Any automatic lawn sprinkler system is a collection of plumbing, electrical components and sprinkler heads that all must work together in synergy if lawns and other landscapes are to get the irrigation they need to thrive.
One of the most vital elements of these systems is the remote control valve. Variously called a zone, station or solenoid valve, an automated lawn sprinkler system will include a remote control valve for every watering zone it has.
A watering zone is made up of sprinkler heads whose plumbing is connected to a particular remote valve. When this watering zone is turned on from the timer, an electrical signal is relayed through field wires to the solenoid, which then opens the remote control valve hydraulically. That allows the water to flow to those interconnected sprinkler heads.
One of the most vital elements of these systems is the remote control valve. Variously called a zone, station or solenoid valve, an automated lawn sprinkler system will include a remote control valve for every watering zone it has.
A watering zone is made up of sprinkler heads whose plumbing is connected to a particular remote valve. When this watering zone is turned on from the timer, an electrical signal is relayed through field wires to the solenoid, which then opens the remote control valve hydraulically. That allows the water to flow to those interconnected sprinkler heads.
Some property owners will wonder why their contractor scattered these remote control valves all over the property. The reason is that it's more cost-effective to plumb a single, main water supply line, then locate the remote control valves at every point where this main supply line intersects individual watering zones around the project area. If the contractor put all the remote control valves together in one location, it would make accessing and fixing them easier, but it would mean building a separate water supply line from every valve to the water station it irrigated. On large tracts of land, this would necessitate multiple water supply lines emanating from a rather large hole on the property AND huge pipe diameters. Not very smart, when you thing about it.
However, there are situations where grouping valves would be advisable. For example, if there is a landscape which will see a lot of traffic, either human, animal or vehicular, placing the valves together, at a prote
However, there are situations where grouping valves would be advisable. For example, if there is a landscape which will see a lot of traffic, either human, animal or vehicular, placing the valves together, at a prote
Some property owners will wonder why their contractor scattered these remote control valves all over the property. The reason is that it's more cost-effective to plumb a single, main water supply line, then locate the remote control valves at every point where this main supply line intersects individual watering zones around the project area. If the contractor put all the remote control valves together in one location, it would make accessing and fixing them easier, but it would mean building a separate water supply line from every valve to the water station it irrigated. On large tracts of land, this would necessitate multiple water supply lines emanating from a rather large hole on the property AND huge pipe diameters. Not very smart, when you thing about it.
However, there are situations where grouping valves would be advisable. For example, if there is a landscape which will see a lot of traffic, either human, animal or vehicular, placing the valves together, at a protected location, would be a good idea.
In other cases, valve placement isn't a high priority. For instance, a given spot was selected only because that's where the contractor ran out of control wire. Or his good intention of selecting an easy-to-find location is upended by the need to adapt his design to the landscape.
Then again, the remote control valve -- if installed properly -- should not need much maintenance, so locating it won't be all that important. If he has to, the contractor knows there are all sorts of ways he can find it.
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However, there are situations where grouping valves would be advisable. For example, if there is a landscape which will see a lot of traffic, either human, animal or vehicular, placing the valves together, at a protected location, would be a good idea.
In other cases, valve placement isn't a high priority. For instance, a given spot was selected only because that's where the contractor ran out of control wire. Or his good intention of selecting an easy-to-find location is upended by the need to adapt his design to the landscape.
Then again, the remote control valve -- if installed properly -- should not need much maintenance, so locating it won't be all that important. If he has to, the contractor knows there are all sorts of ways he can find it.
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