3R Home and Barn Project

[3RRL]

Well, your replies are full of great information. I much appreciate that.
Until I get the Earth shaped and rocks placed, Loretta is going to hand water her plants or use drip lines and such for the time being. I want to at least establish the areas so I know where to irrigate. I guess I'll have to start posting some photos of the well, bladder tank and lines coming out of the manifold so you guys can help figure out the best spots for the all those things I need. When I do that, I'll give you distances and elevations relative to the house so you get an idea of what I'll need to do. The other thing is I need information on rainbird heads to irrigate the hillside below, since gravity feed was a flop. That's where I'd like to use the booster pump running off the water tank line. Will the water flow through the booster pump even if it's not running? In other words, will I need to shut the tank valve off and on before irrigating? Or could I leave it on and it would allow water to pass only when the pump is running?

As far as those battery operated sprinkler controllers, we bought some a couple years ago to irrigate the food plot where we camped. We must have gotten some crummy ones, even though they were expensive. We never got them to really work right and they leaked a lot. One problem is that the line I had pulled down from the well (up at the homesite) was about 1500' long, and 1". But the elevation drop was at least 100'. At the time it was the only line running off the bladder tank too, so along with the pressure from the tank and the 100' drop in elevation. it created a huge amount of pressure and the valves couldn't take it. I guess I should have used one of those pressure regulators/reducing valve, huh? BTW Red, that thread you linked has excellent information. I'm sure I will use it to reference once I get to that point. In the meantime I'll be asking questions in preparation for the sprinkler systems in the yard. That sounds really funny because I never even thought I would have a yard up here.

[3RRL]

Originally Posted by tommu56

Rob
Check the presure in your bladder tank it should be 2 lbs under your cut in presure
To check it you have to bleed all the water presure off the water side and use a tire guage to set it.

If you want more time between puump cycles add another presure tank or 2 closer to your use(in basment) would be best with a check valve in the line to pump to hold presure in house when it drops off in the line to house.

tommu

Hey Tom,
I thought I was the only one up at this hour? I'm in CA!!!
I'll have to check out the tank because I know nothing about it.
Will probably be asking questions about that too...

[tommu56]

Originally Posted by 3RRL

Hey Tom,
I thought I was the only one up at this hour? I'm in CA!!!
I'll have to check out the tank because I know nothing about it.
Will probably be asking questions about that too...

I"m not a farmer but I have to get up at about 4:00 am to get in the bathroom, get ready and then get the my grand son 7months and granddaughter 5 years old that thinks she's 20 ready to ride on the bus with the wife (she drives school bus and they ride along) and I'm usually at work at about 6:00

tom

[denmansoft]

I found some of the black drip line hose works well on low pressure (tank 6' off the ground).
I went and got 6 more that looked the same but a different brand. These ones came with an orfice disk in them but even with that removed they wouldn't weep any amount with less than 30 psi.... I went and used a nail to 'increase' the flow at each tree I was most concerned with. The **** hoses are self sealing !!!!
I tried one of the battery operated timers and it worked quite well at a max pressure of 45 psi. when I bumped the pressure up to 65psi It started weeping and misting down my pumphouse...
Ian

[3RRL]

I thought about trying those soaker hoses you see in some photos on the low pressure tank, but have not done so because they required more pressure than we realized to get them to weep. So right now, we have them on the pressurized line(s). Now what you said discourages me, because I was thinking of punching holes in them too. But if they are self sealing...dang!

[MtnViewRanch]

Originally Posted by 3RRL

In the meantime I'll be asking questions in preparation for the sprinkler systems in the yard. That sounds really funny because I never even thought I would have a yard up here.

Didn't think that you would have a yard, or were hoping not to have a yard? Big difference ya know. As far as the booster pump, I believe that they work only when there is a draw on them. Maybe think of them as a big RV water pump. Turn the water on and the pump comes on, turn it off and the pump stops working. Power to the pump is always on. does any water leak by, only when there is a place for the water to go. I don't think that you could use it as a valve if that is what you are asking. I have seen solar powered control stations for $64 at Lowes, no changing the batteries and should be right up your alley I would think.

[3RRL]

Well, you got me Brian.
I didn't think I'd have a yard, then it turned to hoping I wouldn't then it turned to Loretta WAS hoping to having a yard and the to now we ARE gonna have a yard. Know what I mean?
OK thanks, I get it about the booster pump now. That means another valve for me on the non pressurized tank line closer to the house. Those solar powered controllers look interesting, indeed.

[MtnViewRanch]

I should have bought a stack of the solar control valves, I have finally started to plant some trees and it is currently taking about 90 minutes to get them watered, I really need to get the automatic watering in asap. I am going to need them spaced out over a 3/4 mile run of pipe. I simply will not have the time to get everything watered once I get my next little grove planted, and am expecting to plant 15-20 groves.

[RedDirt]

Rob,
Here is that irrigation tutorial I mentioned in an earlier post. There is an enormous amount of information here and fairly well organized so searching for an answer to a question is relatively easy. I'm sure you'll find it useful.

Irrigation tutorials; sprinkler & drip systems, design, install and repair.

[3RRL]

I hear what you're saying Brian, that's a lot of trees and lots of time to water.
My suggestion is to get Mark to do it for you.

Red,
Great link with tons of information.
Heck, I might not have to bug you guys with anymore questions now?