Raindrip R675CT Analog 3-Dial Water, Sprinkler Timer with Rain Delay for Drip Irrigation, Garden, Self-Watering

I started with a mechanical (no battery) years ago and it didn't last a single season before something broke inside. So I bought one of the Raindrips at a big box store that came with a micro-watering system. It worked great. Then I bought another Raindrip timer from Amazon to hookup to a hose bib and water plants with a sprinkler while I was away on trips. It worked perfectly. So I bought another and then another!!!! I now have 4 of these! Battery's last all year and setting the timer is as easy as it gets. Note: I did buy another brand with a digital readout that has places for two hose connections (2 zones) and it's very complicated to program so I don't use it anymore. Another note of caution: Do not leave the timers outside when the winter freezes come. I made the mistake of leaving one outside last year and the water inside it froze and caused a leak in the device. It still works but has a slight drip. I'll probably replace it nest spring. Anyhow....I definitely recommend this timer!

Works like a champ and is super easy to "program." Since there is no included clock to set the time of day that watering takes place, it is dependent on when it is programmed. Want the water to go on at 6 AM, you need to be out there at 6 AM to twist the knobs... Programming is self-evident, just remember to go through reset when setting it up. If you set a manual time-out of 1-2-3 days, or set a manual watering time period, it will do what you set, and then revert back to automatic mode. For instance, it is raining out, you might set a rain time out for 24 hours and it will do nothing for 24 hours then resume regular watering (even though the manual switch is still showing 24 hours time-out). Two flashing red leds let you know when it has resumed timed watering or is still on manual. The inlet leaked when I had four garden hoses connected to the outlet - too much weight for it to support. I made a short hose to take the load off and put a conduit clamp on it for strain relief, moved the three "Y" connectors to the ground, and had no leak. One garden hose would probably be OK as long as you don't pull on the hose. I assume the plastic lettering on the front may fade if left in sunlight, so that may be another consideration in mounting locations. it must be face up or with moderate angle on it or water may infiltrate the electronics or battery - you can't just connect hoses and throw it in the dirt.

The sunrise feature works pretty well in my experience, greatly reducing the complexity and, I think, increasing the battery life. I did have trouble with leaks from the threaded, plastic screw base outlet of this unit to one of my hoses but not with another. If you cross-thread the threaded plastic base this unit is toast, it will always leak so be very careful about installation. Other than that it's pretty solid.

My wife loves a manual timer because she waters for 30 to 45 minutes then moves the hose to a different plant and waters it. We have been using the mechanical tick-tock timers but they sometimes quit ticking and leave the water running. They are not very reliable and don’t seem to last very long. This Raindrip timer has the convenience of a manual setting mode PLUS the accuracy of an electronic timer. If it lasts through multiple seasons I will crown this the PERFECT timer for our use!

If you spend time shopping like I did you will find that this is a great product at a great price. I have about eight of these in my garden and I've never had one fail. They are simple and foolproof. There are a lot of other ones that are a lot more complex with digital readouts etcetera but it's unnecessary and in my opinion a detriment. I can't speak highly enough of these and I've bought them at least four different occasions period

Update 5/7/2020 . 5 years later after ordering my first 2, I ordered them again after they finally burned out ( even though they outlasted the garden hose, the splitter/combiner and other connectors). I really love the ease of setting frequency and duration and the manual option, and rain delay. They lasted exactly 4 seasons (4.5 years). I do live in Texas where there is an extremely wide range of heat ( 110 f or more) and cold (16 f ) which is almost a 95 degree span. The green faceplate fades in the texas summer baking heat so after year 3 it becomes difficult to read the meter. On year 4 the battery compartment and cartridge had rusted out due to a leak from the connector, or possibly just from the high humidity we have here. The prementioned issues are why I decided to replace. I have also used Orbit and Melnor in the past, but those seemed to only last 1-2 years in the same location as these. I use these for drip irrigation and am very happy. I would say this is a great bargain for the $24 dollar price tag. 5/17/2015 Really liked it, so I ordered another. Simple to use and perfect for drip or mist watering.

Have bought 5 in the last 2 years. Three have failed due to internal leaking. It says 3-year warranty and gives their website through Amazon. You go to the website and even search for the word "warranty" and nothing is found. Not one mention of a warranty! THERE ARE MANY COMPETITORS OUT THERE WHO HAVE BOTH BETTER QUALITY PRODUCTS AND BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE. Heed the warning and NO NOT PURCHASE RAINDRIP.

With eight raised garden beds, a lot of attention is needed to irrigate in a timely manner. I have bought several different programmable timers, and the Raindrip is my favorite. It has a couple features that other brands do not, including a rainy day and manual watering dial and manual that doesn't effect the regular schedule. Several of these have been in my garden for more than two years from spring to fall without any leaks or issues other than battery replacement. When absent, the worry factor is negligible and have always found them to operate flawlessly so far. Operation is bonehead simple. One issue some may find negative is that it only "programs" a beginning schedule time based on the actual time it is set; ergo for very early timing one must rise at an early hour to begin the cycle. Also, there are no large digital numbers but only a small light that flashes to indicate the mode or when a setting is done/changed, so you have to watch the blinking sequence to confirm. Overall, its a very good buy that saves a lot of time. effort, and water.