dbemowsk:
Suggestions for additional features:
1. Don't turn your nose up at optionally programming the unit via an RS232 (or LAN) port. Once you have a relatively complex irrigation schedule worked out, downloading it (or reading it from a file), making changes to it, and re-uploading the whole thing is easier and less prone to error. Pushing buttons on an LED console sounds cool but gets old pretty quickly for complex schedules.
2. All programmable parameters stored in non-volatile memory.
3. Option to limit the number of zones that are simultaneously "On" (for water pressure, pump, or 24V transformer limitations).
4. Support for the X10 status_request command so the state of a zone can be independently determined at any time.
5. Option for the 2-way feedback to be either On/Off for simple-minded software like AHP or Status_On/Status_Off for more advanced software.
6. Ability to disable the programmed schedule by X10 command (similar to disabling by the rain gauge).
7. Ability to interrupt an active irrigation cycle at any time by X10 command.
8. Ability to restart the irrigation cycle at any zone at any time by X10 command.
9. Some sort of feedback signal when the clock battery is low (or dead) unless it's a rechargeable battery kept charged by the 24V.
10. Ability to connect slave units for more zones. (Tip: Keep the pump control simple - don't attempt dual functionality as an additional zone.)
11. Mechanical ability to easily disconnect from wiring and bring unit to another location for programming. (E.g., I would have to install the unit in my crawl space, but don't want to spend a lot of time under there programming the unit.)
