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Hi I'm in my early 80s,, my son helps alot with gardening. And I need to know what I need to buy and if it's possible to add an automatic battery operated sprinkler controller to add onto this spigot which I am having lots of trouble to bend down to open and close just everytime to use the sprinkler. I've added some photos.
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @sdass92. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about garden irrigation.
Yes, you can attach a battery-operated automatic control valve at that point. They are generally added under a garden tap, but with a few extra fittings, I'm sure one could be added here, too.
To give any further advice on the fittings, I'd really need to see what type of pipework is under the leaf litter. Adding the valve should be an easy job for an irrigation specialist or potentially your son, with our help. If you approach an irrigation specialist, insist they only install the cheapest option and suggest the above valve I linked to. In all likely hood, they might want to install a full system costing hundreds of dollars, but I don't feel it is necessary for such a simple requirement. Installing an automatic tap timer might not be an elegant solution, but it will be functional.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
Hi Mitchell,
Here are some photos of the pipe.
Hi @sdass92,
It's a bit hard for me to tell the exact sizes, but you'll need items along these lines: Pope 25mm Poly Nut And Tail, Pope 25mm Poly Ratchet Clamp, Holman 25mm Poly Irrigation O-Ring Nipple and Kinetic 12mm x 10m White Standard Thread Seal. That's assuming the plastic fitting that screws into the brass one is 25mm. The nut and tail will screw onto the bottom of the battery-operated automatic control valve, replacing the click-on fitting and allowing it to push into the poly pipe. The O-ring nipple screws into the top of the battery-operated automatic control valve and connects it to the brass fitting.
I'd suggest cutting the pipe at the mark I've indicated below and taking it with you into a store if possible. The team can have a look at my recommendations and give you the exact parts.
Please let me know if you have questions.
Mitchell
I apologise @sdass92, I should have been a bit more specific. Isolate that area first before cutting the line. Is the sprinkler off to the left and connected to the poly pipe or off to the right of the valve? If it is to the left and you have the valve turned off, then no water should be able to flow from the copper mains pipe past the valve and out of the cut poly pipe.
I'm sorry to hear of your previous in-store experience, and can only assure you that this is not the level of service we want to be providing. My expectation would be that the Irrigation Expert should have no issues locating the correct fittings for you. If you would like, I can phone the store ahead of time to ensure there is someone knowledgeable there to assist you.
If you can measure the poly pipe for me and the size of the thread on the barb fitting, which goes into the pipe and then screws into the copper fitting, that will allow me to suggest the exact fittings needed.
Mitchell
Hi Mitchell,
Yes the sprinkler off to the left.
If it is to the left and you have the valve turned off, then no water should be able to flow from the copper mains pipe past the valve and out of the cut poly pipe.
That's what I was presuming, @sdass92. If the sprinkler isn't running, the water is already isolated at the valve, which is turned off. As long as the valve is turned off, you're fine to cut the poly pipe.
Mitchell
