Decent hose timer

[michael.white]

Anyone out there recommend a hose timer that lasts more than a season? I've tried the major ones:

• Orbit, single outlet - I bought two of these and the $2 they must've paid the guy in India to write the software decided that, when you set it the timer for 30 minutes, sometimes that means run 30 minute cycles FOREVER. Everyone once in a while, the timer would count down from 30 minutes, then start a new countdown from 30 minutes, never shutting off the water. I took it off the spigot, threw the POS under a bench, looked at it three months later, and it was still counting down from 30 minutes. Into the garbage they went. These only lasted a few months.
• Orbit, two outlet - Doesn't have the same problem as the single outlet, but the buttons become so sensitive to be near unusable. Tap lightly or it assumes you've cancelled the operation. This is after a single season.
• Melnor - I see these as the "best" on several of those "best hose timers of 2023" if you do a search for "best hose timer". No, they're garbage. Specifically, the LCD fades to illegibility after a few months of Texas 105 degree weather. Did they think the timer was going to be used in an air conditioned house? I bought this timer in the spring, fading occurred early summer.
• Gilmour (new ones) - These just seem to fall apart or stop working. I stopped buying them because of that and haven't owned one in a few years. Gilmour used to be the best in garden hose stuff - I still have one of their "last hoses you'll every buy" from the late 90s, and it's still unpatched, flexible, and with non-leaking original ends.
• Cheap Chinese Timer - I bought one of these and it did surprisingly well electronics and valve wise, but the part that attaches to the spigot broke off. Not sturdy at all.

I used to own (and just bought off ebay) an old Gilmour 9400. It has a simple LCD and just a few buttons. I used one for about 10 years until the valve started leaking, but the electronics or valve operation never gave me problems. I usually need two around the house, so unless someone is a Gilmour 9400 hoarder and is thinking of selling, buying used probably won't solve my problem long-term.

Thanks.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

I use rainbird timers and have not had any problems with them.

Rain Bird | Battery Operated Sprinkler Timer

Shop for battery operated irrigation controllers that can withstand tough outdoor conditions. Buy direct for support from your local Rain Bird team.

store.rainbird.com

 

[EarPlug]

Seven Year Warranty on these

.Melnor

 

[TractorTech]

Anyone out there recommend a hose timer that lasts more than a season? I've tried the major ones:

• Orbit, single outlet - I bought two of these and the $2 they must've paid the guy in India to write the software decided that, when you set it the timer for 30 minutes, sometimes that means run 30 minute cycles FOREVER. Everyone once in a while, the timer would count down from 30 minutes, then start a new countdown from 30 minutes, never shutting off the water. I took it off the spigot, threw the POS under a bench, looked at it three months later, and it was still counting down from 30 minutes. Into the garbage they went. These only lasted a few months.
  
  Specifically this timer. I used two of these for turning on water for my horses and calves when our temps peaked 100°. I would set the time at 6:30 am to come on at 12:00 pm for 15 minutes every hour.
  Instead, it would come on at 7:00 am and every our after. Defeats the purpose of a schedule to start the cycle.

 

[michael.white]

I use rainbird timers and have not had any problems with them.

Rain Bird | Battery Operated Sprinkler Timer

Shop for battery operated irrigation controllers that can withstand tough outdoor conditions. Buy direct for support from your local Rain Bird team.

store.rainbird.com

I saw these at Home Depot. I'll give it a try.

 

[michael.white]

Seven Year Warranty on these

.Melnor

And when it fails (as the one I have has failed), they'll just give me another Melnor - no thanks. And that's if I can find the receipt again, which I probably pitched for something as cheap as a timer.