Thursday, February 27, 2020

Controlling Water Flow

Written by:  Kurt Becker, Dramm Corporation 

You may have heard that the most important person on a cultivation team is the person with the hose in their hand. Proper irrigation can make or break a crop. One challenge is to ensure that proper flow and pressure to address different needs. This is complicated by the fact that crop needs change dramatically over a short period of time. How do you help your team meet these changing needs? You give them the right watering tools! 

Dramm produces a full assortment of professional watering tools, including water breakers. These specialized nozzles break the water into smaller droplets and streams, simulating rain, which softens impact on plants and media while absorbing and providing needed oxygen to the roots. Different water breakers tailor the delivery pattern, flow and volume for specific containers, media and plant stages. In addition to the essential, high-flow 400 series, Dramm manufactures innovative, specialized water breakers to meet all irrigation needs. 

The 1000PL Series. 

Starting with the original Redhead, the 1000PL uses 1000 smaller holes in a stainless steel disk. This allows for a softer pattern for younger plants along with the ability to throttle the flow while still keeping a pattern. Now, the 1000PLs are available in Narrow, Medium and Wide versions offering different amounts of water per square inch of coverage. 

750PL 

The 750PL reduces the flow even further. Using the same size hole as the 1000PL, but using fewer holes, the 750PL applies less water. This allows for lighter watering when required. The 750PL throws a wide pattern for less water per square inch of coverage.

Fan Nozzle 

Most fan nozzles are consumer tools and have uneven patterns. Dramm’s Commercial Fan Nozzle was developed to offer a precise, rectangular pattern that allows for medium to very low flow while still producing even streams. 

350PL Screen-Aire 

The 350 lands at the opposite end of the spectrum, delivering a very high flow rate with a soft, aerated pattern. Water exits the nozzle like a kitchen faucet, a single stream full of air bubbles. This allows for a lot of water without disturbing soil or top-dressed fertilizers. Great for quick watering of containers. The 350 is also perfect for rewetting dry media, as the bubbles hold the water on the surface of the media longer. 

Valves 

Remember to match the valve to the nozzle to allow precise control of flow rate. Valve operation is important to note. Does the watering require on-off operation or is it turn on and go? The OneTouch and OneTouch HighFlow offer easy control of the flow. Other valves, like the 300 Brass Shut-Off are high flow, quarter turn valves for quick watering.
DescriptionItem Number
Dramm 400AL 400 Water Breaker (alum, full)
80170002
Dramm 400PL Water Breaker (blue, full, w/ring)
33-6101
Dramm 170 PL Plastic water breaker
41-600101
Dramm 350PL ScreenAire Water Breaker
33-350PLC
Dramm 750PL Lemonhead Water Breaker (low)
33-5234
Dramm 1000PL RedHead Water Breaker (medium)
33-5233
Dramm 1000PL Orange Water Breaker (wide)
33-5237
Dramm 1000PL Green Water Breaker (narrow)
33-5236
Dramm 79001 Commercial Fan Nozzle
33-2079
Dramm 510 brass seedling nozzle
33-5235
Dramm Fogg-It nozzle fine 610 F
33-610F
Dramm 610SF 1/2gpm Fogg-It Hose Nozzle (SF)
33-5327
Dramm #300C Brass Shut Off Valve Heavy Duty
41-400300
Dramm 74C Wide Body Shut Off Valve, Plastic
33-51051
Dramm QAV Shut Off Valve
44-5607
Dramm One Touch Valve Handle, Low Flow
33-14700
Dramm OneTouch Valve Handle, High Flow
33-5365