I'm looking for an automatic sprinkler timer/controller which works based on time and volume.
I'd like to be able to set it so gravity pressure sprinklers would come on at a certain time (early in the morning to conserve water) and shut off after using a specific amount of water.
Any ideas? It has to be battery powered, operate on 15-30 PSI, and be affordable for the intended purpose.
This would be beneficial to people using solar water pumps, artesian wells, and springs in conjunction with a storage tank.
Situations where you have a specific amount of water and want to utilize it without using more than what is being provided each day.
It also eliminates the need to constantly measure how much water is in the tank. You just need to know how much water is going into the tank and what you have used each day.
imaudigger, post: 386043, member: 7286 wrote: I'm looking for an automatic sprinkler timer/controller which works based on time and volume.
I'd like to be able to set it so gravity pressure sprinklers would come on at a certain time (early in the morning to conserve water) and shut off after using a specific amount of water.Any ideas? It has to be battery powered, operate on 15-30 PSI, and be affordable for the intended purpose.
This would be beneficial to people using solar water pumps, artesian wells, and springs in conjunction with a storage tank.
Situations where you have a specific amount of water and want to utilize it without using more than what is being provided each day.
It also eliminates the need to constantly measure how much water is in the tank. You just need to know how much water is going into the tank and what you have used each day.
You're feeding the sprinklers via gravity?! Where's the 15-30 psi coming from? That's 30' to 70' of head pressure if from gravity. do you have a tank up on a hill?
rfc, post: 386047, member: 8882 wrote: You're feeding the sprinklers via gravity?! Where's the 15-30 psi coming from? That's 30' to 70' of head pressure if from gravity. do you have a tank up on a hill?
Yes. I'm probably getting too picky about what I want. You can do a lot with an extra 40 gallons of water a day (typical dripping faucet). Most applications are designed around unlimited water supply and waste.
I want to use as much as possible while keeping my tank full.
imaudigger, post: 386062, member: 7286 wrote: Yes. I'm probably getting too picky about what I want. You can do a lot with an extra 40 gallons of water a day (typical dripping faucet). Most applications are designed around unlimited water supply and waste.
I want to use as much as possible while keeping my tank full.
Well, there's no end to the number of highly sophisticated solutions to this, but given that your pressure is near constant (depending on how tall the tank is and how high up the hill it is), I'd opt for a "KISS" solution:
You can purchase inexpensively ($30 to $60 on Amazon) regular irrigation timers that go directly in line; no valves needed. Measure the quantity of water per hour/minute of operation, then set the timer using time only; the quantity delivered will be close enough.
If you really want to get sophisticated, put an "up tube" in the tank so that the line draws water from a foot or so up the tank. When the level reaches the top of the tube, it will suck air, break the siphon, and watering stops regardless of the timer. Upon refilling and the next day's water cycle, it should start to gravity feed again without interaction.
Some of the locals use those large poly tanks with an aluminum frame and fill with their mix of bunny manure and water or other recipe and they come with a cutoff valve and attach to a leach line.
A 12v marine waterpump from Harbor Freight is about $35 and will connect between two hose fittings and pumps 200gal per hour.
Camping world has a large assortment of them.
The one in my camper works the shower as well as any house shower I know of.
I am not Implying this is commercially available or can be battery operated. And, I've never done this:
A pressure transducer in the tank tied to a PLC. set the PLC to energize a sprinkler control valve for a specific range of depths (yields a range of currents from the transducer). Down line of the control valve, have your timer and control valve. Regardless of water/ no water (PLC's decision), the timer is simply set to water when you prefer.
You may be going this way already but, I think tying flow to depth in your reservoir will simplify things.
You may even make a passive dosing system similar to a septic tank. Then you only need the timer for flow/ no flow.
Good luck with it.
I bought a simple single zone timer (orbit brand). It will get me by for now with a single sprinkler.
Problem with using a time based controller is that I need to know my gallons/min. usage which is dependent on if I'm using an impact sprinkler, ground sprinkler, watering with the hose, drip system, ect. or a combination of several. Also affecting the daily usage is the pressure at the sprinkler.
Then the fact that my tank is buried complicates things further. I am going to use a low pressure gauge to estimate the tank level.
Volume would be so much easier. They make inexpensive shut off valves that act as a volume meter and they make digital timers. Just cannot find a combination of the two.
And volume? So, when it HEARS the neighbor, it sprays him!
You might talk with some of the local "vegetable" growers up there. They have a vested interest in efficient irrigation systems ... 😎
That thought already crossed my mind. The only "growers" I know are harvesting hay.
Just send the crew out to set up the total station 15 minutes before you want it to start. It's fool proof.
imaudigger, post: 386043, member: 7286 wrote: I'm looking for an automatic sprinkler timer/controller which works based on time and volume.
I'd like to be able to set it so gravity pressure sprinklers would come on at a certain time (early in the morning to conserve water) and shut off after using a specific amount of water.Any ideas? It has to be battery powered, operate on 15-30 PSI, and be affordable for the intended purpose.
This would be beneficial to people using solar water pumps, artesian wells, and springs in conjunction with a storage tank.
Situations where you have a specific amount of water and want to utilize it without using more than what is being provided each day.
It also eliminates the need to constantly measure how much water is in the tank. You just need to know how much water is going into the tank and what you have used each day.
Yo, this is a Land Surveyors forum. Not LandScapers forum 🙂 I don't know about all the stuff you are looking for but I have a remote control for my electric sprinklers. Best thing ever. Man who dies with the most remotes wins! 🙂 Jp
Just general chit chat.
Surveyors are great problem solvers - good resource.
