SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

I have an Orbit 6 zone remote controlled timer for my system. It works great, and I love the wireless feature although I have to lose that for more zones. Since I am upgrading, adding more sections, etc, I need more zones. I plan on putting 7-8 zones in total. So I was looking at 9 zone timers. Are Rain Bird timers good? Have any suggestions for a 9+ zone timer under $80
I am looking at the following:

Rain Bird SST-900i- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rain-Bird-SST-900i-NIB-9-zone-controller-timer-simple-program-and-install-/160729852552?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item256c3eea88

Rain Bird ISM-9- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rainbird-ISM-9-9-Station-Zone-Sprinkler-Controller-/280703046893?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415b3494ed

Rain Bird E9C- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rainbird-E9C-9-Zone-Station-Sprinkler-Controller-/280651547224?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item415822c258

Quoted from "Mitchgo"

All 3 of those are as equal of eachother and fine for a homeowner DYI. I would hope no professional would use any of these controllers .

The sst has a slightly different programing format then the ism and e9c.. Other then that.. They all do they same thing


Probably out of your budget- but for you sean, I think you would really like the irritrol PC. http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/Irritrol-Irrigation-Smart-PC-Controller-p/pc12-int.htm

WOW! That would be awesome......but like you said, way out of the budget for me. That budget is about what I'm putting out to "refurb" the system. Remote is more of a convenience for my lawn. Since the valve boxes are never more then 200' away, its not much of a problem. Besides, when needed, some neighbors are always willing to help! (And get wet when they turn on the wrong valve for the area they're standing in)
I found 1 more by Rain Bird. It is actually labled under the "professional" section on their website.

http://www.rainbird.com/landscape/products/controllers/STPplus.htm

Believe it or not, 3 houses around here have the Rain Bird timers. 2 of them have the E9C, and the other one has the SST-900i. They were put in a while back, and had those timers installed......Different companies for each install too.......
They work pretty well. The SST-900i has a big flaw of a no "run all" function. Which I hated when I repaired a few heads for them.......Thankfully the valve boxes were easily acessible.....

Quoted from "Wet_Boots"

Pros don't install Rainbird controllers that are sold in home-centers.

Hmmmm........well, some of the Rain Birds I've seen online they don't sell them in the stores. The Home Depot near me had Hunter PGP's for a few months one summer. They said they had requests for them, so they stocked a few that were also online. They sold out, and never got them back in mid-summer.

Copy & Paste:

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202067943/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=hunter%20pgp&storeId=10051

The "Professional irrigation for 20+ years" that I saw on the side of the company truck. They used Hunter/Rain Bird valves, Hunter/Rain Bird heads, and a Hunter/Rain Bird timer. Its "customer choice" for parts. Same ones that installed the systems for about 5-8 people on my street.

Quoted from "Wet_Boots"

Rainbird keeps their pro stuff out of the home centers, and they might as well, based on cost. Pro stuff is here today, and here tomorrow, and here next year. Home center products can vanish in an eyeblink.

Ok, so as long as I buy it from a "Professional" place, or offline as a "Pro" product, I'm good. The only thing I will be buying at my local Lowe's is poly pipe, fittings and maybe a valve box or 2, since they sell NDS and Rainbird products. Pipe is pipe......Shipping is too much for items like that offline, and there is no where local to buy from that sells irrigation. I will stay away from the sprinklers, timers, and valves from there.

Thanks ya'll!