SPRINKLER TALK FORUM - You Got Questions, We've Got Answers

Thanks for this info....i'll place my order right now.



Just out of curiosity, Where does the Sprinkler Warehouse ship from...? Im trying to get an idea when my order might be here, Thanks...

SORRY forgot to answer your question directly. Placing the sprays as I described is peripheral placement. Sometimes depending on size and shape of area you need middle rows. I described square spacing. triangular spacing is just that, and trickier in small areas.

Jeff

Thanks for the measurements.

The correct term for the starting edge is controlled border. This is the one where you want the least overspray to fall. From there, you start spacing your heads, so the edge of the first head falls right where you place your next head...head to head coverage...so the body of sprinkler 1 is getting sprayesd by the spray coming form sprinkler 3 and maybe 3 and 4 depending on design. Spray are better at dumping most of their watr at the periphery of their range, at the expense to the grass closest to that heads body. Can leave some ugly yellowing. So when I design, say a 13 X 5 foot rectangular bed, I put my first head in a corner, then say i am using 5 foot coverage, the next one is along the "control" border, 5 feet from the first. Then moving along the same border, one at 5 feet from the last, and in this case, that puts it in the other corner (assuming the long edge of the rectangle is your control border - that would be 5' - 5' - 5' or 15 feet). Since this side is only 13 feet, I'd put one in each corner and one in the middle. A little overspray into the grass is not a bad thing. Again, I would repeat the process along the other side of the rectangle. Ending up with #4 quarters in each corner and #2 halfs accross from one another in between. If these are MPR nozzels, each head is getting hit from 3 others and some of its own. Now, chweck how your precipitation rate ic determined and you can figure out how long to run your zone to provide 1" of water.

Hope that is clear. MPR heads make it easier, but not perfect. With Rotors, I use different nozzels for the different arcs in my design, really, very similar.

Need more clarification? write back

Jeff

One of the areas will be 13' (length) by 5' (width). The width here is somewhat flexible by around 12-16", since i have not yet got the concrete edging in. The other is 45' (lenth) by 15' in (width).



I will most likely get the fixed pattern nozzles (15' mpr) for the 15X45 area. I'll try to a similar nozzle for the 13x5 area. Seems to me like a 3 6' nozzles would work here. 2 corners and one half circle nozzle. Or should i put in 6 heads in this area, seems like this would be a overkill, would'nt it...?

Please excuse my question, What is a peripheral placement...?

Jeff covered it pretty good, I would add that the Van nozzles uses much more G.P.M. than the fixed pattern nozzle. If your pressure is a little low and or your volume G.P.M. is a little high you will want to use the fixed pattern nozzle. I used to use the Van nozzle all of the time. I often see my older systems with the Van and swap the nozzles for the fixed pattern and they always look much stronger after the switch. My designing has evolved over time as well as my grey hair.

I'll try to shed some light on the confusion.

Size of pop up is most usually determined by the type of turf you are planning on growing, and consequently, the length you have it cut. You want the spray to clear the grass. Here, we have cooh season grasses, and most are cut to a height of 2 - 2 1/2 inch, so 4 inch bodies are all that is needed. Here, the 6 in cost quite a bit more than 4 inch. The top of the body is mounted at grade.

Nozzel selection should be based on your design, coverage of area and percipitation rate. VAN's have a reputation for clogging, although this has not been an issue for me. It is hard to match their precipitation rates with other types of sprayheads, and even with themselves in the same zone, since they put out the same amount of water independent of the arc..smaller arc settings use the same amount of water over the same time as a VAN set at a larger arc, making the one set at the smaller arc overwater,or the one at the larger arc underwater. I use them when nothing else will work, such as when a larger pattern will overspraying on a critical area. You did not indicate the layout or size of your area(s). I usually design with head to head coverage to insure the close in areas receive adequate precip.

There is nothing special about sprays. Basically, they use lower pressures (somewhat) and are spaced closer together than rotors (yes, before someone jumps on me, I know there are exceptions). Start your design along a critical edge that you do not want oversprayed ( perhaps the side of a building, a driveway, or a fence - since the water will leave unsightly stains, or creat a slippery walk. Index off this border. Small areas lend thjemselves to peripheral placements. Sprays tend to deliver more water to a smaller area than rotors, so your run times are shorter than for rotor zones. You will read about MP rotors, which operate with much lower volumes (flow), but otherwise are similar to sprays and rotors.



Lastly, depending on your location, SAM's need to be blown out before freezing, or they are TOAST. Their enclosed check valve make them hard to gravity drain, and then the retained water freezes....broken bodies. I generally try to avoid them, unless my zone includes a low head, which when the zone is turned off, has all the water in the lateral drain flow out around it, causing excessive moisture. I always use PRS heads, it takes the worry out of designs for the most part.



Hope that sheds light more than create more problems for you. Feel free to write back with other questions or clarifications.

Jeff

I was wondering what things i need to consider when purchasing the pop up length of the sprays im trying to fit in my system. Are 4" pop ups better than the 6", being that they are the most popular..? Does the extra 2 inches do anything to the trow of the water..? Can someone please help, im trying to order these from the Sprinkler WH, but am at a standstill. Thanks.....



Rainbird 1800 series with the sam and prs is what im looking to buy. Should i buy all adjustable arc nozzles or go with the fixed patterns...? Seems like the Adjustables would make more sense, ( 6 ..15 foot spacing...Four, 4 foot spacing on same zone) being that they would be more flexible in the installation.



This will be the first time i install sprays, my other house was composed of nothing put RB5000's, i am not familiar with what sprays do or don't do...Please advise, Thanks