OpenSprinkler is an open-source irrigation controller that lets users schedule and manage sprinkler zones through a web browser or mobile app. Its story runs from founder Ray Wang’s Arduino-inspired DIY kit to a broader family of AC-, DC- and latching-valve controllers, with community-built software and a Raspberry Pi branch along the way.
What OpenSprinkler is—and how it works
OpenSprinkler is designed to control irrigation for lawns, gardens, hydroponics and other watering systems. The controller switches compatible valves according to schedules or user commands; users manage it in a browser or through the free mobile app. The official product page describes built-in Wi-Fi and an OLED display, with wired Ethernet available through an optional add-on module.
The product page says the controller can operate locally without an internet connection or cloud server. Remote control through OpenThings Cloud is an optional arrangement, while weather-based adjustment uses live local weather data and therefore involves online connectivity. Local operation, remote access and online weather features are distinct capabilities; the published description does not establish that every remote-access setup is cloud-free or that all weather functions work offline.
How the project began
In his first-person project history, founder Ray Wang says he encountered Arduino in 2007 through Phillip Torrone’s open-source hardware gift guide. Wang built a valve controller in a mint tin. After seeing Wang’s blog post, Chris Anderson contacted him. Wang says Anderson was writing Makers: The New Industrial Revolution and saw a possible business opportunity in an open-source, web-based smart sprinkler controller. Wang credits the two of them with developing the name “OpenSprinkler.” This account is Wang’s recollection of the project’s origins.
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Wang says the first OpenSprinkler 1.0 DIY kit was released on October 9, 2011. It included a circuit board, through-hole components and a clear-cover enclosure, along with assembly instructions. According to the same history, assembled units began to be offered from version 1.4, while DIY kits remained available. Version 2.0 moved from an ATmega328 to an ATmega644 and adopted an injection-molded enclosure designed by SeeedStudio. These are milestones in the project’s historical hardware sequence, not a description of today’s product specifications.
How the community expanded the project
Users began pairing OpenSprinkler with Raspberry Pi to add capabilities such as logging and weather-based adjustment. Wang dates the release of OpenSprinkler Pi (OSPi) 1.0 to February 18, 2013. He credits Dan Kimberling with porting Arduino code to Python, and names Rich Zimmerman, Samer Albahra and Jonathan Marsh among the contributors to software and interface work.
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- Smart Irrigation Control Anywhere: The Orbit B-hyve Indoor Smart Sprinkler Controller provides smart sprinkler timer functionality for efficient yard irrigation
- Automated Watering For Healthier Landscapes: This automatic watering system supports multiple irrigation methods and custom watering programs, promoting healthy lawns, gardens, and plant growth
- Multi Zone Water Management: This multi-zone sprinkler allows independent scheduling for different areas while providing convenient mobile sprinkler management for total irrigation control
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Wang’s history dates the first OpenSprinkler mobile app, released by Samer Albahra, to June 7, 2013. The app addressed the original desktop-oriented web interface’s lack of mobile friendliness. The project history says it later added localization and support for multiple devices. The public app repository lists capabilities including program editing and previews, manual and run-once control, logs, device status, rain delay and settings.
A separate hardware branch followed: OpenSprinkler Beagle (OSBo), an extension board for BeagleBone Black, was released on November 15, 2013, according to Wang’s account. OSPi and OSBo help explain the project’s open-hardware and community roots, but their place in the history should not be taken as confirmation that those legacy configurations are currently sold or supported in the same way as the current controller family.
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- Intelligent Irrigation Control: The Orbit Smart Sprinkler Controller manages watering with a powerful smart sprinkler that supports a completely automatic watering system
- Indoor/Outdoor Installation: Designed for versatile placement with a protective weatherproof case, this multi-zone sprinkler system offers easy installation for garages, sheds, or outdoor walls
- Smart Scheduling & Management: Easily create custom irrigation schedules using an app controlled interface that allows users to adjust watering programs, monitor zones, and manage irrigation remotely
- Advanced Multi Zone Coverage: Built as a multi-zone sprinkler controller that supports multi zone irrigation, helping coordinate lawn sprinklers and drip systems with precision across landscapes
- Two-Year Limited Warranty: We warrant this product against material or workmanship defects for two years from purchase for private use, without limiting free statutory consumer right
What the current product family offers
The current product page announces OpenSprinkler v4 AC and describes a family with AC-powered, DC-powered and latching models. It lists compatibility with 24VAC, latching, DC and motorized ball valves. Because valve power and controller model must match the installation, confirm the specific model and valve requirements in the current product information and official documentation before choosing hardware.
| Planning question | What the official product information says | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| How many zones? | The main controller supports 8 zones; compatible OpenSprinkler expanders can extend capacity up to 72 zones. | Expander compatibility and the configuration needed for the planned system. |
| What kind of valves? | Support is listed for 24VAC, latching, DC and motorized ball valves. | That the selected controller model matches the valves’ power and operating requirements. |
| How does it connect? | Built-in Wi-Fi is described; wired Ethernet is available through an optional add-on module. | Whether the add-on suits the chosen hardware and installation. |
| How will it be accessed? | Local access is available without internet or a cloud server; OpenThings Cloud can be used for secure remote control. | The desired access arrangement and the connectivity it requires. |
The controller interface and app can manage multiple controllers, according to the product page. That is separate from expanding the zones on a single controller: the product page describes one controller’s capacity as eight zones, expandable to 72 with compatible expanders.
Rank #4
- Intelligent Irrigation Control: The Orbit Smart Sprinkler Controller manages watering with a powerful smart sprinkler that supports a completely automatic watering system
- Indoor/Outdoor Installation: Designed for versatile placement with a protective weatherproof case, this multi-zone sprinkler system offers easy installation for garages, sheds, or outdoor walls
- Smart Scheduling & Management: Easily create custom irrigation schedules using an app controlled interface that allows users to adjust watering programs, monitor zones, and manage irrigation remotely
- Advanced Multi Zone Coverage: Built as a multi-zone sprinkler controller that supports multi zone irrigation, helping coordinate lawn sprinklers and drip systems with precision across landscapes
- Two-Year Limited Warranty: We warrant this product against material or workmanship defects for two years from purchase for private use, without limiting free statutory consumer right
Is OpenSprinkler open source?
Yes. The project’s official FAQ describes publicly available hardware designs and source code for the firmware, app and weather service. Wang has also explained why openness matters to him: “Keeping it as an open-source project is important to me: as an educator, I’ve always wanted people to not only use a product, but to have the opportunity to learn the underpinnings — how the product works internally.” For the scope of particular licenses and files, consult the project’s official FAQ and its linked design and software materials rather than assuming one license covers every component.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.OpenSprinkler and OpenSprinkler Pi are different approaches
OpenSprinkler is the controller product line described on the current product page. OpenSprinkler Pi began as a Raspberry Pi-based community branch: Wang’s history says users first paired OpenSprinkler with a Pi for extra features, after which OSPi software ported Arduino code to Python. The distinction matters when planning a new installation. The Pi story explains how the project grew, but it does not establish current availability, compatibility or support for every historic Pi-based setup. Check current documentation for the specific hardware and software path under consideration.
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What the project’s history says about its purpose
OpenSprinkler’s development connects a practical building-control task—switching irrigation valves—to open hardware, web-based management and community software. The documented milestones show how the project moved from Wang’s DIY kit to assembled controllers and companion software, while contributors extended it to mobile devices and Raspberry Pi. The history is also a reminder to distinguish enduring project principles from changing product details: the retrospective describes earlier hardware, while the current product page announces v4 AC and the present model family.
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