Setting a drip irrigation timer. Water irrigation timer

Drip irrigation for your garden

Drip irrigation is the most efficient and economical way to water your garden, saving time, money and water.

What's happened drip irrigation?

This is an effective and economical watering method. This irrigation method gives more than 90% efficiency of the water used. Unlike irrigation methods such as sprinkler irrigation, which are only 65-75% effective, drip irrigation reduces leakage and evaporation. Drip irrigation delivers water very slowly to the root of the plant, exactly where it is needed.

Drip irrigation is used in greenhouses, nurseries and agricultural firms. Be that as it may, ordinary home owners can take advantage of the uses and benefits of drip irrigation. As a homeowner, you can use drip irrigation for your vegetable gardens, year-round gardens, trees, flower beds, and flowers.

Benefits of drip irrigation

Tubes with a large number of drippers, called drip lines, are located above the ground along the plant beds. Drippers slowly release water into the soil and into the root zone. Since the moisture level is kept at an optimal level, the plant's growth performance and quality are improved. Plus, drip irrigation:

Prevents diseases by minimizing contact of water with leaves, trunks and fruits of plants.

Keeps beds between plants dry, improves access and reduces weed growth.

Saves time, money and water due to the fact that the system is very efficient.

Reduces labor costs.

Increases efficiency even on uneven surfaces.

Reduces water and fertilizer leakage below the root zone.

Drip irrigation system assembly and components.

The main components of a drip system are the faucet or automatic controller, filter, main line, auxiliary lines, connectors and fittings, drip lines and plugs.

The main line is connected to the water source - to the external tap - and then, through an auxiliary line - to the drip lines. Basically, auxiliary lines are used if you have many watering zones. The total length of the main line and auxiliary lines should be no more than 120 m.

The tap regulates the flow of water into the system and can be controlled either manually or automatically (if an electrical controller is connected). A pressure regulator is required if the pressure can exceed 2 bar.

Filters prevent clogging of droppers with substances undissolved in water over a long period of use. It is best if the filter has a filter mesh of at least 120 MESH or higher. Adapters and filters are used to connect the drip lines to the rest of the system. This is important because it right size to prevent leakage when water is supplied under pressure.

Drip lines and droppers

A drip line is a polyethylene tube with built-in drippers that should be located near the plants. Drip lines and droppers are various types and diameters depending on your needs. The length of each 16mm/33cm/2.1L/h drip line should not exceed 50m from the point where the water enters the tube to ensure 95% emission uniformity. You will need to reinforce the line to prevent it from moving.

Common mistakes

The following points are provided to introduce you to some of the common pitfalls encountered when designing and installing a drip irrigation system.

Drip line too long or too many drippers:

The Tandem drip line contains drippers that are pre-installed at the factory, every 33 cm, and each dripper flows 2.1 l/h (at 1 bar pressure)

The maximum recommended length is about 50 meters on a level surface to ensure an equal flow with 95% uniformity, or a maximum of 80 meters for 90% uniformity of flow, which already means that there can be an emission difference of up to 15% between the first and last dripper in the line . Since the Tandem drip line has 4 outlets in each dripper, it promotes better flow and better stability against clogging.

Filtration:
Use the correct filters for your system. Select the correct filter element depending on the water quality and dripper types. We recommend a filter with at least 120 MESH mesh. Never use a system without filters.
Incorrect pressure:
For a drip irrigation system to function correctly, it must be supplied with the correct pressure. (BAR or ATM are the same thing) If you try to put too many drippers in the line, the pressure will drop below the minimum operating minimum and your system will not work. If you use the wrong pressure regulator or don't use one at all, your system will have too much high pressure, and it will not work properly. The table below shows different flows with different pressure and relative diagram.

. Incorrect zoning:
“Zoning” is the grouping of a large drip line into common “zones.” Typically zones are grouped by plant type. Trees are separated from flower beds. Plants that are resistant to dry climates are separated from moisture-loving plants, etc. If you have different soil types, you can also separate them into separate zones. The main thing you must remember is whether, when the system is turned on, you can water each plant according to its needs? If you place a big tree on the same line as the small flowerbed, one of them will be either too dry or too wet.
. The drip irrigation system can be connected via an automatic regulator.
Because a small volume of water is released slowly, drip irrigation is designed to operate throughout the day, except on rainy days. How long to use drip irrigation depends on how much water your plants need per day and the flow rate of the drip outlets. Water is supplied once or twice a day. The best time to water is early in the morning, as evaporation is lowest at this time.
. Water Requirement: You must know the water requirement according to the evapotranspiration factor (Rate of evaporation in the area you are in and plant transpiration). If, say, evapotranspiration is 5 mm per day in the hottest month, we calculate this data according to the size of the zone we wish to water, i.e. 100m2: 100m2x 0.005 m = 0.5 m3 per day is the water requirement every day. This is an accurate calculation of the amount of water you should apply each day through your drip irrigation system. You can water every two days, doubling the volume of water, or even every 3 days, tripling the volume of water. You will also need to adjust the system in months that are not so hot
The usual way to do this is through trial and error. Adjust system usage times and daily schedules for the entire season. The main thing is the need to observe the plants and pay attention to their needs. You don't just need to install a drip irrigation system and go into the house. The system should be checked periodically to ensure that it is working perfectly.
Beginning of work

If this is your first time installing a drip irrigation system, we recommend trying one of the kits. Each kit contains everything you need to install a working drip irrigation system. All parts can be purchased separately to be added to the system later.
The components of a drip irrigation system are the following: controller, valves, filters (pressure regulator if pressure exceeds 2 bar), dripper fittings, drip line (micro pipes) (drippers) and tools such as scissors and tweezers.
. Greentimer is a battery-powered controller: it has an all-in-one design that can be hung directly on a spout or other water source. This type of controller is ideal for small single-zone systems.
. Perfect operating pressure for your irrigation system - 1 bar at the drippers or 1.2 bar at the initial water supply point (If your pressure exceeds 2 bar, use a pressure regulator to reduce high pressure).
. If you leave polyethylene pipe size 16 mm in the sun, it will be easier for you to work with it.
. If you are having trouble trying to fit ½” tines into a 16mm pipe, placing the pipe in warm water will make the process easier. You can also heat the ends of the tubes using a hair dryer.
The diagram below gives visual representation on how to assemble each type of system:
. A drip irrigation system using a bell and a battery-powered controller (timer), filter, 16 mm polyethylene pipe, 16 mm drip line with inserted drippers every 33 cm, produces a flow of 2.1 liters per hour at a pressure of 1 bar.


Note: When connecting your components, be sure to use the correct threads and apply some insulation to them to avoid water leakage

Screw insulating film around the threaded connection of the Greentimer controller

Screw the insulating film around the threaded connection of the filter

Connect the coupling

Screw insulating film around the threaded connection of the inlet fitting

Insert the connector into the 16mm pipe, fix the connector

Unroll the 16mm tube and cut when it reaches ground level

Connect the elbow to the other end of the 16mm tubing and then to the drip line

Connect the Tandem drip line to the elbow. Install a Tandem drip line along the line of your plants

Use a T-joint to follow the lines of your plants

Close the end of the drip line by bending the tubing and installing a double clamp

Planning your system

Start by preparing a sketch of the area you wish to water. Make sure you include locations of trees, bushes, vegetables and natural cover. Prepare a list of your plants by category, i.e. natural shelters, bushes and trees. Based on the size of the plants, their categories and density, you can determine the required flow rate at the drippers. Show on paper the location of site water resources, obstructing walls and paved areas. To do this, you will need to measure the area you want to water.
Planning for future use
In any project you create, leave room for future expansion. As plants mature, they may require more water. Watering times can be extended to meet this need, but basically more drip lines need to be added to accommodate growing plants. Additionally, new plants may be added to the landscape, so leave room in the overall design to allow for a 20-30% increase in available water supply capacity.
Installing your system
Installing a drip irrigation system is a fairly simple process. Start by comparing your plan to the actual landscape and making any necessary changes to your plan to reflect actual site conditions. Start installation and assembly at the water source. If your drip irrigation system serves more than one zone, then by adding valves to each branch drip line you achieve control of each zone. If you decide to automate your system, your controller should be the first component of your build.
Installation of drip lines
Install drip lines using fittings as needed. Don't lay the lines too tightly; leave room for expansion and contraction due to changing weather conditions. Provide opportunities for plants bigger size get more water volume by adding more drippers (more meters of drip line). You can lay a line around the tree to provide more drips.
First system launch
Before turning on the system for the first time, leave all ends of the drip lines open, turn on the water supply and allow it to flow freely for a few minutes. This will flush out any dirt that may be trapped inside the line. Cap the ends of the drip line using caps. Make sure the drippers are working properly and there are no water leaks at the connection points.
Service
. Inspect the drippers to make sure they are not clogged.
. Filters should be washed and cleaned at least once a month, depending on the water quality. Checking the filters a week after installation will give you an idea of ​​how often to schedule filter cleaning.
. It is also necessary to periodically flush the line tubes; in this case, the quality of the water will be the deciding factor in determining the frequency of flushing.
. During cold weather, we recommend draining the water from polyethylene tubes or rolling them up and storing them.
. During cold weather, we recommend removing the battery-powered controller and, after completely disassembling the equipment (filters, valves), storing them indoors.
. Once a year, remove plugs or open hose ends to flush the line.
. As your plants grow, you may need to add, change or remove drip lines.
For improved control of the irrigation process, you should know:
Determining soil type
When water is slowly applied to the root zone at one point, it is subject to the forces of gravity (downward movement) and capillary action (outward movement), creating a characteristic of the type of soil wetted and the rate of watering. To determine what type of soil you have in your area, take a handful of dry soil, squeeze lightly, and release. Sandy (rough) soil will crumble and fall apart. Loam (medium density) will clump together but can be broken apart easily. The clay is compressed without breaking.

Each soil type will require a different layout. On sandy soil, water tends to seep down, so we recommend using closely spaced or large-volume drippers. In loam, water will move slowly and spread evenly, so you can use fewer drippers with more spacing between them.
Tandem drip line with outlets on both sides of the dripper provides faster flow and better distribution of irrigation water.

Relationship between soil and water
Capillary moisture is water held in pores by the surface tension existing between water and soil particles. Capillary moisture is the primary force that distributes water horizontally and is the primary source of water for the plant.
Gravity water is free water in the soil that flows downward under the influence of gravity. Once the soil is saturated with water, gravitational water percolates down, leaving the soil at field capacity

EXAMPLE OF GOOD WATERING UNIFORMITY

WASTE WATER

Field water capacity is a method of measuring the volume of water retained in soil against the action of gravity. If the soil is saturated by rain or irrigation and then dries freely within 24 hours, the soil is usually at field capacity.

For most plants, soil moisture levels at field capacity represent the ideal moisture level for vegetative growth because there is a good balance between soil moisture saturation and weathering. The soil will lose a small amount of water after it dries to field capacity if there are no plants on it. Plants will remove water through transpiration and reduce soil moisture. On hot days, plants may use water faster than the soil can supply it to the roots, or faster than the roots can supply water to the rest of the plant, and the plant will wilt. Typically, if there is sufficient moisture in the soil (which you can maintain with your watering system), the plant will recover overnight.
The steady wilting point is the soil moisture content at which the plant wilts and remains wilted.

Calculation of total flow volume
To determine the total flow rate within the drip irrigation system's coverage area, simply add the total number of drippers and their flow rate.
Example: You have designed a system using a Tandem drip line that is 50 meters long, with drippers spaced every 33 cm and a flow rate of 2.1 liters per part (at each dripper). 50 m divided by 0.33 m = 152 droppers multiplied by 318 liters per hour.
If you have doubts about the capacity of your water source, time how long it takes to fill a bucket with a known volume. For example, it takes 20 seconds to fill a 5 liter bucket, then maximum flow water per hour equals 5 liters multiplied by 3 = 15 liters per minute x 60 minutes = 900 liters of water per hour. If the system requires more water, divide the system by adding another valve. The maximum recommended flow rate for a 16 mm drip line is 800-900 liters.

SteleCables
Engineer
Irritec S.p.A.

Thanks to the application modern technologies and innovation in the field agricultural technologies, caring for plants has become more comfortable and efficient. First of all, this became possible after the development of watering timers, capable of not only controlling the amount of water supply and flow for a certain type of plant, but also performing both drip irrigation and spraying of liquid in accordance with the program settings and type of device.

Let's take a closer look at how to choose the right timer for watering, what you need to pay attention to, how to choose the right settings, and what types of such devices exist.

What are the advantages of a water supply timer?

Most farmers and summer residents strive to reduce the time spent on watering and irrigating plants by introducing an automation system. To solve this problem, you can choose a highly efficient watering timer that can not only simplify the watering process, eliminating the need to use buckets and hoses, but also provide the plants with the optimal amount of moisture and fertilizer to obtain the best harvest.

Using such systems, you can get the following advantages:

• efficient consumption of water resources;
• fully automated system watering using electronic timers with programmable control;
• control of soil moisture to protect the root system of plants from excess moisture;
• a wide range of options for customizing the irrigation program for specific types of plants;
• reliability of functional units.

The principle of operation of the timer for drip or other types of irrigation

Most automatic irrigation systems work with gravity collectors in accordance with the laws of hydrodynamics. This means that when the reservoir is placed at a certain height from the ground, for example, 3–5 m, a pressure of about 0.2 atmospheres arises in the system pipeline, which delivers the liquid to the end consumer - the plants. And to automate this process and rationally consume energy resources, timers are used to regulate the time and amount of water supply.

For full operation of this class of devices, it is necessary to connect one end of the timer to a centralized water supply system or to a gravity collector using threaded connections, and the other to the irrigation circuit.

Further, depending on the design of the timer and its settings, the device mechanism will open and close the ball valve at a certain periodicity or retract the solenoid valve, thereby ensuring the supply of water to the plants at a given interval.

In cases where it is necessary to irrigate a large area with a multi-circuit irrigation system, a gravity collector will no longer be effective. In such cases, in addition to a timer to automate irrigation, it is necessary to additionally install a pumping station.

Types of timers

Today there are 3 main groups of timers:

1. mechanical;
2. electronic watering timers with mechanical drive;
3. electronic with an intelligent control system.

Mechanical timers for water supply

These devices belong to the “budget” segment. They are highly reliable, low cost and do not require a power source. The main working element of mechanical timers is a spring that operates the valve.

However, the mechanical type water supply timer has one significant drawback, which is the need to turn on the device manually. It is for this reason that this type of device is used in conjunction with electric timers or battery-powered solenoid valves.

Electronic mechanical timers

The electromechanical irrigation timer allows you to fully automate this process by setting the device for 7 days of operation with a maximum duration of water supply of 120 minutes.

The main advantages of such devices:

• low cost;
• fully automated operation;
• ease of setup;
• high reliability.

However, electronic timers in this market segment have one small drawback - it is impossible to connect various sensors to them, for example, humidity, precipitation levels, etc. And this, in turn, will increase water consumption.

Automatic timer with intelligent control system

This class of devices allows you to set not only the operating time of the irrigation system, but also control many parameters, from soil moisture to the intensity of daylight.

An irrigation timer of this class allows you to fully automate the supply of water for a long period of time, which allows you not only to rationally use water resource, but also provide an optimal microclimate for plants of any type.

This is achieved thanks to additional connection to the device of the following sensors:

However, an electronic water supply timer has two significant drawbacks - high price and complex equipment setup. However, if we evaluate the advantages that can be obtained by using these systems, then the above disadvantages fade into the background.

How to connect correctly

In most cases, connecting a timer is quite simple, however small nuances still exist.

They are as follows:

• When connecting the timer, it is necessary to observe the direction of movement of the liquid, which is determined using the arrows at the input and output of the timer. Otherwise the timer will not function.
• For reliable operation device manufacturers recommend installing coarse filters to protect the device mechanism from foreign bodies, such as dirt, debris and so on.

• Single channel system. This design consists of one line to which one or more injectors are connected. The advantage of this design is its simplicity and reliability. This system works ideally with a low-pressure gravity manifold, which allows water to be sprayed over a fairly large radius from the nozzle with a certain frequency depending on the timer setting.
• Multi-channel irrigation system. To ensure water supply over large areas, a multi-channel system is optimal solution. It consists of several independent lines, to each of which you can connect nozzles or tapes for drip irrigation. However, to ensure full functioning of the system, it is necessary to additionally install a pump to increase the pressure in the system or a pumping station.

Also for creating automatic system When watering a site, regardless of the type of system, you will need taps, hoses, fittings and nozzles to supply liquid to the end user.

Features of device operation

Depending on the type of timer, before you start using the device, you must make certain settings that will ensure reliable and trouble-free operation of the system throughout the season:

• For timer mechanical type settings are made using two levers, one of which is responsible for the frequency of turning on the system, in most cases the maximum interval is 72 hours, and the second for the duration of water supply to the plants with a maximum time of 120 minutes.
• For electronic devices the number of settings is an order of magnitude higher. These devices allow you to adjust the intensity of water supply separately for each day of the week. In addition, more efficient and expensive models are able to control the amount of precipitation, soil moisture levels and the intensity of sunlight to ensure an optimal microclimate.

The water supply timer can only be used at positive temperatures, since when frost sets in, the water increases in volume and can destroy and disable the device.

Using a timer for drip irrigation of crops

Today, the most energy-efficient solution for irrigating crops is the drip method. It allows for spot watering in accordance with a pre-set timer program.

Thanks to this technology, you can get the following advantages:

• Watering crops can be done at any time of the day.
• Slow supply of liquid, which allows plants to absorb up to 93% of the total volume.
• When various baits and fertilizers are added to the water, they will be delivered directly to the root system of the plants, which increases the effectiveness of the fertilizer by 76%.
• When using drip irrigation with intensive sunlight the leaves will not fade in the sun, unlike standard watering of plants.
• With the correct setting of the drip system and timer, the root structure improves, which in turn significantly increases the amount of harvest.
• The drip method of crop irrigation significantly prevents the formation of weeds, since all useful moisture is spent on plant development.
• When installing an electronic timer, human participation is only necessary at the system programming stage, which frees up time for other matters.

What equipment is needed to assemble an automatic irrigation system?

To assemble such systems, it is first necessary to determine the number of consumers (plants), draw up a plan for the placement of system components and calculate the approximate fluid consumption.

• drip irrigation timer;
• drip irrigation tape;
• polypropylene pipes for supplying water to the belts;
• pipe clamps and clamps;
• plugs;
• valves and fittings;
• reduction and rotary knees;
• seals;
• connecting elements.

These materials can be purchased separately. However, if you are not an expert in this field, then it is better to purchase ready-made kits, in which the number of certain elements for irrigating a certain area is calculated in advance.

Conclusion

Based on many years of experience in using similar systems for watering plants, vegetables, fruits and berries, we can say that these devices have proven themselves with positive side, since they help not only reduce human participation in watering crops, but also improve the quality of the crop by 20–45%. And thanks to the use of modern programmable devices, this process has become fully automated, which allows you to make good profits and increase the scale of your agricultural business.

In contact with

Greetings Muskovites!
Finally, a new smartphone arrived to me, which has There is camera, and I can do some kind of reviews. Go! Today, for my colleague, I received a timer purchased on Ali to automate watering in my dacha/garden. After all, this is the 21st century of technology, but there is no time (or even the desire) to visit the dacha for watering. We are not talking about the delivery of water to “consumers”, this is another topic, here we will talk about the timer that will open the water and let it go to consumers. Go! Review updated! Please cut below!

I don't like a bunch of photos about tracks, packaging, and so on. Everything arrived and was intact, that’s the main thing. So let's start with what arrived:


The product was purchased in another store, the link is lost. According to the link in the review, there is also an adapter for quick connection, but I either didn’t have it in the description, or the seller forgot to include it, no big deal. So, what's available: the timer itself, instructions, a pair of threaded connectors for connecting to the water supply.

What the timer can do (the most important and interesting):
16 programmable programs
Water pressure: max. 6 bar/150 PSI
Water temperature: max. 40 degrees
Batteries: 2x1.5V AAA

The most important thing is that there is no pressure whatsoever. The device will be operated connected to a container with water, the water will flow by gravity drip system to consumers. I think it is possible to use it on a water supply, but you may have to install a reducer so that the device does not break.


IN assembled form the device looks like this. Definitely missing the quick release adapter hose. On the other hand, it will always be connected. Why take it off?


Everything inside is plastic, but the plastic is quite pleasant to the touch, thick and durable. Exactly the same as used in garden supplies.


The lid is transparent. It is screwed onto the timer through a silicone O-ring, very tightly, with a creaking sound. Gives the impression of reliability.


Everything runs on two AA batteries. Opening hours are not yet clear, because... The device was not in combat use. A bug was immediately identified, while I was twisting and taking pictures, the contact was lost. Therefore, when installing in combat mode, it is better to additionally secure the batteries in the compartment.

Let's move on to the most interesting part, the settings. At first glance, everything is very complicated, there are a lot of buttons, it’s not clear what to do. Gradually read the instructions and try. Everything becomes extremely clear and falls into place.

How and what is configured?

The first thing we do is press the Time button. Use the ˄ and ˅ arrows to set the current time, confirm each value with the Set button, and also select the day of the week.
Unfortunately, I deleted this photo, so I already have the next photo, where you can turn the timer on and off manually, bypassing the programs.
Press the button On, use the arrows to set the operating time, press the Set button. The timer opened and the water started flowing. In the current photo, the time is 14:53, the timer opened the “latch” for 15 minutes.


Let's move on to the most delicious part of the program. Press the Prog button, we get to the menu for setting up watering programs, as stated, we have 16 of them.


What can be customized. Program number, start time of watering, operating time, number of operations, either every 2nd day (as I understand it, from the day the program was created), every 3rd day, or according to a schedule. Use arrows to select a day and mark with the Set button.

At first, when dealing with this thing, I thought that what I had bought was not what I needed, because... how to water several times a day? Everything turned out to be as simple as shelling pears. For example, a person wants to water 3 times a day, but the program is configured to turn on once?
Therefore, we need 3 programs out of 16.
1. 7.00 for 30 minutes on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun.
2. 15.00 for 30 minutes on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun.
3..21.00 for 30 minutes on Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun.
That's it, the setup is complete, lubricate the O-ring, screw on the lid and put the timer in its rightful place.

Measurements and device:

In " idle move"The device consumes 1.1-1.2 mA.


When the valve is activated, the current rises to 350 mA (0.35 A), and then drops again to 1.2 mA, while the valve remains open. Also, if there is a power failure, the valve remains open.

Now let's move on to the very important point - internal organization. Comrade Muskov resident explained:

<...>If there is not a ball valve inside, but a diaphragm - then from the pressure from the barrel, alas, this timer valve will not work, which has already been written many times on specialized forums. These little green timers come with both a ball and a diaphragm<...>

My situation is the following: by the looks of it, there is still a diaphragm inside, because... The crane mechanism is definitely not visible at the end. At the same time, after opening, the air blows without much effort.
All these prairies are associated with the ability of this device to work with containers by gravity; according to some information, devices with a diaphragm will not open at low pressure. I invite you to delve into the topic in more detail in the comments.

Summary:

For those who missed it, I will repeat, the timer was just purchased, it did not work in combat conditions, but when checked, everything buzzes, closes, and does not allow air to pass through. I bought it on Ali in another store, the link is in the review for an example! In your hands it gives the impression of a reliable and high-quality product. Review Not the goods have been paid for Not was provided free of charge. I just decided to share with everyone what, in my opinion, is a good thing for automating routine processes before the approaching irrigation season.
Thank you all for your attention! Planning to buy +191 Add to favorites I liked the review +68 +154

Today, to facilitate plant care, they are used various systems watering, they make it possible to control the amount of water for each type of plant, use drip irrigation or sprinklers. Water is saved, and the best conditions for plants are created. favorable conditions development. The only drawback of such systems is the need for constant monitoring; turning on/off is done manually. This is a rather unpleasant task, the duration of watering depends on the type of plant, climatic conditions and a specific system can reach two hours. In order to solve this problem, you should install a watering timer for gravity systems.

First, you need to explain the concept of “gravity-flow systems,” otherwise in some sources you can find funny explanations of the principles of their operation and a complete misunderstanding of hydrodynamics.

Automatic garden watering systems - diagram

There are experts who claim that irrigation timers for gravity systems are so good that they can operate at water pressure from 0 to 6 atmospheres. They will work at zero pressure, but nothing will be watered. Gravity flow is not a physical concept, but a purely everyday one. And this does not mean the absence of pressure, but the absence of constantly operating water pumps. In gravity systems, the pump supplies water only to the storage tank, which is located at some distance from the ground. Due to the difference in height between the upper water level and the place where it exits, pressure is created, which is what forces the water flow to move.

Why are timers used in most cases for gravity flow systems? Because they cannot work at high pressures, their closing valves are too fragile and their drive mechanism is weak. For most devices, the maximum water pressure cannot exceed 0.5 atm; for such pressure, the container with water must be located at a distance of five meters from the surface of the earth. The vast majority of irrigation systems have storage tanks located significantly lower.

Types of timers

Currently, three types of timers can be purchased:

• mechanical. The simplest ones are semi-automatic control systems. They turn on manually and turn off automatically after a specified period of time (up to 120 minutes). They do not require power sources; the closing valve is actuated by a spring. Advantages: low cost and high reliability. Disadvantages - you cannot do without the presence of people during switching on;

  

• electronic with mechanical control. Irrigation modes are fully automated, the watering schedule can be adjusted for a seven-day period, and watering duration is up to 120 minutes. Advantages: relatively low cost, ease of program creation and management. Disadvantages – inability to connect additional equipment;

  

• electronic with program control. The most modern devices have the ability to install up to 16 special functions. Disadvantages - high cost. In addition, it can be difficult for untrained users to install programs.

  

Mechanical timers are rarely used; most often, irrigation systems are controlled by one of the types of electronic devices. The water supply is regulated using a solenoid (solenoid) valve or ball valve.

Timer for irrigation on 2 lines, mechanical “Expert Garden”

1. Solenoid valve. At a certain time, power is supplied to the electromagnetic coil, under the influence of electro magnetic field the core is pulled into the solenoid and shuts off the water flow. If the power stops, the core is pushed up by a spring and the lumen of the pipe opens. In timers, the principle of operation can be the opposite - without voltage, the valve closes with a spring, and when a strong magnetic field occurs, it opens. Due to this principle of operation, battery power is saved. You can distinguish the operation of the solenoid valve by a characteristic click during opening/closing.
2. Ball valve. Opening/closing is performed by a gearbox driven by an electric motor. To save battery power, it is also constantly in closed position, opens only when the watering system is turned on. When the ball valve timer is triggered, a short operating noise is heard electric motor and gearbox.

Important. As soon as there is a risk of frost, the timer must be turned off. Why? During start-up, large currents appear in the stator windings; as soon as the rotor begins to rotate, the current strength drops to operating conditions. During frosts, the ball valve may freeze a little; the power of the electric motor is not enough to tear it off. This means that the starting currents will be long time flow through the windings, which will inevitably lead to their overheating and short circuit. And the gearbox itself is not designed to withstand significant forces; the drive gears may fail. Such malfunctions require complex repairs or complete replacement of the device.

Electronic timers with mechanical control (toggle switch type)

Very easy to operate, reliable and durable devices. To select operating modes of the irrigation system, you need to perform the following steps:

• unscrew the top transparent plastic cover. You need to work carefully, do not lose the sealing gasket, it may fall out;
• Use the left toggle switch to set the frequency of turning on the system, the maximum period is 72 hours;
• Use the right toggle switch to set a specific watering duration, maximum 120 minutes.

Important. The initial countdown time of the electronic device begins from the time the timer is turned on. This means that if, for example, you want the watering to turn on periodically at five o’clock in the morning, then the first timer setting must be done at the same time. In the future, the time when the irrigation system is turned on will not change.

Manufacturers, complete with a timer, sell a full set of fittings for connection plastic pipes or flexible hoses of various diameters. The timer is powered by two AAA 1.5 V batteries.

Watering timer - photo

Electronic timers with program control

More modern devices, have significantly expanded functions. Supplied with adapters for connecting pipelines and flexible hoses various diameters.Settings program control is done as follows:

• remove the plastic cover. It is twisted quite tightly at the factory, you will have to make a significant effort;
• press the Time power button, the program installation parameters will appear on the electronic display. Set the current time and day of the week, the action must be confirmed by pressing the Set button;
• go to each day of the week in turn, select the time and duration for turning on the electronic timer. These parameters will be saved throughout the period of use;
• If desired, the device can be configured with up to 16 different programs. To do this, press the Prog button and then configure the required number of programs. All entered data must be confirmed by pressing the Set button.

There is a fairly capacious capacitor installed inside the device. It is designed to signal when the batteries are critically low and to switch the timer to autonomous power mode. When the battery charge is low, a warning signal will appear on the display. Since its appearance, the batteries can still work for 2-3 days, depending on the frequency and duration of turning on the irrigation system.

In completely autonomous mode, the capacitor can ensure the operation of the timer for 3-4 days. If the batteries are not replaced within this time, the timer will turn off. After this, all previously installed watering modes will be erased from memory, and you will have to repeat the installation steps from the very beginning.

In standby mode, the timer consumes no more than 1.2 mA; during operation, the current consumption increases to 350 mA. These are very small values ​​that allow the device to operate on batteries alone for at least a season. Manufacturers specifically avoided this time; during the annual routine inspection of the irrigation system before starting it is recommended to install new batteries.

There are timer models designed to work on large and complex systems glaze. They have several valves, which allows you to control the watering modes of several separate zones; each of them has its own parameters. Multi-valve devices can be connected to a voltage of 220 V or have up to eight AAA 1.5 V batteries.

What data should be taken into account when configuring sensors

The conditions for growing plants largely depend on the correct setting of the timer program. What should you consider?

Dividing the irrigation area into separate zones, taking into account the types of crops. Each of them has its own requirements, in some cases you will have to buy multi-valve timers.

Hydraulic calculation for maximum water consumption. The operation of timers must take into account the total capacity of the drives. If there is no automatic pumping, then you need to independently monitor the availability of water and, if necessary, fill the containers.

Analysis of the routing of irrigation systems. Large differences in height of individual irrigation lines can have a significant impact on their performance. When setting up, you should keep in mind not only the watering time, but also the amount of water that is supplied to the plants during this time.

After completing installation of the timer, it is recommended to check the functionality of the system. To do this, minimum switching periods are set and the correct operation of the valve actuators is checked. If the timer is operating normally, you can begin specific programming and put the system into automatic operating mode.

The process of installing a timer program will be much simpler if you purchase additional sensors with it.

Additional timer options

Electronic watering timers using sensors can perform several additional functions, which further simplifies the process of growing crops in greenhouses or open ground.

1. Rain sensor. Such equipment is used during installation of irrigation on open areas. The rain sensor sends a signal to the electronic device about the presence of natural precipitation. The timer responds to these signals and skips one watering that coincides with the rain period. The sensor is adjustable in the precipitation range from 3 mm to 25 mm. Such a wide range allows you to more accurately regulate watering rates taking into account weather conditions. The presence of an accelerated recall function allows you to stop watering in the shortest possible time after the rain starts; the devices do not require additional maintenance. Depending on the adjustments of the ventilation ring, a delay in returning the dacha to standby mode is set. The time to return to the starting position is directly dependent on the humidity and temperature of the surrounding air. This allows for significant water savings.
2. Diaphragm pump. It can be mounted together with a timer or in a separate housing; it monitors the water level in storage tanks. When the amount of water decreases below a critical level, the pump automatically turns on to replenish supplies. After filling the tanks, the pump turns off.
3. Radio channel soil moisture sensor. The most modern device makes caring for plants much easier. Installed in several places on the beds, blocks the timer command for watering in case high humidity soil. The most modern devices increase crop yields by at least 10%.
4. Water purification filter. Performs high-quality water purification and significantly increases the operating time of the timer.

Additional monitoring and control devices can be purchased complete with an irrigation timer or separately.

Video - Irrigation timers for gravity systems

Electronic water timer for irrigation D-2

Setting the current time and date

1. Click the button TIME
2. Use the arrows to set the hour (0-23 hours)
3. Click the button SET
4. Use the arrows to set the minutes (0-59 minutes)
5. Click the button SET to save the minutes value
6. Use the arrows to set the day of the week (Su-Sunday, Mo-Monday, Tu-Tuesday, We-Wednesday, Th-Thursday, Fr-Friday, Sa-Saturday)
7. Click the button SET to save the day of the week value.
This completes the setting of the current time and day of the week.

Forced on/off water supply

1. Click the button ON
2. Using the arrows, set the hour value at which you want to turn on the water supply (0-9 hours)
3. Click the button SET to save the hours.
4. Use the arrows to set the minutes for which you want to turn on the water supply (1-59 minutes)
5. Click the button SET to save the minutes.
The timer will turn on the water supply for the time you set.
To turn off the water supply, simply press the button OFF

Setting programs to turn on/off water supply

1. Click the button PROG
2. Use the arrows to select the program number (1-16 programs)
3. Click the button SET to save changes
4. Use the arrows to set the hour value when the timer should start (0-23 hours)
5. Click the button SET to save changes
6. Use the arrows to set the minute you want the timer to start (0-59 minutes).
7. Click the button SET to save changes
8. Using the arrows, set the duration (in hours) for which the timer should turn on (0-9 hours)
9. Press the button SET to save changes
10. Use the arrows to set the duration (in minutes) for which the timer should start (1-59 minutes)
11. Press the button SET to save changes
12. Use the arrows to select the days on which watering will automatically turn on.
"2nd" - every other day
"3rd" - in 2 days
or on a specific day of the week.
The "*" icon is not used in this timer model.
13.Pressing a button SET, You can select the days on which watering will be turned on.
14. To complete programming, press the clock button.

View installed programs

1. Click the button PROG
2. Use the arrows to scroll through the program data (1-16 programs)
3. To end viewing, press the clock button.

Below are instructions for timers of the previous model with 8 programs.

You have purchased a quality electronic water timer that uses an efficient solenoid to open/close the water supply valve. Please read these operating instructions carefully to become familiar with the operation and programming of the timer. Check that the program(s) are running when you use the timer for the first time. The timer is intended for use by adults who have read and understood these operating instructions.

Usage.

This water irrigation timer is intended for use outdoors (gardens, cottages, vegetable gardens, fields) and provides control of water supply. It is prohibited to use the water timer for industrial purposes or in connection with chemicals, flammable or explosive substances.

Technical data.

Supply voltage: 3 V (2 AAA 1.5 V batteries)
Battery life: 3-6 months
Time error: less than 0.25 sec/day
Working temperature: from +5°C to +60°C
Allowable water pressure: 0.5 - 8 bar
Keypad lock: prevents accidental program changes.

Principle of operation.

An electronic water irrigation timer will provide scheduled watering of your garden and plants in a fully automatic mode according to the program that you set. You can program a timer to water your garden early in the morning or late in the evening when the least amount of water evaporates. The timer will ensure that the plants are watered even when you are on vacation or away. The device provides two ways to control irrigation:

1. Manual: Press the Man/Auto button to switch the valve to:
On - Off - Auto
2. Automatic: it is possible to program timed watering up to 8 times a day. You can also choose from 15 different combinations of days of the week on which days the timer will water.

PREPARATION FOR WORK.

1. Unscrew the protective cover. Carefully remove the battery compartment from the front of the timer. Insert two new 1.5V batteries (size AAA). Reinsert the battery compartment.

2. Attach the water timer securely. The water timer must be in the OFF position. Loosen the large outer ring located at the top of the timer until the inner threaded ring rotates freely. Screw the ring with threaded connection on the pipe. Screw only by hand (!), then screw the outer ring of the timer tightly. Open the tap to check the connection for leaks. (DO NOT USE PUNGERS OR PLIERS TO PINCH the timer rings.)

Programming a water timer for irrigation.

1. Press the "Program" key. Program 1 ON will appear on the screen.
2. Press "hour" and "minute" to set the watering start time for program 1.
3. Press "day" to set the day(s) of the week on which program 1 will start watering. (The default is mon-sun, i.e. every day).
4. Click "Program" again. Program 1 OFF will appear on the screen.
5. Press "hour" and "minute" to set the program 1 watering shutdown time.
If you want to turn on your water timer only once a day for the days specified in point 3 above, programming the timer is now complete. 6. Click "Program" again. Program 2 ON will appear on the screen. 7. Repeat steps 2 - 5 above for watering on the indicated days, or only on those days indicated in program 2.

It is possible to install up to 8 programs per day;
- A total of 15 different day-per-week configurations;
- Make sure that the days for turning off the timer (OFF) should be the same as for turning on the timer (ON);
- MAKE SURE that each ON time is set to an OFF time!!;
- To exit programming mode, press "time".

If after pressing “Program” you press “day” repeatedly, you can select the following combinations of days for turning on the timer (see point 3 above)

1	M.O.	4	T.H.	7	S.U.	10	SA SU	13	MO TU WE TH FR
2	T.U.	5	FR	8	MO WE FR	11	MO TU WE	14	MO TU WE TH FR SA
3	WE	6	S.A.	9	TU TH SA	12	TH FR SA	15	MO TU WE TH FR SA SU

Watering timer control keys and display.

Key lock: Press and hold Esc for more than 3 seconds. Press and hold for more than 3 seconds again to unlock.
Time setting: Make sure the keyboard is unlocked. While holding down the "time" key, press "min" to set the minutes, "hour" to set the hour, "day" to set the day of the week.
Esc key: Resets the time of the displayed program.