Water Buddi: Field Installation Guide

Before You Begin

Tools needed

• Trenching spade or power trencher
• Wire strippers and crimping tool
• Drill and bits (for valve box lid)
• Screwdrivers (flathead and Phillips)
• Measuring tape
• Pipe wrench or adjustable wrench

Materials needed

• Water Buddi device(s), one per irrigation zone
• Transformer, 300 W, 120 VAC input, dual-output: 24 VAC (for 24 VAC hold solenoid valves) or 12 VAC (for 12 VDC latching solenoid valves) (sold by Telemetry Insights or customer-supplied)
• 2-conductor direct-burial wire, 14–16 AWG (runs in the same trench as the irrigation pipe)
• Splice connectors, one per device tap point
• Underground valve boxes, one per device location
• Irrigation solenoid valves, 24 VAC hold or 12 VDC latching (see compatible valve types below)
• Irrigation pipe, 1/2", 3/4", or 1" (procured from third-party suppliers), or larger sized to supply all zones at adequate pressure. Pipe size should match your solenoid valve size. Both 24 VAC hold and 12 VDC latching solenoid valves are available in 1/2", 3/4", and 1".
• Manual shut-off valve for the main supply line
• Drip tubing, emitters, micro-sprinklers, rotary heads, or commercial sprinkler heads per zone

Power System Overview

Each Water Buddi device draws power from a single landscape cable run from the transformer through each irrigation zone. Each device taps power at its installed location via a splice connector, no individual runs back to the transformer.

Power options

Wiring

• Cable type: 14–16 AWG 2-conductor direct-burial wire, run in the same trench as the irrigation pipe
• Route: One continuous cable run from transformer through all irrigation zone locations
• Tap method: Splice connector at each device location, no return runs needed

Step 1 - Trench, Lay Pipe, and Run Wire

The irrigation pipe and the 2-conductor power wire share the same trench. Plan and dig the full trench run before placing either.

1. Plan device locations, typically one Water Buddi per irrigation zone or garden bed.
2. Install a manual shut-off valve on the main supply line before it branches to any device zones. This allows you to isolate the system for maintenance without shutting off the entire property water supply.
3. Trench from the transformer and water supply through each zone. Trench depth must be below the local frost line to prevent water in the pipes from freezing, check your local frost depth requirement. A minimum of 12 inches (30 cm) is typical for mild climates; colder regions may require 18–24 inches (45–60 cm) or more.
4. Lay the irrigation pipe in the trench, connecting zones back to the manual shut-off and supply.
5. Lay the 2-conductor direct-burial wire in the same trench alongside the pipe, running continuously from the transformer through each device location.
6. Leave a service loop of extra wire (~12 inches / 30 cm) at each device location for splicing.
7. Leave the trench open until all installations are complete and tested.

Step 2 - Install the Valve Box

Each device installs inside an underground valve box at the edge of its irrigation zone. The valve box has no bottom and has curved side openings for irrigation pipe entry and exit. The device mounts to the inside of the lid and is accessible from the surface.

1. Dig a hole at each device location sized to fit the valve box, with the top flush with or slightly above ground level.
2. Position the valve box at the edge of the garden bed or irrigation zone, close enough to route the soil sensor cable into the root zone without excess slack.
3. Route the landscape cable service loop into the valve box.

Step 3 - Install the Solenoid and Zone Heads

The solenoid valve controls water flow to the irrigation zone and installs inside the valve box on the supply line.

1. Place the solenoid valve in the bottom of the valve box, routing the supply pipe through the side opening to the solenoid inlet.
2. Connect the solenoid outlet to the zone pipe that exits through the opposite side opening and feeds the drip emitters or sprinkler heads in the irrigation zone (a single device and valve can feed multiple drip emitters and/or sprinkler heads).
3. Route the solenoid wire leads up to the device terminal block inside the valve box.

Compatible valves and delivery heads

Water Buddi works with any solenoid valve that operates on 24 VAC hold or 12 VDC latching and draws no more than 20 W to engage. This covers the full range of residential and commercial irrigation options:

A single Water Buddi device controls one solenoid valve, which can feed as many heads as your water pressure and pipe sizing support. Pipe size should match your solenoid valve size (1/2", 3/4", or 1") and be sized to deliver adequate pressure across all drip emitters or sprinkler heads in the zone. Larger pipe supports more irrigation points. Solenoid valves in all three sizes are available from Telemetry Insights in both 24 VAC hold and 12 VDC latching types. All pipe, fittings, and valves can also be sourced from any third-party irrigation supplier. If your installation requires pipe or valve sizes larger than 1", source them from a third-party irrigation supplier and use a 24 VAC hold solenoid actuator drawing no more than 20 watts when actuated. The 12 VDC latching solenoid is only available in 1/2", 3/4", and 1" sizes.

Step 4 - Install the Soil Sensor

For Water Buddi, the sensor should measure moisture in the active root zone, the depth where your plants draw water. The recommended depth for your application type is shown in the Moisture Sensor Installation section of the device configuration page. Use the table below as a reference. Adjust based on your specific site conditions.

Sensor depth by application type

Placement within the zone

Place the sensor in the center of the irrigated area, 18–24 inches from the device, away from the edge of the bed and not directly under a drip emitter (which would give a falsely high reading right after watering). Maximum placement distance is constrained by cable length.

Installation

1. Position the probe in the center of the zone, 18–24 inches from the device. Dig a hole using a post hole digger, hand auger, or shovel. Lower the sensor into the hole until the tines rest on the bottom at the target depth. All tines must be fully in the earth and not exposed to air. The standard sensor cable is 6 ft. Account for the length needed to run from the sensor up to the device in the valve box; in practice this leaves approximately 3 ft of usable depth on the standard cable. For greater depths, extend the cable using a waterproof splice up to 20 ft total before routing up to the valve box.
2. Route the sensor cable into the valve box, leaving enough length to reach the right terminal block on the device, the 4-screw terminal block where the 4-wire color-coded cable connects.
3. Backfill the hole carefully, keeping the sensor vertical and ensuring soil makes contact around all tines without packing too tight. Fill to the surface.

Step 5 - Mount and Connect the Device

The device mounts to the underside of the valve box lid on four brass standoffs, hidden inside the box and accessible from the surface without disturbing the garden bed. See the Device Mounting Guide for the full step-by-step with hardware details, the process takes about 20 minutes and requires only the included drill template and hex keys.

Once the device is mounted to the lid, make the electrical connections. By this point, three cables have been routed into the valve box: the 2-conductor landscape power cable (Step 1), the solenoid 2-wire leads (Step 3), and the 4-wire sensor cable (Step 4). All terminals are labeled on the device rear panel. Use these labels to confirm each connection before applying power. Incorrect wiring has the potential to damage the device, sensor, and/or solenoid.

Right terminal block - soil moisture sensor (4-wire, color-coded):

Sensor leads are color-coded and must be connected by color to the correct terminal. Check all four connections carefully before applying power. Incorrect wiring can damage the device, sensor, or solenoid.

Left terminal block - power and solenoid:

• Bottom 2 screws: Connect the 2-conductor landscape power cable from the splice connector, either wire to either screw, order does not matter.
• Top 2 screws: Connect the solenoid wire leads, either wire to either screw, order does not matter.

Splice the landscape cable at this device location using a splice connector. Connect the splice output to the left terminal block bottom screws.

Before closing the lid, verify all connections are secure and confirm the lid closes properly with the device mounted.

Step 6 - Power Up and Verify

1. Turn on the transformer.
2. Each device LCD powers on and cycles through startup. After connecting to WiFi and the cloud, the screen cycles live sensor readings, confirming soil moisture, temperature, humidity, and pressure data.
3. Open the Telemetry Insights app and verify each device appears as online with live telemetry.
4. Check that soil moisture readings are in a reasonable range, for most garden soils this is 30–70% after a recent watering. Dry soil before watering typically reads below 30%.
5. Backfill the trench and replace mulch or ground cover.
6. Verify the lid closes properly with the device mounted and all cables clear of the lid seal.

Products Available from Telemetry Insights

Visit telemetryinsights.com/shop to order.

Need Help?

• In the app, from the hamburger menu select Management, then tap + in the Support card to start a new support session
• Web chat, available at telemetryinsights.com
• Email, support@telemetryinsights.com, My Buddi or a support specialist will respond