to install where there is 18 inches of straight pipe, is that before the flow meter?
@johnny2678 just in case you didn’t see @timber’s reply above, the Rachio 3 is compatible with the Generation 2 outdoor enclosure.
We estimate 2 years. Battery status will be displayed in the Rachio app with reminders to change
TBD
1 inch
The flow meter should be installed on the main line. Using time stamps from the controller, we can connect individual zone runs and usage in the cloud.
No, the long range radio is required to communicate with the Rachio wireless flow meter.
Interesting use case and good question. We’ll need to design a configuration for this.
We recommend installing on pipes 1 inch in diameter or smaller. Accuracy will be reduced installing on larger pipes.
After the backflow. The flow meter would be installed within the 18" section of straight pipe. We’ll post more visuals soon.
Yes, definitely tell us how the flow meter is going to work with older controllers. I mostly want this for leak detection while away traveling. We had that wonderful experience once …
