A classic irrigation timer does one thing: it opens the valve at the set time and closes it when the duration is up. It makes no difference whether it is raining or the soil is already wet. Automation goes further: it takes watering off a fixed rule and runs it by the site's condition that day. Knowing which generation you are in is knowing what you stand to gain.
What is irrigation automation?
Irrigation automation is valves opening and closing without a hand on them. Its minimum form is a timer. Its advanced form decides when and how long to open the valve from data coming from the site and the weather. The difference between the two ends is what the system "sees".
In parks and landscapes automation has three parts: the controller that opens the valve, the software that decides, and the communication that links them. The whole system: how does an automatic irrigation system work?
Three generations: what each sees and misses
| 1st: timer | 2nd: sensor control | 3rd: AI | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decision | Fixed time and duration | Fixed schedule; stops at a sensor threshold | Duration recalculated every day for every line |
| Sees | The clock | Rain sensor, soil moisture | Forecast, recent rain, satellite, water-demand calculation, history, rules |
| Misses | Weather, soil, plants | Tomorrow's rain, wind, plant demand | — (sensors as optional confirmation) |
| Rain expected | Waters | Stops once rain starts | Postpones in advance |
| Cool day | Same duration | Same duration | Shorter duration |
| Change of season | By hand | By hand | On its own |
| Record | None | Limited | Every decision with its reason |
| Cabling | Cabinet to valve | Cabinet to valve | Battery controller, no cable |
The second generation stops wrong watering; the third calculates right watering. The difference shows on cool days and at the change of season. How weather data is used: weather-based irrigation; the role of sensors: irrigation with a soil moisture sensor.
What it bases watering on
ESTRON does not rely on a single piece of information; it looks at several sources at once:
- Time and day: you decide which area is watered on which day and at what time; the system carries out that schedule faithfully.
- Soil moisture: if the soil is moist enough, watering is postponed; when it dries out, it kicks in.
- Weather: using rainfall, temperature and wind data it works out the need and cuts the amount of water on days when rain is expected.
- Rain sensor: when rain starts, it stops watering automatically and prevents unnecessary water use.
It adjusts to the season
In summer a plant needs far more water than in spring. ESTRON tracks this on its own: as it gets warmer it lengthens watering, as it cools down it shortens it. You do not have to change the same program by hand every week; the system factors in the changing season for you.
Upgrading without replacing the system
Moving up a generation does not change pipes, sprinklers or valves. What changes is the part that opens the valve.
- From a timer. The battery controller is fitted to the solenoid in the valve box. The coil is not changed; 9 V batteries are enough. The old cabinet and cable are retired. No digging.
- From sensor control. Rain and soil moisture sensors are wired to the controller; the same sensors confirm the decision in the third generation.
- Panel. Lines are entered in the panel; a reference duration is set. The first season can run on a fixed schedule, then in AI mode.
On scattered sites this upgrade builds a wireless central irrigation control system: hundreds of valves in one panel.
Each area separate, all in order
Different areas on a site have different needs: lawns are watered more often, trees less so. ESTRON manages each area to its own needs and queues the watering so that capacity is not exceeded at once. That way the whole site is watered in an orderly fashion, without pressure dropping or lines clashing.
Rule examples
In the third generation a rule is written in your own words; the system follows it. Examples:
- "Postpone if wind exceeds 6 m/s." For sprinkler lines.
- "No watering at weekends." For event areas.
- "Finish watering between 04:00 and 06:30." For lines beside walking paths.
- "Keep the new planting line on a fixed schedule until October." The mode is chosen per line.
- "Skip if soil moisture is sufficient." For lines with sensors.
Rules work together with the safety limits: frost risk and the wind limit always apply. See write the rule in your own words.
You're always in control
Even when it runs automatically, you have the final say. At any moment you can open or close an area by hand, say "water today" or postpone a program. Your command is applied instantly; once you are done, the system returns to automatic mode on its own.
Frequently asked
I have a timer; do I have to move to AI?
No. The battery controller runs a fixed schedule too; the schedule sits in the controller's memory. AI mode is switched on later, per line.
Can the third generation work without sensors?
Yes. The weather forecast, satellite data and irrigation history are enough. A sensor confirms the decision from the field; recommended, not required.
Which generation is enough for a small site?
For a small single-line area a fixed schedule is often enough. With several lines, different plants and scattered valves the third generation makes the difference. Other questions are on the FAQ page.