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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Plumbing Questions >> Garden irrigation recommendations https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1306333235 Message started by Twobarrows on May 25^th, 2011, 3:20pm

Title: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by Twobarrows on May 25^th, 2011, 3:20pm

The War Office has declared that she would like an irrigation system installed. I have installed one before but to be honest I didn't like the control unit part of it as it was far from intuitive (contrary to the ad!):
http://www.garden-irrigation.co.uk/acces3.htm top of the page.
Does anyone have any recommendations please. It will need probably 5 circuits: 3 lawn & 1 border in rear garden, one border / hanging basket drip at the front, controls will be in garage, I guess the solenoids would as well, but they could be buried I guess.

Oh you wouldn't believe how much my back is looking forward to digging the trenches to bury this pipework!

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by thescruff on May 26^th, 2011, 1:17pm

Are you on a meter or going to harvest the water with a great big tank.

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by Twobarrows on May 30^th, 2011, 12:40pm

We are metered, but the wife has mentioned trying to use water from a rainwater butt. She wants the system primarily so that when we go away, we don't come back to a dry scorched lawn & dead flowerbeds!
I've tried to convince her it is more trouble than it's worth but we had one before & she wants one again!

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by big_all on May 30^th, 2011, 2:45pm

you wont save much with a water butt a cubic metre/1000L off water costs me £1-66p so connecting to a water but whilst admirable will not solve your irrigation problem as you will soon run out

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by Twobarrows on May 30^th, 2011, 3:54pm

I am fully aware of this, I just wanted recommendations for irrigation systems.

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by Twobarrows on Jun 2^nd, 2011, 10:29am

Ah, it would appear we have no specialist knowledge on irrigation timers! Any idea where I can find some more info? I've trawled the wibble and most of it is hozelock type, or in the US.

What wifey wants, wifey gets.......but I know what she bloody well needs!

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by CWatters on Jun 2^nd, 2011, 3:50pm

Never used them but google suggests these people have a basic gravity fed electrically controlled irrigation system...

http://www.watermate.co.uk/Rainwater-Irrigation-c1/

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by Lectrician on Jun 2^nd, 2011, 3:53pm

Most places seem to use the quick hozelock stuff these days (talking pubs, restaurants etc), a big block stuck on a tap! Looks great ;D

In the past, before these contraptions, it was common to simply have a solenoid valve in some 15mm pipework, controlled by a conventional timer. I have previously fitted both 240 and 24v versions.

Something like this: (Clicky)

And this: (Clicky)

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by Twobarrows on Jun 2^nd, 2011, 4:19pm

Gravity? It's going to be mains pressure. It will need 5 or 6 circuits so a simple timer will not be enough. I think I am asking in the wrong place actually but don't know where I should ask.

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by CWatters on Jun 4^th, 2011, 9:37pm

I had a problem with one of those Timeguard units and it's replacement..

http://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?action=print;num=1182366501

The sliding switch appeared to be the problem.

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by Twobarrows on Jun 5^th, 2011, 8:17am

That's a thread about pumps ? There will be no pump.

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by CWatters on Jun 5^th, 2011, 8:37am

Wasn't the puimp that caused the problem. The problem I had turned out to be intermitent sliding switch in the timer. Set it to timed and the pump wouldn't allways come on when it should, tap the sliding switch a little and the pump would start up and continue to work fine.

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by Twobarrows on Jun 6^th, 2011, 2:05pm

What make / model water timer was that, I'll avoid it!

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by CWatters on Jun 6^th, 2011, 6:46pm

It was the Timeguard Immersion heater timer mentioned above..

http://www.tlc-direct.co.uk/Products/SMETU2000.html

Title: Re: Garden irrigation recommendations
Post by Twobarrows on Jun 6^th, 2011, 7:39pm

That's not a sprinkler timer with a minimum of 5 circuits is it, so how do you control 5 seperate circuits with an immersion heater timer?
I don't think anyone understands the question!