Water timers for watering instruction. Benefits of using a timer for garden watering

Today, to facilitate the care of plants, various irrigation systems are used, they make it possible to control the amount of water for each type of plant, apply drip irrigation or sprinklers. Water is saved, the most favorable conditions for development are created for plants. The only drawback of such systems is the need for constant monitoring, switching on / off is done manually. This is a rather unpleasant activity, the duration of watering, depending on the type of plant, climatic conditions and a specific system can be up to two hours. In order to solve this problem, you should install a watering timer for gravity systems.

First, you need to explain the concept of "gravity systems", otherwise in some sources you can find amusing explanations of the principles of their operation and a complete lack of understanding of hydrodynamics.

Automatic watering systems for the garden - diagram

There are experts who claim that irrigation timers for gravity systems are so good that they can work with water pressures from 0 to 6 atmospheres. They will work at zero pressure, only nothing will be watered. Gravity is not a physical concept, but a purely everyday one. And it means not the absence of pressure, but the absence of constantly operating water pumps. In gravity systems, the pump supplies water only to the storage tank, which is located at some distance from the ground. Due to the height difference between the upper level of the water and the place of its exit, pressure is created, it is this pressure that makes the water flow move.

Why are timers used in most cases for gravity systems? Because they cannot operate at high pressures, their closing valves are too fragile and their drive mechanism is weak. For most devices, the maximum water pressure cannot exceed 0.5 atm., For such a pressure, a container with water should be at a distance of five meters from the earth's surface. The vast majority of irrigation systems have storage tanks located much lower.

Timer types

Three types of timers are currently available for purchase:

mechanical. The simplest are semi-automatic control systems. Switching on is performed manually, switches off automatically after a specified period of time (up to 120 minutes). Does not require power supplies, the closing valve is spring-operated. The advantages are low cost and high reliability. Disadvantages - you cannot do without the presence of people during switching on;
electronic with mechanical control. Watering modes are fully automated, the watering schedule can be adjusted for a seven-day period, the duration of watering is up to 120 minutes. Advantages - relatively low cost, ease of programming and management. Disadvantages - inability to connect additional equipment;
electronic with programmed control. The most modern devices have the ability to set up to 16 special functions. Disadvantages - high cost. In addition, it can be difficult for untrained users to install programs.

Mechanical timers are rarely used, most often irrigation systems are controlled by one of the types electronic devices... The water supply is regulated by a solenoid (electromagnetic) valve or ball valve.

Timer for watering on 2 lines, mechanical "Expert Garden"

Solenoid valve. At a certain time, power is supplied to the electromagnetic coil, under the action of an electric magnetic field the core is pulled into the solenoid and shuts off the water flow. If the power supply is interrupted, the core is pushed up by the spring and the pipe opening opens. In timers, the principle of operation can be reversed - without tension, the valve is closed by a spring, and when a strong magnetic field occurs, it opens. Due to this principle of operation, battery power is saved. The operation of the solenoid valve can be distinguished by a characteristic click during opening / closing.
Ball valve. Opening / closing is performed by a gearbox driven by an electric motor. To save power, it is also constantly in the closed position, it opens only for the period when the system is turned on for irrigation. A short operating noise is heard during the timer with the ball valve electric motor and gearbox.

Important. As soon as there are risks of frost, the timer must be turned off. Why? During start-up, large currents appear in the stator windings, as soon as the rotor starts to rotate, the current drops to operating modes. During frosts, the ball valve may freeze a little, the power of the electric motor is not enough to break it off. This means that starting currents will flow through the windings for a long time, which will inevitably lead to their overheating and short circuit. And the gearbox itself is not designed for significant efforts, the drive gears may fail. Such malfunctions require complex repairs or complete replacement of the device.

Mechanical electronic timers (tumbler type)

Very easy to operate, reliable and durable devices. To select the operating modes of the irrigation system, you need to perform the following steps:

unscrew the top transparent plastic cover... You need to work carefully, do not lose the sealing gasket, it may fall out;
use the left toggle switch to set the frequency of turning on the system, the maximum period is 72 hours;
with the right toggle switch, set a specific watering duration, maximum 120 minutes.

Important. The initial countdown time of the electronic device starts from the time the timer is turned on. This means that if, for example, you want watering to be switched on periodically at five o'clock in the morning, then the first timer setting must be done at the same time. In the future, the time for turning on the irrigation system will not change.

Manufacturers complete with a timer implement a complete set of fittings for connection plastic pipes or flexible hoses of various diameters. The timer is powered by two AAA 1.5 V AA batteries.

Watering timer - photo

Electronic timers with software control

More modern devices have significantly advanced functions. The delivery set includes adapters for connecting pipelines and flexible hoses of various diameters. Customization program control runs like this:

remove the plastic cover. It is twisted quite tightly at the manufacturing plant; considerable efforts will have to be made;
press the Time button, the program installation parameters will appear on the electronic display. Install current time and the day of the week, the action must be confirmed by pressing the Set button;
in turn, go to each day of the week, choose the time and duration of inclusion electronic timer... These parameters will be saved for the entire period of use;
if desired, up to 16 different programs can be configured on the device. To do this, press the Prog button and then set the required number of programs. All entered data must be confirmed by pressing the Set button.

A rather large capacitor is installed inside the device. It is designed to signal a critical battery discharge and switch the timer to autonomous power mode. When the battery power is low, a warning signal will appear on the display. From the time of its appearance, the batteries can still work for 2-3 days, depending on the frequency and duration of the irrigation system.

In fully autonomous mode, the condenser can provide a timer for 3-4 days. If the batteries are not replaced during this time, the timer will be canceled. After that, all previously set watering modes will be erased from memory, you will have to repeat the installation steps from the very beginning.

In standby mode, the timer consumes no more than 1.2 mA, during operation, the current consumption increases to 350 mA. These are very small values, allowing the device to operate on batteries alone for at least a season. Manufacturers deliberately left this time, during the period of the annual routine inspection of the irrigation system before starting it is recommended to install new batteries.

There are models of timers designed to work on large and complex irrigation systems. They have several valves, which allows you to control the irrigation modes of several separate zones, for each of them its own parameters are set. Multi-valve devices can be connected to a voltage of 220 V or have up to eight AAA batteries 1.5 V.

What data should be taken into account when configuring sensors

The conditions for growing plants largely depend on the correct setting of the timer program. What should be considered?

Breakdown of the irrigated area into separate zones, taking into account the types of crops. Each of them has its own requirements, in some cases you will have to buy multi-valve timers.

Hydraulic calculation based on the maximum water consumption. Timers should take into account the total storage capacity. If there is no automatic pumping, then you need to independently control the presence of water and, if necessary, fill the containers.

Analysis of the tracing of the laying of irrigation systems. Large differences in the height of individual irrigation lines can have a significant impact on their productivity. When setting up, you should keep in mind not only the watering time, but also the amount of water that is supplied to the plants during this time.

After completing the installation of the timer, it is recommended to check the system operability. For this, the minimum switching periods are set, the correct operation of the valve drives is checked. If the timer is in normal mode, you can start specific programming and put the system in automatic mode of operation.

The process of installing the timer program will be much easier if you purchase additional sensors along with it.

Additional timer features

Electronic timers for watering with sensors can perform several additional functions, making it even easier to grow crops in greenhouses or on open ground.

Rain sensor. Such equipment is used during the installation of irrigation in open areas. The rain sensor sends a signal to an electronic device that natural precipitation is present. The timer reacts to these signals and skips one watering, which coincides with the period of rain. The sensor is adjustable in the rainfall range from 3 mm to 25 mm. This wide range allows you to more accurately adjust the irrigation rates based on weather conditions. The presence of the function of an accelerated recall allows you to stop irrigation in the shortest possible time after the start of rain, the devices do not require additional maintenance. Depending on the settings of the ventilation ring, a delay is set for the return of the dacha to the standby mode. The return time to its original position is directly dependent on the humidity and ambient temperature. This allows significant water savings to be achieved.
Diaphragm pump. It can be mounted in a joint with a timer or in a separate housing, monitors the water level in storage tanks... When the amount of water decreases below the critical level, the pump is automatically turned on to replenish the reserves. After filling the tanks, the pump turns off.
Radio channel soil moisture sensor. The most modern device, greatly facilitates the care of plants. Installed in several places on the beds, it blocks the timer command for irrigation in case of high soil moisture. The most modern devices increase the yield of agricultural crops by at least 10%.
Water purification filter. Performs high-quality water purification, significantly increases the timer operation time.

Additional monitoring and control devices can be purchased together with the watering timer or separately.

Video - Watering Timers for Gravity Systems

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Drip irrigation and watering timers: what is it and where and what to use it for?

Drip irrigation- this is the most perfect way of watering plants in the beds in small doses, while:

🏜️ without eroding the soil, without creating soil erosion
🌿 without feeding the weeds with moisture, water is supplied only to the grown plant
💦 saving water
🌊 without creating an excess of moisture
💪 saving your arms, shoulders, back - after all, you no need to carry watering cans

What is drip irrigation and its automation in simple words

take a barrel of water
place it above 80 cm above ground level
connect a timer to it (so as not to water the whole day, but on a schedule)
and to the timer - a special hose for drip irrigation
run this hose between your plants
pierce the hose near the plant sprouts, lay down to the plant and insert the dropper.

and that's it!

You just have to add water to the barrel ( better pump) and weed.

Where did drip irrigation come from and the scope of its use:

Drip irrigation in modern world considered an invention of Israeli farmers who still manage to supply vegetables and fruits from their arid greenhouses around the world(including to Russia). Although, the type of watering appeared much earlier, just a sample modern work Israeli specialists have become a role model for many other manufacturers.

The essence of the simple operation of drip irrigation is described above, but it is important to understand that its application is so versatile that it is suitable for the entire garden: from watering strawberries in the open field to greenhouse plantings.

Optionally:

★ All from one barrel.
★ "By gravity".
★ With a set interval.
★ C control, soil and whether it rained.

Price and types of irrigation systems

By water supply source:

drip- from the water source (under pressure, "passive system": from the barrel by gravity) through the main hose with outlets to the plants through the "droppers"

Assembly diagram of drip irrigation "Beetle" (below)

Water tank
Hose-level hanger
Transparent hose - level
1/2 ”union
Supply hose
Dropper
Plug for main hose
Large tee (for main hose)
Main hose 1/2 "
Barrel connection
Fine filter
Elbow for main hose
Small tee (for supply hose)
Clamp for main hose
Awl for the main hose

Drip irrigation kits prices

Please note that for a start, the price depends on the length of the main hose and the number of bends with droppers: from 10 to 18 m (for 30 or 60 plants).

Such sets cost from 1000 to 2000 rubles. There are also additional kits for expanding the standard configuration, for example, "AquaDusya +12".

Drip irrigation set Beetle for 30 plants per container

set for drip irrigation "Greenhouse" for 30 plants (1 bed of 6 meters) in a box.

Buy

1 130

Expansion kit AquaDusya for drip irrigation systems +12

designed to expand standard irrigation kits

Buy

AquaDusya drip irrigation set + 60

everything you need to organize non-automatic irrigation of 60 plants

Buy

1 800

And when and how does the automatic irrigation switch on and the options for its application?

Yes, what matters is WHEN to start watering. It's not for you to walk with a watering can or a hose for irrigation, but just after a few days of absence from the country, come and see that all the plants and trees are watered.

First you need to solve a few simple calculations:

how many zones for irrigation on your summer cottage you choose
Example: you have 2 beds of 6 meters each, 1 greenhouse with 2 beds of 6 meters, a lawn for watering, 2 fruit trees for watering. So you have 4-5 irrigation zones
how much moisture is needed for irrigation
With "gravity" from the barrel (and this, depending on the height of the barrel with water above the ground, can be from 0.5 to 2 atm) with drip irrigation per 1 dropper (per plant) for 80 minutes. on average 2-3 liters of water are consumed. Depending on what kind of plants you have and the given mode of watering them, the choice of how much water for irrigation will depend on.

For example, in the standard of watering according to GOST, it is 3-6 liters, depending on the soil, and on a hot day - 10 liters per 1 sq.

DETAILS
Question: What height to choose for the installation of the "gravity" barrel?
Answer: In most cases, for a 200-250 liter barrel, a lift height of 80 cm to 1.5 m above the height of the irrigated area is sufficient.

decide on the watering timer

IT'S IMPORTANT TO KNOW :
such irrigation automatics are divided into " timers"and" programmers ", although most often referred to as" watering timers ".

The difference is that the timers simply "set the cycle", most often they set the watering interval by day for a week (eg 2 days in hours) and with the duration of watering (eg 60 minutes). A programmers (controllers) are able to set both interval and duration up to date and time.

What are the watering timer

There is watering timers, which are simply included in the kit drip irrigation kit. For example, in drip irrigation kits BEETLE for 30 and 60 plants.

There is separate timers, for example, the famous Israeli brand Green Helper and the Russian brand Termovent (both brands are made in China)

There is watering timers and programmers, which include many useful functions (sometimes included, and sometimes additionally connected): rain (soil moisture) sensors, several service areas for irrigation, built-in pumps, more than 10 programs for irrigation, etc.

Green Helper Automatic Drip Irrigation Set GA-010

Watering frequency from 1 time per month to 10 times per day. Watering time from 1 to 99 seconds

Buy

Automatic irrigation systems, such as drip irrigation or sprinkler irrigation, save farmers time significantly. And even better, when the systems turn on and off themselves, without the presence of a person. The activation is controlled by a timer for irrigation from various gravity systems or from a barrel. Which timer should you choose? Electronic or mechanical? The features of both types of timer are in this review.

Benefits of using a timer

Many summer residents dream of making their work easier and freeing up their free time thanks to automation. The drip or sprinkler system is an excellent assistant to the farmer, because he no longer needs to water the beds with a hose or bucket. The system does it for him and much better than him.

The advantages of using a timer:

Watering is carried out according to a precisely verified plan. There are practically no failures.
Installing the controller does not take long, and the benefits are significant.
It is possible to program a separate watering for each type of plant.
Vegetables, berries or flowers have a clear water regime. They get moisture every day at the same time, and exactly as much as they need. The mode promotes the best growth and development of plants.
Profitability. Thanks to the timer, the water consumption can be reduced.

What should the controller do?

To decide if you need a timer, you need to know exactly what tasks it can accomplish:

the controller controls the entire system;
starts and stops water;
provides several lines of irrigation at the same time;
monitors the operation of the motor;
can turn on (or not turn on) independently, without a specified time program, determining the humidity level using a special sensor. For example, if it rains, the device will shut off irrigation.

Timer types

Before purchasing a controller, you need to decide how much you want to automate the process. Will it be completely independent, or partially tame? To do this, you need to understand the types of timers. They are:

mechanical;
electronic (automatic) with mechanical control;
electronic (digital programmable) with program control;

Moreover, each of these types, despite the mass of functions performed, is completely easy to install. They can be connected to any pipe, even a garden hose, using fittings.

Features of mechanical timers

The mechanical controller is the simplest of its kind. You need to turn it on manually, but the timer can turn off on its own, after a time specified by the owner. The minimum can be set for 1 minute, the maximum for 120 minutes. The device operates on batteries. The timer operates with a ball valve that regulates the water supply.

Timer pros:

low price;
long service life.

only a person can turn it on.
you cannot connect additional equipment to it.

Mechanical electronic controllers

Electronic timers are more complex devices, and they can perform large quantity functions than mechanical. A feature of the controller is fully automated watering. The device can turn on and off itself, it works on batteries. Will pour when you need and how much you need. The owner can set the work plan for a long time. Possible period of humidification - from 1 min. up to two o'clock.

Timer pros:

acceptable cost;
ease of programming.

it is not possible to connect additional equipment.

Electronic timers with software control

Electronic timers are state-of-the-art equipment on which you can install 16 programs at the same time! Devices monitor all irrigation processes, the presence of a person is not needed here. They also run on batteries.

Timer pros:

high manufacturability;
a large number of functions;
the ability to connect additional equipment.

significant cost;
operating the device requires certain skills.

How timers and multivalve devices work

All of these controllers operate on the basis of one of two mechanisms, the principles of which are different. These are: a solenoid valve or a ball valve.

Timers with valves are used when there is a central water supply. They work within 0.2 atmospheres.

Ball electronic timers operate at low pressure (from 0 to 6 atmospheres) in gravity systems and from a barrel. Suitable for watering with medical droppers.

Multi-valve devices are devices that allow you to organize several irrigation lines at the same time. They are connected to the electrical network. These features must be taken into account when choosing a timer.

Practical Secrets of Setting the Timer

When setting a timer for a time, there is a small but important detail to keep in mind. When a summer resident moistens the beds with a hose or a watering can, he sees that the earth is wet after saturation. And the feature of drip irrigation is dry upper layer soil and moisture inside, near the roots. Practitioners say that with drip irrigation, you want to turn on the water more often, because all the time it seems that the soil is dry.

To avoid flooding the plants, you need to dig out the soil with a shovel and look at the condition of the soil in the root zone of the plant. If it is wet, then the timer is set correctly. If it is swampy, you need to reduce the watering time.

With the help of each of the devices, you can automate any irrigation area. Several hectares of a vegetable garden, a 6-meter greenhouse or one plant. Of course, the drip system is already good, but without a timer it loses its main function - the release of the farmer from the obligatory presence on the site. And with controllers, you can safely come to the dacha once a week, and know that the plants will flourish even in your absence.

Electronic watering timer - video

One of the conditions for the full growth and development of plants is timely watering. But not always, due to the employment of the owners and the remoteness of the site from the city, it is possible to provide it. Solve the problem of creating optimal conditions in compliance with the humidity regime, setting a timer will help. This device will not only simplify the care of green "pets", but also have a beneficial effect on the quality of the crop. The device you need on the farm can be purchased at a gardening store, or you can make a watering timer yourself. How to choose the best version of the model or make a simple device on our own we will consider in the article.

The Water Timer is a single or multi-channel shut-off mechanism that controls the water pump. It opens at regular intervals, allowing water to flow into the irrigation system.

Drip irrigation systems provide an opportunity for several days or even weeks not to appear on the site, without worrying about your seedlings

Timer automatic watering solves a lot of problems in one fell swoop:

Provides watering at a given intensity and frequency;
Prevents waterlogging of the soil and decay of roots due to measured and slow water supply;
By feeding water under the roots garden crops, solves the issue of sunburn of leaves and minimizes the risk of their disease;
By providing localized irrigation, it helps to deal with weeds.

For ease of maintenance, water supply timers are placed together with other equipment in plastic boxes installed underground.

To be able to quickly access devices, such boxes are equipped with a removable hatch or a tight-fitting lid.

According to the counting principle, timers are divided into single-action devices (with a single actuation) and multiple devices (when they are triggered several times with pre-set shutter speeds).

Depending on the type of mechanism used, the timer is:

Electronic- the control unit of the device includes electronic equipment that determines the response time and opening of the solenoid valve. An undeniable advantage this type of device has a wide range of response times, which can vary from 30 seconds to one week. The irrigation mode can be adjusted both locally and remotely.
Mechanical- is a control unit equipped with a spiral spring and a mechanical valve. Works on the principle of a mechanical watch. One winding cycle of the spring block is able to provide uninterrupted operation of the mechanism for up to 24 hours, opening the valve at a user-specified response period. Watering mode is only manually adjusted.

Both devices are multi-channel designs. The mechanical irrigation timer is simple in design and lacks power supply wires. This significantly reduces the cost of the device.

A mechanical timer, in comparison with an electronic analogue, has a more limited duration of a given cycle

In the mechanical timer, it is enough to set the watering cycle by selecting the interval. With the electronic model, it is somewhat more complicated: first you need to set the date and time, and only after that choose the program that is optimal for the grown crop.

Many have noticed that in plumbing systems suburban settlements in daytime due to intensive water intake, the pressure decreases. By setting the automatic watering timer, you can schedule evening and night time irrigation.

Depending on the modification of the device, the timers can have an internal or external "normal" pipe thread, and are also equipped with quick-release hose connectors or quick-connect connectors with an irrigation system.

The most expensive models have additional functions, for example, determination of humidity, depending on the indicator of which irrigation is automatically reduced or extended.

Water timer manufacturing options

When planning to equip an automatic irrigation system on the site, it is convenient to use water timers to control taps. With their help, the water supply system can be made absolutely non-volatile, avoiding the use of any electronics.

Construction # 1 - Timer with drip-wick

The fibers of the wick, being saturated with moisture, lift it up to a certain height, preventing the water from quickly evaporating. If the wick is thrown over the side of the container, then the absorbed water will simply drip from the free end.

This method is based on physical laws that create the capillary effect. It occurs when a fabric wick is lowered into a container of water

The moisture transmission can be adjusted by adjusting the thickness of the wick, the tightness of the twist of the threads and pinching them with a wire loop.

To equip the timer in a container with low sides, the height of which does not exceed 5-8 cm, set a five or ten liter plastic bottle... One of the key conditions for the operation of the system is to maintain the liquid level in the tank at a constant height. The optimal ratio of capacities is easiest to determine experimentally.

The determining factor in his work is the water column. Therefore, the height of the bottle and the depth of the wide container are interrelated things.

A small hole is made in the bottom of the bottle for water to flow out. The bottle is filled with water, temporarily covering the drain hole, and sealed with a lid. The filled bottle is placed in a trough. Water seeping through the bottom will gradually flow out, stopping at a level when the hole does not hide under the thickness. As the water is consumed, the water flowing out of the bottle will replenish the losses.

The wick itself is easiest to make from a rope of suitable thickness or a bundle twisted from a piece of fabric. It is placed in a container, the ends are correctly distributed.

The main advantage of such a timer is that due to the same level of water in a wide container in the event of rain, the replenishment of moisture loss from the bottle will be suspended.

Craftsmen who have already tested such a device in practice claim that a five-liter bottle with a flow rate of 1 drop / 2 seconds is enough for 20 hours of uninterrupted operation. By choosing the optimal size of the bottle, which acts as a water column, and adjusting the intensity of the drop, you can achieve the effect of many-day delays.

Construction # 2 - Ball Valve Regulating Device

In the water timer, the response time is driven by the drop. The water flowing out of the ballast tank reduces the weight of the structure. At a certain moment, the weight of the container is no longer enough to hold the handle of the shut-off valve, and the water supply starts.

To equip a water timer you will need:

Barrel for water;
Ball valve;
Two plywood or metal circles;
Canisters or 5 liter plastic bottles;
Construction glue;
Spool of sewing thread.

For the smooth functioning of the system ball valve it is advisable to modify it by attaching a small pulley - rocker arm to the handle fixed by means of a screw. This will allow the valve to be moved from closed to open by changing the angle of the handle.

A pulley is constructed from two identical plywood circles, gluing them together with planes construction adhesive, or metal, connecting them with bolts. A strong cord is wound onto the pulley, making several turns around it for reliability. When constructing the lever, the lengths of the cord are firmly fixed at its edges. A weight-ballast and a container with water that compensates for its weight are tied to the free ends of the cord from opposite sides. The weight of the load must be such that, under its weight, the crane comes into a lever state.

It is convenient to use five-liter plastic bottles as cargo ballast and a container with water that compensates for its weight.

The easiest way to regulate the weight of containers is by pouring sand into one of them and pouring water into the other. Metal chips or lead shot can also play the role of a weighting agent.

The container with water will act as a timer. To do this, in its bottom, a thin needle is made tiny hole through which water will seep through drop by drop. The flow time will depend on the volume of the bottle itself and the size of the hole. It can range from a few hours to three to four days.

To operate the device, the irrigation container is placed on a flat surface and filled with water. The bottles, suspended by the ends of the cord from the pulley, are also filled: one with sand, the other with water. If the weight of the filled bottles is equal, the tap is closed.

As the water is scooped up, the container loses weight. At a certain moment, the ballast weight, outweighing the partially emptied bottle, turns the tap to the "open" position, thereby starting irrigation

There are situations when it is necessary to get the full opening of the tap, bypassing intermediate positions - the so-called toggle switch effect. In these cases, a little trick will help: in the closed position of the crane, the edge of the thread is attached to the weight, which will act as a safety device, and its free end is fixed to the crane. When the mechanism is closed, the thread will not be under any stress. As the container with water is emptied, the load will outweigh, but the safety thread will take over excess weight without allowing the ballast to move the valve to the "open" position. The thread will break only with a significant overweight of the load, instantly switching off the tap and providing free passage of water.

To restore the system to its original state, it is enough to simply remove the load or fix it in a suspended state by removing the tension on the cord.

The system is ready for operation, it only remains to fill the watering barrel and timer with water before leaving, and hang the ballast, securing it with a thin thread. Such a device is easy to manufacture and easy to maintain. Its only drawback is its one-shot operation.

Other ideas for creating mechanical timers can be gleaned from thematic forms. For example, some craftsmen use a cylindrical plunger with polyethylene granules in oil as a working body of a timer. The device is adjusted so that when the temperature drops at night, the displacer is retracted, and the weakened spring opens the valve. A diaphragm is used to limit the flow of water. In the daytime, the polyethylene granules warmed up by the sun's rays increase in size, pushing the plunger back to its original position and thereby shutting off the water supply.

Construction # 3 - electronic timer

Craftsmen with basic knowledge of electronics can build a simple model of an electronic timer. The manufacturing guide for the device is presented in the video clip:

Through the use modern technologies and innovations in the field of agricultural technologies, plant care has become more comfortable and efficient. First of all, this became possible after the development of irrigation timers, which are able not only to control the amount of water supply and flow for a certain type of plant, but also to perform both drip irrigation and spraying of liquid in accordance with the settings of the program and the type of device.

Let's take a closer look at how to choose the right timer for watering, what you need to pay attention to, how to choose the right settings, and what types of such devices exist.

What are the advantages of a water timer

Most farmers and summer residents strive to reduce the time spent on watering and irrigating plants by introducing an automation system. To solve this problem, you can choose a high-performance watering timer that can not only simplify the watering process by eliminating the need to use buckets and hoses, but also provide plants with the optimal amount of moisture and fertilizer for the best yield.

Using such systems, you can get the following benefits:

efficient use of water resources;
fully automated irrigation system using electronic timers with programmable control;
control of soil moisture to protect the root system of plants from excess moisture;
a wide range of options for customizing the irrigation program for specific types of plants;
reliability of functional units.

The principle of operation of the timer for drip or other type of irrigation

Most automatic irrigation systems operate with gravity collectors in accordance with the laws of hydrodynamics. This means that when the reservoir is placed at a certain height from the ground, for example, 3–5 m, a pressure of about 0.2 atmospheres arises in the pipeline of the system, which just delivers the liquid to the final consumer - the plants. And to automate this process and rational consumption of energy resources, the timers that regulate the time and amount of water supply are used.

For the full operation of this class of devices, it is necessary to use threaded connections Connect one end of the timer to the centralized water supply system or to a gravity collector, and the other to the irrigation circuit.

Further, depending on the design of the timer and its settings, the mechanism of the device at a certain frequency will open and close the ball valve or retract the solenoid valve, thereby providing water supply to the plants at a predetermined interval.

In cases where it is necessary to irrigate a large area with a multi-circuit irrigation system, the gravity collector will no longer be effective. In such cases, in addition to a timer to automate irrigation, it is necessary to additionally install a pumping station.

Timer types

Today there are 3 main groups of timers:

mechanical;
electronic timers for watering with a mechanical drive;
electronic with an intelligent control system.

Mechanical timers for water supply

These devices belong to the "budget" segment. They are highly reliable, low cost and do not require a power supply. The main working element of mechanical timers is the spring that drives the valve.

However, the water supply timer of the mechanical type has one significant drawback, which is the need to turn on the device manually. It is for this reason that this type of device is used in combination with electric timers or solenoid valves powered by batteries.

Mechanical electronic timers

The electromechanical irrigation timer allows you to fully automate this process, by setting the device for 7 days of operation with a maximum duration of 120 minutes of water supply.

The main advantages of such devices:

low cost;
fully automated work;
ease of customization;
high reliability.

However, there is one small drawback in the electronic timers of this market segment - it is impossible to connect various sensors to them, for example, humidity, precipitation level, etc. And this, in turn, will increase the water consumption.

Automatic timer with intelligent control system

This class of devices allows you to set not only the operating time of the irrigation system, but also to control many parameters, from soil moisture to the intensity of daylight.

An irrigation timer of this class allows you to fully automate the supply of water for a long period of time, which allows not only to rationally use water resources, but also to provide an optimal microclimate for plants of any type.

This is achieved due to the additional connection of the following sensors to the device:

However, the electronic type of water supply timer has two significant drawbacks - high price and complex equipment setup. However, if we evaluate the advantages that can be obtained using these systems, then the above disadvantages fade into the background.

How to connect correctly

In most cases, connecting a timer is quite simple, but there are still small nuances.

They are as follows:

When connecting the timer, it is necessary to observe the direction of movement of the liquid, which is determined using the arrows at the inlet and outlet of the timer. Otherwise, the timer will not function.
For reliable operation of the device, manufacturers recommend installing coarse filters to protect the device mechanism from foreign bodies such as dirt, debris and so on.

Single channel system... A similar design consists of one line to which one or more injectors are connected. The advantage of this design is simplicity and reliability. This system works perfectly with a gravity manifold with low pressure, which allows water to be sprayed in a fairly large radius from the nozzle at a certain frequency, depending on the timer setting.
Multi-channel irrigation system... To ensure the supply of water over large areas, a multi-channel system is the optimal solution. It consists of several independent lines, each of which can be connected to nozzles or belts for drip irrigation. However, in order to ensure the full functioning of the system, it is necessary to additionally install a pump to increase the pressure in the system or a pumping station.

Also, to create an automatic irrigation system for a site, regardless of the type of system, taps, hoses, fittings and nozzles will be required to supply liquid to the end consumer.

Features of the operation of devices

Depending on the type of timer, before using the device, certain settings must be made to ensure reliable and trouble-free operation of the system throughout the season:

For timer mechanical type the settings are made using two levers, one of which is responsible for the frequency of turning on the system, in most cases the maximum interval is 72 hours, and the second for the duration of water supply to the plants with a maximum time of 120 minutes.
For electronic devices the number of settings is an order of magnitude higher. These devices allow you to adjust the intensity of the water supply separately for each day of the week. In addition, more efficient and more expensive models are able to control the amount of precipitation, soil moisture and the intensity of sunlight to ensure an optimal microclimate.

The water supply timer can only be used at positive temperatures, since when frost sets in, the water increases in volume and we can destroy and disable the device.

The use of a timer for drip irrigation of agriculture

To date, the most energy efficient solution for irrigating crops is the drip method. It allows spot watering according to a pre-set timer program.

Thanks to this technology, you can get the following benefits:

Watering crops can be done at any time of the day.
Slow flow of liquid, which allows plants to assimilate up to 93% of the total.
When you add various baits and fertilizers to the water, they will be delivered directly to the root system of the plants, which increases the fertilization efficiency by 76%.
When using drip irrigation with intensive sunlight leaves will not fade in the sun, unlike standard watering of plants.
When configured correctly drip system and the timer improves the structure of the roots, which in turn significantly increases the amount of yield.
The drip method of irrigation of crops significantly prevents the formation of weeds, since all the useful moisture goes to the development of plants.
When installing an electronic timer, human participation is necessary only at the stage of programming the system, which frees up time for other things.

What equipment is required to assemble an automatic irrigation system

To collect such systems, it is initially necessary to determine the number of consumers (plants), draw up a plan for the arrangement of system nodes and calculate the approximate fluid consumption.

drip irrigation timer;
drip irrigation tape;
polypropylene pipes for supplying water to the belts;
pipe clamps and clamps;
stubs;
valves and fittings;
reduction and swivel knees;
seals;
connecting elements.

These materials can be purchased separately. However, if you are not an expert in this field, then it is better to purchase ready-made kits, in which the number of certain elements for irrigating a certain area is calculated in advance.

Conclusion

Based on many years of experience in using such systems for irrigating plants, vegetables, fruits and berries, we can say that these devices have proven themselves with positive side as they help not only reduce human participation in watering crops, but also improve the quality of the crop by 20–45%. And thanks to the use of modern programmable devices, this process has become fully automated, which allows you to get good profits and increase the scale of the agricultural business.

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