ZxcStaz
Active Member
The prototype system has been constructed. A Rubbermaid tote was fitted with six spray nozzles. Four are positioned on the sides, high in the tote. These are 1GPH nozzles. Two nozzles are on the lid, they are 3GPH. The installation of the nozzles was easy, and the housing body was positioned on the exterior of the tote. (See attached pics below)
The system was powered by a Aquatech 5800. A check valve, stop valve, and strainer were installed inline. The reservoir is an old True-brew pail that was laying around. You know what, I hate bulkheads!?! Those bloody things are so difficult to keep from leaking. Putting that connection together took the majority of the construction time. This system would have gone together in half an hour, if not for that miscreant bulkhead. Initial testing revealed minor connection leaks. These were easily remedied by re-seating the tubing. The tote doesn’t leak, those totes are awesome. Actuation of the misters showed fine aeration and a uniform distribution. The positioning should cover the entire root mass. A fine cloud remained suspended in the air for a few seconds. The t op misters release a few drips upon pressure termination. Disassembly and transportation only require the disconnection of one push fitting, and then the unit is mobile.
I may integrate a few more stop valves to aid in the disconnection and transportation. Additionally, I will install a drain valve on the bottom of the tote to remove the excess nutrient solution. This, of course, involves another damn bulkhead fitting and most notably an increase in my blood pressure. I’ll move the system to the sunroom during the day, but at night when it is back in the tent, I‘ll use a different method to power the system.
Enter the accumulator tank. This beast is nice. The initial testing is very promising. The first step was to reduce the 1” National Pipe Thread (NPT) connection to a 3/8” push connect fitting. I used a NPT 1” male to 3/8” NPT female reducer, and coupled that with a 3/8” NPT male to 3/8” push fitting. Now I remember why one should always wrap the threading with Teflon tape before pressurizing the tank. I used the Aquatech to charge the tank with water. It took about 10 gallons to bring the tank up to 100 psi, about 2 gallons from 80psi to 100psi. These volumes may be manipulated if I change the factory 38 psi bladder pressure. Without going into too much detail, the pressure should be about 2 psi lower than target pump-on pressure, e.g., pressure switch set 60 o/ 100 o – make the bladder pressure 58 psi. Considering the system test data, I probably will not change the pressure.
Filling the tank took about a half hour. The pressure and volume were closely monitored from 80 – 100 psi. Obviously, the tank held because I’m not writing this from a hospital bed, but when I was filling it, those thoughts did cross my mind. Once pressurized, a solenoid valve, 24V power source, and timer were placed inline. The pump was disconnected and removed. Testing was performed to ascertain the dispensation duration, volume reduction, and pressure reduction of the stand-alone tank. These data and calculations follow, and at the time of writing this 80-60 psi data are still being collected.
The timer was set to open the solenoid for 2 seconds (s) on and 8s off. The pressure was monitored to count the total intervals actuated between those pressure readings. The system ran for 35 minutes before the pressure dropped to 80 psi. 210 actuations occurred. If the timer is set for 2s/5min, the system will work for 17.5 hours. The total volume dispensed was two gallons. Data is still pouring in, and it looks like 80-60 psi powers the nozzles well, and has more actuations for that range. So far, in this pressure range, the system has been running for 75 min. That’s an additional 37.5 hours of running time at the 2s/5m interval, and it’s still going! I think this tank will work well.
More to follow...now I have to clean up my mess…
- ZXC
The system was powered by a Aquatech 5800. A check valve, stop valve, and strainer were installed inline. The reservoir is an old True-brew pail that was laying around. You know what, I hate bulkheads!?! Those bloody things are so difficult to keep from leaking. Putting that connection together took the majority of the construction time. This system would have gone together in half an hour, if not for that miscreant bulkhead. Initial testing revealed minor connection leaks. These were easily remedied by re-seating the tubing. The tote doesn’t leak, those totes are awesome. Actuation of the misters showed fine aeration and a uniform distribution. The positioning should cover the entire root mass. A fine cloud remained suspended in the air for a few seconds. The t op misters release a few drips upon pressure termination. Disassembly and transportation only require the disconnection of one push fitting, and then the unit is mobile.
I may integrate a few more stop valves to aid in the disconnection and transportation. Additionally, I will install a drain valve on the bottom of the tote to remove the excess nutrient solution. This, of course, involves another damn bulkhead fitting and most notably an increase in my blood pressure. I’ll move the system to the sunroom during the day, but at night when it is back in the tent, I‘ll use a different method to power the system.
Enter the accumulator tank. This beast is nice. The initial testing is very promising. The first step was to reduce the 1” National Pipe Thread (NPT) connection to a 3/8” push connect fitting. I used a NPT 1” male to 3/8” NPT female reducer, and coupled that with a 3/8” NPT male to 3/8” push fitting. Now I remember why one should always wrap the threading with Teflon tape before pressurizing the tank. I used the Aquatech to charge the tank with water. It took about 10 gallons to bring the tank up to 100 psi, about 2 gallons from 80psi to 100psi. These volumes may be manipulated if I change the factory 38 psi bladder pressure. Without going into too much detail, the pressure should be about 2 psi lower than target pump-on pressure, e.g., pressure switch set 60 o/ 100 o – make the bladder pressure 58 psi. Considering the system test data, I probably will not change the pressure.
Filling the tank took about a half hour. The pressure and volume were closely monitored from 80 – 100 psi. Obviously, the tank held because I’m not writing this from a hospital bed, but when I was filling it, those thoughts did cross my mind. Once pressurized, a solenoid valve, 24V power source, and timer were placed inline. The pump was disconnected and removed. Testing was performed to ascertain the dispensation duration, volume reduction, and pressure reduction of the stand-alone tank. These data and calculations follow, and at the time of writing this 80-60 psi data are still being collected.
The timer was set to open the solenoid for 2 seconds (s) on and 8s off. The pressure was monitored to count the total intervals actuated between those pressure readings. The system ran for 35 minutes before the pressure dropped to 80 psi. 210 actuations occurred. If the timer is set for 2s/5min, the system will work for 17.5 hours. The total volume dispensed was two gallons. Data is still pouring in, and it looks like 80-60 psi powers the nozzles well, and has more actuations for that range. So far, in this pressure range, the system has been running for 75 min. That’s an additional 37.5 hours of running time at the 2s/5m interval, and it’s still going! I think this tank will work well.
More to follow...now I have to clean up my mess…
- ZXC
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