Planning
Property Planning Guide
Before ordering hardware or scheduling an installation, a brief planning session prevents surprises and ensures your system performs reliably. This guide covers how many devices you need, which solenoid type to choose, how to size your power system, and where to place soil sensors.
How Many Devices Do I Need?
Each device controls one irrigation zone or foundation section independently. Plan one device per zone that requires independent on/off control, individual soil moisture monitoring, or a separate watering schedule.
Foundation Protection (Drip Defender)
- Typically one device per 50–100 linear feet (15–30 m) of foundation, depending on soil type and drainage
- Expansive clay soils may require closer spacing (50 ft / 15 m) — soil moisture can vary significantly from one side of a structure to another
- Each device independently monitors and controls the drip line for its section
Commercial Irrigation
- One device per zone valve — map all existing zone valves before ordering
- Count the active zones on your existing controller — that is your device count
- Add one device for each new zone being added to the system
Solenoid Selection
Two solenoid types are supported. For most installations, a 24 VAC standard solenoid is the right choice.
| Use case | Recommended | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Existing irrigation retrofit | 24 VAC standard | Compatible with most existing valves and transformers |
| New installation | 24 VAC standard | Fails safe on power loss — no manual recovery needed |
| Foundation protection | 24 VAC standard | Auto-closes on outage — prevents unintended irrigation against foundation |
| Remote / low-power zones | 12 VDC latching | Near-zero steady-state draw; reduces transformer load |
| Zones requiring outage resilience | 24 VAC standard | Closes automatically — no intervention needed during an outage |
External Power Planning
Step 1 — Identify transformer location
Locate the transformer you will use — existing or new. The Telemetry Insights 300 W transformer supports both 24 VAC and 12 VAC outputs and is suitable for most residential and light commercial deployments.
Step 2 — Map your cable route
Trace the path from the transformer to each device location. The cable runs in one continuous line — each device taps power at its location without cutting or interrupting the main run.
Step 3 — Calculate total wattage
| Component | Draw |
|---|---|
| Device | ~1.4–2.7 W |
| 24 VAC solenoid (energized) | ~6–10 W |
| 12 VDC latching solenoid (pulse only) | ~1–2 W (brief pulse; near 0 W latched) |
| Total — 24 VAC solenoid device | ~10–14 W (budget 15 W) |
| Total — 12 VDC latching device | ~3–5 W active (budget 7 W) |
Step 4 — Select cable gauge
| Gauge | Recommended for | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 14 AWG | Runs > 100 ft (30 m) | Lower voltage drop; preferred for longer runs |
| 16 AWG | Runs < 100 ft (30 m) | Acceptable for shorter runs; higher drop at distance |
Step 5 — Splice taps at each device
One waterproof splice connector per device. The connector taps into the main cable run at each device location — no need to cut or interrupt the cable. The main run continues to the next device.
Soil Sensor Placement
Depth by Application
| Application | Sensor depth | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Foundation moisture | 6–12 in (15–30 cm) | Below surface grade, near foundation edge |
| Lawn / turf irrigation | 4–6 in (10–15 cm) | Root zone for most grasses |
| Drip / shrub irrigation | 6–8 in (15–20 cm) | Below mulch layer, near shrub root zone |
| Commercial ag / field | 12–18 in (30–45 cm) | Varies by crop type and root depth |
Depth by Soil Type
| Soil type | Moisture behavior | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Sandy | Drains fast, low retention | Sensor deeper — roots follow moisture down |
| Clay | Retains moisture, slow absorption | Sensor shallower; watch for surface pooling |
| Loam | Balanced | Standard depth for application type |
| Expansive clay (foundation) | High shrink/swell risk | Critical to monitor; place sensor near footing depth |
Physical placement notes
- Sensor installs inside the valve box — through the sidewall into native soil, or into soil at the bottom of the box
- Place in native soil — avoid backfill, gravel, or disturbed material
- Avoid placement near rocks, pipes, or tree roots that could skew readings
- Keep sensor at consistent depth — do not angle the sensor body
Foundation vs. Commercial Irrigation
Foundation Protection
Goal: maintain consistent soil moisture to prevent expansive soil from shrinking and swelling against the foundation structure.
- Monitor continuously — alert on dry thresholds, not just scheduled watering events
- Coordinate with a foundation engineer or soils report to establish target moisture ranges for your soil type
- Foundation protection is reactive as much as proactive — sensor data informs when to water, not a fixed schedule
- 24 VAC standard solenoid strongly preferred — auto-closes on power loss prevents accidental irrigation during an outage
Commercial Irrigation
Goal: deliver water efficiently to zones based on actual moisture demand, reducing waste and labor costs.
- Plan device locations around your existing zone valve map — one device per zone valve
- Integrate rain propensity scores to suppress watering when rain is forecast
- Use location grouping in the app to organize zones by area or irrigation type
- For large properties with zones out of WiFi range, Hub Mode extends LoRa coverage — see the Hub Mode guide
Quick Reference
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many devices? | One per zone or foundation section requiring independent control |
| Which solenoid? | 24 VAC standard (default); 12 VDC latching for low-power remote zones |
| Transformer size? | 300 W supports ~15–20 devices at 15–20 W each (24 VAC) |
| Cable gauge? | 14 AWG for runs > 100 ft (30 m); 16 AWG for < 100 ft (30 m) |
| Sensor depth — foundation? | 6–12 in (15–30 cm) |
| Sensor depth — turf? | 4–6 in (10–15 cm) |
| Sensor depth — drip/shrub? | 6–8 in (15–20 cm) |
Ready to install?
Follow the field installation guide for your product to complete the wiring, valve box, and sensor installation.