Converting my sprinkler system into a drip/bubbler/sprayer system

[sprtsguy76]

For many reasons! The biggest reason is time. I just dont have the time anymore to hand water my containers in the dead of summer so I will be utilizing my sprinkler system that hasnt been used in 5 years. My plan is to locate and dig up all heads, move them into more convenient locations and put the appropriate risers and fittings on them. My only concern is that I plan on installing 50-60 adjustable bubblers/360 degree sprayers on this system and I hope I have enough water pressure to make it work. I'm not sure if a converted sprinkler head can be considered a 'circuit'????? Each circuit will have about 10-15 bubblers/sprayers on them. I'm using something very similar to this http://www.dripdepot.com/1104 from Home Depot. Anyone have any insight, advice or recommendations?


Damon

[rwsacto]

Damon,

I have used the sprayers you show and do not like them. They cannot be easily adjusted for throw or flow. I also believe the flow of these sprayers is too much for 50-60 on a circuit.

I would use 1-2 gph emitters at the end of 1/4 in. tubing or the 6 or 8 "octopus" adjustable distributors. If you are using Earthtainers, the emitter can be put in the filler tube or drain hole and any extra will run out the drain hole. It is a bit of a pain to set up, but once adjusted, work fine.

I assume you are removing/capping all sprinklers from the circuit.

Good Luck,

Rick

[sprtsguy76]

Rick yes unused sprinkler outlets will be capped. There are 8 of them but I'm only converting 4 of them into 1/2 inch lines with bubblers. Sooooo your saying it wont work if i have 4 seperate 1/2 lines w/ 15 bubblers on each line?????Even with really good water pressure? thanks

damon

[RebelRidin]

Damon,

When you say you have good pressure do you in fact mean flow? Anyway, I think that is a way to approach the problem. I assume that at some point here you have one main line feeding the system. Unrestricted, how many gph can that line or the four feeders put out?

Sixty emitters at 2gph = 2 gallons per minute. I used to have a shallow well and pump. It could supply just about 2.5 gpm. When we had our deepwell put in we specified a larger pump. It can source about 10 gpm. Both systems were set for 65 psi on the line. However, the deep well pump easily holds 50 psi on the line with several outside faucets open. The shallow pump couldn't hold more than about 25 psi with one faucet open. The difference in those pressures = flow.

You may want to start with a five gallon bucket and a timer and see how much water your system can source.

[sprtsguy76]

George yes this is all a bit confusing to me but I'm starting to understand better. I just found out that my sprinkler system is a single valve system, so yes at that point its just one line feeding the whole system. I've recounted how many bublers I will need and I have a count of 49 not 60. And yes I've heard/read about the test with the 5 gallon bucket. I guess I need to start there.

damon

[rwsacto]

Hi Damon,

Notice that the sprinklers you chose are 0-10 GPH. If 50 are set to average 5 GPH, that will be about 4 gallons per minute from your single valve system. Instead, if you use 2 gph drip emitters, that is about 2 gallons per minute from your system.

The sprinklers you mention are not pressure compensated AFAIK. It is very hard to adjust them precisely to low flow. Sometimes they spray, sometimes they dribble, sometimes nothing, sometimes the head screws off by itself and it is a fountain and the others are dry. I have removed all of them from my garden.

For my Earthtainers, I use mostly a couple of 1/2 inch adjustable distributors with (8) 1/4 inch tubing to each 'tainer reservoir. For SWC flower boxes, I use 1/4 inch tubing directly off the 1/2 inch line with emitters at the end. Garden beds are in-line drip or soaker hoses.

If you have a hose bib on the same line as your sprinkler, turn it on and see how long it takes to fill the 5 gallon bucket. That would approximate your maximum flow rate for the sprinkler system. At maximum flow, you will have no pressure at the end of your runs. This is another reason to use low flow, pressure compensated emitters and run the system for longer periods. Longer run periods are easier to adjust seasonally. If you need more for a particular container, add a second emitter.

Hope this helps,
Rick

[mike5953]

Damon,

I have used a bubbler very similar to what you have linked, but on the 5" spike for several years now.
I have at least 50 of them (and a dozen or so other type sprayer heads) on an irrigation system based on 1/2 tubing as the main line with a 50 psi regulator, filter, and electronic timer.
I have had no problems what so ever with this setup. There is plenty of pressure and volume, and my system water pressure is pretty poor (< 75 psi).
I should also add that it is currently being fed from 100' of 5/8" garden hose, which I'm converting to 3/4" PVC running underground this year for convenience.

All that said... I'd definitely do the 5 gallon bucket test to make sure your main line can provide the volume you need.

Just my $0.02

[Wi-sunflower]

Over the years I've done all kinds of sprinklers and stuff to get things watered. Frankly those HD lawn / flower bed things tend to suck, especially if you don't have about 35 lbs pressure thru the whole system. And with any long run on that small of a line, you aren't going to have that much pressure. ALWAYS over size your feed line. You will not have nearly as much friction loss that way.

Anyway, take a look at the Global Buckets site http://www.globalbuckets.org/ and scroll down to their info on "automatic watering". It's a siphon system and can use a float valve. Something I will be looking at this summer.

Carol

[sprtsguy76]

I'm leaning away from the HD stuff now and taking a look at these http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/Ra...-360ts-025.htm. They say they are true micro spray with fan spray pattern what ever that means. Anyway, with my hose bid wide open it took me 28 seconds to fill a five gallon bucket today.

Carol I'm going to check the global buckets out for sure.

Just to be clear I'm not using any SWC system for these new lines.

Damon

[sprtsguy76]

After a few tests I'm getting 10 GPM . I went ahead and returned the RainDrip stuff I got at HD and purchased 60 of the above micro sprayers. After reading the product info I'm sold on these being much better then the RainDrip stuff at HD. I'd like to get a hose thread guage to measure my psi.

Damon

[habitat_gardener]

This store (in SF and the east bay, though) is a great local resource, and the website has lots of info about sizing the system and what components to use.
http://www.urbanfarmerstore.com/drip/drip.html

[Worth1]

A circuit is called a zone.
you can measure static psi any place on your water line.
You get residual psi from the last emitter.
You cant get anything close to an accurate reading for gpm from a hose bib unless you are going to use the bib for a water supply.
They are choked down at the bib.
Case in point.
I couldn't get 2 big impact sprinklers to work from one hose bib.
I took off the bib and put on a 3/4 inch gait valve then I put on a manifold of hose bibs.
I have much more water flow now.
If you are using a sprinkler valve you need to get this reading from that outlet not a hose bib.

I have had more than 50 of the dig emitters on one 1/2 inch line at 50 psi with no problems.
But if you are going to use them for containers you should use the pressure regulating drip type emitters.

PS There is an irrigation thread sticky in this section of the forum so information wont get lost.

Worth

[sprtsguy76]

Worth thanks for the great input. I dont think that drip emitters are going to cut it for my container needs. I grow in fast soil (very quickly to drain and dry out)and I think its very important to get an even watering top to bottom throught out the whole container. My converted system is on a sprinkler valve and the grid is all 1" pvc except the 1/2 risers I installed. I have my plumber buddy coming over tomorrow to help me with my measurements of psi etc. If worse come to worse I will install a new grid ABOVE ground because I'm not pulling any more brick and digging around in any more hard clay adobe soil.

Damon

[sprtsguy76]

Ok here is an update for anybody interested. My psi at the hose bib is a whopping 90!! I'm thinking this is good news! Every time I tried to to take my psi at the end of my longest run I ran into busted pvc pipes. This garden/plot of mine has been a work in progress 5 years running ya see. Somewhere along the way (digging new beds) I must have compromised the pvc in a couple areas. I now have that fixed I hope!! I'm just waiting on some pvc glue to dry and set so I can get a good psi reading at the end of my longest run which is about 30'.

Damon

[Worth1]

I cant wait go check it.

Worth