Sprinkler Controller Setup
Step-by-step physical installation instructions and zone mapping specifications for the 10-Zone ESP32 Smart Controller.
Mount the Enclosure
Secure the controller enclosure to the wall in your garage, basement, or indoor utility room (not outdoors) near a standard power outlet. The enclosure is designed to fit directly over a standard US dual outlet for a clean look. If you need to route wires through the side instead of the back, you can drill a 1/4" hole in the side of the enclosure to accommodate external wiring.
Connect the 24VAC Transformer
Plug a certified 24VAC sprinkler transformer into the wall outlet. Insert the two power wires into the designated 24VAC power screw terminals located on the top left of the internal controller board. Tighten securely.
Wire the Zones & Common
Connect each zone valve wire to the terminal block along the bottom of the board. The terminals are numbered Z1 through Z10 ascending from left to right. For a standard 10-zone setup using two 7-wire irrigation cables:
- Cable 1 controls Zones 1–5 (Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Brown).
- Cable 2 controls Zones 6–10 (Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Brown).
- Common Line (COM): Strip the White wires from both cables and connect them together into the rightmost COM terminal.
- Spares: Leave the Black wires from both cables unconnected.
💡 Hover over or tap any terminal screw above to view its GPIO mapping and wiring specification.
Zone 1
GPIO 13home/sprinklers/zone1
| Terminal | Function | ESP32 GPIO Pin | Recommended Cable & Wire Color | MQTT Action Topic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z1 | Zone 1 Solenoid Control | GPIO 13 |
Red (Cable 1) | home/sprinklers/zone1 |
| Z2 | Zone 2 Solenoid Control | GPIO 21 |
Yellow (Cable 1) | home/sprinklers/zone2 |
| Z3 | Zone 3 Solenoid Control | GPIO 14 |
Blue (Cable 1) | home/sprinklers/zone3 |
| Z4 | Zone 4 Solenoid Control | GPIO 27 |
Green (Cable 1) | home/sprinklers/zone4 |
| Z5 | Zone 5 Solenoid Control | GPIO 26 |
Brown (Cable 1) | home/sprinklers/zone5 |
| Z6 | Zone 6 Solenoid Control | GPIO 25 |
Red (Cable 2) | home/sprinklers/zone6 |
| Z7 | Zone 7 Solenoid Control | GPIO 33 |
Yellow (Cable 2) | home/sprinklers/zone7 |
| Z8 | Zone 8 Solenoid Control | GPIO 32 |
Blue (Cable 2) | home/sprinklers/zone8 |
| Z9 | Zone 9 Solenoid Control | GPIO 19 |
Green (Cable 2) | home/sprinklers/zone9 |
| Z10 | Zone 10 Solenoid Control | GPIO 18 |
Brown (Cable 2) | home/sprinklers/zone10 |
| COM | Common AC Return Line | Relay Return |
White + White (Cables 1 & 2 Combined) | N/A (Common Return) |
Connect to Wi-Fi
Power on the controller. It will boot up and seek saved Wi-Fi networks. If none are found, it enters Access Point (AP) mode. Connect your phone or computer to the Wi-Fi network named IntellidwellSC using password Sprinkler12345. Open a web browser and navigate to http://192.168.4.1 to enter your Wi-Fi credentials.
Open the Web Interface
Once the controller is connected to your local Wi-Fi network, you can access the Web Interface by visiting http://sprinklers.local or looking up the controller's IP address on your home router. From here you can run manual test cycles, name zones, configure durations, and schedule runs.
Integrate with Home Assistant
Enable MQTT in the controller settings panel and specify your broker IP. The controller will publish state telemetry and subscribe to command topics. See the official Home Assistant MQTT Integration Guide for configuring standard sprinkler entity cards.
Reprogramming & Firmware Updates
Need to update your smart sprinkler controller's firmware, upgrade features, or reinstall the factory default code? You can easily flash updates directly using the browser-based Firmware Updater Tool.
⚙️ Firmware Updater Tool