Hunter Irrigation Controller Buying Guide: HPC, Pro-HC, X2, ICC2 & ACC2 Compared

Choosing an irrigation controller comes down to three questions: how many zones (stations) do you need to run, whether you want smart Wi-Fi control, and whether the site is residential or commercial. Here is how Hunter's current lineup breaks down.

Quick comparison

Controller	Stations	Wi-Fi / Hydrawise	Best for
X2	4–14	Optional (WAND module)	Budget residential
HPC	4–16 (HPC-FP faceplate upgrades Pro-C)	Built-in	Residential smart upgrade
Pro-HC	6–24	Built-in	New smart installs, larger homes
ICC2	8–54	Optional	Light commercial, HOAs
ACC2	12–54+	Optional, flow monitoring	Commercial & municipal

Residential: X2, HPC, and Pro-HC

The X2 is Hunter's entry-level controller. It runs up to 14 stations and works offline out of the box; add a WAND Wi-Fi module later and it becomes a full Hydrawise smart controller. If you're replacing a basic timer and aren't sure you need app control yet, the X2 keeps that door open.

The HPC is the smart upgrade path for the millions of installed Hunter Pro-C cabinets. The HPC-FP faceplate swaps onto an existing Pro-C in about five minutes — no rewiring — and adds full Hydrawise Wi-Fi scheduling. If you already have a Pro-C on the wall, this is usually the cheapest way to go smart.

The Pro-HC is the controller to pick for a new smart installation. It ships Hydrawise-ready in 6, 12, and 24-station models — if you searched for a 24 station irrigation controller for a large residential property, the Pro-HC-2400 is the standard answer. Hydrawise adjusts watering automatically from local weather data, which typically cuts outdoor water use noticeably in the first season.

Commercial: ICC2 and ACC2

The ICC2 covers 8 to 54 stations with a plastic or metal cabinet and is the workhorse for HOAs, schools, and light commercial sites that don't need flow monitoring.

The ACC2 is Hunter's top-of-the-line commercial controller: 12 to 54+ stations, real-time flow monitoring with automatic mainline break shutdown, six simultaneous programs, and two-wire decoder output options. Specify it where water windows are tight or where a stuck valve would cause real damage.

Sizing tips

• Count zones, then add headroom. Buy at least two stations more than you use today — adding a drip zone later is far cheaper than replacing the controller.
• Indoor vs outdoor cabinets. Outdoor-rated models include a transformer and locking cabinet; indoor models are cheaper but must stay in a garage or basement.
• Add a rain or soil sensor. Every controller above supports Hunter rain sensors and soil moisture sensors, and many municipalities require one.

Browse all models in our Controllers & Timers collection, or jump straight to Smart Wi-Fi Controllers. Questions about a specific model number? Contact us — we handle part-number lookups daily.