Browse Forums Landscape & Garden Design 1 Nov 24, 2011 11:49 am Hi there, I am looking at installing a garden irrigation system soon (DIY). I have been looking at different brands of controller and solenoid valves. So far Holman brand is the most economical. Anybody has any experience installing or using Holman's controller and solenoid valves. Are they relaible and easy to install? How about Holman in comparing with Pope, Orbit and Toro. Thanking you in advance for your help. Re: Irrigation Controller and Solenoid Valve 2Nov 25, 2011 11:50 am I can't stress enough the importance of buying an irrigation controller that meets good waterwise standards, is reliable and most importantly is easy to use. These can no longer be set and forget things. I have a great thread outlining what to look for and which brands many water efficient landscapers will suggest. There a few of them relating directly to your question. What is cheap is going to be very expensive later. Water will get extremely expensive and its going to be super important that what you buy now will not add to that cost later. Re: Irrigation Controller and Solenoid Valve 3Nov 25, 2011 11:57 am One of the key features to look for is a water budget. If it doesn't have that, walk away. That is a setting that allows fast and easy adjustment of all the watering times by adjusting a percentage of the times set. Seasonal adjust is another way that is sometimes shown on a good controller. Re: Irrigation Controller and Solenoid Valve 4Nov 25, 2011 11:58 am I wouldn't poke some of those with a stick. Toro is going to be one of your best choices but what model are you talking about? Re: Irrigation Controller and Solenoid Valve 6Nov 25, 2011 2:24 pm Thanks very much Fu. Saw a Toro 6-station model in Bunnings for about $85. Can't remember the model no. It feels light and quality of budget model. Wonder that's a reliable one. Came across another store selling Hunter XC on the web and they have a few stores in Melbourne. The price is not far from Toro. Seeing that many favoured Hunter brand I might want to look at the model. Would that work with other brands of valves? Wonder Holman valves are reliable and durable. It has quite a solid built with flow control which priced for $20 with 1 yr warranty. Jar top valve seems the way to go. But checking the price of the parts online replacing the solenoid and the diagphrm would come close to buying a new valve. Is it the convenience of part replacament instead of replcing the whole unit that is the advantage of using the jar top type? By the way, Fu, is it necessay to stick the hose and the sprinkler pop top connection or dripping lines with those pvc cement? Thanks again for all the help. Very much appreciate your work. Re: Irrigation Controller and Solenoid Valve 7Nov 25, 2011 8:06 pm I can't really comment on your particular controller options. In the links provided both myself and Bradtez have offered our advice and recommendations on controllers. It's not just about brand but also the model. Many brands have bunky cheap models as well. We use many many controllers and have seen 'em all and used 'em all. From that experience it's not hard to gleen the "poo" from the shovel. Which are easy to adjust, use and programme as well as which end up back for warranty repairs as well as which will not let you down or give you a fine for watering when you shoulodn't. Saved a few dollars on a cheap controller only to pay a fine and undo the saving? Best shop smart and shop around Consult a reputable irrigation shop as well. Any pvc pipe must be joined using pressure rated solvents. Plumbing solvents are not suitable as they are designed for low pressure applications and retic is high pressure. Any poly pipe is connected without solvent and clamped in place in the case of high pressure applications. There is the link to irrigation standards in a nearby thread Irrigation Controller and Solenoid Valve 8Nov 25, 2011 11:53 pm http://www.wetearth.com.au/Irritrol-Rai ... ontrollers The majority of the cost in a valve is the coil itself. So replacing just a coil is nearly as expensive as a whole new valve. However if you do ever replace a valve you'd have rocks in your hard to go cutting things out and glueing stuff and clowning around. Get a good valve and you can leave the body as is and replace all the internals and the top. It would be pretty rare to find cracked valve bodies (unless they are under a drive or someone used a hammer to try open one) So these are interchangeable with 3 common brands. That makes sourcing parts easy no matter where or when. http://www.wetearth.com.au/Product/Prod ... ductID=777 To join the valves from a manifold use these. They are now cheaper than making your own from PVC parts. They also eliminate the future need to cut pipes to replace valves in the future. Also reduce costs/installation times. http://www.wetearth.com.au/Automatic-Manifolds Use one of these at the head of the line. Never rusts and come the day in 7years when you really need to turn this off for a repair, you'll thank me for using one of this specification. http://www.wetearth.com.au/Product/Prod ... uctID=3118 Make sure you fit one of these before the ball valve http://www.wetearth.com.au/Product/Prod ... ductID=173 Irrigation Controller and Solenoid Valve 9Nov 26, 2011 9:26 pm I'll need to add this to the main thread. Big thanks to Josh Byrne taking the time to talk to me about this. I have a new retic toy to play with I'll be adding this to my system. The Hunter Solar Sync. As I said, systems can't be set and forget. They just can't. Water will be far too expensive for that. (No matter where you live or how much there is) This takes Sun, Rain, wind into account when allowing retic to work or not. http://www.hunterindustries.com/product ... rsync.html Irrigation Controller and Solenoid Valve 10Nov 26, 2011 10:28 pm And in relation to my rant about pc connection http://www.irrigationcaddy.com/products ... eths1.html And yes I'm aware of Irritrol's PC Connect system. Available in the US online and not from Aus irrigation shops. Re: Irrigation Controller and Solenoid Valve 12Nov 27, 2011 10:28 pm Thank Fu. Really appreciate all your invaluble help. Have bought the parts and started building the system. Will see how it goes. Thanks again. Good luck with it. I don't know what the cost of a nice bidet seat with a 25mm air gap will be but you are obviously deducting the cost of a RPZ valve and its… 9 6985 First time building 2 storey home, is under construction (in Framing stage) in NSW. 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