Community Home › Community › B-Hyve Indoor/Outdoor Timer › Wired Rain Sensor and B-hyve App notifications?
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dubb77.
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June 28, 2018 at 3:56 pm #4064
Randall Fosler
ParticipantI just want to confirm how the wired rain sensor works with the B-hyve WiFi controller and App. I happen to be using a Rainbird RSD wired rain sensor that has 2 wires.
You wire it inline with a COM port wire (disconnect the COM wire and connect it to one of the rain sensor wires. Connect the other rain sensor wire to the COM terminal on the b-hyve controller.
I tested it and this works for not watering when the rain sensor is triggered.
The question I have is on the B-hyve iPhone app. It still shows the zone is watering even though it is actually NOT watering. The app also never shows a delay due to the rain sensor being triggered. So I never have anyway of knowing if the rain sensor has been triggered.
Is there any way to wire this differently and actually use the rain sensor terminals which could then communicate with the app that there is a rain delay?
Thank you.
Spread the love!June 29, 2018 at 2:29 pm #4098eevans1312
ParticipantI have this same question. Thanks for asking it.
Spread the love!June 29, 2018 at 4:47 pm #4116Ryan
ParticipantIf your rain sensor only has 2 wires then it is a direct rain sensor. So you will want to put both wires in your sensor terminals.
Spread the love!June 29, 2018 at 7:03 pm #4126Randall Fosler
ParticipantRyan – the Rainbird RSD wired sensor is a 2 wire sensor that is “normally closed” (a closed circuit that then becomes an open circuit when the sensor is triggered).
Please confirm I should be attaching this to the B-hyve controller using the 2 sensor terminals. It was stated elsewhere that I should NOT be connecting a 2 wire sensor to the sensor terminals as this was for wireless sensors only (see comment below from Stephen – moderator on these forums):
“
Thank you.
Spread the love!June 29, 2018 at 7:11 pm #4129Randall Fosler
ParticipantSorry – here is the quote from Stephen:
“Orbit timers are set up to work with rain sensors that operate as a normally closed circuit, and then send a rain delay signal when there is a break in the circuit. I cannot say how your current sensor operates, but it will need to be a normally closed operation to be compatible. If it is a two-wire sensor then it needs to be hooked up in series with your common wire, not to the rain sensor terminals which are used for wireless rain sensors.”
Please confirm which is correct.
Thank you.
Spread the love!June 29, 2018 at 8:35 pm #4136Ryan
ParticipantOh, yes that is correct. I’m so sorry my mistake, I had your sensor mixed up with one of out other sensors. Also just so you know i’s not going to show up in the app that you have a sensor installed. The only setting to check fro a rain sensor would be at the actual timer. when the timer is set to auto mode you can hold down the rain delay button to change the sensor mode to either on or off.
Spread the love!July 1, 2018 at 1:49 pm #4192Randall Fosler
ParticipantThank you for clarifying Ryan.
Is there a Orbit sensor (prefer wired) that works with the app to show when the rain sensor is triggered?
Spread the love!July 2, 2018 at 8:10 pm #4250TimB
ParticipantFolks, I’m suspicious that this information is not correct. Most all rain sensors including those made by Orbit are normally closed. The Orbit Bhyve also uses a normally closed sensor, hence the jumper wire on the sensor terminals. The Bhyve manual says “If the sensor is enabled and no sensor is connected (hence open circuit) then the timer will not operate. The Bhyve manual does not say that the sensor terminals are only for the wireless rain gauge.
For the original poster, just move your normally closed rain sensor over to the “Sensor” terminals (remove the jumper), check enabled the sensor by holding down the rain delay button for 5 seconds to make sure it is set to ON, and you should be good to go.
Spread the love!July 4, 2018 at 1:15 am #4283Randall Fosler
ParticipantTIMB – it is working now hooked up inline with the COM terminal so I am good. Since the App doesn’t show any notice of a rain sensor trigger no matter what sensor is used or how it is connected, I guess I have it set up as good as it can be.
I do wish there was a way for the B-hyve controller and app to acknowledge a rain sensor was triggered and show that watering did not occur that day (my setup shows on the calendar that the system watered all zones even though it did not). If there is a setup that does this, I’d like to know what it is.
Spread the love!July 4, 2018 at 2:19 am #4286eevans1312
ParticipantI have mine set up like TimB and I think it’s working. The trouble is, I’m 1,500 miles away from it and have been rusting it to do what it’s supposed to do in my absence.
I very strongly echo Randall’s wish that it would let me know if the external rain sensor has prevented the program from doing the watering.
I guess I also really wish that the documentation for this device were better and more detailed.
Spread the love!July 11, 2018 at 10:53 pm #4561dubb77
ParticipantI called orbit, they said the rain bird sensor is not compatible and will not work with b-hyve. I’m assuming based on your findings (Randall and Tim) this is not the case. Maybe using the orbit sensor allows for the updated calendar info in the app? i don’t want to purchase a new sensor but think ill try both methods and see what happens. Im in SoCal, so i don’t get a lot of rain but it would be nice to have the system fully operational. Thanks for the info, this was the only answer i could find on the topic.
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