Quote:
Originally Posted by alan_m
Setting up the individual drips on a long run can be a pain - as you
increase the drip rate from one the rate from others can reduce. Set
them up roughly first so that you have flow from each one and then go
back and equalise the flow from each in gradual steps. When first
setting up first fully open the one at the end of the run to remove any
air in the main feed. Despite the name you don't want drips but a
steady flow.
Resist the temptation to re-adjust the drippers for more flow during the
year. Just adjust the frequency and period of each watering.
What can happen if you don't open up the drippers enough is that in the
summer the 4mm black tubing gets very hot, the water expands and is
pushed out the drippers and/or evaporates via the drippers. When the
timer again provides water the tubes are full of air and can cause an
air lock preventing water getting to some drippers. By setting the
drippers to give a steady higher flow tends to prevent this in that the
air is easily pushed out by the new water flow.
|
Thank you for the further tips. Seems counter intuitive at first, but then the benefit of experience usually highlights issues you never considered
I've already realised I've wired the irrigation wrong. I started the run from the bottom row of pots, I should have taken the pipe to the top and run down :/ Silly mistake, fortunately I realised before starting on the bigger set of pots
Quote:
Originally Posted by alan_m
Try and hide the black pipe in permanent shade.
|
Fortunately I want to hide the pipe for aesthetic reasons anyway. Most of it runs behind the pots, the bits running along the top should be concealed by the plants. And I plan to put some sort of art/lighitng to conceal the bit that is exposed between the decking and pots.
Quote:
Originally Posted by alan_m
Anther tip, while construction your system dip the end of the cut tube
into a cup of near boiling water before trying to get it over the barbs
on the fittings (T pieces or drippers). The hot water temporarily makes
the tubes softer and the fittings can be pushed into the tubes easier.
|
Luckily that was one tip that was given on the rather small manual