Chatting > Design and Construction

Micro irrigation system - loop or spurs?

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JayG:
I've bought myself a (mains water) timer and micro irrigation kit so I don't have to trouble my friends or neighbours when I'm away (and maybe even do a better job of it when I'm not!)

I'll be watering about 15 plants altogether, mostly in the GH but also in the nearby cold frame, so there will obviously be that number of drippers to connect up.

The instructions are one of the better Chinese translations I've seen  ::), and seem to suggest that the drippers should be connected in a straight line, with side spurs if necessary.

I'm speculating that connecting the drippers to a loop which returns to the original source T-piece would produce a more even pressure across the system, and perhaps make it a bit less fiddly to balance the flow from the individual drippers.

More work initially, so I wouldn't bother if the all-in-line set up works well. Any views please anyone?

oldgrunge:
I usually lay mine out in straight lines with spurs. Tried a loop system last year, but didn't seem to give much advantage.

Kleftiwallah:

I'm sure the loop I have installed in my cobbled together watering system,
will give a more even amount of water to all plants.

Cheers,  Tony.

JayG:
Thanks chaps - my maths makes it a 50-50 split!  :lol:

Having cogitated long and hard, assuming it lasts beyond a season I think I would have to sacrifice a bit of future flexibility if I installed it as the hydraulic equivalent of a ring main (i.e. not enough tubing), so a main spur for the GH with one running off to the cold frame it is.

(Another way of putting it is 'when in doubt, go for the easiest option', although I might say something different after trying to balance the flow across 15 drippers!  ;))

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