[Allotmentman]

Solar panel timed  drip irrigation system


Things you will need

Solar panel usb
Water butt of choice
Optional if water butt has tap Hose adapter
Hose kit
Total £60.00 (without water butt and adapter as I have a couple set up off one 100l container can use a 25l bucket )

* Place your water butt where required ( ideally no more than 1.5m-2m from the placement of plants (can be on the ground or suspended above if using water bag )
* Connect hose to water butt ( can be simply placed in top making sure it reaches the bottom of tank or attached to  tap at bottom of tank )
* Next put your timer in position, ideally just off the middle of water butt and the plants (ideally nearer plants a couple foot )
* Connect timer to hose that’s already  attached to the butt, no sharp bends.  straight if possible or curved if needed sharp bends use right angled connectors do not bend . cut hose to suit length
* Connect the solar panel to the timer then place the solar panel in direct sunlight wherever the lead allows
* Place stakes from hose kit around 3 inches from base of plant ideally place plants 24cm apart in two rows 4 foot apart (10 plant set up )
* Connect a piece of hose to the timer long enough to be able to read the middle of the two rows NO BENDS use angled connectors
* Using a 90 degree connector place another piece of hose directly in between the two rows and attach to the connector (ideally place the timer in the middle of the two rows on a spike and use one pipe straight down the middle)
* Going along each pair of plants cut the pipe and add a T connector. Cut 3 inches of hose and add another T connector facing the opposite side, move to the next pair of plants and repeat process down all the remaining pairs of plant 
* On the last set use one T rotated 90 degrees so creates a cap
* Cut lengths of hose long enough to be able to comfortably reach the middle of the plant
* Connect to every T connector all the way down
* Place a sprinkler on the end of every hose (you can twist the orange nozzle to make a mist or direct spray )
* Place a stake in the ground 3-4 inches from stem (can be as far as u like that’s just my preference
* Place hose in steak facing the spray nozzle towards the stem but not direct at it
And there you have it a fully set up solar panel powered automated drip system for up to 15 days  !
(Foot note trying to take timer apart remove the “days connection” and connect the wires together to  see if it works bypassed and use a 100l container will let you know......)

Now just fill the water butt up turn on the timer and program as follows :

[Mr Dog]

Quick sketch of my set up.