drip emitter question

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mdstark

Candiru
MFK Member
Jul 4, 2006
108
0
46
Indianapolis
I just finished setting up my drip system and have a question about which drip emitters most people use. I have rainbird 1gph emitters, but I just finished testing them and they are no where near 1 gallon per hour. I put the drip emitter into a one gallon jug, and it was half full in 5 minutes. So my emitter appears to be running around 6 gph right now. I tried 4 other 1gph emitters from the same package and they all ran about the same. Anyone have any ideas what I am doing wrong, or suggestions for other emitters to try?

Just some background info- my drip line runs from a faucet connection, through a 25psi pressure regulator, through about 25 feet of 1/4 tubing, into a 5 micron sediment filter, and through 2 carbon filters before the emitter is attached. The faucet valve is only open half-way, and I also have a ball valve before the 1/4 tubing reaches my carbon filters, and this is also open only half-way. I thought that doing this would reduce the pressure a little more so that maybe the emitter would function as 1gph, but it hasn't seemed to help.
 
I use an adjustable regulator with a 1 gph emitter. You can change the drip rate to whatever gph keeps your nitrates where you want them. Just don't go over 20 psi, or the emitter could blow off the tube.

I found the regulator at Lowes.

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You may have got a bad batch of emitters. All of the ones that I have tested have been so accurate I stopped testing them. I would contact rainbird and let them know what's up.
 
you guys got a link for these emitters or other place to buy them
 
Nic;950619; said:
you guys got a link for these emitters or other place to buy them

http://www.rainbird.com/Store.htm click on drip irrigation at the bottom middle of the page.

dogofwar;950943; said:
I think that you need to install a pressure regulator on the source line.

He has a 25psi regulator which is perfect for the rainbirds.
 
Well, I figured out what I was doing wrong after looking a little closer at the packaging. I was putting the drip emitters on backwards. Kind of embarrassing, but oh well. I turned them around and they all work beautifully now. Thanks to all who responded.
 
mdstark;951613; said:
Well, I figured out what I was doing wrong after looking a little closer at the packaging. I was putting the drip emitters on backwards. Kind of embarrassing, but oh well. I turned them around and they all work beautifully now. Thanks to all who responded.

Woops!! :D

I guess it's good to know that they're 1 way lol.
 
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