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A comment on ESPHome – Connect ESP32 with Sensors to HomeAssistant. Parent comment

Re:ESPHome – Connect ESP32 with Sensors to HomeAssistant by moffkalast on Thursday May 26, 2022 @07:38PM (#31524570)
Ah alright that's more believable, though still quite a bargain.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:ESPHome – Connect ESP32 with Sensors to HomeAssistant by cptskippy on Friday May 27, 2022 @10:50AM (#31530303)
The thing you have to understand is that controlling an irrigation system is easy, the valves work just like light switches but on lower voltage.

The cost of an irrigation system is making it user friendly for a customer.

Example: https://www.amazon.com/Hunter-Sprinkler-XC400-4-Station-Cont...

Like the OP's solution, it is a microcontroller hooked up to a relay array, but it also has:

* AC/DC Transformer

* Real-Time-Clock

* Battery backup

* User Interface

* Secure, weather proof housing

* Printed Instructions

And it costs less than $90. They're making a profit on them, so the BOM is probably closer to $20-30.

The solution is completely plug-n-play compared to building from scratch, setting up a home automation system, and programming a microcontroller.

[ Parent | on HN ]