Irrigation flow sensor systems and methods of detecting irrigation flow

An irrigation flow sensor system, comprising:

• a housing secured with a fluid channel, wherein the fluid channel comprises a first port and a second port and is configured to transport fluid between the first port and the second port, wherein the first port is configured to couple with a first conduit of a fluid path, and the second port is configured to couple with a second conduit of the fluid path of an irrigation system to transport water to irrigation distribution devices configured to distribute water over a geographic area;
• a paddle wheel device comprising a set of blades configured to rotate about an axis due to a fluid flowing through the fluid channel, wherein at least a first blade of the set of the blades comprises a first magnetic element, and wherein the paddle wheel device is positioned relative to the fluid channel such that at least a portion of each of the blades of the set of blades sequentially extends into the fluid channel as the blades rotate about the axis;
• a magnetic sensor within a sealed portion of the housing outside of the fluid channel and proximate to a pathway of the first magnetic element as the first magnetic element rotates about the axis, wherein the magnetic sensor is configured to provide a sensor output at a first state every time the first magnetic element passes the magnetic sensor;
• a switch coupled to the magnetic sensor, wherein the switch is coupled to a current loop, wherein the switch in an active state is configured to temporarily change a current to a first current flow value in the current loop in response to the sensor output from the magnetic sensor being in the first state such that the current loop varies between a second current flow value when the switch is not active in a non-active state and the first current flow value when the switch is in the active state based on the first state of the sensor output from the magnetic sensor, wherein a frequency of the transitions between the second current flow value and the first current flow value correspond to a flow rate of the fluid.