Modular and expandable irrigation controller

A method for controlling a plurality of irrigation valves comprising:

• providing a modular irrigation controller comprising a controller housing, a control unit within the controller housing and having a first microcontroller that is configured to execute stored irrigation programs, and a plurality of expansion module mounting locations within the controller housing and electrically coupled to the control unit, each of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations configured to removably receive different expansion modules having station output circuitry configured to control a plurality of irrigation valves;
• removably mounting a plurality of different expansion modules each having a module housing and containing a module microcontroller within the module housing to the plurality of expansion module mounting locations at the controller housing of the modular irrigation controller, each expansion module mounting location electrically coupled to the control unit of the modular irrigation controller;
• sending commands from at least one of the plurality of different expansion modules to the first microcontroller of the modular irrigation controller;
• and
• indicating a status of at least one of the different expansion modules using a visual indicator mounted on a respective module housing and coupled to the module microcontroller, wherein at least a portion of the visual indicator is visible from outside of the respective module housing.

An irrigation control device comprising:

• a modular irrigation controller including a controller housing, a control unit within the controller housing and having a first microcontroller that is configured to execute stored irrigation programs, and a plurality of expansion module mounting locations within the controller housing and electrically coupled to the control unit;
• a plurality of different expansion modules configured to be removably received within the plurality of expansion module mounting locations, at least one of the expansion modules having driver circuitry configured to control a plurality of irrigation valves, at least one of the expansion modules comprising:
• a module housing and an electrical connector coupled to the module housing and adapted to removably connect to one of the plurality of expansion module mounting locations at the controller housing;
• a second microcontroller within the module housing and coupled to the electrical connector;
• and
• a visual indicator mounted on the module housing and coupled to the second microcontroller, wherein at least a portion of the visual indicator is visible from outside of the module housing and indicates a status of the first expansion module;
• wherein the first microcontroller is configured to receive commands from and operate with the different expansion modules coupled to the expansion module mounting locations.