The precipiSTATION is an open source sprinkler controller, employing a custom designed and completely assembled PCB that includes a socket for a Particle Photon Wi-Fi module, an AC-to-DC switching power supply, sprinkler valve solenoid driver circuitry for 16 solenoids, TVS protection diodes, and LED indicators for each solenoid circuit. It can connect to an developed precipiSTATION Android app via the Particle cloud, using POST, GET and PUBLISH cloud functions. It can also be accessed through a web page that has been developed (see here). There is no iOS app yet. Or you could develop your own app.
The best place to start understanding precipiSTATION is to look at this web site's user guide page as that will show you all the functions of the precipiSTATION app.
The best place to start understanding precipiSTATION is to look at this web site's user guide page as that will show you all the functions of the precipiSTATION app.
precipiSTATION Features
- Can manage 16 sprinkler station groups (driving industry standard 24 VAC valves).
- Supports up to 15 custom programs that can include any mix of stations and their run times.
- Allows meaningful text names for any program, any station.
- Provides “Run Station Once” capability - run specific station at scheduled time on the given day
- Provides “Run Program Once” capability – run specific program at scheduled time on the given day
- Provides detailed operation summary during each day (what is running, scheduled, already ran)
- Configurable to Tweet all program and station events
- Easily configured to provide Particle Publish/Subscribe status information
- Will perform self-test by running each station sequentially for 1 minute to help test sprinkler network
- All program data is stored in EEPROM – just starts back up when power returns
- No cloud programming or storage is required – everything is stored in the precipiSTATION
- Connects to Particle cloud via Wi-Fi. Uses cloud as message relay to phone app or web page or your own cloud application.
- With specified transformer, can run up to 3 stations at once
- Uses commodity 24 VAC wall wart type power (internally generates 5 VDC for Particle Photon).
- Can be powered by 12-24VAC, or 12-24VDC but whatever the power source selection is, that is what will be output by the Triac.
Android App Features
Web Page
Programmability Options
Bill of Materials
Limitations
- Provides detailed status of system operation on main screen - see details here.
- Provides management console that makes system set up and managing and running sprinklers simple (I think so anyway).
Web Page
- A web page has been developed to control the precipiSTATION and the code is available. See description here. If you have a domain and can host that code, you are welcome to use it, modify it, or invent your own.
Programmability Options
- Make your own controller program or modify the already developed precipiSTATION firmware. It is open source.
- Use Particle Photon and its familiar Arduino compatible programming environment
- Use MIT’s graphical programming tool, App Inventor 2, to create an Android app
- Use Android Studio or Apple Xcode to design your own mobile application
- Use standard web tools to put a web front end together
Bill of Materials
- Custom, 16 channel, triac-based, controller PCB. Gerber and CAD files available.
- Particle Photon
- Optional external Antenna, and u.fl to SMA adapter cable
- Weatherproof enclosure
- 24 VAC, 40 VA Transformerwith earth ground
- Firmware
Limitations
- Initial set up requires semi-knowledgeable DIY person (must claim Particle Photon using Particle phone app or PC/Mac terminal window or Particle CLI; must flash the program to your Particle Photon; if using precipiSTATATION Android app, you must modify it for your credentials, and then load that version of Android app with your Photon ID and API token; and then install .apk to phone via email, not Google Play store. iOS application still under development. This setup is not for Aunt Betty though she could probably run the sprinkler once installed.
- Stores only data for the current day (though you can create historical log in cloud or even in your email using tweets and IFTTT for example, or your own custom developed server based application)
- Maximum of 240 minutes run time per station.
- Edge case, but only a few stations in a given program can have more than 99 minutes run time (due to Particle POST message length limitation of 63 bytes. If all had 3 digit minutes, message would be too long).
- Cannot use "," or “|” in station or program names (reserved for use by app and precipiSTATION program).
- Programmed to control 16 channels. (If you do not need 16, you can still use it – just leave spare stations blank).
- Uses surface mount parts so DIY assembly can be tricky if you just ordered naked PCBs and do not have a reflow oven.
- Designed using National Instrument’s Multisim/Ultiboard (sorry, don’t know Eagle, KiCAD or other tools)
- Does not have moisture sensor capability (there is no current design but it can be added using an unpopulated expansion header on PCB)
- Firmware does not use internet to see if it is raining (found to be too unreliable to be of use)
- Android app was written using MIT App Inventor 2. This tool is very easy to use but it is not native Java code.
- Last … program not developed by a professional programmer so I am sure there are areas that show that.