Compare and Contrast these 4” Popups: Hunter Pro Series, Rainbird 1804, and Toro 570Z

Easy to install and setup? 

No significant difference between the three.

Perform the core function?  Reliably pop-up, seal and retract.  Apply water uniformly.

Rainbird seals at 8psi, the best of the group.  The wiper seals on the Rainbird 1800 series have an established track record.  The Hunter wiper seal construction inspires confidence and performs well.  They all flush along the riser on the down stroke.

We are performing a series of catch can tests in a simple square spacing scenario.  In these tests, the spacing, pressure and wind (none) are the same for all.  The tests are performed at 30psi.  Note:  These are 10’ square spacing tests, only.  (Square spacing is inherently “inefficient” within the “square” – the tradeoff for protecting the edge from overspray.  View our short “Pressure & Spacing article for more detail.)  We caution against putting to much emphasis on this one series of tests – it is not intended to, nor would it adequately declare a “winner” among these three products.

Further testing is in-progress.

Easy to use (flexible as well)? 

Very similar, Toro has easiest ratcheting riser.  The key water conservation features in a spray head are pressure regulation, check valves and the nozzles themselves.  All of the manufacturers offer a dependable and effective in-stem pressure regulator, designed to keep the operating pressure at 30 psi, regardless of inlet pressures higher than 30psi.  (The typical range is 30 – 70 psi).  Of the in-head check valves, Rainbirds’ is rated the highest at holding 14’ of head.  Rainbird has a good track record with this device, it is simple, effective and reliable.

Delivery Systems Articles • Product Reviews Articles • Posted on 06/12/2009   •  (5) Comments • Permalink

Pressure and Spacing of Distribution Hardware

Two inter-related elements that are vital to the success of any spray irrigation system are pressure and spacing of distribution hardware.  Pressure is the force behind the water.  There is static pressure, the pressure that registers when nothing is moving, and operating pressure.  Operating pressure is the pressure that is in the lateral systems, and most importantly at the base of the sprinkler (or emitter, etc.)  during operation.

Operating Pressure is critical

Ensuring operation of sprinklers at the stated optimum operating pressure is critical to the even distribution of water.  At optimum pressure nozzles produce a ratio of large droplets that carry toward the end of the radius, and a finer sized droplet that fill in around the sprinkler.  (With appropriate sprinkler spacing, the small and larger droplet from opposing heads infill and create a uniform application.  Even application is an Irrigation Essential!)   With the right operating pressure, a nozzle creates proportionally (more) large droplets and throws them to the end of the radius because there is a greater area to cover at the end of the radius, than the area near the head.  So it is easy to see that uniformity of coverage is dependent on spacing, pressure and one more thing – wind, or the absence of it.

With too much pressure, a percentage of the water droplets atomize and simply float away as mist without landing on the landscape.  With too little pressure, the water is not deployed evenly, and soaks some areas while leaving others dry.  A good rule of thumb is all hardware in a lateral system should operate within a 10 psi range of each other.  

Elevation impacts pressure as well.  Pressure is lost going uphill and gained going down hill.  Large lateral systems that include substantial elevation changes have several challenges “built in”.  Email us back with more specifics about this situation – you’ll want to get this right the first time!

Delivery Systems Articles • Posted on 02/22/2009   •  (1) Comments • Permalink