Tempest Limits Over What Period of Time

post by dgbarar on Nov 26, 2024

Hello:

Just installed my Tempest weather station in conjunction with my Rachio Generator 2 controller. There is a limits section for amount of rainfall detected, e.g. 1/16”, 1/8” etc. I am assuming once this amount of rainfall is detected, watering is shut off. How long does this rainfall detect condition last: 1 hr, 12 hr, 24 hr, 48 hr. I cannot find this anywhere.

I live in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Let’s say I have rainfall detected at 1/16”. If I get 1/16" rain on day 1, I don’t want to irrigate the next day even if that day is scheduled. The desert plants already have enough water. In fact, I might not want to irrigate for several days after the rain event.

Is there any way to adjust how long the rain detected condition lasts?

Don

post by franz on Nov 27, 2024

This should help explain how rain skips work and answer the questions you had on rainfall detection.

No, we currently just skip the next upcoming schedule.

Just let us know if you have any other questions!

post by tmcgahey on Dec 5, 2024

Kind of a loaded question. Depends on what schedule types you are running. If fixed schedules, the irrigation will run on the next scheduled time like @franz said. If you are on Flex Daily, that will depend on the moisture level, based on zone settings. But even though desert plants are drought tolerant, 1/16" isn’t enough rainfall to sustain them. That is BARELY enough water to dampen the top 1/2" of soil and will not provide enough water to the root structure.