Last Updated on April 17, 2024

What is the best drip irrigation timer for your garden hose or drip irrigation system?

Over the years, I have tested out several water timers. I feel the best drip irrigation timer is hands down the Raindrip R675CT.

After 4 years of using the Rain Drip R675CT as my drip irrigation timer for my numerous raised bed gardens, this water timer has performed without issues.

Why Should You Use A Water Timer For Drip Irrigation?

Using a water timer for drip irrigation has many benefits. Including saving water, saving time, and avoiding over-watering.

• Save water by only watering the plants for the amount of time that is needed. This can be set according to the type of plant and the weather conditions.
  
• Save time because you do not have to water the plants manually.
  
• Watering the garden with a timer can avoid over-watering.

Finding the Right Garden Timer

When it comes to choosing a water timer for your garden or drip irrigation system, it can be overwhelming. There are so many different timers. Some can be quite expensive, some have manual dials and some have digital – it’s important to find one that is reliable and effective. After using a couple that didn’t work, I was finally able to find the Raindrip R675CT.

Manual Dials vs Digital Dials

One thing that sets this timer apart from others on the market is the fact that it has manual dials, rather than LCD displays or digital buttons. I specifically chose to avoid digital displays because I knew that there would be more things that could go wrong with them. This timer is very user-friendly, with a runtime dial on the right side that allows you to set the timer to run for a certain number of minutes. On the left side, there is a frequency dial that allows you to set the timer to run every 24 hours, 12 hours, or at a frequency of your choice. This is particularly useful if you want to run your irrigation system twice a day, in the morning and at night.

In addition to the manual dials, this timer also has a manual watering feature and a rain delay feature. The manual watering feature allows you to water for a certain amount of time on demand, without disrupting your regular watering schedule.

The rain delay feature is useful if the weather forecast calls for a lot of rain. You can set the timer to override your regular schedule for a certain number of hours, so that you don’t waste water when it’s not needed

Raindrip R675CT Durability

The raindrip R675CT has held up well despite being exposed to direct sun in the location I have it set in. And, it’s also exposed to direct rain. One thing I really appreciate about this timer is that it takes AA batteries. Unlike many other times that require 9-volt batteries. I’ve been using rechargeable batteries, the PowerOwl High Capacity AA Rechargeable Batteries, with this timer without any issues. How long do the batteries last? I’m not sure! I have never had to replace them during the growing season! What happens if the batteries do die while the timer is on? The timer also has a feature to indicates when batteries are running low and the system is smart enough to turn the valve to the “off” position when batteries run out, to prevent wasting water.

Easy Hook Up To Your Outdoor Spigot

To set up this timer, simply attach it to your spigot.

If you’re using a drip irrigation and want a lower output you can connect a pressure regulator after the timer to ensure that your drip irrigation system is getting the right amount of pressure. You can use this as a water timer for sprinklers or for garden hoses.  

Water Hammering & Precautions

With some timers I have has issues with water hamming. When the valves shut quickly at full pressure the instant stopping of full pressure can and will rattle and rock your pipes around and even break them. I’ve never had any issues with water hammering with the Raindrip R675CT, but did have it with others. If you do experience water hammering, you can purchase a device like a water hammer arrestor to attach to your spigot.

If you want extra precaution if the timer breaks and leaks water, you can add a 10-15 foot hose between your house and the timer, that way there is not a leak directly at your foundation.

Winterizing Your Water Timer

Don’t forget to uninstall your timer when the cold weather sets in and take out the batteries while you store the timer indoors. You also want to remove any garden hoses and blow out any drip lines. You can see my guide here on how to winterize drip irrigation.

Is The Raindrip R675CT Worth It?

Yes – Overall, I’ve found the Rain Drip Timer to be the best option for my garden. It’s reliable, easy to use, and affordable. If you’re in the market for a new water timer, I highly recommend giving this one a try.

Where To Buy The Raindrip R675CT?

If you want to buy this water timer, grab it on Amazon here.

Do You Need Gardening Help?

If you need help planning your garden, check out our PlanMyGarden tool that allows you to plan you garden in minutes here.

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Raindrip R675CT Timer Q&A