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Hardware for adding iPhone/iPad Remote Control to an existing system

This question goes hand in hand with my question about writing an APP stated here:

I am looking for one of our contributors who can help write an APP

I hear all this hype about how Apple Home system can control things like door locks, security, heating and cooling in the home.

What I don't find is the physical mechanism for adapting existing controls for use with a remote APP.

Examples could be many. Let's hypothetically say I have an electronic lawn sprinkler system. I can set it when to come on and how long to start on.

Now I'm out of town, look at the weather report and my town is currently expecting 3" of rain. Where can I find the hardware to add to my sprinkler system to be able to shut it down when it's not needed. Also how to possibly add a sensor that would monitor soil conditions that would tell my sprinkler system that it has received three inches of water in the last two days and doesn't need to turn on.

Technology is fine and good. But not when I'm told what all it can do and then not given the tools to do it for twenty years or until China produces the adapters so I can tell my coffee pot from my iPhone that I got up late and to start brewing?

This is what I get from Apple: https://www.apple.com/ios/home/accessori...

Here's a possible solution, the Sonoff switch. Has anyone used this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ITEAD-Sonoff-WiF...

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Hi @mayer ,

How is your sprinkler controller / system powered?

Just wondering if you could use this to control the power to the sprinkler controller. reading the specs indicates that, as long as you have a home WiFi network you can access it (even remotely from internet) to turn off the power. The back up battery in the sprinkler should maintain the settings - but not run the sprinkler - so that when you turn the power back on it should carry on from there.

With regard to moisture sensors what is the make and model number of your sprinkler controller?

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The power comes from both an onboard battery (large) and a solar panel.

@jayeff After researching the Sonoff switches, they do have an APP for both android and iOS called e-WeLink. There are a variety of different types of switches and even a wi-fi chip that I may be able to incorporate into the board.

@jimfixer

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@mayer Do any of these switches have sim card capability so you can control them in the field from the lazy boy chair in the den ? The notification system we use on the milkers would probably give you an access point for your WiFi. I can't remember what it is off hand I'll check when I'm at work tomorrow. WiFi's kinda useless out in a field without a hot spot

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@jimfixer No SIM card that I've aware of. Had not thought about the range. No solution comes to mind right now. Guess I've not as outstanding in my field as I thought ;-)

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@mayer this is what we use https://www.sierrawireless.com/products-...

We use them to do notification and remote access . We dont have hydraulic control but anything that runs on pneumatic or electric we can control

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@jimfixer Thank YOU! I'll order one in tonight and give it a shot.

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mayer will be eternally grateful.
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