Do-it-yourself solenoid valve for watering

The main thing in gardening is to ensure regular watering of the site. Without it, any garden will not survive even one season. Manual irrigation requires a lot of time and labor. A good garden needs a modern water supply system where an important element is an electromagnetic valve for irrigation.

Benefits of Autowatering

The main elements of the irrigation system are as follows:

1. Watering heads - from small fans to powerful impulse and rotary ones.
2. Solenoid valves for automatic irrigation.
3. Pipeline for distribution of flows.
4. Pumping station providing the necessary pressure in the system.
5. Storage tank for continuous water supply to the system.
6. Hydrants for connecting to the system for different purposes.
   
   The advantage of autowatering is expressed in the following:

• dosing of water consumption;
• uniformity of application;
• profitability (watering at night reduces evaporation of moisture);
• the system is underground;
• gardener labor and time are saved.

The purpose of the solenoid valve

An electromagnetic valve for irrigation is always needed, even if there is no irrigation system. It is used together with a timer that turns it on at the right time. It is especially needed to fill the storage tank. When water is supplied as scheduled, the timer opens the valve and the tank is filled. It is advisable to simultaneously water the area. All this is done in the absence of the owner. He can only water inaccessible places.

The main purpose of the valve is to supply water to the irrigation system at a given time. For this, a 1-inch device is suitable, passing 50-100 l / min at a pressure of up to 10 atm. It can also be used in short watering areas, as the built-in regulator allows you to adjust the local flow rate. It is suitable for spray and drip irrigation when the pressure in the system is weak.

One or more valves are installed on the drainage cushion of gravel and are closed by a duct. This can be done in any convenient place.

Solenoid valve device

The valve is designed very simply. It contains the following details.

1. Housing with a cover made of metal or polymer.
2. Shutter with rods and plungers.
3. Solenoid in a sealed enclosure.
   

The external thread of the inlet and outlet nozzles is 1/4 ^" and more depending on the flow rate. The least water passes through the solenoid valve for drip irrigation. Small-sized devices are built into the pipeline with water and operate from a timer that sets different irrigation modes.

Recently, models combined with a switch have appeared. Available through the Yulmart online store: C 1060 plus GARDENA solenoid valve for irrigation, which has become popular. It automatically switches the water supply to garden irrigation.

Solenoid valve for watering: scheme of work

The water valve is convenient to use, since it can serve as a regular tap in the event of a power outage. To open it, the control solenoid rotates a quarter of a turn.

When the coil is disconnected, the passage of water is blocked. When triggered, when the core is retracted, the valve bore opens. Through it, water enters the irrigation or tank. To shut off the fluid supply, the coil is turned off, and the spring again returns the core of the electromagnet to its original position.

Solenoid valves operate at different supply voltages (12 V, 24 V, ~ 220 V). Devices are also normally open and pulsed (switching is performed by a control pulse from one position to another).

The valve is installed in the gap of the water supply. A control cable is laid to it. A timer is connected to the outlet and adjusted to the desired time. If there are power outages in the mains, the time setting must be checked periodically or use an autonomous power source, such as a battery.

Solenoid Water Valve

Many people know the convenient and inexpensive solenoid valve for irrigation NT8048DC12V with the following characteristics:

• D.C;
• pressure - 0.8 MPa;
• pipe diameter - 1/2 ^" ;
• flow rate - 25 l / min;
• water temperature - no more than 50 ⁰ .

The advantage of the valve is to keep it open due to the flow of fluid, and not an electromagnet. During operation, the strainer should be cleaned periodically. The valve is the basis of irrigation and is completely electrically safe due to low voltage. Electric shock is completely excluded. Power is provided from the battery or from the mains through galvanic isolation.

Connection of the electromagnetic valve to the garden irrigation system

For a small garden, a solenoid valve for irrigation of -12 volts (NT8048) is better. It is safe, because if water gets into the contacts and when wet hands touch it, electric shock will not occur. The ability to connect it to a 15 Ah battery pack allows you to work without recharging for a week. It will also be easy to make power from the shield through the network adapter.

Water supply is provided from a storage tank installed at a height of at least 2 m. Water in it is drawn from a centralized system. Filling is controlled by a float sensor connected to a cork valve. The lack of a pump removes a lot of problems. Watering the garden by gravity takes place over several hours and at the same time it does not need to be controlled. All watering control will take over the electronic timer connected to the outlet.

The valve is installed in the pressure line of the irrigation system. An electromagnet coil is connected to the adapter output via a cable using the terminals. They can be sealed on top with a sealant to protect against water.

The entire device is conveniently placed in the utility room, where you can hold the outlet. A timer, an adapter and an electromagnet coil are connected to it in series. It remains to configure the watering mode. The time is chosen morning and evening, so that there is a minimum of evaporation, and the plants do not burn in the sun. The duration of irrigation is set, which is then selected experimentally.

Watering should be different for different types of plants. The system can be gradually improved by adding new valves. You can connect a timer to each of them or install a common microcontroller by setting a watering program.

On the discharge pipes, valves from old washing machines can be installed, which will allow a decent saving on the cost of the irrigation system.

Do-it-yourself solenoid valve

Electric valves are expensive, but cheaper solutions can be found. The most affordable here is the valve from a failed washing machine. His device is as follows:

• plastic case;
• rubber membrane;
• core electromagnet;
• spring;
• strainer;
• gasket.

The mechanism has a high sensitivity to dirt and can easily fail. It is protected by a strainer, but for a garden system it is advisable to put another one at the valve inlet, since its own will quickly clog.

The electromagnetic valve is normally closed, i.e. when shut off, it shuts off water. When turned on, the core is retracted, lifting the rubber membrane, and passes water.

To remove contaminated liquid from the washing machine, a drain valve is used that is similar in design. The principle of operation is the same and it can be successfully applied for irrigation.

The solenoid valves of the washing machines have the following characteristics:

• supply voltage - 220 V ;
• power - 8 W;
• water pressure - up to 10 atm;
• diameter of a water inlet hose - 3/4 ^" ;
• fluid flow rate - 10 l / min.

Faults and repairs

Conclusion

Maintenance of a garden takes a lot of time and effort. The real savior for the owner is an electromagnetic valve for irrigation, which serves to fill the storage tank in its absence, to pump water from the well, and especially in the irrigation system.