Identifying Sprinkler Needs

1
Identifying Sprinkler Needs

• Area Ag Mechanics
• Unit Plumbing
• Lesson 2

2
What types of sprinklers are there?

• There are three types of sprinklers
• Sprayhead Sprinklers
• Rotating Sprinklers
• Bubblers and Drip Irrigation Devices

3
How do you determine what sprinklers are needed
for certain applications?

• Factors that need to be considered
• Size and shape of area to be watered
• Type of plant material on the plan or project
  site
• The water pressure and flow available.
• The local environmental conditions such as wind,
  temperature, and precipitation.
• The soil type and rate at which it can accept
  water.
• The compatibility of the sprinklers in
  determining which can be grouped together.

4
What are the applications for the different types
of sprinkler heads?

• Sprayhead Sprinklers
• Have an operating range of 15-30 psi and a radius
  of 5-22 ft.
• Used in small areas or projects (ie. Flower
  beads, small lawn areas etc.)
• Rotating Sprinklers
• Adjustible from 20-360 degrees
• Large turf areas
• Large shrub or groundcover areas

5
Application Cont

• Bubblers and Drip Irrigation Devices
• Bubblers
• Short through or zero radius
• Deliver water from 1/4 to 3 gpm
• Drip emitters
• Operate at 20 psi
• Available in 1/2, 1, and 2 gph
• Used for water specific areas
• Areas where soil does not absorb water quickly.

6
What is the importance of putting the same
sprinkler heads on the same circuit?

• Most sprinklers have different water
  requirements.
• Ensures each sprinkler gets the right amount of
  water.

7
How do sprinklers need to be placed?

• Spray from one head covers the next
• Typically called 50 head spacing
• Too far apart and weak spots (dead spots) occur
• Typically around sprinkler head
• Due to lack of water.
• Done after all pressure calculations have been
  made

8
How are precipitation rates calculated?

• PR 96.3 X GPM
• S X L
• Where
• PR The average Precipitation Rate in inches per
  hour
• 96.3 a constant which incorporates inches per
  square foot per hour
• GPM the total gallons per minute applied to the
  area by the sprinkler
• S the spacing between the sprinkler
• L the spacing between rows of sprinklers

9
Why is this important to know?

• Helps to see if the precipitation rate will
  exceed the soil absorption rate
• Is the water being applied faster than the soil
  can absorb it?
• Determine if the water being applied is enough
  for acceptable operating times

10
How is it determined how many sprinklers should
go on a circuit?

• Circuiting sprinklers is grouping sprinklers on
  one valve.
• Determined by how many valves and the size of
  timer needed for the system
• Have all sprinkler types and locations
  determined.
• Remember not to mix and match sprinkler types
  on a circuit!!!

11
Sprinkler Location cont

• Factors to consider when grouping sprinklers
• Operating gpm
• The total gpm needed by all sprinklers on the
  circuit should not exceed the amount supplied by
  the line!
• All sprinklers on the circuit must have the same
  water requirements!
• Distance between sprinkler heads
• Dont group sprinklers too far apart. The more
  pipe you use the less water pressure available at
  the end.