ltdiver 3 #1 July 19, 2009 I've been doing a bit of simple research about this topic, but stalling on purchasing anything until today. The 107F degree heat prompted me to get with it. Just got back from Lowes where I now have $150 worth of stuff. 150 feet of 5/8" tubing and 50 emitters needed for the plants in my backyard. (I bought 1/2 GPH emitters. Hope this is right). Timer, pressure adapter, and anti-siphon valve completed the deal. I'm still hesitant to install it all tomorrow, for fear I won't have the right stuff. It's alot of $$ to blow on a mistake. Anyone out there who's put one of these together successfully and want to coach me? :^) ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DavidB 0 #2 July 19, 2009 You may have jumped the gun a bit. I would suggest going to pbs.org & then to "Ask This Old House" & look for installation guidelines. I know that you need to know your current water pressure & volume in order to have the system work correctly. If you don't move enough volume of water into the line, you may not get any water out at the end. There is a limit to how many emitters can be used on a given zone for a given pressure & volume (& I'm not sure what that limit is, so consult the above link).When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #3 July 19, 2009 Is this web page correct, then? You can use up to 500 feet of tubing and up to 250 GPH in emitters? http://www.grounds-mag.com/mag/grounds_maintenance_install_drip_irrigation/ ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DavidB 0 #4 July 19, 2009 Honestly I know enough about this to be dangerous. I'm just a "how-to" junkie. http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/dripguide.htm This might help confirm or confuse... When the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #5 July 19, 2009 Quote Honestly I know enough about this to be dangerous. I'm just a "how-to" junkie. http://www.irrigationtutorials.com/dripguide.htm This might help confirm or confuse... Interesting read. Learned a few new things. 1) Air Flow Vent 2) K-Y Jelly! 3) 200 feet of tubing (I'm within that with the 150) I'm currently installing from an existing valve on the side of my house. If I like the system enough to permanently install it I'll invest the time to connect it to my sprinkler system timer and install a new valve there. Anything else? ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #6 July 19, 2009 I have done it, it is very easy. Did you buy the brass four way valve to split the water into four lines or are you using just one? Take your water pressure and divide that by how many emitters are on one line, you really do not want to exceed 15-20 so that the pressure remains high any will blow out and mineral deposits that occur. The emitters need to be checked periodically for flow. You can also run emitters off of a soaker hose to get to the plants that are not getting anything from the soaker. Are you using a timer? or are you going to do this manually? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #7 July 19, 2009 Pressure from the valve is 80 PSI last I checked. Only a 2-way splitter. One for the hose (other uses) and one for the drip system. Interesting note on the number of emitters. I may have to rethink this one. Soaker hose. Interesting. I may have to incorporate that one. I have one area that has alot of flower plants clumped close together. Yes, using a timer. That's one of the main reasons for using this system. When I'm gone for "Jump for the Cause" I want to know my plants are surviving the 100+ degree September heat! :^) ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #8 July 19, 2009 Test that timer so you know it is reliable, have a neighbor check that things are getting watered. Things can and will go wrong, vigilance is the key. That is why I suggested the 4 way splitter. Two hoses, one a soaker, and two lines for the emitters. You can splice a hose into a line as well using barbed fittings and a stainless steel hose clamp. Buy a large roll of soaker, run it in rings throughout the flowers, use the extra elsewhere. bury it in mulch, that way the water does not evaporate on the surface. COSTCO has that rubber mulch which is very nice as well. ceramic pellets also make nice bedding cover, they are used for hydroponics. Remember that ones you do this snakes and other things will seek out the water, look before you reach. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #9 July 19, 2009 Nice pressure! here we have only 35psi we have an over abundance of water as well, I really wish they would turn it up. Do you live on a large hill or in the mountains? Santa Barbara, that figures. Damn that brings back memories. I remember all the night blooming jasmine, and the smell of the tires burning on my car. We drag raced a lot, rally and road racing as well, some of it was cough "unofficial" I had a 1976 Trans Am with a Herb Adams VSE suspension and a 455cid engine bored 0.060" over it produced 650hp But damned that gas needle was fastI thought gas was expensive @ $0.95 a gallon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #10 July 19, 2009 Test timer: Check. Neighbors: Check Soaker hose: Buried: Check Rubber Mulch: Already have! :^) But only the first 10 feet from my house towards the garden. Too expensive for the rest of the garden. Besides, the clay soil here requires that regular mulch and such be tilled into the soil, deeply! I have to use a pick-axe to break up the clay otherwise! Ceramic pellets. Hadn't heard of those. However, the flowers are already there, with the regular mulch. Some plants are new, but others are well established (read: 2=3 year old perennials). Snakes? Have never seen one in my neighborhood in the 20 years I've lived here. Skunks, however . . . ! Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #11 July 19, 2009 Yes. Nice pressure. In fact the plumber I hired to replace the main line into the house had to put a pressure regulator in line. (House was built in 1961 and the main line was harboring all kinds of crap that was decreasing the water flow to the house). No hill or mountain. I had to laugh when you said "Santa Barbara". Went back to check my profile, where I'd never entered my lat/long. Funny that the map defaulted to there when my profile said "Perris". Muscle cars are another favorite of mine as well. No racing, but building and rebuilding, plus hearing them purr is a turn-on! Hmmmmm....... Back to our regular programing . . . ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
warpedskydiver 0 #12 July 19, 2009 Back then galvanized was used, for some reason in SoCal they were not using copper when they should haveMy friends Grandma's house in Sylmar had copper 2" service, but her house was actually on a farm of 20 acres at one time, in the 30's it was subdivided. She had a huge yard still, over 2 acres. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ltdiver 3 #13 July 19, 2009 Quote Back then galvanized was used, for some reason in SoCal they were not using copper when they should have Thankfully it is the OLD galvanized, which is WAY better than the newer stuff. The pipes inside my house are still good. ltdiver Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
popsjumper 2 #14 July 19, 2009 Your best bet for irrigation systems is High Times Magazine. My reality and yours are quite different. I think we're all Bozos on this bus. Falcon5232, SCS8170, SCSA353, POPS9398, DS239 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
