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Irrigatia SOL-K12. The Fully Automatic Solar Drip Watering System. For use with rainwater butts, water tanks and other reservoirs, this unique garden watering and irrigation system pumps water up to 5m above the water source to accurately irrigate hanging baskets, greenhouses, raised beds, pots and allotments. It's great for tree and shrub establishment too. Keeps your plants especially those tomatoes in the greenhouse watered when you are on holiday.
It was featured on the Alan Titchmarsh Show in October.
Makes a Great Gift for a keen Gardener.
It saves the hassle of lugging a watering can around the greenhouse/ garden or allotment everyday.
see all my special decking with balustrade offers here
DIYdeals offers the 'Irrigatia' Sol K-12 Solar powered garden and allotment irrigation pump kits with enough pressure to water plants up to 5 metres above the water source and up to 60m away.
This makes this system ideal when you haven’t got access to mains water or you prefer to water your plants using rainwater and being solar powered there are NO running costs. It is pre-timed to water every 3 hours for up to an hour on very sunny days with each dripper giving a slow drip due the low output of the specially designed drippers. A 200 litre water butt will last approx 3 weeks. On dull days the pump will work for less time but then the plants need less water. Regular slow watering encourages better growth and plant stability. On long runs 2 pumps may be used in line - e.g if the water source is up to 30m away use 1 x 30m tubing (available as an extra pack) from the water source and tee it into 2 pumps.
The SOL-K12 kit comes with 15m of micro-tubing & 12 low output drippers with all the fixings to reach from your rainwater storage (garden butt, tank or DIYdeals reservoir deck) to either 3 x 45litre , 6 x 35litre or 12 x 25litre hanging baskets or 6 large or 12 small planters around the patio or 10-12 tomato or 20-24 smaller plants (peppers) in the greenhouse. The kit can also be used in poly-tunnels, on raised beds, borders & vegetable gardens where more than one pump kit can be used with extra fittings kits if necessary. A 60ft ploy-tunnel may require 3 x Sol K24 pump kits.
It is recommended that up to 24 drippers can be used. On newly planted trees it will give your plants regular watering when they need it - allow at least 2-3 drippers per tree. The pump has an adjustment to reduce watering when fewer drippers or smaller pots are used. Even if the water reservoir runs dry it will not effect the working of the pump.
Feeding can be done at the same time by adding a soluble feed to your reservoir at 25% of the recommended dilution.
The pump has an adjustment to reduce watering when fewer drippers or smaller pots are used.
If extra drippers and tube are required when using it for raised beds, allotment beds, poly-tunnels and small pots.
I also offer a kit Sol K-24 with 30m of tubing and 24 drippers see ebay item 230631850760 please copy and paste this no. into ebay search
This is also available for worldwide shipments for an extra £10.00
SOL-K12 Useful Information
Max lift - drippers 5m above water source.
Max pump height - 3m above water source.
Max tube run - 60m from water source to furthest dripper.
The pump can be anywhere within that run.
Water dispensed - 7500 ml/h running time - 625ml/dripper.
Run time up to 1 hour in 3 in very sunny conditions. It varies considerably depending on the
weather. The pump will work in a greenhouse, but will pump slightly less water due to there
being less light than outside.
(See below for easy to assemble and usage instructions)
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The pump measuring approx 14cm wide x 11cm high at the back - 5cm high at the front x 5.5cm deep (5.5"x 4"-2"x 2") must be situated in a sunny position even if the water storage is in the shade. The amount of water pumped depends on 2 factors - the amount of sunshine and the position of the control knob which can be adjusted to water large or small plants. It will always deliver more water in sunnier conditions and provides a simple and effective solution to regularly watering your garden or allotment. |
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DIYdeals 'Irrigatia' solar garden & allotment irrigation kit as described above. Price for 1 kit (solar pump+12 drippers)SolK12 |
£64.50 Incl. VAT |
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Postage is included to the UK.
Postage to worldwide is £10 extra
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To ask any questions simply email diydeals@hotmail.co.uk or call 01457 855259 stating your requirements,
Payment via Paypal. |
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Solar garden irrigation with Solar Pump and drip irrigation.
Quick set-up guide
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Before installation, the first time you turn it on - the battery may be fully charged or flat. If fully charged the pump will run for hours - once it has stopped once it will begin to operate normally. If the battery is flat it will not start - turn the knob to 5 and leave in the sun for 3 hours when it will start up automatically. Thereafter it will operate normally.
You can still set up the other fittings ready to connect while the battery is normalising. The pump starts automatically every 3 hours and runs until the battery voltage starts to drop.
1. Drill a 6mm hole in the side at the top of your water butt or other water reservoir, thread inlet tube through, push filter on to end, adjust length of tube so filter hangs 10cm off bottom. Take other end to pump, ensure there is some slack, cut clean and square and push onto pump inlet marked I (inlet) so that tube is straight and does not pull.
2. Starting at far end from pump and working back screw/push drippers onto tube, stake into position, cut tube and screw on tee where next dripper needed, add piece of tube, dripper and stake.
3. Repeat until all drippers in place, routing the tube inconspicuously and clipping into place as you go.
4. Ensuring a clean square cut and leaving some slack, cut tube and push onto pump outlet marked O (outlet). All connections to pump must be straight and should not pull against the pump. Support tube if necessary with clips.
5. Fit the anti siphon device to a tee 5cm below the outlet marked 'O' if the lowest dripper is lower than the water level.
6. Turn pump on to number 3. Allow another 24hours to settle. If it then waters too much turn it down, too little turn it up.
Knob position 5 is maximum watering, 4,3,2,1 are approximately 80%, 60%, 40%, 20% respectively. The knob regulates the proportion of energy that goes from the solar panel to the battery. Constant LED indicates pump is running. Flashing LED indicates unit is in charging mode |
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Detailed setting up and operating solar garden irrigation system,
1. Water sources
DIYdeals Reservoir decks, rainwater butt or tank, clean natural water such as spring or well, un-pressurised mains water such as from a cistern. Maximum tube length from water source to drippers 60m. Maximum height of drippers 4.0m above water source. Water with algae, sediment or the possibility of disease or pesticide should not be used for garden irrigation.
2. Pump placement
Normally it is best to locate the pump in the sunniest position available, facing in the direction which receives the most sun. The pump will work in partially shaded locations but will pump considerably less water. Ideally the pumps location should be at least as sunny as the plants it is watering. The pump does not need to be close to the water source, it is much better to put the pump in the sunshine rather than close to the water butt.
3. Inlet tube and filter
The inlet tube connects the pump inlet to the water source. It features a thin tube of varying length with a filter on the end. The intake filter needs to be suspended in the water source, far enough from the bottom that sediment is not sucked in and deep enough to ensure that good use is made of the water store. In a water butt which is cleaned out each winter this would typically be 10cm from the bottom. The intake tube can be fed through a 6mm hole in the top edge of the reservoir/water butt which will normally provide enough grip to keep the filter at the correct depth. From the water source the tube can be fixed to walls or fences with cable clips, but never more than 3m above the water source. It can be buried or concealed behind things to minimise adverse visual impact. As the tube is only 6mm diameter this is relatively easy. At the pump end it is very important to leave a little slack and to cut the end very clean and square prior to pushing onto the inlet connector on the pump (marked
I). It is also important that there are no sharp bends close to the pump and that the tube does not pull against the inlet – either of these things can lead to air leaking in which will seriously impair the pumping.
4. Drip irrigation
Drip irrigation comprises a supply tube from the pump leading to drippers. The tube may be as branched as is necessary to reach the positions desired for the drippers and can lead to drippers up to 60m from the water source (NB- the kit comes with 15m tubing), or 4.0m above the reservoir.
Low rate drippers work best with the kit – these are typically rated at 1 litre per hour (lph). Note that they often drip at a lower rate than this, but that this is not a problem. Being low rate they allow all the drippers to work - so that the last dripper releases approx. the same amount of water as the first.
Different plant sizes - where plants of different sizes are concerned, the solution is simply to use more than one dripper for the larger plants.
Different dripper heights - It is best if more than one solar pump kit is used. One for the high ones (hanging baskets) and another for the planters at ground level as the lower ones will receive more water than the higher ones if they are used from a single pump.
Installation of drippers
Starting with the last dripper (furthest from pump), push the dripper firmly onto the end of the tube. If it is not on far enough it is likely to leak. Put a stake onto the tube 2-3cm from the dripper and push firmly into the soil. Following the desired route to the next dripper, cut the tube where the tee needs inserting and screw the tee firmly into place. Cut and connect the piece of tube you need to go from the tee to the dripper, put that dripper and on and stake into position. Work back towards the pump. Follow your desired route and clip into place as you go. If your plants are in distinct groups provide each group with its own branch main. No matter how many braches you put in, you will still need 1 tee less than the total number of drippers. When all the drippers are connected take the tube back from the last tee to the pump. Leaving some slack cut the end of the tube clean and square and push onto the pump outlet (marked O). The tube should not be bent close to the pump and should not pull against it, clip or otherwise support the tube if necessary. If regular disconnection is likely, install a connector kit so that this can be done without damaging the tube. For the best visual results the tubes can be concealed. For hanging baskets they can sometimes be hidden behind gutters and downspouts. Sometimes the tubes can be buried (but not at a place or depth where cultivations will damage them). They can cross lawns by cutting a slit with a spade and pushing them in. For some difficult to reach situations they can be routed overhead (max tube height 4.0m above water source).
5. Pot watering
There is a range of factors that govern the water demand of any given plant but the most important of these is leaf area. Plants with a large leaf area,
and in particular a young, actively growing leaf area, are likely to use more water than plants of a similar size which have a lesser or more mature leaf area. Normally speaking, the leaf area is a much better guide to water requirement than pot size is. So bearing this in mind, what are the options for modifying water application to each pot ?
•Use multiple drippers – need more water, put in an extra dripper or two. Pots are used for a huge range of different purposes, but the guidelines are broadly similar: -
•A pot of fast growing annuals will use more water than a similar sized heather – or cactus.
•A pot of onions or carrots will use less than a pot of runner beans .
•A slow growing aspidistra will use less than a fast growing geranium.
6. Bed watering
As with pot watering, the amount of actively growing foliage on a bed will greatly affect its water requirement. However, in a bed the plants roots can spread so they can seek out the water they need. This means that drippers are perfectly okay for bed watering. Do remember though, if you grow annual vegetables or flowers you will frequently have young plants with only a small root system. Establishment is greatly enhanced if water is freely available at this stage. For this reason insert drippers close to plants which are not yet fully established and move them when necessary for best effect. The dryer soil surface between the moist bits will help to discourage weeds and reduce water loss.
7. Hanging baskets
Pot watering, above provides good guidance on how to govern the amount of water required. With hanging baskets there are also some other considerations: -
•If watered automatically they can be located in places where access 2 or 3 times a year for maintenance/replacement is acceptable even though hand watering is not. Your options for hanging basket placement are hugely increased.
•They often have a lot of foliage (and young foliage too) compared with compost volume and they are often in sunny, windy locations so are very prone to drying out quickly. They need watering little and often to maintain a healthy moisture balance.
•They are often high up. This not only makes them difficult to reach, but also means many pumps do not provide enough pressure to reach them. The DIYdeals Irrigatia pump is okay up to 4.0m above the water source.
•They are often on display to neighbours and the general public. An easy to conceal automatic watering system which does not forget to water them is highly desirable.
8. Greenhouses
Pump location –
Normally the solar pump wants to be located in the sunniest location possible. This is likely to be outside the greenhouse facing the sun. However where watering is required all year round, the pump needs to be inside, away from frost. A sunny position inside the greenhouse will often be okay, but watering is likely to be reduced by 20-30% due to light loss caused by the glass and structure of the greenhouse.
Water sources mentioned above will be fine for greenhouses used mainly in the warmer seasons. However many gardeners believe that watering with very cold water damages their plants in which case it is better to situate the water storage inside the greenhouse where it is warmer.
Benches often hold large numbers of small pots and trays. This makes them unsuited to dripper irrigation. One solution is to construct a capillary bench: -
• The bench needs to be flat and rigid, ideally with a slight slope towards one corner for drainage and with the lower edges raised to direct water back to a drainage point which is not raised.
•It is covered in a layer of heavy duty polythene overlapping all edges then a layer of capillary matting which does not overlap the edges.
• A line of drippers is laid along the top edge, for large benches further lines can be added lower down. When the water is on it will tend to run towards the drain, but the capillary mat will trap some and will spread it over the whole bench.
•Excess water can be collected and re-used – but beware that any disease present can be spread.
•Pots and trays stood on the bench will be watered from below.
It is essential that the pots and trays used are suitable. Suitable pots and trays will be those that allow the compost to be in contact with the matting. These are widely available as many commercial growers water in this way.
•Things you may need to know: –
+ tall pots should not be watered in this way as capillary action will only lift water so far (150mm max). Tall pots can be put on a capillary bench, but will need a dripper.
+ Algae is likely to grow on matting that is exposed to light. This will cause infestations of fungus gnats, which may damage some plants and may annoy you. Covering exposed areas of bench with pea gravel will solve this problem (and reduce water usage)
+ When pots are moved, or new pots added, they must be watered from above to establish capillary contact., otherwise they will dry out.
+ If you irrigate your bench with a nutrient solution, plant growth will be good but occasionally water from above with plain water to prevent excessive nutrient build up.
+ Rotate pots regularly to prevent excessive rooting into the mat.
Growbags. Like hanging baskets, these often have a large amount of leaf area in relation to compost volume. They benefit greatly from the regular irrigation provided by the DIYdeals Irrigatia pump kit will provide enough water for 12 tomato plants or 20 capsicums.
Things which may improve cropping: -
• When you plant out into a grow bag, put your plants into a 15cm pot with the bottom cut out. The plants benefit from the increased depth and the pot helps to contain the water while it soaks in.
• Cut drainage slits in the edge of the bag between the plants so the water has to travel along the bag before it can drain out. With a DIYdeals Irrigatia pump kit the cut can be fairly low, no more than 2cm of undrained depth.
•Add tomato fertiliser to your water butt. It’s good for peppers and aubergines too. If you want organic tomatoes don’t use a grow bag.
Hydroponics – growing plants in nutritionally complete aerated solution. There are a multitude of hydroponic growing techniques out there, the main division being between those that use a solid but inert rooting medium and those that don’t.
•An inert rooting medium is one which provides a physical structure for the roots to grow through, but does not provide much in the way of plant nutrients. Examples include rockwool, perlite, leca and various foams. Organic materials such as coir and peat may be used on the basis that it is just the physical structure they are providing.
•Examples of system that do not use solid rooting media include nutrient film technique (NFT), aeroponics and aerated deep solution cultures.
The intermittent nature of irrigation from a DIYdeals Irrigatia pump kit means that it is best suited to techniques using solid media, which provide a reservoir of water for the plants between watering. It is the nature of hydroponics that the solution must provide all of the nutrients necessary for growth. In run-to-waste systems as long as the nutrient supplied is in roughly the right concentration and proportions the plants will take what they need and the rest will be flushed out. In recirculated systems the plants will soon expose any shortcomings in the formulation. Nutrients which are short will soon disappear completely, anything in excess will build up. Disregard anyone who thinks they can sell you the perfectly balanced solution as this will change with the stage of growth, weather, fruit load etc. So although recirculated system use less water and far less fertiliser, they are not well suited to the typical gardener. Which just leaves solid rooting media, run-to-waste system for you DIYdeals Irrigatia pump users.
By and large, if you use complete nutrient solutions and otherwise treat it the same as grow bags, you won’t go far wrong.
Greenhouse pots and beds.
The considerations are the same as for pots and beds outside.
9. Allotments
– These have special requirements. They are often a long way from mains water or electricity and the DIYdeals Irrigatia pump kit is ideal in this situation. However, they may be less secure than a garden and anything left lying around may disappear. Since irrigation will undoubtedly improve cropping how can you resolve this?
•Screw your DIYdeals Irrigatia pumps to the sunny side of your shed low down, or fix it to the shed roof in the upright position and camouflage it to hide the box whilst still leaving the solar panel visible to the sun.
•For seed sowing, lay in a line of 12 drippers turn the pump on and sow the seeds or plants in the watered area, secure the drippers using stakes, lightly cover over leaving just the end with the connector on showing. Typically the drippers should be spaced at 30cm (12") intervals. This is fine for individual large plants like runner beans, but smaller plants can be sown in groups around each dripper. As the plants grow they will spread to cover the ground. Weeding is much easier when plants are grouped like this. At harvest just select the largest from each group and allow the rest to carry on growing.
Repeat for other rows.
10. Tree and shrub establishment
Trees and shrubs are normally pretty expensive. They also take a long time to establish well enough to grow normally. Proper irrigation for the first 1 – 3 years after planting will greatly enhance their growth. In many situations a DIYdeals Irrigatia pump kit will be the easiest and most economical way to irrigate, because it is completely self-contained and does not need either mains electricity or mains water supply. It will work from any tank or container which can be periodically topped up. The addition of fertiliser and growth stimulants will further enhance the establishment of trees and shrubs. For best results when planting spread the roots out in the planting hole and cover lightly with soil and firm, put in 1 – 3 drippers depending on plant size then fill the hole. It is possible to conceal the whole irrigation system below ground by pushing the outlet tube into slits in the ground. This will also make maintenance around the plants easier. It is helpful to have one surface dripper so that you can monitor how much water is being used (this is unnecessary if you are watering from a fairly small container).
11. Drought
Hosepipe bans are not a problem, provided there is sufficient stored water. In full sun a DIYdeals Irrigatia pump kit will use about 10 litres per day, so a typical large water butt will last about 3 weeks with one pump. The DIYdeals reservoir deck will store around 2000 litres and if 3 pump kits are used should last 10 weeks.
12. Maintenance
DIYdeals Irrigatia pump kit has been designed for easy user maintenance.
Batteries.
The DIYdeals Irrigatia pump kit uses 3300mA battery packs which last at least a year. This will vary according to how sunny your location and what setting the pump is operated on. If you are planning a long holiday it is wise to ensure a fairly new battery is in place before you go. You can always finish the old one off when you are around to keep an eye on it. Symptoms of a tired battery are a short run time for the pump, even though it is sunny, or the unit indicates it is charging but never actually runs. To replace batteries remove 4 screws and lid, unplug and remove old battery, put a new one in place and replace the lid and screws. New batteries have a lot of charge which gradually declines with storage. Sometimes the pump will run a long time on a new battery, sometimes it won’t run at all until it has received some charge from the solar panel. Neither of these things is a defect, after 24h the pump should operate completely normally.
Diaphragm pump.
In normal use this should last at least 2 years, probably a lot longer. When it does finally fail it is very easy to replace. Disconnect from irrigation tubes, remove lid, unplug from printed circuit board (PCB), gently prise from its holder, click in new pump and plug in to PCB.
Solar panel
and PCB should both last a long time. If they do fail replacement is relatively simple. Clean solar panels will generate more power, wipe with a soft, damp cloth.
Winter care
The DIYdeals Irrigatia pump kit pumps water and is therefore vulnerable to freezing. Sometimes this may just pop tubes off, but frost damage to the pump itself is possible. To avoid this bring pumps inside or thoroughly insulate during severe cold spells. Your plants won’t need watering then anyway. If your pump is frost damaged, replace it as above.
For details of replacement parts simply email diydeals@hotmail.co.uk or call 01457 855259 stating your requirements, your full address including postcode and a contact telephone number. |
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