Hunter HC Flow Meter with ¾" Male NPT Thread U.S. gallons

A quick guide to plumbing and wiring your smart flow meter.

Step 1: Plumb into the Mainline
Install the flow meter in your mainline, ideally after the master valve and before the zone valves. Apply thread sealant tape to the 3/4" male threads and hand-tighten them into 3/4" female threaded PVC adapters. Note the directional arrow on the meter body to ensure water flows the correct way.

Step 2: Connect the Wires
Run direct burial irrigation wire from the flow meter to your Hydrawise controller. Connect the two wires from the meter to the designated sensor terminals on your controller. Polarity does not matter for these pulse wires.

Step 3: Waterproof the Splices
If the flow meter is installed in an underground valve box, you must use silicone-filled waterproof wire connectors to seal the wire splices and prevent corrosion.

Step 4: Configure in Hydrawise
Open the Hydrawise app on your smartphone or computer. Navigate to the Sensors section, add a new flow meter, and assign it to your specific zones to begin monitoring and setting up leak alerts.

During spring startup, how does the Hunter HC Flow Meter help protect my garden?
During spring startup, the Hunter HC Flow Meter detects unusual flow rates instantly. If a winter freeze cracked a pipe or blew off an emitter, it sends an alert through Hydrawise before your landscape floods.

This is incredibly valuable because underground leaks are often invisible for weeks. The meter catches the discrepancy on the very first watering cycle of the spring season.

Do I need a specific controller to use the Hunter HC Flow Meter?
Yes, the Hunter HC Flow Meter is designed exclusively for Hunter controllers enabled with Hydrawise software, such as the Pro-HC or HPC series controllers.

It communicates directly with the Hydrawise cloud platform. It will not work properly with standard "dumb" controllers or smart timers from other brands.

Can I install the Hunter HC Flow Meter underground?
Yes, the Hunter HC Flow Meter is fully waterproof and can be installed in a standard underground irrigation valve box alongside your manifold.

Just make absolutely certain that the electrical splices connecting the meter to your run of burial wire are sealed with high-quality waterproof wire nuts.

Does the Hunter HC Flow Meter restrict water pressure?
No, the Hunter HC Flow Meter is designed with a straight-through flow path that measures volume with an impeller, causing negligible pressure loss across its 0.22 to 21 GPM range.

As long as you size the meter correctly to match your mainline (in this case, 3/4-inch), you will not experience any noticeable drop in system performance.