The Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion Activated Sprinkler is the best motion activated sprinkler you can buy for the value.

It’s fun.

Watching the wonderful fruits and vegetables in your garden makes you happy and proud.

But all is not roses and sunshine. There are critters trying to get the better of you. Rabbits, deer, and birds want a lot of your harvest.

That’s when you need to get a motion activated sprinkler that can scare them away without hurting them.

Let’s take a look at the best motion activated sprinkler you can buy that’s value for your money.

Product Rating Price
Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion Activated Sprinkler 1
Hoont Cobra Yard and Garden Water Blaster 2
Water Jet Blaster Yard and Garden Motion Activated Sprinkler 3
Havahart 5277 Motion-Activated Animal Repellent & Sprinkler 4
ScareCrow Motion Activated Animal Repellent 5

What is a motion activated sprinkler?

A motion-activated sprinkler is just a sprinkler that has been connected to a motion detector. It is a simple combination of two proven technologies.

These are meant to be placed in strategic areas so as to deny access to nuisance animals like rabbits, deer, birds, and basically any other creature that is causing problems.

As a pest control solution, this really is a good one because it gets the job done with no harm to the animal.

What are the different types of sprinklers?

There are several different types of sprinklers. First, there are the rotary sprinklers with which most of us are familiar.

These are the types of sprinklers you will see on all our motion-activated examples because this design works best when you want a strong spray in a wide arc.

You have probably seen “pop-up” sprinklers as well. These are embedded in the ground and usually spray in a 360-degree arc. These sprinklers are good for those who want a low-visibility and low-maintenance way to water the grass or a garden. However, they are no good for pest control because they don’t provide a direct or concentrated spray.

Do you need a motion activated sprinkler?

If you have no significant problems with animals coming into your yard and causing trouble, you don’t need such a sprinkler.

But if your garden attracts a lot of animals, it’s a good solution to drive them away. And you can do this without harming the animals.

How to choose the best motion activated sprinkler

There are certain factors that can help you make the best buying decision for a motion activated sprinkler.

Range

Consider your needs and your space. Think about how big of a problem you really have. If you are just planting a little 6×10 garden, for instance, you don’t need something with a really long range.

You should also think about any pets that you may have and how this system will affect them. For instance, if your dog runs loose in the yard, make sure that they still have plenty of space in which to run without getting blasted by the sprinkler.

All of the above also applies to any small children that might play in your yard.

Sprinkler heads

Consider how many sprinkler heads you are likely to need. It isn’t just about how big your yard or garden is, it’s also about where the lines of human traffic are.

Adjustable

You don’t want guests to trigger your systems and become soaked on their way to the front door, for instance. Thankfully, most models are adjustable in terms of their spray arc.

This means you can program them to swing only in a certain range of motion, but if you have a lot of footpaths, you may have to buy more units to cover the area without impeding the walkways.

It is usually best to look for a model that offers maximum flexibility in terms of adjustments. You should be able to adjust the power of the spray and the sensitivity of the sensor.

You should also be able to adjust the spray arc. Some models offer more exact controls than this, but make sure that your model can do these three things at least. Without precise control, an automatic sprinkler system like this can become an annoyance.

Price

If you need more than one of these things, it is good to look for a cheaper model. Automatic sprinkler heads aren’t ridiculously expensive, but they aren’t exactly cheap either.

Evaluating price versus quality is a consideration when buying anything, and this is no exception.

Battery life

Battery life and cost is another thing to consider. All of these devices run on batteries, but not all batteries are created equal. For instance, a 9-volt battery will usually last a lot longer than two AAs.

For a device like this one, which uses relatively little power, small batteries can last a long time, but this might not be the case if your product is poorly engineered. Every model should have an approximate battery life given somewhere on the box or in the manual.

Day/night cycles

You should also look to see if your chosen product has day and night cycles. If you don’t know what that means, it means being able to program your sprinkler to use different settings for night and day.

This is very useful because often, you will need to worry about repelling more than one animal. Since most animals are either diurnal (moving by day) or nocturnal (moving by night), you are likely to get two different crowds of animals.

This will especially be important if you live next to the woods, or in some other area with a lot of wildlife.

Warranty

Finally, make sure you look at the warranty. A good company should stand behind their product. If they fail to provide a warranty, or if they provide only a short-term limited warranty, it might be a red flag showing that this company doesn’t care about quality.

Precautions when using a motion activated sprinkler

By design, a motion activated sprinkler is not hazardous. A spray of water is unlikely to do any harm to any living creature.

However, there are still some safety precautions to consider. First, bear in mind that you are using water and electricity together, and that can be dangerous.

Of course, the small batteries found in these devices would never be enough to kill an adult human, but it is still dangerous to small animals and at-risk people.

If you handle your unit and feel even a small shock, you know that something is wrong. One thing you can do is to paint the main housing of the unit with a thick layer of polyurethane for extra water resistance.

If you choose to do this, be careful not to coat any of the working parts, as this could affect the function of the sprinkler head.

It is good to try and avoid pointing the sprinkler at eye level. A direct hit to the eyes would be the only possible way in which a jet of water could inflict any real harm. “Eye level” will vary depending on the species of the expected target.

How to use a motion activated sprinkler

These devices are relatively simple to use. You just hook them up to a water hose, attach them to a stake (they will usually fit together easily) and plant them in the ground.

Then, you will need to go through a little bit of testing in order to get the best performance from your unit.

Obviously, the first thing you should do is read the instructions. Some models have special setup instructions that are non-standard.

If this is not the case, you can simply hook it up and test the device without being sprayed.

All you have to do is hook up the hose but leave the water turned off. When you pass your hand in front of the sensor, you should hear a somewhat loud click.

That sound you hear is the valve opening. Now, step back and test your sensor at greater distances. This is the time to make as many adjustments as you can. The basic idea is to make sure it sprays when you want, what you want, and where you want.

Pro Tip: Smaller animals will require a higher level of sensitivity.

Maintaining your motion activated sprinkler

These units require little maintenance, but there are a few things that are necessary in order to keep them functioning well.

Changing the battery is the most obvious and frequent maintenance step. Battery life will vary a lot, but some models advertise a battery life of up to six months.

That being said, such estimates are usually very optimistic, so it would be wiser to count on changing the battery every three months, if not more often. Or, you could just do the smart thing and buy some rechargeable batteries.

Frequent testing of your system should become a habit. This really isn’t a big deal because it could be as simple as throwing a small rock into the sensor area just to see if it sprays.

Without frequent testing, it will be difficult to know if your battery needs changing. Chances are, you will notice a loss of power and performance before the battery goes completely dead.

We already mentioned the fact that you can clear-coat the outside of your unit to make it more weatherproof, and it’s worth doing because the weather will be this device’s worst enemy over time. Make sure you use the brush-on coating instead of the spray coating, as it is easier to control.

Reviews

Sale
Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion Activated Sprinkler
  • HUMANELY DETERS ANIMALS: Keeps animals out of plants, yards and gardens using a harmless spray of water
  • UNIQUE DAY AND NIGHT DETECTION: The only deterrent sprinkler on the market with options for day only, night only, or 24 hour protection, giving you the flexibility to ensure the Yard Enforcer only activates when you need it
  • STABLE DESIGN: Simply press spike into soil or turf to firmly hold the Yard Enforcer in place.

Last update on 2024-03-18 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

The Orbit 62100 is a motion activated sprinkler that comes with a day and night detection options. This means you can have different detection settings for different times of the day.

The motion sensor comes with a 120-degree arc that is a suitable range for your yard. This comes with an intelligent sensing technology that helps conserve water and energy. And it can cover up to 1600 feet of your yard.

This sprinkler is an impact one that can be used either to deter animals or used as a regular sprinkler. You can cover an area of 35-feet with this sprinkler.

It requires 4 AA batteries that will give you 7500 activation cycles.

The construction is heavy-duty made with metal and brass which makes it stable and durable.

The downside to this motion activated sprinkler is that it’s a bit tricky to adjust for your exact needs.

Pros Cons
  • Day and night detection
  • 120-degree arc
  • Intelligent sensing technology
  • Can be used as a regular sprinkler
  • Heavy-duty construction
  • Tricky to adjust


Hoont Cobra Yard and Garden Water Blaster
  • Protect Your Yard from Unwanted Animals- The Hoont Cobra Animal Repeller will not disappoint, with it's solar-powered motion detection and powerful water- blasting, your yard is sure to stay safe.
  • Large Protection Range- Adjustable 24/7 animal detection unit with a 0 to 30 feet range for maximum property protection.
  • Save On Water Supply- The water jet works on a 5 second intermittent spray cycle, ensuring repellent effectiveness and low water consumption

Last update on 2024-03-18 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

The Hoont Cobra Yard Water Blaster comes with a day and night detection mode. This helps you configure different settings as per the time of day.

It has a slim form factor that can help you get a 30 feet range on your yard. The sprinkler head can be adjusted to cover 1000 feet of your yard.

It’s designed to be harmless to animals, people, and the environment. It comes with a 5-second intermittent spray cycle which helps conserve water.

The Hoont Cobra has a metal ground spike that gives good stability. And the setup is quick and easy.

This motion activated sprinkler comes with 1-year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

The Hoont Cobra is made of plastic which makes it less durable than those made from metal. And there’s a slight leak at the connector that you need to consider.

Pros Cons
  • Day and night detection mode
  • Slim form factor that can cover up to 1000 feet
  • 5-second intermittent spray cycle conserves water
  • Metal ground spike for stability
  • Quick and easy setup
  • Slight leak at connector
  • Less durable plastic build


Water Jet Blaster Yard and Garden Motion Activated Sprinkler
  • LARGE PROTECTION RANGE- Adjustable 24/7 animal detection unit with a 0 to 30 ft range for maximum property protection
  • WATER EFFICIENT - The water jet 5 second intermittent spray cycle ensures repellent effectiveness and low water consumption
  • WIDE- RANGING EFFECTIVENESS- Sprinkler head is fully adjustable with up to 1000 square feet of coverage

Last update on 2024-03-18 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

The Hoont Water Jet Blaster comes with day and night detection mode. So you can adjust it as per the time of day you wish to have it running.

It has a sprinkler head that is fully adjustable and can cover up to 1000 feet of the yard.

The Hoont Water Jet Blaster is designed to be environment-friendly and harmless to people and animals.

The water jet comes with a 5-second intermittent spray that makes it effective but consumes less water.

The setup of this sprinkler is quick and easy. So you will not have problems using it.

The Hoont Water Jet Blaster comes with a limited 1-year manufacturer warranty.

The motion head moves very easily and you might need to use a nylon tie to hold it in place.

Pros Cons
  • Day and night detection mode
  • Can cover up to 1000 feet in the yard
  • Environment-friendly
  • Quick and easy to setup
  • Limited 1-year warranty
  • Motion head needs nylon tie to hold in place


Sale
Havahart 5277 Motion-Activated Animal Repellent & Sprinkler
  • Naturally Repels – Repels nuisance animals such as birds, cats, chipmunks, deer, dogs, groundhogs, opossums, rabbits, raccoons, skunks, and squirrels
  • Detects & Deters – The device releases a startling surge of water to scare animals away and conditions them to avoid the area in the future
  • Motion-Activated – An infrared sensor detects animal heat and movement within 100 feet, triggering the device to spray the invader

Last update on 2024-03-18 // Source: Amazon Affiliates

The Havahart 5277 motion activated sprinkler is effective to deter dogs, raccoons, and other animals from your yard.

The infrared sensor can detect animals up to 100 feet away and can spray water up to 35 feet.

It’s good to have a metal spike that can be placed into the ground to give the sprinkler stability.

It only uses about 2-3 cups of water per spray which helps to conserve water.

It comes with 4 settings of the sensitivity dial and a distance dial to adjust the spray up to 100 feet.

This motion activated sprinkler can also be used as a regular sprinkler with the turn of a knob.

The instructions that come with this motion activated sprinkler are not easy to understand.

Pros Cons
  • Infrared sensor detects animals up to 100 feet
  • Metal spike for stability
  • Eco-friendly
  • 4 settings of the sensitivity
  • Can be used as a regular sprinkler
  • Instructions are not easy to understand


ScareCrow Motion Activated Animal Repellent

The ScareCrow motion activated sprinkler is suitable to scare away deer, rabbit, birds, and other animals from the yard.

It emits sound and a burst of water to encourage the animals away from the area.

It uses a 9V battery and can protect up to 1200 square feet of the yard.

Multiple ScareCrow sprinklers can be linked together to guard a larger space.

It helps conserve water because it uses just 2-3 cups per spray.

The ScareCrow Motion Activated Sprinkler comes with a limited two-year warranty against manufacturing defects.

The build quality of this product will not give you the most durable sprinkler. It’s recommended to replace the supplied hose gaskets with thicker ones.

The fitting can be a bit loose and you may need tape to fix it to the hose.

Pros Cons
  • Emits sound and water to scare animals
  • 9V battery power
  • Eco-friendly
  • Limited two-year warranty
  • Multiple sprinklers can be linked together
  • Cheap build quality
  • Fitting to hose can be loose


Our recommendation

The Orbit 62100 Yard Enforcer Motion Activated Sprinkler is the best motion activated sprinkler in our opinion.

It offers sturdy construction, very precise adjustment, reasonable price, excellent battery life, day and night cycles, and a decent warranty.

The Orbit’s only failing is the fact that it is slightly harder to set up and use, but that’s a small price to pay for good quality and maximum versatility.


Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.