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The premise of the Moen Smart Sprinkler Controller and Wireless Soil Sensors is that it's the ultimate modern solution to simplify and optimize your outdoor watering routines. This intelligent watering automation system takes convenience to a whole new level, letting you you to manage everything right from your smartphone. In this hands-on review I will install the system myself so I'll talk about what that's like. I'll also get things configured with the Moen app and then talk about what the entire water management experiences like using these smart controllers. I'll wrap things up with the pros and the cons overall and let you know if I think I can recommend this kit for you.

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A quick note that while Moen provided this sample kit to me at no charge, it did not make any requests about the content of my review so these thoughts are 100% my own.

A very important note before we get too far; the Moen Smart Sprinkler Controller is for built-in or inground sprinkler systems, and is not compatible with any type of set up involving your hose. You should already have an existing sprinkler controller, or your landscaper or contractor will have roughed in the wiring for your system.

What is Moen Smart Sprinkler Controller?
There are a variety of different smart watering devices and controllers on the market. You can find ones like the Eve Aqua sprinkler controller I reviewed, that will attach to a simple hose bib and allow you to automate a simple sprinkler or drip hose.

Some older sprinkler control systems such as Rainbird allow you to set simple timers to automate your lawn watering. But they often lack any ability to take care of things remotely, meaning you always need to be standing in your yard to make changes or adjustments.

Installation & Set up
Installing the Moen smart sprinkler controller may seem very intimidating, but you can trust me when I say anyone can do this.
You'll just want to make sure you've killed power to your system before you start fiddling with the wires. The best thing to do is take a photo of your existing sprinkler wiring and how it fits in to your current sprinkler controller. I was using a much older Rainbird system. I just transferered the wires to their new locations inside the Moen smart sprinkler controller. Once the wires have been changed over you can plug the controller in and it will power on automatically. From there head over to the Moen app where you will configure your device.


As you're adding zones you can run a test so that you can see which sprinklers will be triggered by each zone, which is particularly helpful for people like me who is original system was not labelled correctly.



Smart Soil Sensors
The other great addition to this kit is grabbing a few of Moen’s smart wireless soil sensors.
You'll need to pair these to your smart controller before you install them. The pairing process is simple but a bit quirky; you'll take one of the sensors out and hold it over the front of the controller near where the magnets are placed that hold the cover on. Those magnets will activate the soil sensor and connect it inside your app.
The first soil sensor I tried to pair was quite finicky and didn't seem to want to connect by tapping it the way the app instructed. In the end I was able to get it connected by touching the top edge of the soil sensor to the magnets. With another sensor I needed to take the panel off the Controller and get closer to the magnets before it would pair.
These wide arrow-shaped stakes will get sunk into the ground either in your lawn or in a garden or a pot and can detect overall moisture levels in the ground. If you're putting them in your lawn make sure you sink them flush with the ground so they don't get nicked by a passing lawnmower.
The soil sensors will measure moisture levels at different depths in your soil from 1 inch to 3 inches and 5 inches. They will also give you the temperature and you can get battery information in them as well. There's no information about how these are actually powered; but Moen says each one has a six year battery life so you shouldn't have to replace them very often.