Introducing OpenValve

OpenValve is the world's first 3D-printable irrigation valve. It only waters when plants need it, works in gravity-fed setups and is fully open-source.

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Features

What sets OpenValve apart from other irrigation devices.

OpenValve irrigation valve with a connected soil-moisture sensor

Waters when plants need it

OpenValve uses a soil-moisture sensor instead of a fixed timer, so watering responds to the actual needs of the plants. Learn more.

From gravity-fed to pressurized

The custom pinch valve performs especially well at very low pressure, making rain barrels and elevated tanks practical for automatic irrigation while still supporting pressurized systems up to 4 bar.

Works with dirty water

Unlike many irrigation valves, OpenValve tolerates particle-rich water, not just perfectly clean tap water. This makes it particularly suitable for rainwater, algae-rich water, and similar sources.

3D-printable and repairable

Every custom plastic part of OpenValve is 3D-printable, so damaged parts can be reprinted, modified, or replaced without replacing the whole unit. Learn more.

Open source and modifiable

3D models, PCB, BOM, and software for OpenValve are available on GitHub, making it easy to modify, extend, and adapt the system to your own use case.

Rainproof, flexible installation

Because the housing is rainproof in any orientation and both sides can serve as inlet or outlet, OpenValve can be installed close to the plants instead of being tied to the faucet.

OpenValve installed upright between tomato plants in a greenhouse, connected to a dripline

Small Greenhouses

This example shows OpenValve in a small greenhouse. The water comes from a regular garden tap and is distributed to the plants through drip hoses. OpenValve can be installed in any orientation; here it is mounted upright simply because it is easy to see and access.

Greenhouses can heat up quickly in the sun, causing the soil to dry out faster than expected. OpenValve measures the soil moisture and waters only when the plants actually need it.

OpenValve controlling spray irrigation in a garden bed

Garden Beds

This example shows OpenValve watering a garden bed from a regular garden tap. Small sprayers distribute the water across the bed, while the soil-moisture sensor is placed where the water reliably reaches.

OpenValve is placed inside of the garden bed area - its housing is rainproof in every orientation. Since garden beds are affected by both rain and hot, sunny weather, watering based on actual soil moisture is much more useful than watering at the same fixed time every day.

Gravity-fed OpenValve irrigation setup on a balcony with an elevated water container

Balconies

This example shows OpenValve on a balcony in a gravity-fed setup. The elevated container provides roughly one meter of water head (0.1 bar). The soil-moisture sensor is placed in a pot with high water demand, while adjustable Gravity Nozzles allow the amount of water delivered to each plant to be adjusted individually.

At this pressure, one OpenValve can supply up to 30 plant pots in the setup shown. The actual number depends on the available water head and emitter flow rate. Learn more about choosing emitters for gravity-fed systems.

Technical Specification

Valve

Valve Type: Pinch Valve
Sleeve Material: Silicone Hose 8mm ID x 12mm OD, 60° Shore A
Flow Coefficient: ~2 CV
Gravity Irrigation Performance: max. 6 l/min at 0.1 bar (1m elevation)

Sensor

Standard: Pino-Tech SoilWatch 10 3V (5m)
Sensor Signal Input: 0-3.3V analog
Sensor Supply Options: 3.3V or Supply Voltage

Power

Battery: 9V Block (Alkaline)
Battery Life: ~3 months
Supply Voltage Range: 5 - 10V
Operating Current: max. 1A

Installation

Threads: 2x ½″ BSPP male
Operating Temperature: 0 - 50°C
Max. Pressure: 4 bar (60 psi)
Weather Resistance: Rainproof & UV Resistant

faq

Got questions? Here are some answers. For deeper technical details, check out the GitHub repository or the Documentation.

What is OpenValve?

OpenValve is an open-source, 3D-printable irrigation valve that is battery-powered, rainproof, and built for outdoor use. Instead of watering on a fixed timer, it measures soil moisture and irrigates only when your plants actually need it.

What makes OpenValve so "open"?

OpenValve was created for irrigation, but it is flexible enough to go far beyond that. You can use it as a standalone valve in your own builds, integrate it into custom systems, or connect analog sensors of your choice to automate other liquid control tasks. 3D models, PCB, BOM, and software for OpenValve are available on GitHub, so you can access the design files and adapt them to your needs.

Why is it different from normal irrigation timers?

Traditional irrigation timers are built around faucets and fixed schedules. OpenValve is designed for more flexible, sensor-driven irrigation: it performs especially well with low-pressure sources such as rain barrels and elevated tanks, while also working with pressurized systems up to 4 bar. Because it uses soil-moisture feedback instead of relying only on schedules, it responds to real conditions in the field. And since it is fully rainproof in any orientation, it can be installed close to the plants instead of being limited to the faucet.

Is the 3D-printed valve reliable?

In valve cycle tests with a static pressure of 5 bar (above the max. recommended operating pressure), the silicone sleeve repeatedly completed at least 1500 cycles before tearing. That corresponds to roughly 4 years of daily watering. At the recommended operating pressure of up to 4 bar, sleeve life is usually longer. As a safety measure, OpenValve keeps track of valve cycles and alerts the user when it is time to replace the sleeve. The sleeve itself is inexpensive and easy to replace.

Get OpenValve

OpenValve is already available as a hands-on assembly kit for makers. A fully assembled and polished version for people who want a ready-to-use product is still in development.

Available now

Currently available in: EU

OpenValve Assembly Kit

~~Regular price: €149~~ €89 −40%

For makers, open-hardware enthusiasts, and people who are comfortable assembling electronics.

The kit is designed as a straightforward 1-2 hour build with basic hand tools and a little soldering. The soldering is simple: just a few wires on large, easy-to-reach pads. To build OpenValve, you also need a supported soil-moisture sensor and additional 3D-printed ASA parts. Both can be selected with the kit, or you can print the parts yourself. Accessories and fittings for your irrigation setup can be added optionally.

Early-adopter offer

To thank OpenValve’s earliest supporters, the first 25 assembly kits are currently available for €89 instead of €149. This is the recommended configuration including the sensor and printed ASA parts. The reduced price is already shown on Lectronz—no code required.

Buy the assembly kit →

Join the waitlist

OpenValve

Ready to use

For gardeners who want an out-of-the-box product: open the package, follow the manual, and set it up without soldering or electronics assembly.

The fully assembled version is not available yet. Join the waitlist to receive development updates and be among the first to hear when it becomes available.

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