The Great Garden Timer Showdown We compare Hozelock and Claber

Why Your Garden Needs a Good Water Timer

These are one of the simplest ways to keep your garden thriving with minimal effort especially when you’re away or just too busy to water manually every day. These devices attach to a tap and open/close the water flow based on the schedule you program. But not all timers are created equal.

Today we’ll focus on two popular choices and how they stack up: Claber’s Duplo two-port timer versus the Hozelock Sensor Plus and similar controllers.

🌦️ 1. Claber Duplo — Dual Zone Control for Serious Watering

Claber Duplo Tap Timer sits at the premium end of Claber’s digital timers. Designed for gardeners with multiple watering zones on the same tap, Duplo lets you control two separate outlets independently from a single controller — a big advantage if you’re running, for example, a lawn sprinkler on one side and drip irrigation on the other. 

Key Features

✅ Two independent irrigation lines — perfect for dual-zone watering. 

✅ Up to three start times per day per line. 

✅ Long watering durations: from 1 minute up to 23h 59m. 

✅ Weekly scheduling — including exclude days. 

✅ Manual watering mode and battery status indicator. 

✅ Connectable to Claber rain sensors — pauses irrigation in wet weather. 

📌 Runs on one 9 V battery that can last a whole season. 

Pros

• Dual outlets mean real multi-zone control without extra splitters.
• Very flexible scheduling with long maximum duration.
• Integrated LCD makes programming easier than basic dial timers.

Cons

• More expensive than simple single-line timers.
• Slightly steeper learning curve than basic push-button timers.

 

🧠 2. Hozelock Sensor Plus — Smart Simplicity with Rain Logic

Hozelock Sensor Controller Plus (sometimes also sold as Hozelock - Watering Timer Sensor Controller Plus) is Hozelock’s popular programmable controller that sits somewhere between a basic timer and a ‘smart’ device.

Key Features

🌤️ Programmable start times and watering durations — traditionally based on a 24-hour programmable clock. 

☀️ Options for watering frequency — hours to days between cycles. 

💧 Manual watering button. 

🌧️ Works with rainfall via a rain delay or optional rain sensor. 

⚙️ Compatible with water butts and comes with multiple tap fittings. 

Pros

• Reliable, straightforward programming for most garden needs.
• Rain delay helps avoid wastage after showers without additional accessories.
• Often cheaper and easier to use than multi-zone controllers.

Cons

• Typically a single-zone controller — any second zone requires a splitter and another timer.
• Not as feature-rich in terms of automatic weekly scheduling as some Claber models.
• Fewer options for multiple start times compared to Duplo.

🧩 How They Compare

Feature	Claber Duplo	Hozelock Sensor Plus
Independent Dual Outlet Control	✔️	❌ requires splitter
Multiple Start Times per Day	✔️ (up to 3 per zone)	✔️ (varies by model)
Long Duration Programming	✔️ 1 min–23h 59m	✔️ (generally up to ~3 h+ range)
Weekly Day Exclusions	✔️	❌
Rain Sensor Compatible	✔️ wired (and optional)	✔️ often built-in rain delay
Best For	Dual-zone, flexible systems	Simpler garden watering

 

🏡 Which One Should You Pick?

👉 Choose Claber Duplo if:

• You want true dual-zone independent control.
• You need long watering times or complex weekly schedules.
• You’re watering different systems (sprinklers + drip irrigation) from one tap.

👉 Choose Hozelock Sensor Plus if:

• You want a simple to program, reliable timer for one main watering line.
• You like the benefit of rain delay logic.
• Price and simplicity are higher priorities than dual-zone flexibility.

📌 Final Thoughts

Both timers are robust options for outdoor irrigation, but they fit different use cases. Claber’s Duplo is more of an advanced solution for gardeners needing multi-line control and flexible schedules, while Hozelock’s Sensor Plus is a solid, simpler controller that pairs dependable timing with ease of use.

If you’re watering a vegetable patch, lawn, and flower beds from one tap, the Claber Duplo could be worth the extra spend. If you just want “set and forget” watering for one zone with smart rain handling, Hozelock Sensor Plus will do the job beautifully.

The Hozelock Timers are comparable with low pressure and flow systems like Water Butts, however the Claber timers need a higher pressure system to work, i.e. Garden Tap.

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