Orbit Controllers & Timers: Which One Do You Need?
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A watering controller or timer is the one part of an irrigation system most people only think about when it stops working. But the right one saves water, protects your plants during a hosepipe ban or dry spell, and means you stop having to remember to turn the tap on and off yourself.
Orbit makes one of the widest ranges of irrigation controllers and timers on the market, from a R300 mechanical dial that needs no batteries to a full smart WiFi controller running 16 zones from an app. This guide breaks down the different types Zisabo stocks, what each one is actually for, and how to pick the right one for your system.
Screw onto an outdoor tap — no wiring or valve box. Mechanical, digital or app-controlled (B-Hyve).
Best for: No underground system, pots, single beds
Wired System Controllers
Wired to buried 24V solenoid valves, one per zone. Sized by station count, indoor or outdoor.
Best for: Underground multi-zone sprinkler systems
Smart WiFi Control
B-Hyve app control and WeatherSense® auto-scheduling, on either a tap timer or a full system controller.
Best for: Remote/app control, weather-based watering
No Mains Power
Battery-operated controller with a built-in in-line valve — no wiring back to a power source needed.
Best for: Allotments, boreholes, remote sites
Quick decision guide: hose tap timer vs. wired system controller, and how to size each one.
Hose Tap Timer or Full System Controller?
Before comparing models, it helps to know which family you actually need.
Hose tap timers
Screw directly onto an outdoor tap and run one or more hoses, drip lines or sprinklers connected to that tap. No wiring, no valve box — just the timer, the tap, and whatever you connect to it. Right choice if you don't have an underground/in-ground sprinkler system, or you're watering pots, a vegetable patch, or a single garden bed.
Full system controllers
Wired to one or more 24V solenoid valves buried in a valve box or manifold, each valve feeding a separate zone of pop-up sprinklers or drip lines. Right choice if you have (or are installing) an underground irrigation system with multiple zones.
Entry-Level Tap Timers
Orbit Mechanical Tap Timer
The simplest option in the range. No batteries, no app, no electronics of any kind: attach it to your tap, turn the dial to a run time between 1 and 120 minutes, and it counts down and shuts the water off. A built-in manual bypass lets you water by hand without removing it. Good for renters, small gardens, or anyone who just wants "turn it on and forget it" without paying for smart features they won't use.
Orbit Buddy Tap Timer
A step up, with a large digital display and oversized dial for easier programming. Available in single-port and double-port versions (the double-port version lets you run two separate hoses or zones independently from one tap). Runs on 2 x AA batteries, waters for 1–240 minutes, and includes a 1–7 day rain delay.
Smart Tap Timers (B-Hyve)
Orbit's B-Hyve® line brings app control to hose-tap watering — useful if you travel, want to water precisely down to the second (great for drip, hydroponics or filling containers), or just don't want to walk out to the tap to adjust a schedule.
Orbit B-Hyve Bluetooth Hose Tap Timer
Connects to your phone over Bluetooth® (range up to 150m line of sight) via the free B-Hyve app. Available in 1, 2 and 4 port versions for watering multiple zones independently from a single tap.
Orbit B-Hyve XD Smart Hose Tap Timer
The compact single-port version of the same Bluetooth® control, for a simpler single-zone setup.
Orbit B-Hyve Smart Hose Tap Timer with WiFi Hub
Adds a WiFi hub to the timer so you can control it from anywhere, not just within Bluetooth® range. Ideal if you want to check on or adjust watering while you're away from home. One hub can support multiple B-Hyve timers.
Easy-Set Logic Controller – The Standard Wired Controller
For a proper underground sprinkler system, the Orbit Easy-Set Logic Controller is the workhorse option — straightforward to programme, with feature-rich flexibility once you need it. Available in 4, 6, 9 or 12 station versions, so you can match it exactly to the number of valves/zones in your system.
Each version runs three independent programmes (A, B, C) with up to four start times per programme, a rain delay of 24 hours to 32 days, a water-budgeting feature (scale watering duration from 10% to 200% of the programmed time — handy in summer or during restrictions), and a dedicated port for a rain/freeze sensor. It comes in a UL-approved, weatherproof locking enclosure suitable for mounting indoors or outside.
Star Ultra Indoor Controller – The Budget Indoor Option
The Orbit Star Ultra Indoor Controller covers the same basic job as the Easy-Set Logic but is designed to mount indoors only (garage, laundry, utility room), with a large, easy-to-read LCD and dial. Available in 4 and 6 station versions.
It runs two independent programmes with up to eight start times a day — more start times than the Easy-Set Logic, which is useful for establishing a new lawn that needs several short waterings a day. Rain delay is fixed at 24, 48 or 72 hours, and it includes a rain-sensor bypass switch. A good, no-frills choice where a wired indoor controller is all you need and 4–6 zones is enough.
Smart WiFi Controllers (B-Hyve WiFi & B-Hyve XR)
For a full system with app control and weather-based scheduling, Orbit offers two smart controllers:
Orbit B-Hyve Smart WiFi Sprinkler Controller
Available in 6 and 12 station versions, with a weatherproof locking case for outdoor mounting. WeatherSense® technology automatically adjusts your schedule based on local weather and site conditions (so it shortens watering after rain, and extends it in a heatwave, without you touching it). Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control.
Orbit B-Hyve XR Smart Sprinkler Controller
The largest controller in the range, a 16-station version for bigger properties or more established underground systems, with the same WeatherSense® scheduling, WiFi/Bluetooth® connectivity and voice assistant support, plus a stronger dual-radio WiFi connection for larger properties.
Both let you programme schedules for days or weeks ahead from your phone, and both need a home WiFi connection for full remote functionality.
No Power Nearby? Battery-Operated Controller
The Orbit Battery-Operated Sprinkler Controller with In-Line Valve solves a specific problem: a remote garden, allotment, borehole point or outbuilding with no mains power available. It's a self-contained single-zone timer with a built-in jar-top valve, running on 3 x AA batteries.
It offers two automatic programmes with up to eight start times, manual watering with a rain-delay option, and can expand up to four valves by adding extra solenoids and valves separately. The jar-top valve design makes maintenance simple without tools.
Supporting Accessories
A couple of accessories are worth knowing about alongside any wired controller:
Orbit Transformer 750mA
A 24V AC replacement power supply, interchangeable across compatible Orbit controller models. Useful to keep as a spare, or to replace a lost or damaged transformer.
Orbit Rain & Freeze Sensor
Wires into any 24V controller's dedicated sensor port and automatically stops watering during rain or frost, with five adjustable sensitivity settings from 3mm to 19mm of rainfall. Comes with 9m of connection wire and three mounting options (threaded, slip, or rain gutter).
If you're not sure whether you need a tap timer or a full controller, how many stations you need, or whether your existing valves are compatible, contact Zisabo with your system layout and we'll help you find the right fit. Browse the full range of Orbit controllers, timers and accessories on the Zisabo website.
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