This article was co-authored by Mike Garcia. With over 30 years of experience, Mike specializes in sustainable landscape practices. He is one of eight Internationally Certified Pond Builders in the world. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed , times. Installing a sprinkler system will allow you to water areas that would otherwise wither and dry out in dry seasons. Evaluate the size and shape of the area s you plan to water and determine which sprinkler types are most effective for your situation. Keep in mind that you can use multiple types of sprinkler heads.
Then, dig out the trenches and install the pipes and control manifold. You should be able to purchase all of the necessary supplies at a large hardware store or home-improvement store. To install a sprinkler system, start by drawing a diagram of the area you want to irrigate and mapping out the sprinkler system, including where each sprinkler head will go.
Then, dig ditches that are at least 10 inches deep for the main pipe and the branch pipes that will run from the main pipe to the sprinkler heads. Next, lay down PVC piping in the ditches you dug, and install risers to connect the branch lines to the sprinkler heads.
Finally, connect a timer, backflow preventer, and control valves to the pipes. To learn how to choose the right kind of sprinkler system for your needs, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No. Log in Social login does not work in incognito and private browsers. Please log in with your username or email to continue.
No account yet? Create an account. Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy.
Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article parts. Things You'll Need. Tips and Warnings. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Choose a gear-driven rotor sprinkler head to cover wide areas. Rotor heads are the most common and versatile type of sprinkler head. They pop up as directed by a timer and revolve degrees in order to spray water across a large area.
You can adjust the distance that each head will spray from 8—65 feet 2. Opt for shrub heads or bubblers to irrigate shrubs and flowers. Each bubbler can only irrigate an area of about 3 square feet 0.
If you try installing a bubbler on a sloped patch of your yard, you'll end up with a small river running downhill. Stick with fixed pop-up heads for watering areas adjacent to buildings. If you need to water an area right next to the side of your home or garden shed and would rather that the sprinkler head not blast water all of the building itself, choose a fixed pop-up head. These heads spray water in a half-circle, so you don't have to worry about watering the side of a building.
Part 2. Draw a roughly to-scale diagram of the areas you wish to irrigate. Starting with a schematic will enable you to plan the routing of pipelines and placement of sprinkler heads so you can purchase your materials.
Divide the areas into rectangles of about 1, sq ft m 2 each. Consider the type s of terrain contained in each zone. For the sake of sprinkler installation, try to limit each zone to 1 type of terrain. For example, 1 zone could be a large, grassy backyard and another could include a garden or sidewalk-side shrubberies. Mark the location of each sprinkler head on your diagram. Mark the to-scale distance that each head will spray onto your schematic. Then, decide which shape you want each head to spray in.
A good-quality rotor head will spray an arc, semicircle, or full circle about 25—30 feet 7. To ensure adequate coverage, install fixed pop-up heads about 18 feet 5. Keep in mind when you're positioning the sprinkler heads that the angle of spray on rotor and pop-up heads can be adjusted. Draw in the main water line. Start the line from the location where you plan to install your control valves, timer if automatically operated , and backflow preventer.
The sketch can be rough, though. Draw branch lines from the main line to each head. Branch lines are the smaller pipes that connect the main line to each of the individual sprinkler heads. Sprinkler heads themselves are never attached to the main lines, but always to the branch lines.
Part 3. Purchase adequate PVC piping for each irrigation zone. Click here to shop sensors. For more information about irrigation system repair, troubleshooting irrigation systems, irrigation controllers, options and features, or to purchase a new irrigation controller or sprinkler timer visit www. Below you …. Hendrickson Bros. Think about your average …. Nozzles are the final and one of the most …. Quick Tips For Simple Tune Ups Keeping your irrigation system working properly is very important in order to conserve water and money.
There are is …. Know Before You Go These steps make an irrigation system installation easy. Keep in mind that clicking on the highlighted words or phrases will help …. Most people know they need a …. How to Install a Sprinkler Timer.
March 20, Metal center punch. Wood type drill bit — to drill holes through the timer cabinet Black sharpie or felt-tipped marker A hammer A level Screws, with matching plastic wall anchors Screwdriver Click here to browse controllers and sensors with brands including Rain Bird, K-Rain, Weathermatic, Hunter, Toro and Irritrol.
Consider factors such as power supply, whether the sprinkler timer is an indoor or outdoor model, whether it will plug into an outlet or needs to be hard wired. Also consider convenience of operation, and ease of access for the user. Unpack the timer. Some hardware and supporting documents will be included for the installation. The face should snap out easily. Look for clips or plastic tabs along the front or sides of the unit.
Also detach the ribbon connector. If desired, remove the cabinet door by taking out the steel pin connecting the door to the main cabinet. For extra stability, drill extra mounting holes through the back of the cabinet. Irrigation controllers usually come with pre-drilled holes or mounting hardware in the back, so this step is optional.
Turn off the breaker to the wires. Double check the wires to be sure the electricity is off, by using a volt-meter or ticker. The volt-meter gives off an alarm if it detects electricity in a line.
An active electrical current can cause injury to the user, or throw off sparks that can damage the irrigation controller.
Mount the cabinet at a comfortable height, usually about eye level. Place the cabinet against the wall, and use the level to check that it is even. Use the felt tipped pen to mark the wall through the holes in the back of the cabinet. If drilling into stucco, use the metal center punch.
Line the punch up to the marks on the wall, and give it a firm whack with the hammer to make a small indentation in each mark.
This keeps the stucco drill bit centered and stable. Drill holes into the wall at the marks. Put the plastic inserts into holes. Tap them flush against the wall with the hammer. Using screws, mount the timer cabinet to the wall. Connect the station wires. Make notes of which wires are responsible for each zone or valve of the sprinkler system, to avoid guesswork in the future. Use either a flathead or Philips screwdriver to loosen the top screw and to remove the bottom screw completely.
Lift your unit up and off of the wall to remove it entirely. Part 2. Get a timer that has enough stations for the number of sprinklers you have. Make sure the timer unit that you purchase has the same number of stations as you need for your sprinklers. Mount the timer to the wall with screws. Hang the top of the timer on the mounting screw already attached to your wall. Tighten the screw inside the unit with a screwdriver so the timer is held securely to the wall. Find the mounting hole near the bottom of the timer and attach another screw there so the unit is sturdy on the wall.
If the unit plugs directly into the wall, make sure the cord can reach the outlet. Feed the station wires into your timer and plug them into the proper zones. Put the wires into the stations that match their label.
If the unit has screw connections, hold the wire underneath the head of the screw, and tighten the screw with a screwdriver until it holds the wire securely. If your timer has tab connections, press the tab down with a screwdriver and feed the wire into the port. Release the tab so it has a tight grip. Reconnect the power wires to the new timer. Locate the black, white, and green power wires in the unit and match them with the power wires that run out to your sprinklers.
Twist the ends of the wires of matching colors together so the current can run between them. Cover the exposed ends of the wires by twisting wire caps on top of them. Turn on the power and test the sprinklers to see if the timer works. The display on your timer may flash for a few seconds before turning on completely. Turn your controller to the manual setting to test each sprinkler connection. Make sure the sprinklers are all operating correctly.
Reprogram your sprinkler schedule on the new unit. Go into the settings of your timer and set the current time and date so your sprinklers will run at the correct times. Then set how long the sprinklers will run during that watering session. You can choose to let your sprinklers run every day or pick specific days of the week. If your timer uses a wi-fi connection, you can set the program from your computer or mobile device.
Do all sprinkler timers come with a volt connection that goes to a contactor to start the irrigation pump? TC Williams. Most all controllers have a pump control port, but in most cases that only sends a signal to a separate Pump Start Relay that matches to the specific pump in horsepower and voltage to actually start the pump running. In some controllers the 'Master Valve' port may double as a pump control.
Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1. I bought a replacement Rainbird timer and it does not seem to put out enough current to open all my valves. Why is this? The controller only sends a volt charge to the valve solenoid and usually only to one valve at a time in sequence.
There is also a certain distance and correct size of wire to be used to carry the correct load. My timer for the time of day works and manually the sprinker heads come up, but not on the time and day I have chosen. What do I do? Make sure the correct day, month and time is programmed first to keep the controller accurate from day to day.
0コメント