wanted; out of box thinking, on gravity pres. irrigation

Things that don't fit anywhere else...

wanted; out of box thinking, on gravity pres. irrigation

Postby del » Tue Aug 24, 2010 1:01 pm

I have had an automatic irrigation system for several years. The problem is being a gravity pressure system the pressure varies a lot, and some days (getting to be several days a week) not enough pressure to shut the valves off.
Any ideas? Have considered a booster pump, but which one, cost, and not sure if I can legally install one have kept me from trying.

del
User avatar
del
5000 Club
5000 Club
 
Posts: 5674
Images: 410
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:27 pm
Location: washington, yakima but tell Mary K Fairbanks

Postby caseydog » Tue Aug 24, 2010 1:32 pm

Can you pressurize your water storage tank?
Image

My build journal is HERE
User avatar
caseydog
Platinum Donating Member
 
Posts: 12420
Images: 515
Joined: Tue Jan 16, 2007 1:44 pm

Postby del » Tue Aug 24, 2010 2:13 pm

caseydog wrote:Can you pressurize your water storage tank?
I have no storage tank, just a pipe from the canal (30+ other houses also hooked to same pipe). Yakima has a irrigation system for watering lawns in town, that for the most part is gravity feed. When the system was installed during the depression auto sprinklers were not considered.

del
User avatar
del
5000 Club
5000 Club
 
Posts: 5674
Images: 410
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:27 pm
Location: washington, yakima but tell Mary K Fairbanks
Top

Postby len19070 » Tue Aug 24, 2010 2:35 pm

The only thing I can think of is an electric solenoid valve on a timer that would shut the entire system down???

That's what I have on mine and it works well.

I tapped into the old well (SHHhh) and have a demand pump...still a flowing source.

But its kind of like lowering the river instead of raising the bridge in your case.

Adding power to an system that doesn't need power.

Happy Trails

Len
:peace: :peace: :peace: :peace: :peace:
http://s26.photobucket.com/user/len1907 ... 20trailers

"If you do good things, good things will happen to you"..... Earl Hickey
User avatar
len19070
3000 Club
3000 Club
 
Posts: 3054
Images: 24
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 7:44 pm
Location: S.E Pa. Morton
Top

Postby del » Wed Aug 25, 2010 11:55 am

len19070 wrote:The only thing I can think of is an electric solenoid valve on a timer that would shut the entire system down???

That's what I have on mine and it works well.

I tapped into the old well (SHHhh) and have a demand pump...still a flowing source.

But its kind of like lowering the river instead of raising the bridge in your case.

Adding power to an system that doesn't need power.

Happy Trails

Len
My problem with that idea is 1. all auto valves I have seen require more pressure to turn off than I have. 2. when the system turns on, if there is not enough pressure on one valve, random other ones will come on to. If I could just find a valve that worked with lower pressure, I would buy 12.

del
User avatar
del
5000 Club
5000 Club
 
Posts: 5674
Images: 410
Joined: Fri Sep 08, 2006 3:27 pm
Location: washington, yakima but tell Mary K Fairbanks
Top

Postby len19070 » Wed Aug 25, 2010 4:30 pm

del wrote:
len19070 wrote:The only thing I can think of is an electric solenoid valve on a timer that would shut the entire system down???

That's what I have on mine and it works well.

I tapped into the old well (SHHhh) and have a demand pump...still a flowing source.

But its kind of like lowering the river instead of raising the bridge in your case.

Adding power to an system that doesn't need power.

Happy Trails

Len
My problem with that idea is 1. all auto valves I have seen require more pressure to turn off than I have. 2. when the system turns on, if there is not enough pressure on one valve, random other ones will come on to. If I could just find a valve that worked with lower pressure, I would buy 12.

del


An electric solenoid valve will work with No pressure...Not even any water.

You have 1 water line going into you property. Interrupt that line, install a Solenoid valve.

Run wires from the solenoid into the house with a plug on the end. (make sure you get a 110V solenoid)

Buy a wall timer, set it for when you want it to go on and off. Plug it into the wall and the Solenoid plug into that.

The valve is like a light switch...power to it, its open. Power off...its closed. Or visa versa.

I'm on my slow computer now so I can't look up 110V water Solenoid's There about $20...a $10 timer and the wire and your done.

If your having problems with some valves, put a solenoid on them too.

I have a similar situation. I don't have enough pressure to run all my sprinklers at once. I have 3 zones and run them on timers in sequence through the night.

But again....Its like lowering the river instead of raising the Bridge.

Happy Trails

Len
:peace: :peace: :peace: :peace: :peace:
http://s26.photobucket.com/user/len1907 ... 20trailers

"If you do good things, good things will happen to you"..... Earl Hickey
User avatar
len19070
3000 Club
3000 Club
 
Posts: 3054
Images: 24
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 7:44 pm
Location: S.E Pa. Morton
Top


Return to Off Topic

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests