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Simplified Guide to Installing Drip Irrigation

Test Water Flow rate

Remove plastic fittings from the tap to be tested. Turn tap on full and place a bucket underneath. Time how many seconds it takes to fill the bucket. With this test you can calculate the approx number of drippers that can be operated at the same time.

To calculate your flow rate, record the number of seconds it takes to fill a bucket (eg. say a 9 litre bucket takes 12 seconds) divide 60 by 12. You now have 5 'buckets' per minute. Multiply the number of buckets per minute by the volume of the bucket used. i.e. 5 buckets per minute x 9 litre bucket = 45 litres per minute.

Designing the Drip System

A drip irrigation system consists of drip emitters that release a small, controlled amount of water. Drip systems come in two different forms; 1. A drip emitter or dripper spike, which is connected to a supply line using 4 mm spaghetti tubing. This method is suitable for irregular or sparse plant spacings. 2. A drip line, where dripper emitters are factory pre-installed and integrated within the poly tube itself. Drip line is suitable for large ground cover areas, long borders, densely populated garden beds or narrow plant rows. It is very simple to install and saves time.

A patch of wetted soil of 30 cm surrounds most drippers depending on soil type. Drippers should be laid near the base of plants to ensure water delivery to the root ball.

Drip line is available in 4mm, 6mm or 13mm diameter tubes with spacings between drip emitters ranging from 30cm apart in 13mm tubing down to 15cm spacings in the 8 mm tubing ( Mini Scape ) . Pressure compensated drip line is only available in the 13mm size tubing.

Pressure compensated drip line is used for both flat or sloping terrain and ensures a precise amount of water flow from each dripper. Non-pressure compensating drip line is more suited to flat terrain.

Installation:

• Use standard black poly tube between tap and start of dripline
• Connect poly tube to tap using a nut & tail or click on fitting
• Install poly tube and drip line above ground in the garden
• Clamp all fittings on both poly and drip lines
• Flush system before sealing the end
• Test system to ensure all drippers are operating before covering with mulch
• We recommend you install a pressure regulator valve

A simple way to convert an existing micro spray system to drip

Any micro spray risers already located on the poly line should be removed and the remaining holes, blocked with 4mm plugs. Using the 6mm Miniscape tubing previously described, you can install either a grid system radiating off the poly, or simply run a series of tentacles through the garden beds between the plantings.

The Miniscape tubing is inserted into the polytube using 6 mm red adaptors.

We recommend running Miniscape 0.30 (dripper spacing) in maximum loops of up to 20 metres and Miniscape 0.15 (drip spacing) in maximum loops of 15 metres.

This loop method will also allow a more even distribution of water to the drip emitters.

To automate an irrigation system you will require:

• A Controller
• Solenoid valves
• Low voltage cable system

The irrigation controller allows you to operate your watering system to a program, such as:

• The time of day watering is to commence for each cycle.
• The running time of each zone to be watered.
• The days of the week or the frequency of watering required.

N.B. Once a program cycle commences on the Controller, all the stations you have assigned to that program will commence watering in sequence for the number of minutes you entered as a running time. The system will then turn itself off and wait for the next scheduled automatic start time.

Solenoid Valves:
Are usually connected to a tap, grouped together on a manifold or located on a dedicated irrigation main line. Water on its way to the drippers passes through the solenoid valve and stops when the valve shuts down. Each solenoid valve controls its own group of drippers known as a zone or station. The solenoid is linked to the controller with low voltage cable.

The Low Voltage Cable System:
From a numbered terminal on the controller, a low voltage cable is connected to the solenoid valve. When the controller begins a cycle, a signal passes along the cable from the controller and activates the coil the solenoid valve. Once opened, the solenoid valve then allows water to flow to the zone. The solenoid valve remains open until the running time on the controller has elapsed for that zone and power to the valve is terminated.

Battery Operated Controllers:
There are a number of these controllers available. Simply attach them to the water source and connect the poly tube irrigation line.

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