Garden irrigation: would you risk fitting a motorised valve in an outdoor cabinet?

[rcx132]

I've been fitting an irrigation system to water plants and sprinkle the lawn. I have over ground poly pipes running down the side of front and back gardens which then breaks out into the hoses that feed the lawns and flower beds. I've had to use multiple pipes to "zone" the system for it to work well.

I'm thinking of using motorised valves from plumbing shop to automate the system. I'd splice 15mm copper off the mains water, check valve, split to three motorised valves, and then to the poly pipes feeding each zone.

I could have the motorised valves in the house. They'd be in the under-stairs WC and be a bit unsightly. Or I could take the mains water through the wall into an outside cabinet and have the valves there, but they'd be outside and subject to frost and humidity.

The alternative option is to fit another outside tap and use a battery powered Hozelock distributor, like most people do, but these plastic low cost devices aren't reliable.

What do you think ?

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Simple thing would be to not use the valve in winter so no problem with frost. Obviously you need to drain the system to ensure no water left inside.

 

[rcx132]

Yes sorry, the system gets drained for winter using drain valves and also compressed air to blow all the water out.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Yes sorry, the system gets drained for winter using drain valves and also compressed air to blow all the water out.

I'd go with your idea of an outside cabinet. After all electricity meters & fuse boxes, gas meters, electric car chargers etc are outside

 

[winchman]

I have used a Hoselock timed valve for yours with no issues just bring in in over winter

 

[DAPPH]

I have used a Hoselock timed valve for yours with no issues just bring in in over winter

Same here I've used them for the last 11 years , five clocks each year just love the variable programming set up . I think they might have stopped doing the rotary dial controllers and gone over to touch screen pressure points to set things up . Last pair of clocks I got as stand by replacements was about four years ago @ £ 27 each .. just looked on line they are now closer to £75 each .

The secret is to ensure the neck of the tap is long enough to stop the collar nut fouling the tap body & allowing a dribble of water out onto the clock. Not all BIB style taps have the same length of neck & thread ...

Once I'd replaced all taps with longer necks & threads the problem ceased .
I only put the sprinklers on at the middle of May till the End of October keeping an eye on the weather forecasts for frosts . Then it's take them in remove & dispose of the batteries batteries , come spring put in new batteries after wiping all the contacts with isopropanol on a soft cloth to clean off any gunge that may have developed on them , do the same to the battery ends . Fit new " O " rings on all the screws and a dab of Vaseline to lube the seatings.
Always replace the sealing washer between the controller & tap , they shrink / dry out and usually take up the impression of the bottom of the thread on the tap , so are also prone to leaking if re-used.

The other thing I've done is get hold of five supermarket conical fresh flower & water holding tubs and snick a 1inch wide by six inch long slit ( angle grinder & slitting blade ) from the rim to the bottom , invert it and slip it over the time clock & tap like a top hat , putting a 1/4 brick on the up turned end to hold it in place this keeps slashing rain out very effectively & protects them from very very strong hot sun .

 

[DAPPH]

I'd go with your idea of an outside cabinet. After all electricity meters & fuse boxes, gas meters, electric car chargers etc are outside

Just make sure the electrical supply has an RCD protection & fused unit inside the where the power is taken from .

 

[8ob]

Leccy meter box with a timed manifold from city irrigation, Frost stat and a 60 watt bulb in the cabinet will protect everything from frost damage.

Bob

 

[daleyd]

Leccy meter box with a timed manifold from city irrigation, Frost stat and a 60 watt bulb in the cabinet will protect everything from frost damage.

Bob

A 60w light bulb!!

 

[DAPPH]

Leccy meter box with a timed manifold from city irrigation, Frost stat and a 60 watt bulb in the cabinet will protect everything from frost damage.

Bob

Leccy meter box with a timed manifold from city irrigation, Frost stat and a 60 watt bulb in the cabinet will protect everything from frost damage.

Bob

At city's prices I'd go back to a wheel barrow of water , a cup & tea strainer to water things in my gardens & glasshouse .

 

[DAPPH]

A 60w light bulb!!

View attachment 354090

Two 15 watt pigmy bulbs wired in parallel so if one blows in theory and usually also in practice you'll still have one left lit ,uses less juice too .

The British army used to have them in the bottom of our wooden locker under a wire mess insert in the middle , near & far east for when we were up country playing games for a month or so at a time , used to stop everything in the lockers going mouldy or rusty .

 

[daleyd]

Two 15 watt pigmy bulbs wired in parallel so if one blows in theory and usually also in practice you'll still have one left lit ,uses less juice too .

The British army used to have them in the bottom of our wooden locker under a wire mess insert in the middle , near & far east for when we were up country playing games for a month or so at a time , used to stop everything in the lockers going mouldy or rusty .

Yes I understand the principle, I was just wondering who could afford to run one these days!!

 

[8ob]

At city's prices I'd go back to a wheel barrow of water , a cup & tea strainer to water things in my gardens & glasshouse .

I am tighter than a tight thing but value the service they offer, plenty of free advice ,they keep everything in stock and most things land on the doorstep the next day.

Bob

 

[Kayos]

Fresh water will destroy the valve

I've had some 4" ones go, the water basically wears through a weak spot

 

[8ob]

Also worth looking at grey or rainwater harvesting if you are on a water meter.

Bob

 

[Morris]

I've just used a Hydrosure timed watering unit to water our stuff while we were away, it worked perfectly. Looked at the Hozelok but it had features I didn't need and was pricey for what it was. The Hydrosure was £17 from a company in Shropshire whose name I've forgotten.

 

[bricol]

It rains a reasonable amount where I am . . .

In fact, other than 1976, it's rained a reasonable amount where-ever I've been in the UK . . .

 

[brightspark]

It rains a reasonable amount where I am . . .

In fact, other than 1976, it's rained a reasonable amount where-ever I've been in the UK . . .

i bet it dont go in to hanging baskets on the wall though

 

[DAPPH]

Also worth looking at grey or rainwater harvesting if you are on a water meter.

Bob

Did the grey water harvesting in 1976 got reported for watering my garden , you should have seen the red faces when I showed them I'd diverted the sinks & bath water into an old riveted up galv water tank stood by our back door .

Some of my USA friends tell me that they are not allowed to use their grey water for gardening , as every thing going down the tubes is filtered clean , aeriated , treated , tested to the Nth degree and put back in the potable water system . Any losses due to gardening etc would cause the system to fail and several million people go thirsty . In some states with high nitrate levels & little rain you are not even allowed to use the rain water off your own roof either or make new bore holes , the rain run off is piped off along with grey water for treatment & drinking.

 

[8ob]

Did the grey water harvesting in 1976 got reported for watering my garden , you should have seen the red faces when I showed them I'd diverted the sinks & bath water into an old riveted up galv water tank stood by our back door .

Some of my USA friends tell me that they are not allowed to use their grey water for gardening , as every thing going down the tubes is filtered clean , aeriated , treated , tested to the Nth degree and put back in the potable water system . Any losses due to gardening etc would cause the system to fail and several million people go thirsty . In some states with high nitrate levels & little rain you are not even allowed to use the rain water off your own roof either or make new bore holes , the rain run off is piped off along with grey water for treatment & drinking.

We put some tanks in on one job that harvested both grey and rainwater, also had low level top up via the water mains. Nothing wasted on that one.

Bob