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Garden sprinkler control? Jimi 11-15-2006
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Posted by Jimi on November 15, 2006, 11:14 am





Hello,

I am in Canada and realize this is "out of season" but since I have a
few days off I thought I would do some research into buying a garden
sprinkler control. We live on a small acerage (ranch) and have six
underground sprinkler grids connected to a manifold with manual ball valves.
I have been manually turning on the valves for each grid for the past 10 or
so yrs. I wish to update to electric valves operated by a central control
located inside the house. (Plan on taking extended holidays this coming
summer)
My question is what do you have for this type of control? Does anyone
have any recomendations for what kind, brand type etc to buy or what to stay
away from?
. I consider myself to be "fairly" good at figuring out timers
etc, but don't want something so complicated I'll need a PHD in electronics
to operate. In addition, can anyone comment on what type of electric valves
to buy?

Thanks Group for any constructive replies...Jimi



Posted by Tony Hwang on November 15, 2006, 11:27 am


Jimi wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am in Canada and realize this is "out of season" but since I have a
> few days off I thought I would do some research into buying a garden
> sprinkler control. We live on a small acerage (ranch) and have six
> underground sprinkler grids connected to a manifold with manual ball valves.
> I have been manually turning on the valves for each grid for the past 10 or
> so yrs. I wish to update to electric valves operated by a central control
> located inside the house. (Plan on taking extended holidays this coming
> summer)
> My question is what do you have for this type of control? Does anyone
> have any recomendations for what kind, brand type etc to buy or what to stay
> away from?
> . I consider myself to be "fairly" good at figuring out timers
> etc, but don't want something so complicated I'll need a PHD in electronics
> to operate. In addition, can anyone comment on what type of electric valves
> to buy?
>
> Thanks Group for any constructive replies...Jimi
>
>
Hi,
Have a look at Hunter or Rain Bird web site. If you want to automate
your valve control, you'll need elecric valves, control box and wiring.
You can do it yourself if you want to.
I laid my sprinkler system at my house using Rain Bird kit. Hard part is
digging, other than that nothing to it. I am in Calgary.
Good luck,

Posted by BobK207 on November 15, 2006, 3:26 pm



Jimi wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I am in Canada and realize this is "out of season" but since I have a
> few days off I thought I would do some research into buying a garden
> sprinkler control. We live on a small acerage (ranch) and have six
> underground sprinkler grids connected to a manifold with manual ball valves.
> I have been manually turning on the valves for each grid for the past 10 or
> so yrs. I wish to update to electric valves operated by a central control
> located inside the house. (Plan on taking extended holidays this coming
> summer)
> My question is what do you have for this type of control? Does anyone
> have any recomendations for what kind, brand type etc to buy or what to stay
> away from?
> . I consider myself to be "fairly" good at figuring out timers
> etc, but don't want something so complicated I'll need a PHD in electronics
> to operate. In addition, can anyone comment on what type of electric valves
> to buy?
>
> Thanks Group for any constructive replies...Jimi
http://www.championirrigation.com/HTML_Pages/Cat_CL.html
I've converted over several systems

I use Champion actuators & Toro multi-staion timer

I prefer the brass/brass units....plastic ones suck :(

Valve bodies will last 20+ years or longer , acutatutors 10+ years or
longer

they used to be sold at HomeDepot but knwo I get them at commericial
irrigation supply house

use the classic size if available

Toro timer

Toro Automatic Sprinkler Timer/Controller Toro ECX. 8 zone watering
capacity

look on ebay search for........toro timer

currently auction item 260050319975        is what you need

I like these units so much, they're the only ones I use

retail they're ~$60US + tax & driving to store

on ebay you can get them for ~$50 or less....including shipping

make sure they have all the plug in units to allow use of 8
valves....The controller can accept up to 4 dual valve plug
ins........sometimes the auction is for less than 4, read the
description carefully

auction 160051300968

wold be a steal IF it has enough plug ins for 8 valves extra plug
ins are $10

cheers
Bob


Posted by Jimi on November 15, 2006, 7:41 pm



>
> Jimi wrote:
>> Hello,
<SNIP>
>> Thanks Group for any constructive replies...Jimi
> http://www.championirrigation.com/HTML_Pages/Cat_CL.html
> I've converted over several systems
>
<SNIP>
> cheers
> Bob
>

Thanks so much for the Information Bob!
I really like the TORO model and am sold on that for a controller. My
situation is that the manifold with the valves will probably be about 50
feet from the controller. Is that a problem?. Also I will be using 3/4"
electric valves and welding up my own manifold (pipeline welder by trade).
Are there a lot of wires to run or is it like a wire harness that I would
run to the valves? Thanks so much in reply...Jimi



Posted by BobK207 on November 16, 2006, 1:07 am



Jimi wrote:
> >
> > Jimi wrote:
> >> Hello,
> <SNIP>
> >> Thanks Group for any constructive replies...Jimi
> > http://www.championirrigation.com/HTML_Pages/Cat_CL.html
> > I've converted over several systems
> >
> <SNIP>
> > cheers
> > Bob
> >
>
> Thanks so much for the Information Bob!
> I really like the TORO model and am sold on that for a controller. My
> situation is that the manifold with the valves will probably be about 50
> feet from the controller. Is that a problem?. Also I will be using 3/4"
> electric valves and welding up my own manifold (pipeline welder by trade).
> Are there a lot of wires to run or is it like a wire harness that I would
> run to the valves? Thanks so much in reply...Jimi


I even installed one of these controllers for my 83 year old mom. She
can actually run it after a few lessons.

My brother, my neighbor, my retired boss.....all use this controller
(no complaints)

>>>>> My situation is that the manifold with the valves will probably be about
50
feet from the controller <<<<

Nope, My front yard mainfold is ~70ft from the controller; back yard
~50 ft

To send the signal to the valves I use 18 gage thermostat wire, I ran
it in PVC conduit to a raintight junction box at the manifold. But if
you want you can use individual wires....I like the thermo wire becasue
the conducitrs are all differnet colors...easier to sort out.

In my situation I've got three valves at each manifold location, so I
only need 4 wires to each location. I used 18-8 thermostat wire.......
I had a roll.

The way you wire it up is.....a single common wire is shared by all
valves, then each valve gets it's own individual wire from the
controlller plug-in spring terminal.

If you've got 8 valves unfortunately you need 9 wires (1 common & 8
unique wires). So that means 18-9 or 18-10themo wire or individual
wires your choice

ebay 330050476842        18-9
ebay 330050471783 18-10

you're good to go!


I'm not a fan of the direct bury cable...seen too many failures, I old
school, I use conduit

When I build manifolds, I either solder up a copper one or glue up a
sch40 grey PVC one; I always use the valves that have at least one
union (output side). Plus I space the valve risers such that the
"classic valve acutators" can be used and ther is plenty of room to
unscrew the valves.

cheers
bob


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