[Vineyard & Winery Elf EN](https://help.vineyardelf.com/index.md) / [VineyardElf](https://help.vineyardelf.com/vineyardelf.md)

# [Hardware installation - complete guide from purchase to integration](https://help.vineyardelf.com/hardware-installation-complete-guide-from-purchase-to-integration.md)

## Introduction

This guide walks you through buying and installing a complete vineyard monitoring and protection system:

- **Ecowitt weather station** - temperature, humidity, wind, rainfall
- **Ground-level thermometer** - crucial for frost protection
- **OpenSprinkler** - remote control of irrigation/sprinklers

This is the same stack we run at our own Pustkowie Vineyard, which in spring 2025 successfully protected the vines from frost (the temperature dropped to -1.9°C, with 0% losses).

---

## Part 1: Ecowitt weather station

### What to buy

**Basic kit (recommended):**
- **Ecowitt GW1100** or **GW2000** - WiFi gateway (~€35-60)
- **WH32** or **WH31** - outdoor temperature/humidity sensor (included in kits or ~€20)

**Optional (useful):**
- **WS69** or **WH65** - full station (wind, rain, UV) (~€100-140)
- **WN34** - ground-level temperature sensor (crucial!) (~€15)

**Where to buy:**
- Amazon and local marketplaces
- Home-automation retailers
- Directly from ecowitt.com (longer shipping)

### Step 1: Physical installation

**Gateway (GW1100/GW2000):**
1. Place it inside a building with WiFi coverage
2. Connect it to power (USB or a power adapter)
3. Position it where the radio signal from the sensors can reach

**Outdoor sensor:**
1. Mount it on a post or wall on the north side (out of direct sunlight!)
2. Height: 1.5-2 m above the ground
3. Away from buildings and concrete (they store heat)

**Ground-level sensor (WN34) - IMPORTANT for frost:**
1. Place it about 10-20 cm above the ground
2. In the middle of the vineyard, not at the edge
3. Shield it from direct sunlight (a small cover)
4. This is the sensor that decides when the sprinklers turn on!

### Step 2: Ecowitt configuration

**Mobile app:**
1. Download **"Ecowitt"** from the App Store or Google Play
2. Create an account
3. Add the device (GW1100/GW2000):
   - Reset the gateway (hold the button)
   - Connect your phone to the gateway's WiFi network (ECOWITT-XXXX)
   - Enter your own WiFi network details
   - The gateway will connect to the internet

**Pairing sensors:**
1. Insert batteries into the sensors
2. In the app, open the gateway settings
3. The sensors should appear automatically
4. Assign channels (e.g. Channel 1 = main, Channel 2 = ground level)

### Step 3: Getting the API keys

**In the Ecowitt console:**
1. Log in at [ecowitt.net](https://www.ecowitt.net)
2. Go to **View Devices** and make sure you can see data
3. Click **Settings** → **API Keys**
4. Generate:
   - **Application Key** (a long string)
   - **API Key** (a shorter one)
5. **Save both keys** - you will need them for VineyardElf!

### Step 4: Integration with VineyardElf

1. In VineyardElf, go to **Settings → Weather station**
2. Choose the type: **Ecowitt**
3. Enter:
   - Application Key
   - API Key
4. Save and wait about 5 minutes
5. Your data should appear on the dashboard!

**Tip:** Make sure Ecowitt is set to send data to the cloud (this is enabled by default).

---

## Part 2: OpenSprinkler - sprinkler control

### What to buy

**Controller:**
- **OpenSprinkler 3.0 AC** (~$170) - for 24V AC valves (standard)
- **OpenSprinkler 3.0 DC** (~$160) - for DC (latching) valves

**Where to buy:**
- [opensprinkler.com](https://opensprinkler.com) - ships from the USA
- Alternatively on eBay/Amazon

**You will also need:**
- Solenoid valves (one per zone) - Hunter, Rain Bird, etc.
- Valve wiring (two-core cable for each valve)
- 24V AC power supply (often included)
- Optionally: rain sensor, flow sensor

### Step 1: Physical installation

**Controller:**
1. Mount it in a dry location (electrical box, garage)
2. Connect the 24V AC power supply
3. Connect an Ethernet cable or set up WiFi

**Valves:**
1. Install the valves on the irrigation pipes
2. Run a two-core cable from each valve to the controller
3. Connect:
   - One wire from each valve to **COM** (common)
   - The other wire to the matching zone (1, 2, 3...)

**Wiring diagram:**
```
Valve 1: wire A → COM, wire B → Zone 1
Valve 2: wire A → COM, wire B → Zone 2
Valve 3: wire A → COM, wire B → Zone 3
... and so on
```

### Step 2: First-time setup

**Connecting to the network:**
1. Connect an Ethernet cable (the easiest option) or:
2. Hold the B2 button - the controller creates a WiFi hotspot
3. Connect to the "OS_XXXXXX" network (password: opendoor)
4. Open 192.168.4.1 and configure WiFi

**Finding the IP address:**
1. Check in your router which IP the OpenSprinkler received
2. Or use the **OpenSprinkler** app (iOS/Android)
3. Note the IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.105)

**Web panel:**
1. Open http://[IP-ADDRESS] in your browser
2. Default password: `opendoor` (change it!)
3. Configure:
   - The device name
   - The time zone
   - Zone names (e.g. "Sprinklers section A", "Drip line rows 1-5")

### Step 3: Testing the system

**Manual run:**
1. In the web panel, go to **Manual Control**
2. Turn each zone on for 1 minute
3. Physically check that the valves open and water flows
4. Listen for the click of the solenoid valve

**Troubleshooting:**
- No click → check the wiring
- Click but no water → the valve is blocked or there is no pressure
- Valve does not close → damaged valve or wrong polarity (DC)

### Step 4: Integration with VineyardElf

**Option A: Via IP address (local network)**
1. In VineyardElf, go to **Settings → OpenSprinkler**
2. Enter:
   - The controller's IP address (e.g. 192.168.1.105)
   - The device password
3. Save

**Option B: Via OTC (remotely, through the cloud)**
1. In the OpenSprinkler app, generate an **OTC** (One-Time-Code)
2. In VineyardElf, enter the OTC instead of the IP
3. This works even when you are not on the same network!

**Testing the integration:**
1. The OpenSprinkler status should appear on the VineyardElf dashboard
2. Try starting the sprinklers from within VineyardElf
3. If it works - success!

---

## Part 3: Frost protection - the whole system in action

### How it works together

```
Ecowitt (ground-level thermometer)
         ↓
    Temperature: -0.5°C
         ↓
    VineyardElf detects the risk
         ↓
    Sends a command to OpenSprinkler
         ↓
    The sprinklers turn on automatically
         ↓
    Ice on the buds protects them from frost!
```

### Configuring the frost loop

1. Make sure that:
   - The Ecowitt station is running and sending data
   - OpenSprinkler is connected
   - You have a ground-level thermometer (this is what counts for frost!)

2. In VineyardElf:
   - Go to **Frost protection**
   - Set the temperature threshold (default: start below 2°C, stop above 3°C)
   - Choose which zones should turn on

3. Enable the loop:
   - Click **Start the frost loop**
   - The system will begin monitoring 24/7
   - You will get an alert when the sprinklers turn on

### Our settings (Pustkowie Vineyard)

- **Start threshold:** ground temperature below 2°C AND a downward trend
- **Emergency threshold:** temperature below 0.5°C (start immediately)
- **Stop threshold:** temperature above 3°C
- **Zones:** 6 sprinkler zones, all turned on together
- **Season:** March 1 - June 14

### Tips from experience

1. **Test before the season!** - Run everything manually and check
2. **Check the water pressure** - Sprinklers need at least 2-3 bar
3. **Monitor water usage** - A night of sprinkling uses a lot of water
4. **Have a backup** - An SMS alert when the system turns on
5. **The ground-level thermometer is crucial** - The temperature at ground level can be 2-3°C lower!

---

## Cost summary

| Item | Approximate price |
|------|-------------------|
| Ecowitt GW1100 + sensor | ~€50-70 |
| Extra WN34 thermometer | ~€15 |
| OpenSprinkler 3.0 | ~$170 |
| Valves (x6) | ~€70-140 |
| Wiring, connectors | ~€25-50 |
| **TOTAL** | **~€330-450** |

It is an investment, but a single season saved from frost pays for itself many times over!

---

## Problems? Questions?

- Check our other knowledge base articles
- Email contact@vineyardelf.com
- Join the winemakers' group on Facebook

---

## Related articles

- [Weather station - details](/kb/vineyard-elf/stacja-pogodowa-monitorowanie-warunkow-atmosferycznych-6n6BaSzX)
- [OpenSprinkler - control](/kb/vineyard-elf/sterowanie-strefami-opensprinkler-i-nawadnianie-5sgL4pKJ)
- [Frost protection](/kb/vineyard-elf/ochrona-przed-przymrozkami-automatyczne-zraszanie-c13W2RGp)
- [Alerts and notifications](/kb/vineyard-elf/alerty-powiadomienia-o-zagrozeniach-dla-winnicy-AsSsJEDh)