So maybe this isn't exactly "fixing stuff." But a man needs his nail polish. Having not so great eyesight makes you realize how much product designers make everything for the sighted young. Couple of years ago, I replaced my office computer - tower under the desk. I actually use the DVD drive often, but they totally hide it and the button to open it from oldsters. A sharpie won't work on some things, tape is tacky (pun partially intended), and isn't very permanent. Got tired of bending my head under the desk to find the correct barely raised ridge to press. So I got a bottle of nail polish to do this:
Same with USB2 plugs. I'm always plugging something into my laptop, and defy the odds by always trying wrong side up first. So I do this:
Tired of my son wanting to grab my Alto, so I do this:
Tired of picking up the phone wrong end up, so a little dab on the case:
I use it all the time now- marking remote buttons for my wife, aerosol tips that are hard to see where it comes out, bottles with the invisible arrows to line up to open, all kinds of things. That little bottle was a great investment for making my life easier.
Same with USB2 plugs. I'm always plugging something into my laptop, and defy the odds by always trying wrong side up first. So I do this:
Tired of my son wanting to grab my Alto, so I do this:
Tired of picking up the phone wrong end up, so a little dab on the case:
I use it all the time now- marking remote buttons for my wife, aerosol tips that are hard to see where it comes out, bottles with the invisible arrows to line up to open, all kinds of things. That little bottle was a great investment for making my life easier.
Whatever it takes. I use my voice memo app on my phone to remind me of everything.
Recommendation:
I replaced my Rainbird irrigation controller with a Rachio 3e. It's an 8-zone wifi controller (they offer other sizes too). Installed easy. App set up easy. Got excellent reviews. Less expensive than Rainbird where you have to buy zone and wifi modules and add on to the base unit (that has only a few zones and no wifi). It drives up the cost quickly. You're paying a lot for the Rainbird name. Sometimes it's worth paying extra. So far I'm not finding this to be true with the controller. Time will tell.
https://www.amazon.com/Rachio-8ZULW...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
I replaced my Rainbird irrigation controller with a Rachio 3e. It's an 8-zone wifi controller (they offer other sizes too). Installed easy. App set up easy. Got excellent reviews. Less expensive than Rainbird where you have to buy zone and wifi modules and add on to the base unit (that has only a few zones and no wifi). It drives up the cost quickly. You're paying a lot for the Rainbird name. Sometimes it's worth paying extra. So far I'm not finding this to be true with the controller. Time will tell.
https://www.amazon.com/Rachio-8ZULW...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
That's interesting. I've been thinking about replacing my rainbird controller. I don't necessarily need wifi control but it's a neat feature. How was the wiring? I've never opened up my controller.
It's a total piece of cake Hitt. The only wires you have in your Rainbird are:
1. Power which likely is just a plug-in.
2. Common white wires
3. Zone wires.
All you do is take a photo of your wires and reconnect them to the new unit on the same zone #s.
I like the wifi. Rainbird tacks on another $85 for a wifi module. Screw all that. I got the Rachio. Comes with wifi. I operate the dang thing from my phone from anywhere in the world. EZPZ. Only way to go. Everything is going to wifi. May as well jump on board.
My Rainbird controller was 18 years old. Buttons were starting to wig out. I was gonna replace it with another Rainbird but after researching I opted for the Rachio. Better option.
Mine is almost that old now. I have to wiggle the turn knob sometimes to get it to make contact. I watched a video on taking it apart and cleaning the switch contacts but have been procrastinating. It's been raining so much here that I haven't even had to run the sprinklers on once yet.
Yeah, you can clean contacts and stuff like that but the thing has one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. It's going whether you want it to or not. Is your inside or outside?
The app is very easy to figure out too. Spend 1 hour playing around with it and you’re an expert. Kinda fun actually. And it is nice to control your irrigation system from your phone wherever you may be. Wont be long and you’ll forget where your controller is.
Amazon. I linked it in my earlier post. I’m not certain but I think Rachio is exclusive to Amazon. Don’t wager $$ on that though.
Nevermind. I see your link. That’s about twice the price of the manual one I looked at. Are there manual controls or does it only work with the app?
You can operate it manually but it doesn’t allow you much flexibilty. It’s basically relagated to an on/off switch. To take advantage of the unit you need to run it thru wifi.
So they do. Good thing you didn’t bet on my info.
This is also another reason why it is less expensive than Rainbird. They make you buy a full function manual controller then sell wifi and additional zone modules if you choose (that many do).
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