Irrigation controller water management with temperature budgeting

A method for operating an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

• a. providing said controller with a preliminary irrigation schedule for a geographic location;
• b. inputting a zip code for said geographic location;
• c. computing a water budget ratio by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored local geo-environmental data which does not include evapotranspiration data by
• 1. computing a standard temperature budget factor;
• 2. computing a periodic temperature budget factor;
• and
• 3. dividing said periodic temperature budget factor by said standard temperature budget factor;
• and
• d. modifying said preliminary irrigation schedule based upon said ratio.

A method for automatically operating an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

• a. providing said controller with a current date, a local zip code, and a preliminary irrigation schedule;
• b. determining an approximate latitude and average summer high temperature based on the zip code;
• c. computing a water budgei ratio from current local geo-environmental data and stored local geo-environmental data comprising the steps of:
• 1. computing a standard temperature budget factor from said stored local geo-environmental data by multiplying the aVerage summer high temperature by an extraterrestrial radiation value for a time frame of said average summer high temperature at said approximate latitude,
• 2. computing a periodic temperature budget factor by multiplying an actual recorded maximum temperature taken over a previous predetermined period by an extraterrestrial radiation value at said approximate latitude during said particular period, and
• 3. computing said water budget ratio by dividing said periodic temperature budget factor by said standard temperature budget factor;
• and
• d. modifying said preliminary irrigation schedule based upon said ratio.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting irrigation watering schedules, comprising:

• a. a microprocessor with data storage and instructions for computing a water budget ratio using non-evapotranspiration geo-environmental data;
• b. an input device in communication with said microprocessor;
• c. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said microprocessor;
• d. a power source for said microprocessor;
• and
• e. at least one irrigation water control switch in communication with said microprocessor.

A method for operating an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

• a. providing said controller with a preliminary irrigation schedule;
• b. providing said controller with a latitude and average high summer temperature using a global positioning system and stored historical data;
• c. computing a water budget ratio by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored local geo-environmental data wherein said data does not include evapotranspiration data;
• and
• d. modifying said preliminary irrigation schedule based upon said ratio.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting irrigation watering schedules, comprising:

• a. a microprocessor with data storage haying instructions for computing a water budget ratio using current local non-evapotranspiration geo-environmental data and stored local non-evapotranspiration geo-environmental data;
• b. an input device in communication with said microprocessor;
• c. at least one temperature sensor in communication with said microprocessor;
• d. a power source for said microprocessor;
• and
• e. at least one irrigation water output control switch in communication with said microprocessor.

An irrigation controller comprising:

• a. a microprocessor with data storage and programming to calculate a water budget without using evapotranspiration data;
• b. a wireless input device in communication with said controller;
• c. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said controller;
• d. a power source for said controller;
• and
• e. at least one water output control switch in communication with said microprocessor.

A battery operated irrigation controller comprising:

• a. a microprocessor with data storage and programming to calculate a water budget without using evapotranspiration data;
• b. a wireless input device in communication with said controller;
• c. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said controller;
• d. a battery power source for said controller;
• and
• e. at least one water output control switch in communication with said microprocessor.

An irrigation controller comprising:

• a. a global positioning system;
• b. a microprocessor having a clock and data storage in communication with said global positioning system, said microprocessor having programming to calculate a water budget without using evapotranspiration data;
• c. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said controller;
• d. a power source;
• and
• e. at least one water output control switch in communication with said controller.

A battery powered controller comprising:

• a. At least one battery power source;
• b. A microprocessor with data storage and programming to calculate a water budget ratio without using evapotranspiration data;
• and
• c. At least one water control switch.

A method of altering an irrigation schedule comprising the steps of:

• a. calculating a water budget ratio for a geographic location by comparing non-evapotranspiration based current geo-environmental data with stored geo-environmental data;
• b. modifying said water budget ratio according to data from at least one environmental sensor;
• and
• c. adjusting said irrigation scheduled according to said modified water budget ratio.

A method of altering the watering cycles of at least one irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a microprocessor at a remote location with historical non-evapotranspiration based geo-environmental data;
• b. taking at least one, current temperature reading;
• c. calculating a water budget ratio using said microprocessor by comparing said historical data with said current reading;
• d. transmitting said water budget ratio to said at least one irrigation controller.

A central irrigation control comprising:

• a. a microprocessor with data storage and programming to calculate a water budget ratio without using evapotranspiration data;
• b. a power source for said microprocessor;
• c. a temperature sensor in communication with said microprocessor;
• d. a wireless transmitter in communication with said microprocessor for transmitting said water budget ratio to at least one remotely located irrigation control unit.

An apparatus for affecting an irrigation schedule of at least one valve operated by a valve controller comprising:

• a. a module connected to said controller, said module comprising:
• 1. a microprocessor having non-evapotranspiration based geo-environmental data, and having programming to calculate a water budget without using evapotranspiration data;
• 2. at least one input for electrical connection to at least one controller output;
• 3. at least one output for electrical connection to at least one irrigation valve;
• and
• 4. a power supply for said module;
• and
• b. a temperature sensor in communication with said module.

A method of affecting the watering cycles of an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

• a. connecting a module having local historical non-evapotranspiration based geo-environmental data therein between said controller outputs and their corresponding valves;
• b. providing said module with current temperature information;
• c. calculating a water budget in said module by comparing said geo-environmental data with said temperature information;
• d. changing said watering cycles based upon said water budget.

A method of altering an irrigation cycle comprising the steps of:

• a. providing environmental data to a temperature budgeting module external to said controller, said data selected from the group consisting of temperature, precipitation, wind, solar radiation, relative humidity, and combinations thereof;
• b. calculating a water budget in said module using said environmental data without using evapotranspiration data;
• and
• c. altering said irrigation cycle using said water budget.

A method of altering the operation of an irrigation system valve comprising the steps of:

• a. connecting a module having local historical non-evapotranspiration based geo-environmental data between a controller output and a solenoid of said valve;
• b. providing said module with current temperature information;
• c. calculating a water budget in said module by comparing said geo-environmental data with said temperature information;
• and
• d. Changing the operation of said valve based upon said water budget calculation.

An apparatus for altering the operation of a valve comprising:

• A module provided between a controller output and said valve, said module comprising:
• a. at least one input for communication with a controller output;
• b. at least one output for communication with said valve;
• c. A microprocessor with programming to calculate a water budget without using evapotranspiration data;
• and
• d. at least one environmental sensor.

A method for adjusting the watering schedule of at least one remotely located irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

• a. deploying a processing unit at a central location, said unit having programming to calculate a water budget ratio without using evapotranspiration data;
• b. providing said processing unit with latitudinal information regarding the central location;
• c. providing said processing unit with current temperature information;
• d. calculating a water budget ratio;
• e. providing the water budget ratio to said at least one controller;
• and
• f. changing the watering schedule of said at least one controller based on said water budget ratio.

A method for operating an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

• a. providing said controller with a preliminary irrigation schedule for a geographic location;
• b. inputting a zip code for said geographic location;
• c. computing a water budget ratio by comparing current local geo-environmental data with stored local geo-environmental data which does not include evapotranspiration data;
• and
• d. modifying said preliminary irrigation schedule based upon said ratio.

A method for adjusting the schedule of at least one remotely located irrigation controller from a given location comprising the steps of:

• a. calculating a water budget ratio by comparing stored non-evapotranspiration geo-environmental data with current non-evapotranspiration geo-environmental data;
• b. providing said water budget ratio to said at least one remotely located controller;
• and,
• c. adjusting said schedule according to said water budget ratio.

An apparatus for providing a water budget ratio to at least one irrigation controller comprising:

• a. at least one environmental sensor;
• b. a microprocessor with means for calculating a water budget without using evapotranspiration data in communication with said at least one sensor;
• and
• c. a means for communication with said at least one controller.

An apparatus for modifying the irrigation schedule of at least one controller comprising:

• a. a microprocessor with data storage and programming to calculate a water budget ratio without using evapotranspiration data;
• b. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said microprocessor;
• and
• c. a wireless transmitter in communication with said microprocessor for providing said water budget ratio to said at least one controller.

A non-AC powered irrigation controller comprising:

• a. a non-AC power source selected from the group of:
• at least one battery, at least one solar panel, at least one ambient light power source, and combinations thereof;
• b. a microprocessor having at least one input and at least one output with programming to calculate a water budget ratio by comparing stored non-evapotranspiration geo-environmental data to current non-evapotranspiration geo-environmental data, and
• c. at least one switch in communication with said at least one output.

An apparatus for affecting at least one output of an irrigation controller comprising:

• a. a microprocessor having non-evapotranspiration based geo-environmental data and programming to calculate a water budget without using evapotranspiration data;
• b. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said microprocessor;
• c. at least one input to said microprocessor in communication with at least one controller output;
• and
• d. at least one output from said microprocessor in communication with at least one switch.

An irrigation valve controller comprising:

• a. at least one data input means;
• b. a power supply;
• c. at least one environmental sensor;
• d. a microprocessor with programming to calculate a water budget by comparing stored non-evapotranspiration geo-environmental data to current geo-environmental data provided by said at least one sensor;
• and
• e. at least one output in communication with at least one irrigation valve.

A method for altering a watering schedule of an irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

• a. monitoring at least one output of said controller;
• b. calculating a water budget ratio using stored and current geo-environmental non-evapotranspiration data;
• and
• c. modifying said at least one output of said controller based upon said budget ratio.

An apparatus for altering at least one output from an irrigation controller comprising:

• a. a module electrically connected to said at least one output;
• b. at least one environmental sensor;
• c. a microprocessor having water budget programming that does not use evapotranspiration data in communication with said at least one environmental sensor and with said output;
• and
• d. at least one switch in communication with said microprocessor.

A method for altering an irrigation schedule of at least one battery powered remotely located controller comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a microprocessor at a location with geo-environmental data;
• b. calculating a water budget ratio using said microprocessor without using evapotranspiration data;
• c. transmitting said water budget ratio to said at least one remotely located battery powered controller;
• and
• d. altering an irrigation schedule of said controller based upon said water budget ratio.

An apparatus for altering an irrigation schedule of at least one battery powered remotely located controller comprising:

• a. a microprocessor with water budget calculating ability that does not use evapotranspiration data;
• b. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said microprocessor;
• and
• c. a wireless transmission means for providing a calculated water budget to said at least one remotely located controller.

An apparatus for altering an irrigation schedule of at least one battery powered remotely located controller comprising:

• a. a microprocessor with water budget calculating ability that does not use evapotranspiration data;
• b. at least one environmental sensor in communication with said microprocessor;
• and
• c. a wireless transmission means for providing said water budget to said at least one remotely located controller.

A method of altering a watering schedule of at least one irrigation controller comprising the steps of:

• a. calculating a water budget by comparing stored to current non-evapotranspiration geo-environmental data
• b. providing said water budget to said at least one controller;
• and
• c. altering a schedule of said at least one controller according to said water budget.