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open spaghetti pvc manifolds discussion
- Thread starter smurfin'herb
- Start date
Blind date, are your reccomending using a 45psi shureflow pump with pressure compensated drippers that are only rated for up to 20psi?? Or should i find drippers that are more around a 40 psi rating? Or jus do what head4trinity said, just put a ball valve on the manifold and adjust it accordingly, although its restricting the pumps true output potential. What would be the best scenario here?
I would not restrict the pump's output as they are "demand" pumps and will shut off at the rated pressure (then turn on again after it drops) this may cause the pump to "cycle". Better to use the ball valve to vent off excess flow. That way you can use any dripper you want. The 20 psi ones are perfect.
Head4trinity
The Eco+230 has a 1/2 horsepower motor and draws 8 amps! You've got to be kidding!
Folks.....Remember that we are only irrigating a few times a day for a short time.
That pump could run thousands of drippers 24/7. Don't need it.
Head4trinity
The Eco+230 has a 1/2 horsepower motor and draws 8 amps! You've got to be kidding!
Folks.....Remember that we are only irrigating a few times a day for a short time.
That pump could run thousands of drippers 24/7. Don't need it.
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Thanks BlindDate, I thought I had the right idea, but its nice to confirm.
What do you think of this pump for 20 dripper sites? http://www.castlewholesalers.com/LITTLE-GIANT-5-MSP-WATER-WIZARD-Utility-Sump-Pump-1-6HP.html
What do you think of this pump for 20 dripper sites? http://www.castlewholesalers.com/LITTLE-GIANT-5-MSP-WATER-WIZARD-Utility-Sump-Pump-1-6HP.html
BlindDate said:
im sorry blinddate, i dont understand this ball valve setup. How do i vent off excess..?
H
headfortrinity
This is exactly what I was talking about. Run a T off of the main line with a return line going back to the reservoir and put the ball valve on this return line. So the more you close the valve the more pressure and flow goes to the irrigation side.
You do this because trying to match the pump size to exactly the amount of flow and pressure that is needed is very difficult. You either overpressure or under pressure the system.
I agree it might be a bit much for the 72 sites he's running now (if he runs drippers at all). But that is how the mountain boys do it, they say to always be ready for expansion when it is needed. Another benefit of having the extra flow is that every time the system pumps, the reservoir get stirred very nicely. Add a venturi to the return and you get free air insertion. This is how they run pumps in hydroponic greenhouse applications (especially NFT, DNFT and DWC).
Smurfin:
Knowing more about the system your running would help us help you.
I don't run the drippers because I pressurize the system to the output I'm looking for by running a bypass. I use the same setups for my bucket RDWC, my lettuce NFT and my cooking herbs DNFT. If your using a soil, soiless or perlite medium you'll need drippers.
I use two self regulating spaggetti hoses with a spike or holder per pot, simple and delivern equal amount per minute . My 3000litre/hour fish pump does the job for atleast 60 hoses 30 pots. Not essential for all gows ideal for small pot/plsnt, coco or 24/ lights IN constant drip recirc.
this here bleeds some excess pressure prolonging pump life
simply lay 1/4 or 1/2 inch tube from tap in res to and through the grow room with an end stop at last pot. Use and keep atleast one inline filter clean. Next make sure all feeder hoses are the same length cut if need @45` angle if need.
once you have the drippers set up get to work on a light proof res of size, 60lt per light we only want to maintain the res weekly in run to waste coco.
this here bleeds some excess pressure prolonging pump life
simply lay 1/4 or 1/2 inch tube from tap in res to and through the grow room with an end stop at last pot. Use and keep atleast one inline filter clean. Next make sure all feeder hoses are the same length cut if need @45` angle if need.
once you have the drippers set up get to work on a light proof res of size, 60lt per light we only want to maintain the res weekly in run to waste coco.
H
headfortrinity
thc43 where do you get those spikes at? The ones I've tried to use with open end spaghetti tubing seem to pull out of the medium.
im growing in coco, but i want to use mostly all organic/semi-organic supplements, and only use chem ferts for my main nutrient, and pk boosters. Because the organics are so thick, i have a hard time seeing the minerals making it thru the drippers without clogging. Blinddate, do you think they will clog drippers rated for 20psi and while under 20psi of pressure...? Or would it work better if i increased the pressure more, and just got higher rated drippers, like say maybe 30-40psi....?
Anyway because of this issue, im thinking to just hook my 1/4" lines up to blue drip baskets, so clogging is not an issue. I noticed they have a smaller hole at the connection port, it looks like 1/8"! So that would mean by decreasing the size of all feed lines, i have doubled the pressure, so i might get better distribution. Should i use a shurflow pump for that setup, or do i need like a 1000gph submersible pump?
Also, how can you put a psi gauge onto a running system to measure what psi it is at while running dynamically? Heres one run i did with 48 2gph drippers and a 1000gph pump, all 3/4" pvc and tubing....
Anyway because of this issue, im thinking to just hook my 1/4" lines up to blue drip baskets, so clogging is not an issue. I noticed they have a smaller hole at the connection port, it looks like 1/8"! So that would mean by decreasing the size of all feed lines, i have doubled the pressure, so i might get better distribution. Should i use a shurflow pump for that setup, or do i need like a 1000gph submersible pump?
Also, how can you put a psi gauge onto a running system to measure what psi it is at while running dynamically? Heres one run i did with 48 2gph drippers and a 1000gph pump, all 3/4" pvc and tubing....
Just about all commercial drippers are made for water only. Yet, we all use them for hydroponics applications. The true aero guys use misters that will produce 50 micron droplets and no one has much of a clogging problem. Why? Because they all have simple, cheap screen filters installed.
Like this:
http://www.dripworksusa.com/store/filters.php
With pipe fittings
Buy your gage from here:
http://www.dwyer-inst.com/Products/Product.cfm?Group_ID=247&Product_ID=474&sPageName=Specs
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so a shurflow or submersible for my blu drip basket setup...? Also, what kind of pipe fittings. my manifold is pvc, can u connect that gauge to pvc?
I dont like to buy off the net. Do they sell those fittings and that gauge at company chain hardware stores?
what parts should i get if i want to just use one of those pressure gauges that are made to connect to a 3/4" garden hose fitting? those are accessible. I just cant see what piece makes it connect to the 3/4" pvc manifold im using tho.
lol i read that, but like i said, i dont buy off the net. I only have access to home depot/lowes etc.. type of hardware stores. Can i get these parts at those places?
Whats the diff. between using 3/4" line or 1/2" line in a drip setup with pressure compensated drippers? does it matter?
H
headfortrinity
smurfin'herb said:
I bought my pressure gauge for $10 at home depot in the rainbird dripper area. it goes up to 200 psi and comes with a garden hose fitting which is 3/4" pipe thread. You can buy the plastic adapter to convert it to 1/2" if you like. I use a T coupler with a threaded fitting on top. T coupler with slip on ends and the top T is threaded. If your using 3/4" pvc then use a 3/4" threaded plastic pipe and put the pressure gauge on top. I'm using 1/2" pipe because I don't have many sites, so I use a 1/2" threaded to 3/4" thread plastic rainbird pipe fitting to convert the hose nozzle to 1/2" pipe thread.
They also have a pressure regulator with gauge for about $30 rainbird brand, it has hose threads on both ends but those are easily converted to whatever your using, The gauge on the regulator goes up to 80 psi I think.
Hope that info helps. Spend some time in the dripper and pvc sections you'll see it.
I spend hours in Home Depot just figuring things out. Today I was in Sacramento at a home depot for 3 hours. I bought some pipe fittings for my NFT setups and 3 18 gallon rubbermaid type containers that I've never seen before, they are made out of recycled materials and are pure black so no light transfer and only $3.44 each. It seems that the stores in big cities have a better selection than where I live.
