Galcon 9001D Hose End Tap Timer with Programmable LCD Display and Wire Loop for Rain Sensor

Great hose-end timer that has all of the functionality I could ask for - highly recommended.Note: I purchased a 9001D model from Amazon Warehouse Deals. The unit I received was non-functional. The display worked and I was able to program the timer, but the valve would not operate. (You can test by manually operating the valve and listening for the clicking sound of the valve opening.)I contacted Galcon by email (on a Saturday afternoon!) and received the following response that same day (from the CEO of the company!!):"Indeed we did have a manufacturing issue with the 9001D with Rain Sensor connection (yellow wire), it was limited to a specific manufacturing run with a date code of 1401 (see below on where you find the date code). Although yours may be one of the units involved, we were under the impression that Amazon helped us avoid this issue by removing the known faulty units from their Site. With that, some units have been sold via the “Warehouse Deals” section of Amazon. If that is the case, yours is likely a unit that was returned to Amazon and then re-sold by them."[note - the date code is stamped inside the battery compartment]I sent the defective unit into Galcon, and they shipped back a replacement unit at no cost to me. Although it was unfortunate that I got a defective unit, the knowledgeable, personal customer service I received from Galcon made up for it: this company stands behind its products. I can't remember the last time I got such excellent customer service - let alone a personal response from the CEO of a company, on a Saturday afternoon, in response to a problem with a $30 product bought from Amazon!I would recommend this product on the merits of Galcon's customer service alone - let alone that it's a great hose end timer.

Had an earlier version of this timer ("DIG" branded, no drip loop) for about 3 years and was disappointed in myself when it died because I left it outdoors during a freeze.The big advantage of this timer over most others - including the two I purchased at local stores before looking for this unit online - is the ability to set specific irrigation times to water only during daylight hours when container plants need it most. My garden consisted of about 40 15" pots, mostly chili peppers with some eggplants, tomatoes, and squash. This timer kept them happy. Easy to program and solidly constructed - the hose connection may be plastic but has never failed. I do use Teflon plumber's tape on all connections for a good seal without a lot of torque, which helps.There were some issues with early rain-loop units - mine didn't work - but Galcon stood behind it and immediately sent me a replacement that functioned well through the 2014 growing season.The only possible improvement I can think of would be individually adjustable watering durations - you can pick 4 specific watering times, but the duration is the same for all of them.

Started out a bit rocky the unit that I got was defective. After speaking with customer service they quickly sent me a replacement unit. It works as described and is very simple to operate. The only thing I wish it could do is to simply water every 3 days at 7am. You have to set your program based on a Sunday through Saturday time frame. So you can say water on Monday Wednesday Friday at 7am but you cannot say just water every 3 day at 7am starting now. Just food for thought. On the plus side you can setup multiple programs. Water at 7 am Mon, Wed, Fri then for program two you could have it water at 3pm on Tue, Thurs Sat.

The timer works flawlessly, but the instructions for wiring it to a rain sensor leave too much to the imagination. I'm using it with a rainbird rain sensor (which has 2 wires). Intuition tells me to cut the wire in the Galcon and attach the two ends thus created to the two wires on the rainbird. In fact, that intuition is correct (as confirmed by Galcon). But the instructions with the unit do not clearly state that.With the rainbird unit attached, the unit works great.

We have bought a similar brand to this item over the last 3 or 4 years but always bought all locally. The brand we purchased in the past is "Dig" -- which look identical except for the name. Those worked well for about 2 to 3 years. Since we needed new ones this year, I bought the Galcon timers on Amazon hoping to save a few $$$.What a surprise when none of the 3 we purchased worked at all. I ended up looking up the reviews after the fact and saw that others had the same problem we did---- all had the same little "thermometer" looking icon adjacent to the word "MANUAL" and all were defective. They did not work programmatically or manually!! We went back to our local small hardware store and bought the "Dig" timers for a few more $$ and they work perfectly.Since we had already recycled all the boxes, I am so thankful that Amazon let us return these defective items so easily.Thank you Amazon!

This unit will allow you to program it, but it cannot open the valve! Manual did not work! The "default" program, the one supposedly loaded when you get it, did not function. I bought two of them hoping the first one was defective, however both are defective.UPDATE 5.19.2014: I just got off the phone with the Director of the USA division. We walked thru the settings & I do have a defective unit. The Director is so sure of his product that he is sending me a unit free of charge, to prove to me that they indeed work. FYI, if you order one of these & you have a little "thermometer" looking icon adjacent to the word "MANUAL", you also have a defective unit. Once I get an operational unit I will review that one, or edit this one...