irrigation system handbook

Irrigation System Handbook

Emergency Situation
System management
Water source
Boosting
Distribution
Emitting

General information

This is a general description of irrigation systems installed by The Gardener’s Rain. Please read carefully to learn the operation and management of your irrigation system.

If you don’t have a membership account (like our customers), you can’t see the Operation, test and Maintenance parts of the irrigation system handbook without buying a yearly subscription for a small contribution fee here:

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This Handbook describes purpose of each unit and their operation. Description of  units include their setup, maintenance and testing process too.

We make every effort to ensure that the systems installed by us comply with the high standard used by us and as described in this Handbook. However, since the manual contains general description, some parts of the system may differ from it in certain respects. Deviations occur primarily in the outlook of installed parts, but may occur in their settings or operation.

In that case, when a component is related to high voltage (230V) power (like controller, pump, etc.), we always provide the manufacturer’s operation manual when the installation is completed. If the instruction manual is lost or need to be replaced, it must be available online. Please contact us for details.

There are components, which could belong to more categories below, hence they are shown at more places.

  • How an irrigation system works

    Generally an irrigation system supplies water to different parts of the garden in different time to use the existing water pressure and flow on the most efficient way and serve the demand of different plants in the appropriate time.

    During the design process the garden has been divided into more parts (zones)band equipped with different emitters best for the plants.

    Zones are operated by the controller automatically based on the preset program.

    These zones start at a router unit. This unit includes electric valves, called sooenoids, one for each zone. When the controller send a signal, one of the solenoids becomes activated and opens. Water will be flown into the zone pipework and will be emitted to the plants.

    It means there is no water in the lateral pipes between the plants and the router unit, when the system is not active.

    Based on configuration of your system:

    • the pipework between the main water isolator valve and solenoids is always under pressure
    • the pipework between the main isolator valve and the tank is always under pressure, and between the pump and the solenoids must be considered as live, but actually it’s under pressure only when the system is working.
  • Emergency situations

    In case of an emergency situation you have to find as much information as possible to eliminate it. There are couple of intervention points of an irrigation system to do it.

    First point is the first main isolator valve. In case of a continuous leak it’s recommended to turn off.

    Also advised to switch the electric isolator of the controller off to prevent the system running. In lack of this switch, turn the dial of controller to off if it exists. There are different methods to do it on battery controllers, please refer to the User manual.

    In case of a boosted system switching off the power supply of pump is also advised. Usually the emergency switch is nearby the pump at an accessible place for emergency purposes. It can be a socket switch, fuse box, circuit breaker, rotating switch, etc.

    If you don’t find it, try to follow the cables start from the pump (possibly come up from the tank) till you find the isolator switch.

Irrigation System management

Biggest benefit of an irrigation system is its automatic operation. Usually cooperation of two equipments makes it possible, a controller and a sensor. The controller is the brain of the system if you like, whilst the other a sensory organ. Programs are stored in the controller and their running is automatic amended by sense of the sensor, influenced by the actual weather.

Nowadays Big Data also takes its part from management of the irrigation systems. A capable controller not just follows the actual weather situation but modifies the program if -for example- a possible rainfall or inversely, a higher temperature predictably comes. Of course there are more sophisticated settings available during programming and significant water saving can be achieved with their help.

Sometimes a simple tap timer is installed for one zone system or small separate zones when it is economically reasoned.

If you don’t have a membership account (like our customers), you can’t see the Operation, test and Maintenance parts of the irrigation system handbook without buying a yearly subscription for a small contribution fee here:

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Control

  • controller
    Controller
    Mains or battery powered unit to operate the solenoids for a predefined duration at a predefined time. Zones(or stations) can be grouped into programs. Programs are starting in a given… Continue reading Controller
  • decoder
    Decoder and decoder module
    Decoder module is inserted into the controller and makes usage of decoders on the system possible. Much more zones can be installed on a decoder system with the same controller… Continue reading Decoder and decoder module
  • expansion module
    Expansion module
    Expansion module is inserted into the controller and extend the number of stations with certain amount of stations. Some expansion modules should be inserted inside the original controller unit, like others form… Continue reading Expansion module
  • isolator switch
    Isolator switch
    IMost important emergency equipment of the irrigation system. Irrigation systems use low and high voltage for working. Controllers, relays and pumps run with high voltage, whilst sensing and water distributing… Continue reading Isolator switch
  • signal cable
    Signal cable
    Controllers, solenoids and other pheripheries are connected together with low voltage wires. Because there might be lots of connectable electrical components in the same location but far from the centre… Continue reading Signal cable
  • tap timer
    Tap timer
    Tap timers are simple battery-operated controllers. Most of the time they operates one zone, but there are tap timers for more zones as well. The are mounted after the first main… Continue reading Tap timer
  • wifi module
    Wifi module
    Some smart controllers are wifi-capable only. It means a wifi module has to be inserted into them to use their smart capability, e.g. predictive watering. Wifi module is a plug-and-play… Continue reading Wifi module

Sensors

Water Source

Sources

Irrigation systems can be fed from:

  • main water
  • rain harvesting tank
  • well/borehole
  • live water.

Apart from main water, the other sources must be filterised and based on their ingredients, even chemical treatment might be necessary. Due to their unsure water flow, ususally a preliminary storing is recommended before the water is boosted and used in the irrigation system. The deal is the same, when the water flow is not suitable for operating the designed emitters on the system.

Whatever is the mass water source, also due to their unsure water flow, a reliable emergency filling method is always recommended, otherwise the tank can run out from water. This would be the main water, so storage tanks are also connected to that in the vast majority.

Mainwater Supply

As long as the mainwater is generally used in irrigation, connection to that must be met the WRAS regulations. They must have isolator valve and a double chack valve to avoid backflow.

When both the water pressure and flow are suitable to operate the designed emitters of the system, the system is connected straight to the mainwater supply via the mentioned devices above.

    Boosting

    When the flow and/or pressure are not suitable to operate the irrigation system directly, then a booster set becomes necessary. 

    Generally a booster set is a tank and a pump with some complementing equipment regarding other special circumstances.

    Inlet(s)

    • backflow valve
      Backflow device
      Backflow devices are one-way valves, called check valves. They prevent the water flowing back on the other way in the pipework. When an irrigation system is connected to the main… Continue reading Backflow device
    • Float ball
      Float ball (float valve, cockball, etc.) is a simple automatically working mechanical unit on the inlet of the tank. Includes two parts, a floating unit (ball), and a valve, which… Continue reading Float ball
    • float switch
      Float switch
      Float switch is an automatically working electric unit, contains two parts: the float ball with switch inside) and a long waterproof power cable. It can be operated by low and… Continue reading Float switch
    • isolator valve
      Isolator valve
      Isolator valves used to turn the water off in different situations. They can be frostproof butterfly valves/gate valves, or ball valves with different levers. In our systems, the main isolator… Continue reading Isolator valve

    Water storage

    Pumping and driving the pump

    • Booster set
      A tank and pump set with other accessoires commonly used to boost pressure and/or water flow of the water source to irrigation system. In most of the areas the water… Continue reading Booster set
    • float switch
      Float switch
      Float switch is an automatically working electric unit, contains two parts: the float ball with switch inside) and a long waterproof power cable. It can be operated by low and… Continue reading Float switch
    • isolator switch
      Isolator switch
      IMost important emergency equipment of the irrigation system. Irrigation systems use low and high voltage for working. Controllers, relays and pumps run with high voltage, whilst sensing and water distributing… Continue reading Isolator switch
    • submersible pump
      Pump
      Pumps are engine of the irrigation systems or their heart if you like. When the water pressure / flow is not suitable from the mainwater supply to operate the designed… Continue reading Pump
    • relay
      Relay
      Relays are automatic switch units. They are responsible for switching on and off the pump in an irrigation system. There are more brands and types of them are commonly used… Continue reading Relay

    Outlet(s)

    • backflow valve
      Backflow device
      Backflow devices are one-way valves, called check valves. They prevent the water flowing back on the other way in the pipework. When an irrigation system is connected to the main… Continue reading Backflow device
    • isolator valve
      Isolator valve
      Isolator valves used to turn the water off in different situations. They can be frostproof butterfly valves/gate valves, or ball valves with different levers. In our systems, the main isolator… Continue reading Isolator valve
    • solenoid valve
      Master valve
      Master valve of an irrigation system is an automatic solenoid valve which opens with any other zone valve together. It can be used as a line of defence when the… Continue reading Master valve
    • pressure vessel
      Pressure vessel
      There are situations when water usage from the irrigation system is very low. If the system is pressurised, this situation (tge pressure drop in the pipeline) makes the pump kicking… Continue reading Pressure vessel

    Water Distribution

    Irrigation systems are designed by dividing the garden into zones for using the water pressure and flow available on the most efficient way. For this purpose the zones are specific, and contains identical water emitters most often, like sprinklers or dripline, because same emitters can be operated on the same way, with the same pressure.

    Implementation of the principles above requires water distribution unit(s). They are commonly called valve boxes, although some units are not installed in dedicated boxes but on top of a tank, side wall or fence, etc.

    Obviously there are other circumstances to consider at designing zones, but these are the main ones.

    General structure of water distribution units is almost the same. Besides other complementing components, there must be electric valves and manifold fittings connected in it. The fittings do the physical water distribution, whilst the valves manage the direction, where the water is distributed to. Finally, operation of valves is managed by the irrigation controllers.

      If you don’t have a membership account (like our customers), you can’t see the Operation, test and Maintenance parts of the irrigation system handbook without buying a yearly subscription for a small contribution fee here:

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      Emitters

      Final goal of having an irrigation system is emitting water for the plants. This task is sorted by different type of emitters.

      Any kind of units used for this reason on irrigation systems are called emitters, like popup sprinklers, micro sprinklers, dripline, bubblers, pot emitters, etc.

      Emitters installed to irrigate same plants are usually installed on the identical zone if the water pressure and/or flow make it possible.

      We hope you have found the information in our irrigation system handbook that you were after. If not, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Our friendly engineers are always ready to help.