HOZELOCK - Watering Timer Sensor Controller Plus : Automatic and Easy Watering with its Light Sensor, Adjustable Watering at Sunrise and/or Sunset, Manual Watering Function [2214 0000]

In the ongoing quest for a perfectly hydrated garden, especially in Cambridge's sometimes unpredictable climate, an automatic watering solution can be a game-changer. The HOZELOCK Watering Timer Sensor Control positions itself as an intelligent assistant, ready to take the manual labour out of irrigation.The packaging was typical for a garden accessory – a sturdy box designed to protect the electronic components. It arrived without incident, well-secured and ready for immediate deployment. This no-fuss delivery is always appreciated when you're keen to get your watering system set up.Upon unboxing, the unit's design is immediately apparent. It's compact and functional, predominantly in Hozelock's signature yellow and grey. The interface features a clear dial and, depending on the specific model (as Hozelock has a few variations), potentially an LCD screen. It connects directly to your outdoor tap, designed to be inconspicuous yet accessible. It doesn't aim for sleek minimalism, but rather for practical robustness, a hallmark of Hozelock products.In hand, the Watering Timer Sensor Control feels solid and well-built. The plastic casing feels durable, designed to withstand the elements of an outdoor environment. The dial and buttons offer a satisfying tactile response, making it easy to select settings. The tap connectors are robust, suggesting a secure, leak-free fit – crucial for any watering system. The battery compartment is easily accessible, a practical consideration for routine maintenance.The real magic of the Hozelock Sensor Control lies in its intelligent operation. This particular model, leveraging a daylight sensor, aims to water your garden at optimal times – sunrise and sunset – without constant manual programming. This feature is particularly useful, as it automatically adjusts to the changing seasons in the UK, ensuring efficient watering and minimising evaporation or leaf scorch. I've used it to keep my raised vegetable beds and hanging baskets consistently watered, especially vital during dry spells. The "water now" manual override is also incredibly useful for those times when a quick, extra burst of water is needed. The various models also offer flexibility, from simple pre-set programs to more advanced customizable options, allowing users to tailor watering durations to specific plant needs.This watering timer is an excellent solution for busy gardeners, those going on holiday, or anyone looking to automate their garden irrigation. It's particularly well-suited for drip irrigation systems, small sprinklers, or even watering can filling, ensuring your plants receive consistent hydration without you having to be physically present. The "sensor control" aspect truly sets it apart, offering a smart, adaptive approach to keeping your garden thriving. It truly steps up as a reliable guardian for your precious plants.

Slightly surprised to find that I’ve had it for just over nine years! The markings have faded but are still legible and it’s still working reliably. A bit expensive perhaps (I paid less than £30 in 2016) but probably worth it in view of its longevity. Definitely recommended.

This is a good automatic watering system which we found quite easy to set up and use and it can save a lot of manual watering that we used to have to do. However it does not work with rechargeable (1.2 V) batteries and only works with throw-away 1.5 V batteries. Although this is explained in the instructions for use it is nevertheless disappointing that retailers are still selling such products and not supporting use of rechargeable batteries.Another disappointment is that the settings for automatic watering are quite restrictive and only open the valve to allow a maximum of one hour's watering at a time. Whilst this may not always be a problem with the UK's cool climate, in summer it is simply not enough and we would like to have been able to set it to water very slowly for several hours at a time. In fact when we were away from home for just over 2 days in hot weather we came back to find plants in tubs in a poor state and they would certainly have died had we been away for longer.

Works well, good controlled watering system..

I purchased this as a replacement for a very old Hoselock system that worked very well for many years. I thought that I would upgrade to a modern system as we have many expensive plants on the system and some just could not be replaced if they died. We went on holiday in May and only 2 weeks into the holiday our friend who looks after the house informed us that one of our Acers had lost all its leaves. She reverted to watering the plants with a hose and the Acer survived. The cost to replace the Acer had it not survived would have been hundreds of poundsWhen I returned I replaced the batteries and it worked for a few days then stopped working again. The push button start would now not work either regardless of the number of times pushed, The green lights always lit up to show that the battery was OK.Amazon extended the return period for me as it was almost 1 month beyond the return period. I am very grateful for this as this was not a cheap item. Thank you Amazon.

Fantastic

It works well and works well it has its limitations but does a good job great delivery Service

I took up gardening again during lockdown, got long covid and found all the watering too much to do by hand. In 2021, I bought one of these timers for an irrigation system I built and bought 2 more in 2022. Guaranteed 2 years. Just on 2 years one began to play up and died a month later, replaced it with the latest version of the model. This year another one died in the same manner, just after 2 years. I have one of my original three still working and 2 newer ones. The latest replacement only cost £40, so not so bad if it dies after 2 years, but the previous ones cost more like £60. If the newer versions die at around 2 years old, I shall be looking at getting a non sensor model as that will be cheaper. I bring them in in the autumn and put them out late spring / early summer.