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

ok well i will start this off by saying that the hunter valves are crap in my personal opinion. alot of guys in the industry dispute this claim, and i think that is only because hunter givess kickbacks to big buyers every season. now on to the issue of the rainbird valves, i never took a liking to any of the models at all. i've had them all apart(as well as almost every other valve in the industry) and i just find that the interior design is a little goofy, and the diaphragms seem to be cheesy and a slight bit thin. now with all of that said and out of the way, the only valve i recommend to anyone is the Irritrol 2400T. this is a valve design that everyone has tried to immitate because it has proven, for many MANY years, to be the superior valve design. i mean, why else would this valve stick around for longer than i've even been alive.

The Rainbird DV valve has 'reverse flow' design, which presents equal pressure to both sides of the diaphragm, so it doesn't have to be thick to be strong enough.

The Rainbird DV also has the little screen at the solenoid bottom. Used to love Irritrol valves for pump systems 'cause they seem to pass sediment well without sticking.Getting sold more and more on the DV lately. Pretty solid valve all the way around. I'm repairing a lot of Irritrol valves ( screw and twist on bonnet) as they are leaking a little around the bonnet,(top).