Hello everyone, I’m excited to share my experience with setting up a smart irrigation system for my garden. I’ve been using a Fibaro 4-channel actor to control my pump and magnetic valves, and it’s been working perfectly for manual operations. However, when I tried to automate the system using a CCU program, I encountered some challenges with overlapping timers that I’d like to discuss and hopefully get some tips from the community.### My SetupI have two separate irrigation zones: one for the lawn and another for the flower beds. I wanted to automate both using a CCU program. Here’s how I set it up:plaintextProgram Code:- Condition: Time-based trigger at 15:00 daily - Action: Turn on the pump and lawn valve for 10 minutes- Condition: Time-based trigger at 15:05 daily - Action: Turn on the pump and flower bed valve for 3 minutesThis setup works well when the programs don’t overlap. However, if I want to add a third program, say based on a moisture sensor, things get complicated because I can’t predict when it will trigger.### The ProblemWhen both programs run, the pump only operates until the first program ends, even if the second program tries to extend the runtime. This is because the second program starts while the first is still running, causing conflicts in the timer settings. I noticed that manually adjusting the timings works, but it’s not practical for a large number of programs or when relying on sensors.### My SolutionAfter some research and trial and error, I found a way to manage overlapping timers more effectively. Here’s what I did:1. Use Separate Timers for Each Zone: Instead of relying on a single pump timer, I created individual timers for each valve. This way, each zone can operate independently without affecting the others.2. Implement a Queue System: I programmed the CCU to check if the pump is already running before starting a new program. If it is, the program waits until the current cycle is complete before starting the next one.3. Moisture Sensor Integration: I added a condition to the program so that it only runs if the moisture sensor detects dry soil. This ensures efficient water usage and avoids unnecessary irrigation.### Lessons Learned- Plan for Overlaps: Always consider how different programs might overlap and design your system to handle it gracefully.- Use Sensors Wisely: Integrating sensors can make your system more adaptive and efficient.- Test Thoroughly: Before fully automating, test each part of your system individually to ensure everything works as expected.### Looking for FeedbackI’d love to hear how others have tackled similar challenges. Have you implemented a smart irrigation system? What strategies did you use to manage overlapping timers or integrate sensors? Any additional tips or tricks would be greatly appreciated!Thanks for reading, and happy automating! 