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Help reqd on a planed sprinkler, water butts, pump and timer

marcmejackmarcmejack Posts: 6
in Tools and techniques
I have ventured in the realms of internet irrigation advice but have returned even more bamboozled than before.  Basically I have bought two water butts, hoses, 800w pump, pressure switch/control, two timers, several sprinklers and  lots of adaptors and connectors.

The aim is to dot a few sprinklers amongst the plants and set it all to come on at 7am for a few mins.

Question 1.  25mm main hoses, but the timers, manifold and sprinklers are standard hose diameter - 12.5mm.   Will the step down in hose size cause a loss of flow or pressure?

Question 2. Should the timers be close to or far away from the pump.

Thanks.
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Posts

  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    edited July 2023
    Where to start other than lots of questions? What are you growing that needs such regular irrigation? A few minutes from a sprinkler every morning will not made much difference. Why did you buy 25mm main hoses, the pressurised mains supply to most houses is only 19mm? How are you filling your water butts? How far apart are your plants from the water butts, pressure drop depends on distance?

  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    Personally I'd ditch the sprinklers, possibly use seep hoses or just pipe into sunken pots...
    What plants are you wanting to water?
    What's the height difference between base of butts and the soil?
    How big are the butts and how are they filled?
  • StephenSouthwestStephenSouthwest Posts: 635
    ...and don't plane the sprinklers! (Sorry - couldn't resist!)
  • marcmejackmarcmejack Posts: 6
    StephenSouthwest said:
    Personally I'd ditch the sprinklers, possibly use seep hoses or just pipe into sunken pots...
    What plants are you wanting to water?
    What's the height difference between base of butts and the soil?
    How big are the butts and how are they filled?
     Drat... I can't get that song "I like big butts..." out of my head now.  B)

    In London the soil was different, it would hold moisture far better than up here in East Anglia.  It is a fine, quartz like sand which never saturates.  There always seems to be a prevailing breeze which removes any remaining water.  I would have typed this sooner but I was outside watering for almost an hour.

    A year or so ago I bought a couple of Claber sprinklers and rigged up a simple hose supply.  One sprinkler operates great but when two or more are used it was a let down.

    The initial plan was to use a splitter or manifold  to hook up two double outlet timers with two sprinklers on each outlet.  The first two would come on then switch off followed by each of the other lines.
  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,718
    Have you tried amending your soil by digging in lots of organic matter to make it more water retentive?
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2023
    Here on free-draining gritty loam south-west of Norwich I find seep hoses much more useful than sprinklers … there’s also the possible bonus that I’ve heard that some water companies allow the use of seep hoses (as they’re more efficient and less wasteful) when sprinklers are banned due to hosepipe bans during droughts. 

    Don’t quote me on that as I can’t remember where I read it, but it was in a UK publication recently. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I read the same thing Dove so have had a google to see where I read it.
    It may have been this - 

    Can I use my irrigation system during a hosepipe ban?

    Drip irrigation systems have been granted exemption from hosepipe bans in the past (since 2012), and will more than likely continue to be exempt from any future ones as they have been included in the Discretionary Universal Exceptions adopted by all water companies. Drip irrigation systems are extremely efficient in the distribution of water, so no wonder water companies are keen to promote their use. Compared to using a hosepipe, you can reduce your water consumption by 70%. There is, however, nothing written in law to say that they must be exempt. It is always worth checking the rules of any hosepipe ban that is put in place to see if your irrigation system is exempt or not.

    So, assuming drip irrigation systems are fine to use in any future hosepipe bans, it is worth noting the conditions they put in place, which must be followed according to the wording in the law. Below I have highlighted what conditions they place on the use of irrigation systems during a hosepipe ban.

    • You must use a timing device, also known as a water timer or a tap timer to control how long the irrigation system turns on and, more importantly, to shut it off automatically.
    • Use a pressure reducing valve (PRV) to protect the system from high spikes in water pressure. Spikes in water pressure can cause joints to pop off and could cause a flood.
    • The emitters of the system must drip onto or underneath the soil surface; they must not spray, sprinkle, jet or mist.

    The last point in the list above indicates that we must use a drip irrigation system. It is the only type of irrigation system that drips water onto (or underneath) soil. Micro Sprays, Mini Sprinklers, Pop Up Sprinklers or any other type of irrigation system would not be exempt under these stipulations as they dispearse water through the air. If you collect rainwater to use for your irrigation system, there is no reason I can see why you cannot use that, and therefore continue to use any irrigation system of your choice.


    From here-

    https://www.easygardenirrigation.co.uk/blogs/news/watering-plants-during-hosepipe-ban


    Is a soaker hose the same as a drip irrigation system? I'm not sure

    I have 2 50m soaker hoses and they work extremely well for the borders


    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Thank you @Pete.8 … that looks familiar 👍 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • marcmejackmarcmejack Posts: 6
    floralies said:
    Have you tried amending your soil by digging in lots of organic matter to make it more water retentive?
    Moved here 4 years ago and have since added lots to the soil, mulches and pea gravel on a weed membrane.  Years and years ago thousands of funny looking Scot's pine trees were placed around in an attempt to disrupt the shifting soil.
  • clematisdorsetclematisdorset Posts: 1,348
    Has anyone discovered flexible seephoses? Do they exist? My seephose is too rigid to curve around in my borders properly. If anyone has ideas, I would be interested.
    Sorry to witness the demise of the forum. 😥😥😥😡😡😡I am Spartacus 
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