Rain Bird produces the best of the best in irrigation control systems. The Rain Bird ESP-4TM 4 Station Indoor controller combines the best features of the ESP Modular controllers with a slim, unobtrusive casing to make a perfect indoor control panel for home landscape irrigation systems. "ESP" means "Extra Simple Programming" and programming this controller is just that. These models are best for home and small business landscapes without more than four zones, and for people who do not plan to expand their irrigation needs. In order to add more stations to this irrigation controller, you would have to install different controllers, or upgrade to a controller with more stations. The ESP-4TM models come with either four, six or eight stations, but they are not modular.

Dual Programming Provides Plant Health

This feature of the Rain Bird ESP-4TM indoor controller allows homeowners to set two completely different programs for use in various areas of the landscape. Areas of sun and shade can be split up, as can lawn areas and flower beds. The two different programs can be customized to meet the watering needs of various micro-climates within your yard. The water budget feature lets the user change watering schedules in times of extreme drought or heavy rains to save water and money, while ensuring plant health. Each station can accommodate one 24VAC, 7VA solenoid valve, in addition to a master valve for the system.

So Simple a Homeowner could Operate It

This Rain Bird irrigation control is perfect for landscape installers because it is so easy to teach a homeowner with no previous irrigation experience how to use it. It has a large, easy to read LCD screen and an intuitive programming interface. The battery backup helps maintain the time, date and programs in the event of a power outage so that the entire system does not have to be re-programmed. The controller also has advanced surge protection to keep damage from lightening strikes or man-induced surges from ruining the controller. This keeps costs down by limiting surge transfer from control box to individual valve controllers.

Lots of Features without Complication

The Rain Bird ESP-4TM indoor controller has all of the features of a professional controller with the precision of Rain Bird parts built for much larger systems. The controller has a three year warranty, a five year lithium battery, dual programming capability, advanced surge protection, day of the week watering programming, self-prompting display, manual start/stop capability and more. Along the spectrum of residential/commercial irrigation controllers, this controller falls somewhere in the middle. It is easy enough for a homeowner to use, yet does benefit from attention of a landscape contractor. The automated programming features make it an ideal controller for landscape technicians that oversee several different irrigation systems. Lastly, the fact that the homeowner can control the irrigation system from the comfort of the indoors means the system is more likely to be used, maintained and accessible.