Efficient irrigation technology: How myCistern makes optimal use of rainwater
To begin with, we need to define what we mean by irrigation technology. Irrigation technology is intended to complement or even completely replace manual irrigation, whether in a private garden or in a professional environment. It is therefore a special form of automation technology. In the context of longer dry periods in the summer months ( source ), it is increasingly worthwhile to at least deal with this topic.
The Role of Irrigation Control
To automate irrigation, two basic components are needed – a distribution system (e.g. sprinkler system) and a control system. The latter is already integrated in your myCistern Control Unit.
Of course, not all control systems are the same (good). The simplest models work according to a schedule, for example opening a solenoid valve at 5 a.m., leaving it open for a few minutes and then closing it again. Somewhat more advanced models try to work more according to demand (eg using soil moisture sensors).
Have you noticed anything? The types of irrigation control described assume that water is available in any quantity. But that is not the case with a cistern. In the worst case scenario, the supposedly intelligent control opens a valve for irrigation, but unfortunately no more water flows from the empty cistern into the sprinkler system. The irrigation control usually does not recognize this and reports that it is operating correctly. And even if continuous operation can be ensured by a refill device, many cisterns are emptied by sprinkler systems within a very short time because the known irrigation controls work according to the principle of "better too much than too little".
What makes myCistern better?
Maybe you are like us and have the impression that there is no satisfactory irrigation control system for cisterns. We want to change that with myCistern.
The first crucial difference to other systems is that the integrated irrigation control system of myCistern has data on the fill level of the cistern. It therefore knows at all times how much water is available for irrigation and can therefore calculate a "water range". Based on this range, a sensible compromise can then be found between water requirements and available water.
However, looking at the current cistern level alone is not ideal either. Let's assume that the cistern is currently 50% full. How does the irrigation control system know how long it has to make do with that? And how does it know how much water the irrigated plants need? This requires weather data. If this is known, the irrigation control system can reduce the irrigation duration when rain is expected. It also knows how the cistern level will develop based on the expected rainfall. The compromise between "supply and demand" in relation to rainwater is only possible with this data.
Admittedly, the topic is a bit more complicated than presented here. But we don't want to bore you with weighting factors and other details, so let's take a look at the configuration in the web dashboard instead . 💻
