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Anyone ever put in their own yard sprinkler system?

Posted on 6/7/16 at 8:05 am
Posted by NASA_ISS_Tiger
Huntsville, Al via Sulphur, LA
Member since Sep 2005
7978 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 8:05 am
Post house build?

I'll be going back to the rain bird site to get some more information, just information. Trying to determine how hard it is to determine coverage/lay out etc. I can do the manually labor stuff.

Also, how'd you mount the controller? In garage? On outside wall? Where did you tap in for power?

Any help is appreciated. TIA
Posted by JamalSanders
On a boat
Member since Jul 2015
12135 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 8:36 am to
I worked with a landscaper in college and we did a bunch of them. Layout and coverage can differ greatly. Get you a ditch witch for running the lines. Controller usually gets mounted exterior under an awning if installing after slab is poured. Your electrical panel should have a free station to add a breaker and line.
Posted by USMCTiger03
Member since Sep 2007
71176 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 8:48 am to
Posted by bootlegger
Ponchatoula
Member since Dec 2012
5332 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 9:02 am to
I believe Rainbird has/had a program on their website to help lay out the heads. Spend the extra 50 or so bucks and get a simple rain sensor....will override watering settings if there has been recent rain.
Posted by NASA_ISS_Tiger
Huntsville, Al via Sulphur, LA
Member since Sep 2005
7978 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 9:14 am to
Yeah, I can definitely run a separate line for the power to a controller from the panel. That's not too hard. Definitely was gonna do the trencher. Next door neighbor was talking about doing his yesterday and we could go in halves on the trencher rental for a weekend and knockout both yards (after we call and get all utilities marked...I got some high voltage lines buried close by...from cul-de-sac to back fence along MUD right of way).
Posted by Big Worm
Baton Rouge
Member since Nov 2007
578 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 9:21 am to
I just use actual rain.
Posted by Big L
Houston
Member since Sep 2005
5406 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 9:34 am to
Make sure you add a vacuum breaker backflow preventer...I installed a system without one and got busted for not filing permit and had to add those afterward to get approved.
Posted by Easternrio
Member since May 2014
3755 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 9:53 am to
Don't do it. Hire somebody
Posted by BoostAddict
Member since Jun 2007
2986 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 10:02 am to
I did one this past weekend. Nothing fancy...It has the battery operated controller that mounts on the faucet and 6 sprinkler heads. Hardest part was laying it out to cover everything... at least that's what I thought initially, but the sprinklers have a lot of adjustability and range, so it really didn't need to be as difficult as I made it. Very pleased with the results... going to do the side yard next.
Posted by Babewinkelman
Member since Jan 2015
1259 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 10:06 am to
I am actually thinking about about getting a tarp for my yard
Posted by NASA_ISS_Tiger
Huntsville, Al via Sulphur, LA
Member since Sep 2005
7978 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 10:15 am to
quote:

I just use actual rain.


What is this "rain" you speak of?

Is that the stuff that falls from the sky? Don't get much of that these days. Damn Al Gore and his "Global Warming" or now "Climate Change" scared it away.

Seriously..if I got enough rain to keep my lawn looking good, I wouldn't have even started this post. Last few years June/July/August have been rough on the bermuda grass in my area....so called "drought resistant"...Yeah right.
Posted by NASA_ISS_Tiger
Huntsville, Al via Sulphur, LA
Member since Sep 2005
7978 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 10:18 am to
quote:

Make sure you add a vacuum breaker backflow preventer...I installed a system without one and got busted for not filing permit and had to add those afterward to get approved.


Thanks. I'll keep that in mind and you reminded me to check the municipal codes regarding such installations.
Posted by LSUengr
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2005
2327 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 12:16 pm to
Sizing the pipe would be the most technical part. Pipe size will affect head pressure based on spacing and size of the yard. Did my own 2 years ago and about to do another one on new house in about a month.

Smaller residential lots can get away with 1" feed from meter to backflow. Then 3/4" to each control valve for each zone. Then down to 1/2" to the heads. I just rented a ground saw. Does a 2" trench up to 12" deep. 4 hours was $70 and I only needed it about 2 hours.
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
24944 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 12:35 pm to
quote:

What is this "rain" you speak of?


He's nothing more than a troll and a bad one at that. Just ignore him.

I didn't put one in but have done so much work on mine since I feel like I could easily put one in. My box is in the garage right above an outlet. The panel just plugs into the outlet.

One thing that may help on planning is with decent water pressure you can put 5 heads on one zone. Any more and you loose to much pressure. I'm sure that will vary with your pressure.
Posted by NASA_ISS_Tiger
Huntsville, Al via Sulphur, LA
Member since Sep 2005
7978 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 1:06 pm to
Yeah to put my control box in the garage would take some major drilling thru concrete and/or brick to get the wiring into the garage. But if I mount it in a weatherproof enclosure outside, I still have to run power to it, so I have to weight the options. Control wires into the garage and non-weather tight enclosure or 120V romex style wire to a weather tight enclosure. I think I just talked myself into a hole into the brick work...and mount it in the garage.
Posted by bbvdd
Memphis, TN
Member since Jun 2009
24944 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 1:22 pm to
quote:

Yeah to put my control box in the garage would take some major drilling thru concrete and/or brick


A 3/8 inch masonry bit with a hammer drill would make quick work of it. I have a cheap black and decker hammer drill just for that. It works great and doesn't burn up the bits.

All you need to get through the wall is one or two 1/4 inch wires that run to the valve box (Boxes).
Posted by SportTiger1
Stonewall, LA
Member since Feb 2007
28501 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 1:35 pm to
i've done a lot of research in the past few months, but havent actually done it yet because im lazy and it keeps raining here

determine how much pressure and GPM you have, first. Once you know that, you can kinda determine how many heads you'll be able to push off of each zone. Once i figured that out, and decided which rotors i would get, i got me a 25ft strang and screwdriver. tied the strang to said screwdriver and poked it in the ground where i THINK my rotors need to go.

then i used that to determine how much coverage i would get, and marked my coverage and rotor locationwith some spray paint.

redneck 101, but i think it should work pretty well. sprinklerwarehouse.com seems to have the best prices on the heads.

try this first and let me know how it goes...
Posted by meauxjeaux2
watson
Member since Oct 2007
60283 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 1:39 pm to
here you go bro. Covers your power concerns and also has the anti siphoning valve built it.
LINK


Posted by NASA_ISS_Tiger
Huntsville, Al via Sulphur, LA
Member since Sep 2005
7978 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 2:14 pm to
quote:

A 3/8 inch masonry bit with a hammer drill would make quick work of it. I have a cheap black and decker hammer drill just for that. It works great and doesn't burn up the bits.

All you need to get through the wall is one or two 1/4 inch wires that run to the valve box (Boxes).


Thanks. Just talking here has gotten the thought process going a lot better.
Posted by pennypacker3
Charleston
Member since Aug 2014
2736 posts
Posted on 6/7/16 at 4:13 pm to
As a former golf course superintendent, I see a lot of good information on this directed at OP. Biggest thing I might add is don't run mist heads and rotors together. Also try not running part circle rotors with full circle together unless you can't help it. That's not the end of the world if you match your nozzles well but pipe is cheap. Also, smaller zones give you flexibility and may keep you from having dry or wet areas. If you do it, might as well get it the best you can and save some water and headaches. Rain switch is also a really good addition. I would be glad to expound on any of this if you need...good luck.
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