To determine what materials you need, make a scale drawing of your yard. Include trees and bushes, paves areas, as web as paths, entrances and water spigots. It is a good idea to keep in mind where the gas pipes and electrical and telephone cables are.

 

How to calculate the number of sprinkler heads
Assuming that the water outlet is the usual kind, i.e. at two atmospheres of pressure and coming out of a 32 mm pipe, the number of sprinkler points and heads can be calculated in the following way.

 

1. Divide your drawing into large rectangular areas or squares. To determine the quantity and number of sprinklers you need, pick one of the areas and draw the first sprinklers in the corners. 

 

2. To calculate the sprinkling area, trace an arc with the center at the sprinkler head and a radius of three or four meters. This is the area that should separate one head from another. The arc of the water should reach the sprinkler beside and the one if front, so that the surfaces which receive water overlap. If this does not happen place one or more heads between the ones that are already in place and then place full-circle sprinkler heads in the middle of it all. 

 

3. Count the number of heads and the angle they cover (90�, 180� or 360�). Normally, the water pressure in a home is not enough to have all the heads turned on at the same time. So a maximum of three full-circle heads at one time is recommended. Then rotate to make sure the whole yard is watered.

 

Characteristics of the timer
To automate the watering, you will need a timer with the settings or phases designed to water the whole lawn. The water is regulated by an electric valve in each of the settings through a warning from the timer. The number of valves should thus coincide with the number of watering phases.

 

Measure how many meters of pipes you will need to go from the water spigot to the electric valves and from these to the sprinklers in each section. Use accessories like elbow joints or splices to connect the tubing to the path of the sprinkler system. Like the rest of the materials, they should be of good quality.

 

The electrical cable that joins each electric valve to the time should have as many wires as settings, plus one special anti-moisture one that will be common to all.

 

Installing the sprinkler
Once you are in the yard with the sketch in hand and ready to install the sprinkler, follow these steps.  

1. Mark spots where you are going to place the components, including the timer, which should be under shelter.

2. Dig the necessary ditches and put the pipes in place, making sure that the sprinkler heads are perfectly even with the ground.

3. Connect the valves to the timer following the instructions that come with the model you have bought.

4. Once everything is installed, activate the timer manually and make sure the system works. If it does, cover up the ditches, bury the pipes and set the timer to suit your needs.