Question
I will soon be having a new system put in at my new home (new
construction).  The lot is one acre with twelve zones in the system.  I have
also installed a 2" water main.  The systems being discussed are Irritrol,
Hunter and Toro.  Any preferences?  Also, I am being told a rain sensor is a
waste because they are too sensitive and the lawn plays catch up by the time
July comes around.  I live in Michgan.

Thanks

Answer
Brian,

When designing a system, product selection becomes crucial - not only for long term performance and reliability, but also for design calculations and layout.

Depending on how much pressure and flow you have, you will want to choose one of these manufacturers:

HUNTER:  This system would consist of the Hunter Pro-C modular controller, PGP rotor heads, Pro-Spray spray heads (with MP Rotator nozzles), and ICC valves. Typically Hunter is known for their low price point and reliability, however, performance -  in my opinion - is lacking. They have made some improvements over the last few years with their nozzles and plastic components, but performance does not match that of their direct competitor - RainBird. I will say that Hunter PGP rotors operate well under low pressure situations (ie: 30 psi will give you 34' radius at 1.6 gpm vs. Rainbird 5000 rotor at 35 psi / 34' radius / 1.35 gpm).

RAINBIRD: Your RainBird system would consist of an ESP-Modular controller, 5004 rotor heads, 1800 spray heads (with rotator nozzles), and PGA valves. This system is rock solid, easy to maintain, performs well, and is water efficient. The matched precipitation on both the rotor and spray head nozzles makes designing easier, and you can't beat the RainCurtain technology (an extra hole in the rotor nozzles that shoots at a lower angle to handle close in watering). This system will likely cost you more than a Hunter system, but well worth it when you consider the total cost of ownership.


Toro offers some decent stand alone items, but I would pass when it comes to building an entire Toro system. Hunter and Rainbird are definitely leaders in the industry when it comes to technology and performance. As far as rainsensors are concerned, I wouldn't build a system without one. If properly located (south facing preferably), the sensitivity issue takes a back seat to the water savings that you will realize. If you are disciplined enough, ditch the rain sensor and manually turn off the controller for a few days after each rain event. If you really want to have precise control, I would suggest researching a Smart Controller (ET based). Instead of watering by a calendar (odd/even, MTWF, etc.) you will be watering based on historical weather patterns and the needs of the plant materials/soil, etc. These units are more expensive than a traditional controller, but extremely important in the fight for water conservation. I wouldn't doubt that in 5 years or less, ET based controllers will be the norm, not the exception.

Good luck with the system.  -  BC