Patent ID: 7010394

Claim:
A regulator system for regulating the operation of an irrigation system, responsive to user programmed information, comprising: a) a control element for issuing watering control signals to an irrigation system, comprising at least one of (i) a duration programming device for programming a minimum amount of time and a maximum amount of time for the suspension of watering by the irrigation system, and (ii) a user adjustable temperature programming device for programming a minimum allowed temperature for initiating a watering period by the irrigation system; b) an irrigation system interface for connecting said control element with the irrigation system; c) a switch included in said control element for conveying the control signals from the control element to the irrigation system via the irrigation system interface, for either permitting or prohibiting watering by the irrigation system, responsive to the control signals generated by and received from the control element; and, d) a rainfall detection sensor in communication with said control element, said rainfall detection sensor being capable of sensing whether rain is currently falling or a rate of rainfall, wherein said control element transmits control signals to the irrigation system responsive to a rain currently falling condition or a rate of rainfall.