Battery-Operated Controller for Gravity Fed Irrigation - CR4 Discussion Thread

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streetmason Participant Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2	Battery-Operated Controller for Gravity Fed Irrigation 06/07/2009 1:28 PM
	would a battery operated irrigation controller with built-in solenoid (latching type) using button batteries for data and 9v battery for switching selenoid,be ok for gravity fed irrigation? I believe most selonoids use water pressure to help activation.for what its worth battery controllers all use latching solenoids.
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jack of all trades Guru Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 8777 Good Answers: 376	#1 Re: irrigation,controller with selenoid 06/07/2009 3:33 PM
	I would have to say probably no from an electrical point of view as standard 9V (PP3 format) batteries are not designed for powering the high currents necessary to operate a moderately-sized solenoid. Do you know what the solenoid voltage and current ratings are? __________________ jack of all trades
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user-deleted-1105 Guru Join Date: May 2007 Location: Harlow England Posts: 16512 Good Answers: 670	#2 Re: irrigation,controller with selenoid 06/07/2009 4:13 PM
	Yes, I have designed a commercial product which is used in drain dosing applictions, using gravity feed, a latching solenoid and 4 C cells, bettery life exceeds 2 years for a daily shot. I can give you some technical details/help/info, but obviously not the full juice. The key is finding a microcontroller (or control electronics, which will work at a suitable voltage 6-4v in my case while drawing very little quiescent current, and a solenoid which will also work at that voltage) It's the quiescent current which kills battery products, (that's the current it is drawing all the time 24 hours a day...) I've seen several manufacturers claim ludicrous battery life because they've forgotten to add in the quiescent current and have only looked at the pumping/dosing current. Del __________________ health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
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lyn Guru Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 42355 Good Answers: 1693	#3 In reply to #2 Re: irrigation,controller with selenoid 06/07/2009 5:10 PM
	Aren't you clever!!!!!!!!!!
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user-deleted-1105 Guru Join Date: May 2007 Location: Harlow England Posts: 16512 Good Answers: 670	#4 In reply to #3 Re: irrigation,controller with selenoid 06/07/2009 5:14 PM
	aw shucks... I do screw up a lot too. Del __________________ health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
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agua_doc Guru Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Brecksville, OH Posts: 1621 Good Answers: 18	#5 In reply to #2 Re: irrigation,controller with selenoid 06/08/2009 11:29 AM
	Could such a unit be solar-powered for use in arid conditions in the third world on drip irrigation? __________________ "Consensus Science got us into this mess, then why can't it get us out?" : Rephrase of Will Rogers Comment
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user-deleted-1105 Guru Join Date: May 2007 Location: Harlow England Posts: 16512 Good Answers: 670	#6 In reply to #5 Re: irrigation,controller with selenoid 06/08/2009 12:59 PM
	Yeah, you could use solar charged re-chargeable. Bear in mind it's a gravity delivery system, so you'd still have to get the water 'up' some how. Del __________________ health warning: These posts may contain traces of nut.
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streetmason Participant Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 2	#7 Re: Battery-Operated Controller for Gravity Fed Irrigation 06/08/2009 3:05 PM
	see this link for what i have in mind,also latching selenoid used only in battery operated controllers dont use any power to hold back the solenoid (hence advertisers claim battery lasts one season) but the question remains can i use this unit with a gravity fed drip irrigation system,or does the solenoid need pressure to actuate,cheers http://www.javelinirrigation.co.uk/html/Turf_Products/turf_products/olympic_2000.htm
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Sparkchaser Power-User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Adirondacks of NYS Posts: 136 Good Answers: 7	#8 Re: Battery-Operated Controller for Gravity Fed Irrigation 06/09/2009 7:01 AM
	Why use electricity at all? The Flout dosing device is used to turn on and off water flow based solely on the water height in a tank. Add a gravity powered sequencing valve (say four outlets) and the same equipment could irrigate a number of areas. Check this link for sequencing Flouts... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uGNocD0weg&feature=channel_page And this one for an un-powered sequencing valve... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDtzdtJjOeA&feature=channel Send me any questions. __________________ If I hear hoofbeats, why don't I ever think a Zebra might be around?
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Users who posted comments:

agua_doc (1); jack of all trades (1); lyn (1); Sparkchaser (1); streetmason (1); user-deleted-1105 (3)

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