Soildrops Smart Hose Timers

Soildrops Smart Hose Timers are available in three models, each designed around a simple idea: more outlets mean more independent watering zones from a single faucet. Every model connects to the same Smart Life app, uses the same Sub-GHz gateway (the bridge device that connects your timer to Wi-Fi), and shares the same smart features — so whichever you choose, you're getting the full experience.

Which Model Is Right for You?

• WHT-011 (1-Outlet): Perfect if you're watering one area — a single sprinkler line, a row of drip irrigation, or a set of potted plants. Simple, compact, and easy to set up.
• WHT-022 (2-Outlet): Ideal for splitting your yard into two zones — for example, the front lawn on one outlet and a garden bed on the other. Each zone gets its own schedule.
• WHT-023 (3-Outlet): Built for full-garden coverage. Run three independent zones with separate schedules, irrigation types, and durations — all from one faucet.

Quick Comparison

Before you start, take a moment to check that everything's in the box. All three models ship with the same accessories.

Package Contents

• 1× Smart Hose Timer — your 1-outlet, 2-outlet, or 3-outlet unit
• 1× Sub-GHz WiFi Gateway — the bridge between your timer and your home Wi-Fi
• 1× Gateway USB power cable
• 1× 1/2" hose adapter — for smaller-diameter faucets
• 1× spare O-ring
• 1× inlet filter — catches debris before it reaches the valve
• 1× Quick Start Guide

You'll Also Need

• 2× AA batteries (not included)
• A standard 3/4" outdoor faucet (garden hose thread)
• A USB power outlet near your Wi-Fi router for the gateway
• A garden hose for each outlet you plan to use
• A smartphone with the Smart Life app (free — iOS or Android)

Your Soildrops Smart Hose Timer is controlled through the Smart Life app — it's how you'll set schedules, trigger manual watering, check history, and manage your zones from anywhere.

Getting the app

1. Open the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play (Android) on your phone.
2. Search for "Smart Life" and install the app.
3. Open the app and create a free account, or sign in if you already have one.

Why Smart Life?

Soildrops Smart Hose Timers use the Tuya IoT platform for reliable, secure cloud connectivity. This means you get:

• Remote control — start or stop watering from anywhere with an internet connection
• Flexible scheduling — create, edit, and manage watering programs on your phone
• Push notifications — know when watering starts, stops, or if something needs attention
• Voice assistant support — works with Amazon Alexa and Google Home

The gateway is the key piece that connects your outdoor timer to your indoor Wi-Fi network. Think of it as a translator — your timer speaks Sub-GHz radio (great for long outdoor range), and the gateway converts that into Wi-Fi so you can control everything from the app.

Before You Begin

Place the gateway indoors, ideally near a window that faces your garden. It needs to be plugged into a USB power source and connected to your 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.

Setup Steps

1. Plug the gateway into a USB power source using the included cable. You should see the LED light up.
2. Open the Smart Life app on your phone.
3. Tap the "+" icon to add a new device.
4. Select "Gateway" from the device categories.
5. Follow the on-screen prompts to connect the gateway to your Wi-Fi. You'll need to enter your Wi-Fi password.
6. Wait for the gateway LED to show a solid light — that means it's connected and ready.

Once your gateway is online, you're ready to pair your Smart Hose Timer. The process is the same regardless of which model you have (1, 2, or 3-outlet).

Pair the Gateway First — Always

The timer has no Wi-Fi of its own. It speaks Sub-GHz radio only, and the gateway is the only thing that can hear it — the app discovers the timer through the gateway, never directly. So the order is fixed: set up the gateway and get it online first (see Setting Up the Sub-GHz Gateway), then add the timer as a sub-device. If the gateway is not online, the app will never find the timer no matter how long you search.

Get Your Timer Ready

1. Time the batteries right. The easiest pairing trick: leave the batteries out until the app is sitting on the "Add Sub-device" screen — then insert them. A freshly powered timer enters pairing mode on its own and shows up in the search. If the batteries are already installed, pull one out and reinsert it — or press and hold the pairing button until the LED blinks rapidly.
2. Place the inlet filter into the water inlet and check that the O-ring is seated properly.
3. Thread the timer onto your outdoor faucet by hand. Tighten firmly — no tools needed.
4. Connect a garden hose to each outlet you plan to use.
5. Turn the faucet on all the way.

Pair in the app

1. Open the Smart Life app and go to your gateway device.
2. Tap "Add Sub-device."
3. On the timer, press and hold the pairing button for about 5 seconds until the LED blinks rapidly.
4. The app will search for the timer. When it appears, tap to confirm.
5. Give your timer a name (e.g., "Backyard Timer" or "Garden Hose").

What to Expect with Multi-Outlet Models

If you have the WHT-022 or WHT-023, each outlet shows up as a separate zone in the app after pairing. You can name each one individually — for example, "Zone A – Front Lawn" and "Zone B – Flower Bed." This makes it easy to manage them independently.

Physical installation takes about two minutes and requires no tools. The steps are the same for all three models.

What You're Connecting

The timer sits between your faucet and your garden hose. Water flows in through the top (inlet), passes through the electronic valve, and out through the bottom (outlet) to your hose.

Installation Steps

1. Drop the inlet filter into the water inlet at the top of the timer. This catches sediment and debris before they reach the valve.
2. Make sure the rubber O-ring is sitting flat in the inlet groove — this creates a watertight seal.
3. Thread the timer's inlet onto your 3/4" outdoor faucet by hand. Turn until snug. If your faucet has a smaller 1/2" thread, use the included adapter.
4. Connect your garden hose(s) to the outlet(s) at the bottom. 1-outlet: one hose. 2-outlet: two hoses. 3-outlet: up to three.
5. Turn the faucet on all the way and check every connection for drips.

This is where it gets fun. You can set up fully automated watering schedules from your phone — and each outlet gets its own independent schedule, so your lawn and garden don't have to share the same program.

How to Create a Schedule

1. Open the Smart Life app and tap on your timer.
2. If you have a multi-outlet model, select the zone you want to schedule first.
3. Tap "Add Schedule" (or the schedule/clock icon).
4. Set your start time — this is when watering begins.
5. Set the duration — how many minutes the zone should run.
6. Choose which days to repeat, or set a custom interval.
7. Save, and you're done. The timer takes it from here.

Running Multiple Schedules

You can stack multiple schedules on the same zone. For example, during a summer heat wave you might water at 6:00 AM and again at 6:00 PM to keep things from drying out.

Tips for Multi-Outlet Models

Since all outlets share a single water inlet, running them at the same time splits the available pressure. For the best flow to each zone, stagger your start times by at least 10–15 minutes:

• WHT-022: Zone A at 6:00 AM, Zone B at 6:20 AM.
• WHT-023: Zone A at 6:00 AM, Zone B at 6:20 AM, Zone C at 6:40 AM.

Sometimes you just need water right now — maybe you're planting something new, rinsing off the patio, or giving a thirsty bed an extra drink. Manual mode lets you start any zone instantly without touching your saved schedules.

From the app

1. Open the Smart Life app and tap on your timer.
2. For multi-outlet models, select the zone you want.
3. Tap the manual/power button to start watering.
4. Set the duration, or simply tap again when you want to stop.

Directly on the Timer

Press the manual button on the timer body to start. Press again to stop. Quick and simple — no phone needed.

Good to Know

• Manual watering doesn't affect your saved schedules. Once the manual session ends, everything goes back to the regular program automatically.
• On multi-outlet models, you can trigger zones independently — or even run all of them at once (though keep in mind the pressure will be shared between them).

Spray Mode delivers water in short pulses instead of a continuous stream. It's designed for situations where a steady flow would do more harm than good — think freshly seeded lawns, sloped beds where water runs off before it can soak in, or delicate seedlings that need to stay consistently moist.

How It Works

Instead of running for 20 minutes straight, the timer cycles between "on" and "off" intervals. For example: 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off, 5 minutes on, 5 minutes off. The pauses give water time to absorb into the soil rather than pooling on the surface.

Setting Up Spray Mode

1. In the Smart Life app, open your timer's settings.
2. Look for "Spray Mode" or "Intermittent Mode."
3. Set the on duration — how long water flows each pulse.
4. Set the off duration — the pause between pulses.
5. Set the number of cycles or total run time.

When to Use It

• New seed or sod: Keeps the surface moist without washing seeds away.
• Sloped areas: Prevents runoff by letting water absorb between pulses.
• Clay soil: Clay absorbs water slowly — intermittent watering avoids puddling.
• Container plants: Gentle pulses are better than a continuous blast for potted plants.

If it just rained or a storm is on the way, there's no reason to water. Weather Delay lets you pause all scheduled watering for a set period without changing or deleting your programs.

How to Set a Delay

1. In the Smart Life app, open your timer's settings.
2. Find "Weather Delay" or "Rain Delay."
3. Choose a delay period — typically 24, 48, or 72 hours.
4. The timer pauses all scheduled watering and resumes automatically when the delay expires.

What You Should Know

• On multi-outlet models, the delay applies to all zones at once. There's no way to delay just one zone while the others continue — it's all or nothing.
• Your saved schedules stay intact. Once the delay period ends, everything picks back up right where it left off.
• Manual watering still works during a delay if you need it.

Watering history gives you a clear picture of what's been happening — when each zone ran, for how long, and whether it was scheduled, manual, or skipped. It's useful for spotting patterns, confirming that your schedules are running as expected, and tracking water usage over time.

How to View History

1. Open the Smart Life app and select your timer.
2. Look for the "History" or "Watering Log" section.
3. Browse past watering events by date.

What's Tracked

• Scheduled runs: Start time, duration, and which zone was active.
• Manual runs: Any on-demand watering sessions you triggered.
• Skipped events: Scheduled waterings that were skipped due to weather delay.

For multi-outlet models, the log shows which specific zone ran for each event, so you can verify that all zones are operating as programmed.

If you have the WHT-022 (2-outlet) or WHT-023 (3-outlet), each outlet is an independent watering zone with its own valve, schedule, and controls. This means you can water different parts of your yard on completely different programs from a single faucet.

What You Can Do with Each Zone

• Set a unique schedule (different days, times, and durations)
• Trigger manual watering on individual zones
• Give each zone a custom name for easy identification
• View separate watering history per zone

Example Setups

• WHT-022 — Lawn + Garden: Zone A runs sprinklers on the lawn every other day for 20 minutes. Zone B runs a drip line through the garden beds daily for 45 minutes.
• WHT-023 — Full Yard Coverage: Zone A handles the front yard (sprinklers, 3× per week). Zone B handles raised beds (drip, daily). Zone C handles potted plants on the patio (short daily cycle).

The LED on your Smart Hose Timer tells you what's going on at a glance — no need to open the app.

Timer LED

• Solid green: Everything's normal. Timer is connected and idle.
• Blinking green: A watering cycle is in progress.
• Rapid blue blink: Pairing mode — the timer is ready to connect to the gateway.
• Blinking red: Something needs attention. Usually low battery or a connection error. Check the app for details.
• No light: Timer is off, or the batteries are dead.

Zone A/B/C Lights (WHT-022 / WHT-023)

Multi-outlet models also have a light per zone above the buttons:

• Flashing rapidly: that zone's timer is connecting to the Wi-Fi gateway.
• Solid: communicating with the app.
• Lights stop: connection complete — off is normal when idle.
• Single flash: that zone's valve just opened or closed.

Gateway LED

• Solid green: Connected to Wi-Fi and working normally.
• Blinking green: Trying to connect to Wi-Fi.
• Solid red: Not connected. Double-check your Wi-Fi settings in the app.

If the gateway can't get online during setup, it's almost always one of a few common causes. Work through these in order — most people resolve it within the first two steps.

Troubleshooting Steps

1. Confirm you're on 2.4 GHz. This is the most common issue. The gateway does not support 5 GHz networks. If your router broadcasts both bands under the same network name, try temporarily disabling the 5 GHz band during setup, or look for a separate network ending in "2.4G."
2. Double-check the password. Wi-Fi passwords are case-sensitive. Re-enter it carefully — a single wrong character will cause the connection to fail silently.
3. Move the gateway closer to your router. During initial setup, keep them within about 10 feet of each other. You can move the gateway to its permanent spot once it's paired successfully.
4. Power cycle the gateway. Unplug it for 10 seconds, then plug it back in. Give it a minute to restart, then try again.
5. Factory reset the gateway. Use a paperclip to press and hold the reset button for 5 seconds. This clears previous pairing data and lets you start fresh.
6. Check your router settings. Some routers have MAC filtering or AP isolation enabled, which blocks new devices from connecting. Temporarily disable these features during setup.

If the timer doesn't respond to commands from the app, or it shows as "offline," the issue is almost always related to signal strength between the timer and the gateway.

Improving Your Connection

1. Check the distance. The Sub-GHz radio has a range of about 200–300 feet (60–100 m) in open air. Walls, fences, sheds, and dense vegetation reduce this significantly.
2. Reposition the gateway. Move it closer to a window that faces the timer. Elevation helps too — a shelf or windowsill is better than the floor.
3. Replace the batteries. Low battery power weakens the timer's radio signal. Pop in fresh AAs and see if responsiveness improves.
4. Clear the line of sight. Large metal objects (sheds, cars, metal fences) between the gateway and timer can block or reflect the signal. Adjusting the gateway position by even a few feet can make a big difference.
5. Re-pair the timer. Remove it from the app and pair it again. This refreshes the connection and can clear up intermittent issues.

If the timer shows as active but no water is flowing, don't worry — this is almost always a simple fix. Work through these checks in order.

1. Is the faucet on? This one catches everyone at least once. The faucet must be fully open at all times — the timer controls flow electronically.
2. Check the batteries. If the batteries are low, the valve may not have enough power to open. Replace them with fresh AAs.
3. Inspect the inlet filter. A clogged filter is the most common mechanical cause. Unscrew the timer from the faucet and pull out the mesh filter. Rinse it under a tap and reinstall.
4. Verify in the app. Make sure you're looking at the correct zone (on multi-outlet models) and that a schedule is active or you've triggered manual watering.
5. Check water pressure. The timer needs a minimum of about 10 PSI to open the valve. If other devices on the same line are running, they may be pulling pressure away.
6. Test with manual mode. Try triggering a short manual run from the app. If water flows, the valve is fine and the issue is with your schedule settings.

Your zone was set for 5 minutes and it's still running an hour later — or the app says nothing is running while water is clearly flowing. Work through these in order; each one comes from a real case we've resolved.

1. Close the faucet first. Stop the water, then troubleshoot calmly.
2. Check the timer's signal to the gateway. This is the most common cause: the timer opened the valve on schedule, but the close command never reached it because the signal is weak. In the Smart Life app, check each timer's signal strength — if any read Fair or Poor, move the gateway to a more central spot and check again. In one case, relocating the gateway took every timer from Fair/Poor to Excellent and the problem never came back.
3. Check your water pressure. The valve has to close against the incoming flow. The valve is rated for a maximum of 116 PSI — city water is almost always below this, with most faucets at 40–60 PSI. Deep wells and multi-stage pumps, though, can push past 116 PSI: near or above that limit the valve may not seal fully, and sustained high pressure will eventually cause it to fail. If you're not sure about your pressure, add an inline flow restrictor (about $10) between the faucet and the timer.
4. Check your water quality. The valve seals against a small seat inside — sand, sediment, or debris in the water can lodge there and physically stop the valve from closing. City water is filtered and rarely causes this, but well water, pond or pump systems, and other unregulated sources often carry sediment. Close the faucet, remove the timer, clean the inlet filter (see Filter Cleaning), and flush clean water backwards through the outlet. On unregulated supplies, an inline pressure regulator with a filter between faucet and timer prevents both the pressure and the debris problem at once.
5. Force-close and reopen the app. The app can show a stale picture — a zone reported as "finished" while the valve is still open, or garbled zone names after renaming devices. Reopening resyncs the real state.
6. Put in fresh name-brand batteries. A weak battery can open a valve but lack the power to drive it fully closed.

All Smart Hose Timer models use 2× AA batteries. Under normal use, you can expect 4–8 months of battery life, depending on how often the valves open and close.

Signs It's Time to Replace

• The app shows a low battery warning
• The LED blinks red
• The timer stops responding to commands or fails to water on schedule

How to Replace

1. Open the battery compartment on the timer.
2. Remove the old batteries and insert 2 new AA alkaline batteries, matching the + and − markings.
3. Close the compartment.
4. The timer should reconnect to the gateway automatically within about a minute.

Tips for Longer Battery Life

• Use quality alkaline batteries (Duracell, Energizer). Cheap batteries can cause erratic behavior.
• Multi-outlet models (WHT-022, WHT-023) use batteries a bit faster since they're driving more valves. Check levels in the app periodically.
• If you're storing the timer for winter, remove the batteries to prevent corrosion.

The inlet filter is a small mesh screen that sits inside the water inlet of your timer. Its job is to catch sand, grit, and debris from your water supply before they reach the valve. Over time, buildup can restrict flow — so periodic cleaning keeps everything running smoothly.

How to Clean

1. Turn off the faucet.
2. Unscrew the timer from the faucet.
3. Pull the filter out of the inlet.
4. Rinse it under running water. For stubborn mineral buildup, soak it in white vinegar for 15–30 minutes, then rinse again.
5. Reinsert the filter and reconnect the timer to the faucet.

How Often?

Once a month during active watering season is a good habit. If you notice reduced water flow at any point, the filter is the first thing to check — it's the most common cause of low pressure through the timer.

Water left inside the timer can freeze and crack the internal valve — so if you live in an area where temperatures drop below freezing, it's important to winterize before the first frost.

Before Freezing Weather

1. Disable all schedules in the Smart Life app.
2. Turn off the faucet.
3. Disconnect the timer and any attached hoses.
4. Turn the timer upside down and shake it to drain any trapped water from the inlet, outlet(s), and internal valve chamber(s). Multi-outlet models have multiple chambers — shake thoroughly.
5. Remove the batteries to prevent corrosion during storage.
6. Store the timer indoors in a dry spot.

The Gateway

The gateway can stay plugged in year-round if you want, or you can unplug it to save a bit of power. It doesn't need winterizing since it stays indoors.

Spring Startup

1. Inspect the O-ring and inlet filter. Replace if they look worn, cracked, or flattened.
2. Insert fresh batteries.
3. Reconnect the timer to the faucet and attach your hoses.
4. Turn the faucet on and check for leaks at every connection.
5. Open the app — the timer should reconnect to the gateway within about a minute. Re-enable or create your watering schedules.

Quick answers to the questions we hear most about the Soildrops Smart Hose Timer family.

Can I connect multiple timers to one gateway?

Yes. A single gateway supports up to 64 compatible timers, so you can have timers on different faucets around your property all managed from one app — for example a WHT-023 out front and two WHT-002s in the backyard on the same gateway.

Can I buy a timer without the gateway?

Timers are sold as complete kits with a Wi-Fi gateway; we don't sell them separately. Additional kits' timers can be paired to the gateway you already have.

How far can the timer be from the gateway?

About 200–300 feet (60–100 m) in open air. Walls, buildings, and dense vegetation reduce this range. For best results, position the gateway near a window facing the garden.

Does the timer need water pressure to work?

Yes. The electronic valve requires at least ~10 PSI to open and close properly. Most residential outdoor faucets run 40–60 PSI, which is well within range. The maximum rated pressure is 116 PSI. City water is almost always below this, so most homes need nothing extra. Deep wells and multi-stage pumps, however, can push past 116 PSI — and sustained high pressure will eventually cause the valve to fail. If you're not sure about your pressure, add an inline flow restrictor (about $10) to protect the timer.

Will it work on a gravity-fed system (rain barrels, tanks)?

Only if the setup produces that ~10 PSI minimum, which gravity alone rarely does: you need roughly 23 feet of elevation between the water surface and the timer to reach 10 PSI. A barrel 4 feet up delivers only about 1–2 PSI — not enough for the valve to operate reliably. For low tanks, use a small pump or a pressurized setup.

Does it work with drip irrigation?

Absolutely. All models work with drip systems, soaker hoses, sprinklers, and micro-sprinklers. On multi-outlet models, you can run different irrigation types on each zone.

What happens if the Wi-Fi goes down?

Schedules already saved to the timer will continue to run — the timer doesn't depend on a live internet connection for day-to-day operation. You just won't be able to make changes or use manual control from the app until the connection is restored.

Can I use voice control?

Yes. Link your Smart Life account to Amazon Alexa or Google Home, and you can control the timer with voice commands like "Alexa, turn on the garden timer."

Do hose timers work with Soildrops soil moisture sensors or the controller?

No. Hose timers are a standalone product: they run on the Smart Life app with their own gateway and don't need — or connect to — anything else. Soildrops soil moisture sensors only work with the Soildrops controller, so they can't trigger a hose timer.

What's the difference between Smart and Manual timers?

Smart Hose Timers connect to the Smart Life app through a Wi-Fi gateway — you get remote control, app-based scheduling, watering history, weather delay, and voice assistant support. Manual Hose Timers use a physical dial and buttons — simpler, no phone or Wi-Fi needed, great for straightforward set-and-forget watering.

What's the warranty?

All Soildrops Smart Hose Timers include a 1-year limited warranty covering manufacturing defects. Reach out to support@soildrops.com if you need to make a claim.

The Smart Life app gives your timer two separate controls, and they answer two different questions:

• Schedules answer when — what time watering starts, how long it runs, and which days it repeats.
• Spray Mode answers how — whether the water flows continuously during a run, or in short on/off pulses.

"I want to water 3 times a day, at my own times"

That is schedules, not Spray Mode. Schedules stack: create one for each time you want — say 7:00 AM, 12:30 PM and 6:00 PM on the same zone — each with its own duration. Three schedules, done. See Creating Watering Schedules.

"I want misting — short bursts, not a steady stream"

That is Spray Mode. It pulses the water during a run: on for a few minutes, off for a few minutes, for a set number of cycles. See Spray Mode (Intermittent Misting).

About the word "interval"

This trips people up: the interval settings inside Spray Mode are the pauses between pulses within one run — they are not "how many times per day." To change how many times a day water runs, add or remove schedules.