Milesight UC51x LoRaWAN® Solenoid Valve Controller

With two independent valve outputs, the UC51x can control two 12 V DC latching solenoid valves. Two digital inputs also allow pulse water meters to be connected. This means you can control irrigation while measuring and monitoring actual water consumption.

Its IP68 waterproof enclosure, flexible power options and LoRaWAN® connectivity make the UC51x particularly suitable for agriculture, horticulture, landscaping and other installations where a fixed network connection is unavailable.

Automatic irrigation based on time, volume or soil moisture

The UC51x supports various irrigation strategies. Up to sixteen scheduled events can be configured, allowing the valves to be controlled based on:

• A predefined time or schedule
• A preset water volume
• Measured soil moisture
• Local conditions and rules
• A Milesight D2D trigger
• A manual remote command

Combined with the Milesight EM500-SMTC soil moisture, temperature and electrical conductivity sensor, irrigation can be started or stopped automatically according to the measured soil moisture. This ensures that crops receive water only when needed.

Monitor water consumption

The UC51x has two digital inputs for connecting pulse water meters. The water volume represented by each pulse can be configured, enabling accurate water consumption monitoring.

Alerts can be configured for situations including:

• Excessive water consumption
• Exceeding a preset water volume
• Abnormal accumulated consumption within a specified period

This helps reduce unnecessary water use and enables leaks or other deviations to be detected more quickly.

Autonomous operation without a network connection

Preset commands and local rules are stored in the controller. The UC51x therefore continues to operate autonomously if the LoRaWAN® network connection is temporarily unavailable.

The UC51x also supports multicast, allowing multiple controllers or valves to be controlled simultaneously. This is particularly useful for larger irrigation systems with multiple zones.

Designed for outdoor use

The controller features a robust IP68 enclosure and waterproof M12 connectors, providing protection against water ingress, corrosion and vibration. According to Milesight, the enclosure has been tested at a depth of one metre for seven days.

The controller can be mounted on a wall or pole and is available with either an internal or external antenna. The external antenna version is suitable for locations where obstacles or challenging radio conditions could affect LoRaWAN® coverage.

Flexible power supply

The UC51x Series is available in two versions:

Milesight UC511

The UC511 features an integrated solar panel and two rechargeable 2550 mAh batteries. The external antenna version can also be powered by an external 5–24 V DC supply. These flexible power options make the UC511 suitable for applications requiring frequent communication or fast valve control.

Milesight UC512

The UC512 is powered by three replaceable 9000 mAh Li-SOCl₂ batteries. In LoRaWAN® Class A operation, the specified battery life exceeds ten years. Actual battery life depends on factors such as the reporting interval, signal conditions, LoRaWAN® settings and the number of valve operations.

LoRaWAN® and Milesight D2D

LoRaWAN® enables measurement data, water consumption, alarms and valve status to be transmitted over long distances. The controller is compatible with standard LoRaWAN® gateways and network servers.

The UC511 also supports Milesight D2D. This allows it to communicate directly with other compatible Milesight devices without sending the command through a LoRaWAN® gateway or cloud platform first. This provides a response time of less than one second. The UC512 does not support Milesight D2D.

Easy NFC configuration

The UC51x can be configured wirelessly using NFC and the Milesight ToolBox app. Simply hold a compatible smartphone close to the controller. This means the enclosure does not need to be opened during configuration.

Key features

• LoRaWAN® controller for automatic irrigation
• Controls two 12 V DC latching solenoid valves
• Two digital inputs for pulse water meters and other devices
• Irrigation based on time, volume or soil moisture
• Supports up to sixteen scheduled events
• Rain delay for temporarily postponing irrigation
• Autonomous operation if the network connection is interrupted
• Multicast for controlling multiple units simultaneously
• NFC configuration using the Milesight ToolBox app
• IP68 enclosure with M12 connectors
• Internal or optional external LoRaWAN® antenna
• Wall or pole mounting
• Choice of solar power with rechargeable batteries or long-life battery power
• Milesight D2D support on the UC511

Differences between the UC511 and UC512

Applications

The Milesight UC51x is suitable for applications including:

• Precision agriculture
• Greenhouses and outdoor cultivation
• Orchards and nurseries
• Irrigation of parks and public green spaces
• Sports fields and golf courses
• Landscape management
• Smart water management
• Irrigation at remote locations
• Water consumption and leak monitoring

Advice on smart irrigation

Do you want to automate irrigation based on soil moisture, time or actual water consumption? Pedak can help you select and combine the right controller, sensors, water meters, LoRaWAN® gateway and software. This allows you to create a reliable solution for both monitoring and automatic control.