Blossom Smart Watering Controller Review
by Ganesh T S on August 28, 2015 8:10 AM ESTMiscellaneous Aspects and Concluding Remarks
Power consumption is an important aspect of home automation equipment. We hooked up the Blossom Smart Watering Controller to a Kill-a-Watt meter and recorded 4.3W as the power consumption at the wall during operation. The unit itself gets a little warm to touch, but nothing too worrisome, as the thermal photograph below shows. When the zones are in operation, there is an audible whine from the unit. Given that the unit is going to either be installed in a garage or outdoors, it is not much of an issue.
The following table summarizes the various home automation aspects / consumer checklist for the Blossom Smart Watering Controller and how it compares with the other systems that we have evaluated before.
| Home Automation Device Aspects - Summary Table | ||
| Aspect | ||
| Evaluated Devices | Blossom Irrigation Controller | mPower mPower Pro InWall Outlet InWall Dimmer Switch |
| Communication Technology | Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) Powerline Communication (PLC) |
Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz) |
| Platform | Marvell 88MC200 MCU Marvell Avastar 88W8782 1x1 802.11n Wi-Fi SoC Qualcomm Atheros QCA7000 HomePlug Green PHY PLC |
Qualcomm Atheros AR9331 1x1 802.11n Wi-Fi SoC Host CPU: MIPS 24Kc, DRAM: 32MB |
| Power Source | AC Powered | AC Powered |
| Hub / Bridge Requirement | No | No |
| Control Center | Cloud (for setup and configuration) Local Device (stores backup schedule) |
Local Device (basic access, rules and scenes) Local Server (comprehensive access, rules and scenes) |
| User Control Interface | Mobile Apps | Web Browser Mobile Apps (basic control) |
| Open APIs | None | Yes (uPnP, HTTP, SSH) |
| Third-party / Hub Compatibility | None | None advertised |
| Cloud Reliance | Optional (compulsory only for initial setup and configuration) | None |
| Security Notes | Username / Password authentication at app level | Username / Password Authentication LAN Access Only |
| User Support / Discussion Forums | Blossom on Twitter | Ubiquiti Networks Community - mFi Forums |
| Street Price | USD 199 | USD 60 (mPower) USD 95 (mPower Pro) USD 59 (InWall Outlet) USD 59 (InWall Switch / Dimmer) |
Coming to the business end of the review, we have to say that Blossom has managed to bring out a unique home automation device. In our opinion, the inclusion of powerline communication (PLC) as an alternative path to the network in case Wi-Fi is not up to the task is a very good decision. This is something other home automation device manufacturers need to evaluate. In our opinion, consumer IP cameras (which rely on Wi-Fi right now) can also benefit from this dual approach. The IP54 rating allows users to install the unit wherever they see fit. The cloud-based 'Xona' intelligence seems to be effective in altering pre-set schedules based on weather conditions. We see no issues with the unique points set marketed by Blossom. There are multiple options in the market for automated gardening, and Blossom manages to stand out in the crowd.
Our main issue is with the cloud reliance aspect. While the Blossom does have a fail-safe schedule to fall back upon in case the Internet connection goes down, there is really no way to alter the schedule without going through the cloud. One of the main benefits of having smartphone control for the irrigation controller is the ability to turn a zone on or off immediately, even during operation. In the case of the Internet or Blossom's servers being down, this is simply not possible right now. Fortunately, Blossom recognizes the need for users to be able to configure the unit locally. I have heard that local browser access and control over the schedule is definitely in the roadmap. Till this feature comes about, we will not be able to recommend the Blossom Smart Watering Controller without reservation. To a lesser extent, we are also not comfortable with some alerts not being sent to the e-mail address associated with the unit. E-mail could also be used to inform the user about updates to the smart watering schedules.
Users not paranoid about being reliant on the cloud will find the Blossom Smart Watering Controller to be a great way to add automation to their irrigation needs. Ease of setup, usage and the 'it just works' aspects are the positives. We hope that Blossom will address the open APIs and local control capabilities as soon as possible.
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Arls - Sunday, August 30, 2015 - link
Unless the valves are buried or inside something locked you can just open them manually. Every type of valve has manual bleed of some kind.I agree 100% with having some kind of interface on the actual controller, lose your phone and you want to stop watering you have to unplug the unit every time?
Not sure what your beef with Hunter controllers is, I've only ever had a few problems with the old SRC's. Installed a ton of Pro-C's and only ever had a couple modules go bad. I always assumed they were top quality units.
I'm a bit out of the loop with newer Hunters, these days I almost always install Rain Bird ESP's. Best controller available IMHO.
TheSlamma - Monday, August 31, 2015 - link
Sadly not all valves do actually, I thought this too until I bought my current house and went out to try to turn the valve on at the box one day and there is nothing but the solenoid. I hate these valves I can't even adjust the pressure at them either so next summer those will be changed out.Hunter clocks are hard for customers to program is why I don't care for them. As you stated the Rainbird ESP's are good, Weathermatic and Irritrol are also mindlessly easy to use and set, especially for yards that have alternate schedules for different watering types on different days.
Arls - Wednesday, September 2, 2015 - link
All valves with just a solenoid require turning/partially unscrewing the solenoid for manual operation. Stiff solenoids like rainbird dv-100's come with a special tool that acts like a handle.Only in special applications will valves come built with pressure regulating capabilities. The handle on the center of valves with flow control only regulates flow not pressure. You have to buy a special solenoid in order to set the pressure.
I recommend buying the exact same model of valves with flow control that you currently have, you will only need to unscrew and change the tops. No digging required.
toyotabedzrock - Saturday, August 29, 2015 - link
The housing is not designed well. Those exposed wires seem like a bad idea.Daniel Egger - Saturday, August 29, 2015 - link
Hah, thanks for explaining how irrigation systems work in the US. I've never realised until just now that there're so complicated systems to realise achieve so simple as watering plants and grass at the right time and only when needed...TheSlamma - Sunday, August 30, 2015 - link
It's actually not at all complicated, it's a clock that sends a signal down couple wires that goes to a valve that triggers a solenoid to open and close. My family installed these systems for decades, of course it gets more complicated when morons do stupid things like run lines next to house foundations, don't build a blueprint for the homeowner and install crap clocks like Hunter. But any basic concept can be ruined or over complicated by idiots.If you want to see a complicated elaborate and amazing outdoor plumbing system then go to the palace at St Petersburg,
Bluepig - Tuesday, September 8, 2015 - link
I really appreciate that companies are looking at the web space (I despise the term The Cloud - hosted services) for the massive remote controlled and smart home options/movement. I've been using NEST since it first came out, but ended up disabling the wifi aspects when I received a notice from Utah Power and Gas telling me I should consider running my AC at 78 and not 76. It might have been a coincidence, but having previously received the same suggestion from Google, I assumed there was some information sharing. One aspect, and to me a negative one with Wifi is the potential loss of privacy. If I'm watering my grass at an hour that irritates a tree hugger, will I become the victim of a war drive? Yes, I know its a bit over the top, but pretending there are not cougars in the mountains does not mean they are not there during your hike. Plus, I’m just trying to cool down our superheated supernova Earth for all of the Global Warming gumps out there.On a less conspiratorial note If we are on vacation and I can water my grass as desired, that could be a benefit. I’ve been looking at some of the other home automation offerings out there, so this one jumped on my radar.
A problem that we have where I live are power outages. So the ability to spin up home services that have been powered off by power loss would be a fantastic benefit. Keep up the innovations folks. If we can keep government out of the kitty, all the better for everyone.