jack Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 Well, with spring now well and truly upon us, it's clear we're going to need more watering capacity for the plants we installed over winter. I thought we might make do with some soaker hoses, but it's clear that a more permanent system is going to be required. I've looked at various consumer irrigation systems (Hozelock and K'archer), but there are all sorts of other brands and types. Has anyone had experience with any of these systems? Anything to look out for or avoid? What about drip v microspray? The drip systems seem to provide water in a very localised way - I can't help but think that for larger plants, a spray would be better. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike2016 Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 FYI - I was just reading about this system: https://cleantechnica.com/2018/05/18/the-rachio-intelligent-irrigation-controller-has-saved-users-29-billion-gallons-of-water-to-date/ It's been saving water for a few years and although, apologies, not related to the actual delivery aspect of what you asked about, might be worth considering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lizzie Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 I had the hozelock micro system at my previous house. A fiddle to install but when done it proved to be very worthwhile. I had it permanently set up for baskets and pots. I used a timer. On border areas once things were established I didnt bother with it they either fended for themselves or I used a sprinkler in very dry weather. A good mulch on the borders kept watering down too. You do need to check the connections regularly I found that where there were branch junctions could be prone to leaks, ok if its leaking into the soil but not around the house. I ran my baskets and pots system in the gravel channel around the house which was great for hiding it. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterW Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 Saw one of these fitted and they are very good - decent coverage but not too conspicuous https://www.waterirrigation.co.uk/watering-kits/outdoor-watering/micro-sprinkler-kits/hydrosure-large-micro-sprinkler-kit.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gone West Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 As @lizzie we had a Hozelock irrigation system with timer at our last house for the pots and hanging baskets and it saved us loads of time. Don't remember having any problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted May 19, 2018 Share Posted May 19, 2018 I've just installed a watering system for our newly planted row of trees. I opted to buy this kit, which I can highly recommend: https://www.easygardenirrigation.co.uk/collections/drip-irrigation-systems/products/claber-drip-irrigation-starter-kit-90764 Don't buy the Screwfix system, it's junk. I bought one and it leaked, and all the drippers fell apart after a couple of days. I also bought this cheap timer: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Auto-Digital-LCD-Electronic-Water-Timer-Garden-Irrigation-Controller-Free-Post-A-/332160779280?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10 and have found it works very well indeed - surprisingly so for the price. The nice thing about the Claber drippers is that they are very easy to individually adjust; anything from off to a fairly fast trickle, which makes setting up a line of them very easy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted July 6, 2019 Share Posted July 6, 2019 Hoicking this thread out of Hades, has anyone experience of setting up one of these systems to also refresh a ground level bird bath? The BB may be as simple as a trad dustbin lid or similar, with an entry ramp. Cheers. Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted July 6, 2019 Share Posted July 6, 2019 Should work OK, just a matter of adjusting the dripper feeding the bird bath to supply just enough water. Easy to do, but would need a bit of trial and error to get the setting right. Best run with a timer, so that the bird bath only fills at set times during the day, so the time periods would need some fiddling with too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Temp Posted July 6, 2019 Share Posted July 6, 2019 If you fill a wine bottle with water and turn it upside down with the neck under water in the bird bath the water doesn't run out of the bottle until the birds drink and the water and the level falls low enough to allow air into the bottle. Many variations on this theme are possible with larger bottles. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted July 6, 2019 Share Posted July 6, 2019 In the birdbath run, it would be about half a dozen outlets, and possibly running from a water butt - which would be turned on for half an hour or so each day when I come in in the car. I could set up a hose, but do not currently have one that side. At the back I may need a larger run, which would be from a tap. F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted July 6, 2019 Share Posted July 6, 2019 1 minute ago, Ferdinand said: In the birdbath run, it would be about half a dozen outlets, and possibly running from a water butt - which would be turned on for half an hour or so each day when I come in in the car. I could set up a hose, but do not currently have one that side. At the back I may need a larger run, which would be from a tap. F The Claber system I installed last year came with a 20m length of small bore black pipe, and connects directly to an outside tap. Adding a longer length of pipe is easy, as the pipe they use seems to be pretty standard stuff that's available fairly cheaply on eBay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Micro-Feeding-Tube-Pipe-4mm-id-6mm-od-Hozelock-Claber-Compatible-Micro-Watering/281730798058?hash=item419876d1ea:m:mL7Hgmt3f-wJpH3DlusxZig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 Have now ordered a Claber Kit. Will report back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted July 30, 2019 Share Posted July 30, 2019 1 hour ago, Ferdinand said: Have now ordered a Claber Kit. Will report back. I added a timer to our Claber system, that seems to work well: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Programmable-Water-Timer-Garden-Hose-Faucet-Sprinkler-Irrigation-Controller-K4J4/153504987336?hash=item23bd9c38c8:g:PGMAAOSwzNtc7NaB Saves having to remember to turn the system on and off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted August 25, 2019 Share Posted August 25, 2019 (edited) Vicissitudes of life. My Claber kit, being examined, went in about 15 seconds from the previous “not interested” to “Bwahahah ! Mine !” Pah. Need now to order some more bits for the management. It is like cats and a bag of crisps. Have been informed that a water butt and a watering can are entirely adequate for my bit of the garden. F Edited August 25, 2019 by Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 Getting to grips. I think I am missing 1 - An extra outside tap to dedicate to the drip system, or splitter. 2 - A converter for normal hose to 6mm, to enable a direct water buttonnection. F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 15 minutes ago, Ferdinand said: Getting to grips. I think I am missing 1 - An extra outside tap to dedicate to the drip system, or splitter. 2 - A converter for normal hose to 6mm, to enable a direct water buttonnection. F I fitted two taps to the same standpipe, one for the irrigation system, one for normal use. This seemed easier than using a splitter, as it allowed turning either outlet on or off independently. You can get splitters with reasonably good ball valves fitted to either leg, though, so one of those might be an easy fix: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Way-Brass-Hose-Pipe-Valve-Splitter-Quick-Connector-Adaptor-Y-shaped-Garden-Tap/312642465094?hash=item48caf16d46:g:zDIAAOSwRjxc9ecM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted August 26, 2019 Share Posted August 26, 2019 37 minutes ago, JSHarris said: I fitted two taps to the same standpipe, one for the irrigation system, one for normal use. This seemed easier than using a splitter, as it allowed turning either outlet on or off independently. You can get splitters with reasonably good ball valves fitted to either leg, though, so one of those might be an easy fix: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-Way-Brass-Hose-Pipe-Valve-Splitter-Quick-Connector-Adaptor-Y-shaped-Garden-Tap/312642465094?hash=item48caf16d46:g:zDIAAOSwRjxc9ecM Cheers. Splitter it is then. Unfortunately my tap is in the wall, and I don't even have one at the front. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted August 28, 2019 Share Posted August 28, 2019 (edited) A further one. Are there any comments on reducing from a 19mm garden hose (hozelock or similar) to the 6mm of the Claber hose? The requirement is simply that I can put a hose straight onto the tiered diameter outlet of the water butt, which can then be connected to Claber at the other end. It really does not need all the gubbins associated with a tap connection. I think I want something like this: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Hose-pipe-connector-to-link-a-garden-hose-to-a-4-6mm-micro-irrigation-system-/222514385377 The seem to be no direct inline connector, presumably for mechanical reasons. £6.99 seems pricey, but ... Cheers for any comments. F Edited August 28, 2019 by Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted August 28, 2019 Share Posted August 28, 2019 I have a pressure reducing valve that connects the 1/2" BSP tap connection to the smaller Claber hose: https://www.claber.com/uk/cod/91040/Block-system-Rainjet/Pressure-reducer . This makes it easier to regulate the drip valves, I think, and came with the starter kit I bought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted August 28, 2019 Share Posted August 28, 2019 1 hour ago, JSHarris said: I have a pressure reducing valve that connects the 1/2" BSP tap connection to the smaller Claber hose: https://www.claber.com/uk/cod/91040/Block-system-Rainjet/Pressure-reducer . This makes it easier to regulate the drip valves, I think, and came with the starter kit I bought. I have one of those for the tap, too. But i also have 3 water butts which are for limited purposes eg 2 trees, 2 pots and a birdbath from one, seasonal fruit plumping up from another, and probably do not - I hope - need all the gubbins. F Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 Probably best asked here. @JSHarris My hose splitter has arrived. Do you have any clever way of stopping it leaking where it screws to the tap? Do I need to soften the seal, or apply grease, or just tighten it up really tight? Cheers Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted August 31, 2019 Share Posted August 31, 2019 Just checked, and my water butt direct connection to hose (about 3m) then a connection into 20m of Cleber 6mm pipe is in fact sufficient to get flow to the other end. That is with perhaps 1.3m of head, which would be about 0.13 bar. Encouraging. Ferdinand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ferdinand Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 On 19/05/2018 at 17:03, JSHarris said: cheap timer: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Auto-Digital-LCD-Electronic-Water-Timer-Garden-Irrigation-Controller-Free-Post-A-/332160779280?_trksid=p2349526.m4383.l4275.c10 and have found it works very well indeed - surprisingly so for the price. I have set up the first part of my watering system. Easy to do and quite adjustable. Works fine from a water butt. I also have my lower tech device to warn me when it s probably time to have it on for a bit, before the soil dries out much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeremy Harris Posted September 1, 2019 Share Posted September 1, 2019 On 31/08/2019 at 04:15, Ferdinand said: Probably best asked here. @JSHarris My hose splitter has arrived. Do you have any clever way of stopping it leaking where it screws to the tap? Do I need to soften the seal, or apply grease, or just tighten it up really tight? Cheers Ferdinand Sorry, I somehow missed this yesterday. Probably just needs tightening, but worth checking that the rubber seal is intact and seating properly. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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