Planning your Lawn Sprinkler System

Before we start your sprinkler system design we'll need to take a couple of readings from your garden spigot.

1. Water Pressure (PSI)

Optimum performance of your Lawn Belt sprinklers is based on 40-60 psi (pounds per square inch). If you are operating a water pressure between 30-40 psi special adjustments can be made (see #3 below).

Use a pressure gauge (available in our store) This will give you the best reading at your spigot.

If you can't get a gauge, call your local water company and ask for the Psi at your meter.

Pressure gauge at the spigot

If attaching a gauge make sure all water sources both inside and outside the house are turned off. Then simply attach the gauge to the spigot and open the faucet fully. For a more accurate reading test two or three times during the time you'll be watering, then figure the average reading.

2. Check Your Water flow (GPM)

Suggested GPM for your Lawn Belt sprinkler system is 8 GPM (gallons per minute).

Here's a quick method to checking. Get a gallon bucket and fill it at the spigot. Time how many seconds it takes to completely fill the bucket. Then apply the following formula:

60 / Seconds to fill 1 gallon

For example if it takes 7 seconds to fill a gallon then divided 60 by 7 .. or 8.6 GPM

NEW ONLINE CALCULATOR!

Please visit our new sprinkler calculator page to figure GPM more in depth

Note: Some newer spigots have a higher restriction on the flow - meaning that your Gpm reading may be slightly lower than actual.

3. Find your sprinkler coverage

On average each standard sprinkler head will spray 15 - 20 feet in diameter (except for our Orbit Rotor Head - see note below).

If you have good pressure (above 60 psi) your spray may exceed 20 feet. If your water pressure reading is a under 40 psi you may consider either decreasing the diameter of your sprinkler by adjusting the screw on top of the head or as a last resort try removing one head from your zone.

Adjusting the diameter of spray

Note: If you need broader coverage you can add a different head such as our Rainbird Rotor found in the store covering up to a 20 foot radius or spray distance on average. Kits are designed to accommodate a specific number of heads per zone. Additional heads can be added if Psi reading is above 60 psi.

Recommended Heads Per Zone

(click to open up layout examples for each head)

LawnBelt  
Kit:		Lawn   
Sprinkler   		Garden   
Bdr		Orbit
Softop   		Custom
Rotors
Heads p zone:3432-3
Avg Radius(ft):  8- 108-101020+

Choosing the right kit for your garden

Sprinkler Kit: For smaller lawns or planting areas Garden Border: For planting strips or garden mounds Custom Orbit: Adjustable head for smaller lawns or planting areas Custom Orbit Rotor : For large lawns or garden areas

Connecting multiple zones to one spigot Additional zones or kits can always be added to your sprinkler design / layout. Up to 4 zones can be attach to your spigot by using a 4 way distributor in the store.

Each zone is designed to be watered separately. Zones can be water automatically by using a battery operated timer. Otherwise you can easily open or close each valve in the zone during its watering cycle.

4. Plot your sprinkler heads

The critical step in your sprinkler system design is to decide which areas you want to water, and what kind of spray patterns you'll need.

This slideshow will walk you through how to design a Lawn Belt System.
Use the grid sheet (below) and plot the outline of your garden area. Include any obstructions such as driveways and patios. Use a tape measure for accuracy, and make sure all the areas match the scale of the grid. (Our grid scale below is 1 square = 2 feet)

Properly positioning your sprinkler locations is an important step. As you design the layout, try to maximize the amount of Lawn Belt you have while keeping track of remaining Belt left as you establish each sprinkler location.

Start by drawing a line from the spigot to your first sprinkler head (radius circle) find the radius size with the chart above. Use the spray pattern template below for best results. Locate Sprinkler Heads After printing out both sheets, locate your spigots on the garden plot. As you place each circle and head location try to achieve the most uniform coverage. You can accomplish this by overlapping each circle into the next by a few feet (this will create an over spray so you won't get any dry spots in your lawn or garden).

When to use half or quarter rounds- To keep walkways or driveway areas from overspray use ether 1/4 or 1/2 rounds and place flat part of the spray against the edge of walkway. Where sharp corners occur use a 90 degree sprayer if possible. Note: The Orbit and Rainbirds heads are fully adjustable to any angle. The standard heads are fixed angles and come in 90, 180 and 360 degree sprays.

5. Calculate the length of each zone

Next, connect the zones together by drawing a curved line starting from your spigot and then to the center of each spray pattern.

Remember to avoid any tight turns in your layout - use large sweeping turns instead when connecting one head to the next.

Then add the total distance of LawnBelt from your spigot to the end of each zone.

If this distance is over 50 feet (the length of a kit) you will need to extend LawnBelt using additional LawnBelt plus a coupler kit available in our store.

garden plot sheet

Cutout Spray Patterns

Here's a printable grid sheet and spray pattern template to easily plot your sprinkler system design.

Simply cutout the spray patterns and design your sprinkler system for maximum coverage.

Acrobat reader is required (its free) Click on each image to view and print on 8 1/2" × 11" paper.


download free





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