Netro Sprite, an intelligent irrigation controller

Home automation and smart devices have come to make our tasks easier, and if there is a task that is a complete challenge for most mortals, it is garden care. Watering the lawn to keep it in optimal condition throughout the year, and keeping the rest of the plants in your house in perfect condition is not an easy task., ideal for a device like Netro Sprite.

An irrigation controller connected to the internet, with remote access from anywhere in the world from your smartphone, and with a large number of configuration options ranging from specifying the type of plant and terrain to establishing a fully automatic irrigation without you having to intervene at all. We have tested it and we will tell you how it works.

Specifications

This Netro Sprite controller is available in two models, one that supports up to 6 different irrigation zones, and the model that we analyze in this article that supports up to 12 irrigation zones, always with a single master valve. Each irrigation zone allows a different programming, and in it you can specify the type of plant to be watered, the land and even if the terrain has any inclination. that may affect your irrigation. You can also establish different types of irrigation in each area, from watering for freshly painted plants that need more water, to more superficial and frequent waterings, or deeper and sporadic waterings.

Its WiFi connectivity (2,4GHz networks only) allows the Netro controller to be permanently connected to the internet and thus be able to know the weather conditions in the area. This is used to estimate the irrigation you need based on the rest of the parameters that you have configured, and not only the rain, but also the sunlight, the humidity, etc.. In addition to being used to connect to the internet, it is also used to control it from the application wherever you are, either through a WiFi or 4G connection. In addition, Netro will soon have optional sensors (link) that you can acquire to detect the real conditions of the terrain and the environment and that send the information to the controller.

Installation

Netro Sprite is designed so that the installation can be carried out by anyone without the need for knowledge about irrigation systems or electricity, especially if you already have a driver installed. The front cover is easily removed thanks to its magnetic attachment, exposing the entire Netro Sprite connection system. Take a photo of how you have the cables placed in your previous controller, and you just have to place them in the same way in this new Netro Sprite. You do not even need a screwdriver for this, since the cables are inserted by pressing the upper button.

Once installed, you can fix it on the wall using the plugs and screws that are included in the box. It is a lightweight device (230 grams) so you can place it anywhere, as long as it is protected from direct sunlight and rain. In the event that this is impossible, you can always place it inside an outdoor box to protect it from environmental aggressions. It works with a power adapter (24VAC, 50 / 60Hz, 800mA) that you can purchase separately, it does not matter the connection because the cables go directly to the controller.

Application

For the user, the most important thing is its application, because once the driver is installed, they can forget about it forever. And the Netro application, which you can download from the App Store for free (link), is an example of how to get very advanced options available to anyone. A few minutes browsing the menus (translated into Spanish) and you will have configured your irrigation system to forget about it forever.

You have all kinds of options, from fully manual to fully automatic, through programming that you can customize to your liking. But if you buy a system like Netro Sprite the logical thing is to trust him to do his job as he knows best, and he knows how to do it quite well. The configuration is very simple: create the irrigation zones, specify the type of plant for each zone, and let the intelligent programming do the rest. If you want something more advanced and personalized, you can do it without any problem.

Application It will inform you of the irrigation it carries out, the amount of water used, and the planning it has estimated for the next few days. You will be able to know the meteorological conditions of the previous days and see what irrigation pattern has been used based on them, you can even add the possible irrigation restrictions that are in your area, so that the application takes them into account.

Editor's opinion

After a few weeks using the Netro Sprite smart irrigation controller I couldn't be more satisfied with how it works. Once the application is installed and configured, you will forget forever about watering your garden because the Netro system takes care of everything, if you wish. A huge amount of configuration options and a very easy to use application for an irrigation controller that It has a really interesting price, very similar to other controllers much more complicated to handle and basic. You have it available in two models:

• Netro Sprite 6 zones € 99,99 (link)
• Netro Sprite 12 zones € 119,99 (link)

At the moment they do not have the model that includes the feeder. Remembering that its specifications are 24VAC, 50 / 60Hz and 800mA, you can get it at any specialized store, and don't worry about the connection type because the cables go straight to the controller.