57896 6-Station Outdoor Swing Panel Sprinkler System Timer | Multi-Station Irrigation Controller for Residential Lawn Watering, Custom Watering Intervals, Indoor/Outdoor Install

I took a chance and I bought this irrigation timer from Amazon to fix a timer issue that I had with my irrigation system. I sought advice from Chuck on the Orbit Support team as to whether this Orbit 4 station timer model 57894-20 can replace a faulty mechanical Intermatic timer on my existing single indexing valve, 3 zone lawn sprinkler system and the logic to use when setting it up. I emailed their support and received a reply in 1 day -- I also called with a follow[on question and Chuck picked up the phone on the 2nd ring! He was very informative and willing to help get me going! Great customer service experience!. It's programming is simple yet effective and does all that I need a 4 zone timer to do (In my case I actually only needed to set up 3 zones --> hint: you just don't set up the 4th zone and the timer skips it). Pro: - Seems well made and of good quality - easy set up - the panel swings out of the way to access the wiring - Plug n go -- I ran a 2 conductor, 18 Gauge thermostat wire through the cinderblock and mounted the unit in the garage away from the elements and simply plugged it into a 110V outlet (you could also wire it for ourdoor use if so desired) - operation - helpful and timely customer support - Fair price for what you get Con: - A slight negative is that you have to hold down the up or down arrow to get to the start time that you want (the clock time change starts slow and while it does speed up, it still takes a while to get from the default 12pm to the start time you want. If you set the start time for 4 zones your finger will get tired -- luckily you only have to do this process when initially setting up the timer. Not a show stopper but an area for improvement. - Uses a CR2032 battery to hold memory -- would be nice if there was circuity built in to remember the time in a power outage scenario - You get a fold out paper with quick start info -- good enough for most straight forward installs, but there was not a lot for one off kinds of situations like mine -- The manual is online in .pdf format but again, did not answer my unique question. If it helps others, here are my existing components, irrigation system operation (from a non technical layman's perspective :-} and question to Orbit: Single Hydrotex 4000 Indexing Valve (covers 4 pipes) What looks like an Irritrol 205 Series Valve with flow control knob (shows " richdel " on the valve relay, but label is worn away) Original intermatic mechanical timer model T8845PV 24 hr, 1r day skipper and transformer with bad timer unit (sprinkler system works when timer is operated manually) but wanting to replace with an Orbit 4 station timer model 57894-20 rC upc 046878578944 that i purchased Operation: Using the mechanical timer - fully operational if manually turned on and off - Timer is bad * when the mechanical timer switches on, the relay triggers the valve to open and the flow of water rushes into the 4 chamber Hydrotex 4000 Indexing Valve, flowing through an opening in the round rubber washer and the water flows to that zone. * When the timer turns off, the valve blocks the flow of water and the water drains out of the Hydrotex 4000 Indexing Valve. * When the timer switches back on the rush of water seems to pop a springed plunger in the Hydrotex 4000 Indexing Valve and the rubber stopper ratchets over and positions the hole over the next pipe zone. * When the timer turns off the water drains out and the cycle continues on the third and fourth pipe (zone) My question was: Can you wire this Orbit timer to control a single relay/valve that controls the Hydrotex 4000 Indexing Valve? If yes, how is it wired? The answer was simple and worked flawlessly: [email protected] "Our timer can be used with your indexing valve. You connect one wire from your valve to "common" and the other wire to "sta 1". You only put minutes on (aka program) station 1 of our timer. You use 4 start times with at least one minute between the time one turns off and the other one starts. If you need further help, please call us at 1-800-488-6156, option 1 then option 4 (7am-5pm MDT/Mon-Fri). Thank you, Chuck Technical Support Orbit Irrigation Products, Inc."

Easy installation. Worked well. Same as unit on other dwelling previously installed 4 years ago. Bargain!

I just got done replacing an old water controller for my sprinklers that was requiring a Transformer and a 9 volt battery that was always corroding and the plastic hinge pins were broken and every time I open the outer door the inner door fell out and I said hey it's time to get a new one and I want one it's easier to read and program I did my research for days and I didn't want to spend too much money on the Wi-Fi ones because I have 5 gigahertz not the lower 2.5 that they're running at so I had to go with the old school non-smart version and here we are at the best one that I think I found. I like the fact that this came with a plug because I have gfic circuit with a in use electrical cover to keep water out for that and that way if I ever need to replace it it's as simple as unplugging it and taking two screws out and then sliding the new unit on the same screw location and plugging it in the same way no more hardwire no more turning off electrical 110 volts. The wiring was super easy I made a a bundle with a knot on my sprinkler Zone wiring so that pulling is strain relieved through a knot inside the enclosure and not just a loose pull from the wire to the actual terminal input. Speaking of terminal inputs this one has ones where you can push a screwdriver on the top and teeter totter and open and push the wire in or you can kind of fingernail out from the underside and lift it up and push the wire in like you know the back of audio speakers I tend my stranded wiring to create a nice solid one piece input connection without fraying wires and if you're an electrician I use the Western Union splice on all my connections from calm to create one wire in a straight line soldered with a heat shrink tubing over the Junctions. Instalation was easy and programming was even easier. I looked at all the button options on this and intuitively started with the rotating button like you get on a thread on hose water timer and I kept hitting the triangle enter button in between the up and down choices on in that same right side of that rotating button there's those rubber buttons to the side I did not touch any of the buttons on the left nor any of the program button options just stay on program a setup time and date and the watering time and the zones and and voila we had it. The box also has a simplistic key lock so it doesn't get opened by someone without a tool or that special key you get two keys. Another difference in the newer models are it takes a coin battery the back keep the programming versus the 9 volt battery much better much safer because 9 volts turn into an explosion mess... every time. And it's nice to have something that matches my color of my house which is gray and not some gross looking cream straight up white. So I've never used one I am considering picking up a rain sensor cuz it has input for that so it can Auto delay when it's wet because there have been times when you're watching it rain and then your sprinklers kick on and you just think wow that's not good. Lol And from what I can see I will get the same model again in the future if this whenever it stopped working and it wasn't its fault. Meaning if it lives a reliable life I'll get another one. Also I'm only using three of the zones out of the four for my sprinklers and I'm considering looking into a option to hook up something that can go to a water tap for the 4th and become just the garden sprinklers and not be part of the main abs framework. But this is as good as it gets for a water controller timer without Smart App features. And I made one day in the future get into smart watering units when they get to 5 GHz catch up to the infrastructure that's in place

At first my husband installed it and I set the clock time, run time on each zone and the day for it to come on. It came on the day it was set for and ran perfectly however the next day which it was set for only one day a week it came on again. I waited till the next week to see if this was an on going problem it was I then called Orbit explained what was going on he said lets set your times up again to see if it will come on as suppose to next week. He took me through all steps as I had done correctly but the next week same thing it came on the correct day but then again the next day. Called them back and he said then lets try pressing the reset button and we can then reset your timer with day of week and time zones to come on and for how long to run each one, so we did all that again, after pressing the reset button on the Orbit timer it has worked perfectly ever since. So we are very happy with it. So if it gives you a problem before spending time on the phone just press the reset button first to see if it clears info that you don’t want on it.

It came quickly, works great, and was easy to set up!

The Orbit 4-Station Outdoor Sprinkler System Timer - for Residential Lawn Watering is a very easy install! I had to purchase two of these because my old timers were not functioning correctly. I took pictures of what wires went where per zone of both timers. Created a wooden base to mount the timer on. Then powered it up, removed the white paper from the battery to power it up, then setup the program and time. It took about thirty minutes to complete the programming per timer. The old timers had to have a separate transformer, these new ones are built in. So once you plug it into a 120 VAC plug it’s ready to run! The very next day both timers worked greatly!

Got this at a discount a few months back and just now got around to installing it and glad I got it at that price point, as this is a very basic system. A little bit of a learning curve from other makes and models, but I think I'll get the hang of it. No wires included. If installing yourself: 1. The little tabs that hold the wires in place are a. lift with small flat tip screwdriver b. insert wire C. let go, and it should lock the wire in place. 2. Pick the same wire on the irrigation control(s), most are the same wire color wire, so pick all the ones on the left and make them the common. Then the wire on the right, that can go to each zone. 3. Don't forget to purchase grease caps and wire caps small enough to fit inside those grease caps.

Our Old Orbit box had failed (buttons not responsive anymore) after 7 years, so I purchased this unit to replace it. I have no background in setting up irrigation systems but was able to install this one easily with the excellent instructions. It was a simple matter of removing and labeling (VERY important) the wires leading to the station valves, removing old unit, mounting new unit, and connecting the common white wire and the 4 station valve wires. The old unit used small Philips screws to insert and secure the wires, but this one has much easier push-tabs that require only a small flat-head screwdriver to open/close. I didn't even have to re-strip the wires - they went right in place. The programming process is extremely intuitive - set date/time, days of the week to water, start time, and duration for each station. I tested it and everything worked perfectly. The large dial and buttons make it quite easy. The unit itself is built like a tank with a large, keyed, heavy-duty box around the electronics, presumably to be weatherproof if installed outdoors. The box is much larger than my old one, but that was not a problem - it just required more wall space. The only part that was a little awkward was routing the wires into the box, because the hole is on the bottom right of the box and the connections are in the bottom center. I don't see why they couldn't have placed the hole directly underneath the connections to make it easier, but it wasn't that much of an issue. Longevity remains to be seen, but so far everything looks great.

very good

Easy to install and has excellent instructions.

Whilst Orbit timers are the bees knees, and I'll definitely be getting another one, do not buy this product if you live in a country with a 230 v system. It will only work in a 120 v system. Bang and smoke when I plugged it in. Orbit customer support are pretty good, but why would Amazon ship a US only device to the UK?

Good

che le centraline ordinate tramite amazon US non supportano la CORRENTE A 220 VOLT,IN AMERICA USANO ANCORA I 120 VOLT.