HozelockLtd 20 Pot Watering Kit Including AC1 Timer which Has 13 Pre-set Programs to Supply Water From Once Per Day, to Up to Four Times a Day

Excellent.Main points to know.1. Could do with more instructions, just to clarify how to connect the thin tube to the tap/timer. Swap the default end of the pressure limiter for the one with the smaller hole and push the tube through.2. The tap connector is robust, good screw system (don't overtighten), I don't expect leaks over the weeks away.3. Timer works well. Easy to set up, just trust it. Instructions on the back of the box4. Easy and flexible to set up. Easy to extend.5. Would like a 20mins every 12 hour function but for the money the options are pretty good.Really good for 50 notes.So far, most excellent 👌

Irrigation de plantes et de légumes.

Très bon rapport qualité prixProgrammation assez aiséeFonctionne très bien

Setting up was easy.The AC1 timer (Also known as AC Plus) is plasticky but feels reasonably sturdy.You unscrew the battery panel, insert 2 C Size batteries (not included) and screw the panel back on ensuring you don’t lose any of the rubber seals provided.You then attach the timer to your tap with the provided threaded fittings and attach the pressure reducing adaptor to the bottom of that.The tubing feeds out of the adaptor.You get a reel of tube (15 metres) that you cut to lengths with scissors and push connect together with the adaptors supplied. You use them to branch off the pipping to your pots as needed.At the end of each branch just push on a Dripper stake and stick it in the plant pot soil.When the water is flowing you get a nice constant dribble of water direct into the pot.All parts have good seals with no leaks. Only problem is, 15 metres really doesn’t go a long way. You may need to buy more.The AC1 timer itself is a bit trickier to work out.You have 3 coloured sections on the dial.RED – For Manual watering.GREEN – For ‘Auto Start’ timed watering periods.BLUE – For ‘Auto Start’ predefined program watering periods.RED Manual allows you to override any ‘Auto Start’ settings and simply turns the water On and Off. It also has an option to stay on for 60 minutes (no idea why).GREEN ‘Auto Start’ timed watering periods has options for 2, 5, 15, 30 and 60 minutes. Once you’ve set the ‘Auto Start’ time, it will turn ON for this period of time and turn itself OFF again.BLUE ‘Auto Start’ predefined program watering periods has a set of 8 predefined schedules that you cannot edit but are kind of useful e.g. On for 10 minutes every 12hrs. On for 2 minutes every 6hrs etc Again, you need to set the ‘Auto Start’ time first.SETTING AUTO START TIME.In the Blue section of the timer is an option for ‘Auto Start’. To get the Auto Start to work you first need to turn the dial to this position to set the time.At the time you turn it to that position, it remembers it. So if you want to water your plants at 7am, you need to get up at 7am and turn the dial to that position. Note: That you don’t get any visual indication that it’s worked, but it does.ONCE THE TIME IS SET, THE TIMER WILL MEMORISE IT. YOU DON’T NEED TO SET IT AGAIN.Once you have set the time, just turn the dial to the Green / Blue Auto Start watering period you desire.So if you want to water you plants for 30 minutes at 7am. At 7am, turn the dial clockwise to ‘Auto Start’ then turn it back round anti-clockwise to the green 30 minutes option.If you then turn the dial to Manual ON/OFF, you can override the timer but once you turn it back to one of the Green / Blue ‘Auto Start’ watering settings it continues at the last time you set.If you subsequently want to change that time you need to turn the dial to the ‘Auto Start’ position at that new time.Overall, all good. I’d give it 5 out of 5. There are better timers out there with more options but for the price of the kit, it’s pretty good.

I have installed this kit in my garden to water 22 pots (currently and a wall rockery.Positive points:When finally installed and working it does exactly as claimed. The included timer is simple and gives several alternative watering programs. We have had a hosepipe ban here in Cornwall since spring 2022 but this kind of drip irrigation system is one of the few exemptions to the ban. The fittings are all mostly push fit with screw fit for timer to the tap so no tools are required. The small pipe fittings may prove difficult for people with arthritic or weak hands.Negative points: 1. The instructions are a joke !. The photos are so small you can't make out the detail and there is insufficient corresponding written explanation. I installed the drippers in the 13mm pipe the wrong way around at first and had to remove and turn around to the correct way. There is no further detailed information on the Hozelock website and the photos there are no better. The pressure reducer required an extra rubber washer to seal it to my tap to stop it leaking. Fortunately I carry lots of spare bits and pieces. There is no information in the instructions but I suspect if you install the pipework without the pressure reducer it will probably result in a burst pipeline. There should be a strong warning about this.2. If your water pressure is good like mine you may find the pressure reducer oscillates producing a slight water hammer in the pipework which can reverberate through your house. Solution is to restrict the water flow to the timer or better still just add more drip points. The extra flow seems to reduce the likelihood of this happening.3. I had to buy more 13mm pipe (25m) and more drippers but there was plenty of 4mm pipe. The extra packs you can buy are ridiculously expensive for what they are. I found you can buy exactly the same spike drippers from another company at more than 50% lower cost. So Hozelock are buying them in and making more than 100% profit on them. Most of the Hozelock add-on packs are £9.99 or thereabouts and are not worth the money and you can get the same or equivalent elsewhere much cheaper.Overall i'm very pleased with my system but as a retired engineer and experienced DIY'er I get frustrated when company's don't produce satisfactory installation instructions which would cost no extra for them to produce.