Irrigation flow sensor systems and methods of detecting irrigation flow

A method of obtaining a rate of fluid flow through an irrigation conduit, comprising:

• detecting, by a sensor positioned within a housing, an element as the element moves along a pathway in response to the fluid flow;
• and
• controlling a switch coupled with the sensor and a current loop controlling current within the current loop comprising:
• receiving a sensor output from the sensor;
• and
• causing the switch to transition, in response to the sensor output, and temporarily change the current in the current loop between a first current flow value and a second current flow value, wherein a frequency of the transitions between the first current flow value and the second current flow value corresponds to a flow rate of the fluid flow.

An irrigation flow sensor system, comprising:

• a magnetic sensor, within a housing, configured to provide a sensor output when a magnetic element of a rotary flow device passes the magnetic sensor, the rotary flow device rotating in the presence of fluid flow in a fluid path of an irrigation system to transport water to irrigation distribution devices of the irrigation system;
• a control circuit within the housing and coupled to the magnetic sensor, wherein the control circuit is configured to process the sensor output to determine a flow rate of the fluid flow;
• a rechargeable power source in the housing coupled to the control circuit;
• and
• a wireless transceiver within the housing and coupled to the control circuit and the rechargeable power source, the wireless transceiver configured to transmit signals containing data corresponding to the flow rate.