Drip irrigation systems for indoor plants. Designing an automatic irrigation system

Plants that are meant to be grown indoors especially need proper watering. how perfect option special device - Automatic system drip irrigation indoor plants(colors). In addition, there are several more ways that both professionals and amateur flower growers successfully use. But, buying a drip irrigation system for indoor plants from connoisseurs of flowers has always been considered right approach to caring for plants.

Proper watering of indoor flowers in several ways

A process such as watering living indoor plants can be divided into 3 types. Which include the following:

• in the first, the direct participation of a person is necessary. This process is carried out with the help of watering cans;
• devices for a free-standing pot with a plant. This process is responsible for supplying water to the roots of a single plant;
• systems for several plants. Which, without human intervention, can supply water to a number of roots.

The second and third methods are automatic drip irrigation for indoor plants. Since the presence of a person is absolutely not necessary. From these three methods, two categories can be created that clearly distinguish them according to the principle of moisture absorption by plants.

1. Absorption of moisture by the roots through upper layer soil. When the flower is watered from above.

2. Watering through the water from the pan in which the pot is located. Pouring it into the pan, moisture comes to the roots from below.

It should be borne in mind that any devices that are involved in the supply of water to the roots of plants are associated with:

• the quality of the container in which the flower is planted. It must be from a material that will not emit harmful compounds;
• soil quality. This should be a special mixture, and not soil from the street in which there will definitely be either fungal spores or some kind of pest;
• quality drainage system. The outflow of excess water, as well as the supply of oxygen, depends on it;
• top dressing. Without additional nutrient fertilizers, any plant will not be able to correct formation root system. As well as the development of stems and leaves.

There may be times when the irrigation system potted plants works correctly, but due to the lack of drainage, Bottom part roots rot. And the disease will eventually spread throughout the plant. It may die, or it will not look nice.

Watering cans for watering plants in the room

Of course manual watering gives a lot of pleasure. Since in winter and summer you can observe the development of plants, taking a direct part in watering. Not a small share in the positive mood is the assistant of the lake.

Moreover, their choice in the domestic market is quite large. Of all the diversity presented, we can distinguish:

• forms. Flat and round, with different spouts and handles;
• material. From plastic to metal. With paint coatings and coatings for corrosion protection;
• volume. As for this characteristic, for home use, watering cans are best used from 0.5 to 2 liters;
• colors. All shades of colors are here. From white to black. And colored tones will overshadow the rainbow.

Irrigation of leaves and stems with a watering can that is comfortable to hold in your hands will be a pleasant experience.

Why automatic watering of flowers in pots is convenient

And the point is not only that in the absence of the owners there will be no one to water. The time has come when modern man very little free time. And admire blooming beauty many love. So:

• in order not to puzzle over what to do with flowers during the holidays, the easiest way is to automate the process of filling the soil for plants with moisture;
• automatic watering machine for indoor plants is useful not only in the days prolonged absence owners, even if small, but winter garden. After all, the number of pots on the windowsills is increasing every year. And over time, caring for them develops into everyday compulsory work;
• in order to shift part of the work to the machine and watering systems for indoor plants have been developed.

As amateur flower growers say, this is practical. Thanks to automation, caring for plants brings only pleasure.

As for standing flowerpots, providing them with devices for automatic watering is also practical. And not only, since these devices look very nice next to the green foliage of the flower. And never forget to water them.

What is the automatic watering of indoor (home) flowers

It is not uncommon to hear the question of which flowers are suitable for automatic watering. The answer to this question is obvious - everything. It is only necessary to choose the right method for the principle of action, which should be suitable for a particular plant. Here you need to know existing ways irrigation, and use the irrigation controller. Which will tell you what is the state of soil moisture in a pot on this moment. Since the periods of watering the plants are not the same, it will be easier to determine the specific time for this. Adapting to help this device over time, watering control will be easy and simple.

Blumats for watering indoor flowers

Another principle is the porosity of the material, which determines the degree of dryness of the earth in flowerpots. Such material is very often used for the manufacture of devices for the timely introduction of water into the soil in a pot. Such automatic watering of flowers includes:

• irrigation systems. The material from which the tip of the bloom is made is special. The whole effect of this method lies precisely in it;
• the life-giving moisture in the tank enters the soil through such a tip. Which clearly responds to the degree of soil dehydration.

Smart ceramic cone for watering plants is often used by amateur growers. It can serve one pot, but systems with ceramic tips also exist. They can serve several pots with indoor green plantings planted in them.

Smart indoor watering system for winter garden

Very often, when watering our green pets, the law of gravity is used. I.e:

a container that stands above the level of the plant, supplies water through the tubes to the pot;

• not tubes are stuck into the ground, but droppers, through which water flows or drips (types of droppers are different);
• to regulate the rate of water flow in the systems, control switches are provided;
• a simple but very effective principle that has been used for a long time. A pronounced representative of this principle is the Green Helper GN-912 Drip Irrigation Set.

The most correct is basal drip irrigation for home flowers in pots, since the gradual entry of moisture into the ground prevents the formation of a dry earth crust.

A system designed for watering a fairly large number of plants is powered by a container of water. The container is not always included with the system. Some of them can work under pressure, that is, from a water tap.

Exist electronic systems watering indoor plants. They run on batteries. Using such a system, you can set a specific program that will control the start and end of irrigation.

Wick watering for indoor plants

This is a very common method of watering. Here the main role is played by the so-called wick connecting water and soil in a pot. That is, a lace of a certain structure, which easily supplies water to the soil. The wick watering method is suitable for flowers that are afraid or simply do not like water droplets to fall on their leaves. Especially often, such watering rules apply to indoor violets.

In order for the flowers on the leaves of which it is forbidden to get water (they will be taken in spots after that) to be comfortable, it is necessary that:

• at the bottom of the pot was a wick. Without him this way not possible. After all, the method itself is named thanks to him;
• a pallet must be attached to such a pot. Water poured into it through a wick will water the plants with life-giving moisture.

Balls and flasks for automatic watering of flowers in the house

A separate category is automatic watering indoor plants with spherical devices. They look like a ball with an elongated tip inserted into the ground. The principle of their action:

That is why the soil for flower pots must be selected correctly. And the duties of a person will include periodic control of the access of free air through the hole in the tip. It should not be tightly packed with dried earth. And also, if necessary, filling the flask for watering flowers with life-giving moisture.

Such devices can be made in various options on:

• color. Color colorful tones can be quite diverse, both solid and iridescent;
• material. There are two options - glass and plastic. Fragile glass may crack. Plastic ones are more durable;
• form. They are not in vain called balls for watering indoor plants. Since most often it is the shape of a ball. But there are also various figures, including animals.

Smart pots (containers) for convenience and proper watering

There is a lot of information on this topic. Since varieties of smart pots a large number of. For almost every occasion, there is an opportunity to pick up such an item. Pots are most often called containers for small flowers, and containers - for big plants. If we consider their main characteristics, we can distinguish the following:

• material - plastic, ceramics, glass;
• form is varied. The container can be on wheels for moving;
• additional attributes - flower pot with watering indicator.

If necessary, the watering indicator for indoor plants can be ordered separately. But very often smart pots are sold complete with an indicator.

One of the very profitable smart pots is a device consisting of two containers. The first time after planting the plant, it must be watered in the usual way from a watering can. The roots will grow, penetrate into the lower container, now you just need to add water there. And the roots themselves will get it.

What better pot Or a flower pot with a root watering system? The cache-pot is a kind of pallet. But the pallet is not with low sides, but with sides whose height corresponds to the height of the pot or container itself. Only the volume of the cache-pot is always larger than the pot. Since the latter, with a flower growing in it, should fit freely in the first.

Other convenient types of watering for indoor plants

Not so long ago, quite practical watering assistants appeared:

• hydrogel. Their purpose is quite diverse, but home flowers planted in such soil feel just great. It's pretty beautiful decor and artificial soil;
• capillary mats. It uses the ability of the material to absorb large amounts of water and gradually release it. Another convenient way.

Having chosen the right way of watering for your pets, you can only enjoy the beauty of greenery and flowers all year round.

Irrigation system designed for watering indoor plants clean water indoors and should not be used for industrial purposes.

Advantages of this automatic watering:
One of the best autonomous systems which allows you to leave home plants unattended for a long time.
Several hoses for plants of different lengths
Battery powered
Convenient setting of watering time and frequency of switching on
Has no analogues in this price segment

The principle of operation of the automatic watering system for domestic plants and the power of uniform watering!

1st day. System installation

7th day after system installation

14th day after system installation)

Characteristics and equipment:
The watering timer itself with a mount - 1 pc.
Hose 4/6 mm - 10 m
Tee - 10pcs
Thursday - 3 pcs
Through coupling - 3 pcs
Hose cap - 3 pcs
Irrigation drip - 10 pcs
Filter for water purification - 1 pc.

Also, if you want to extend the system, we have an expansion kit for 5 plants price - 250 rub

Expansion kit complete set:
Irrigation drip - 5 pcs
Tee - 5 pcs

Many are fond of growing indoor plants. This activity is not only interesting, but also quite a useful hobby. It calms nervous system, perfectly relieves stress, gives impetus to self-improvement and new knowledge. Success in growing indoor plants can only be achieved with systematic watering. But it's not always possible to do so. Business trips, work, and many other reasons that do not allow watering plants at a certain time. An automatic irrigation system is ideal for solving this problem. Having such a system, you should not worry about the condition of your favorite plants during your vacation, business trip. Be sure that your plants receive the required amount of nutrient moisture. The system can be mounted on a water tank using a special bracket or mounted directly on a standard plastic bottle. Requires 4 AAA batteries to operate (not included).

There is no need to connect to a water tap. System automated irrigation extremely compact. So it does not take up much space in the apartment. Watering is carried out drip method based on a human-defined schedule. One such system can water up to 10 indoor plants. The device works reliably and efficiently. If you use a large capacity, Easy Grow-10 will independently decide main problem- delivery of the required volume of water for the normal life of indoor plants. So such an automatic irrigation system can be not only a temporary lifesaver, but also work on an ongoing basis.

PREPARING THE SYSTEM FOR WORK

Cut the hose to the lengths you need. Using tees, splitters, connectors, plugs and drippers, assemble the irrigation system of the desired configuration and connect it to the top fitting of the controller. Assembly of the system will be greatly facilitated if the ends of the hoses are preliminarily held for several seconds in hot water. Connect a piece of hose with a filter to the lower fitting of the controller. Attach the bracket to the controller and attach it to the water tank as shown in the left figure. For water, you can use a plastic bottle, as in the right picture. In this case, you do not need a bracket.

Open the cover at the bottom of the controller, slide out the battery pack and install four AAA 1.5V alkaline batteries into it.

You will hear a short beep, and you will see the test passing on the digital indicators.

CONTROLLER CONTROL PANEL

- Digital indicator WateringTime(Watering duration) indicates how many seconds the pump will run. You can set the duration of watering from 1 before 99 seconds.

- Digital indicator IntervalTime (Irrigation frequency) indicates how often the pump will be switched on. If you set the value 0,1 , then watering will occur every hour. If set 1 , the pump will turn on every day.

If a 2 then once every two days. Maximum value - 30 , i.e. once every thirty days.

- Left button sets value Watering duration. Pressing the button once increases the duration of watering by 1 second, and pressing and holding the button for 10 or a multiple of ten seconds time.

- Right button sets value Irrigation frequency. By repeatedly pressing this button, you can set the frequency of watering from 0,1 before 30 days.

- Button turns the pump on and off in manual mode, and also turns on the digital indication on the control panel.

To turn on the pump manual mode, you need to press this button twice - after the first press, the indication will turn on, and after the second press, the pump will turn on. A third press of the button turns off the pump.

- Led indicator shows what mode the controller is in:

Flashing fast in green- controller irrigates

Slow blinking green - the controller is working according to the set program

Solid green - the controller is being programmed

Solid red - Batteries are low and need to be replaced.

CONTROLLER PROGRAMMING

1. Press the button The display on the control panel lights up - the system is ready for programming.
2. Set with the left button Watering duration in seconds.
3. Right click set Irrigation frequency in days.
4. After a few seconds, the controller will turn on the pump and the first watering of the plants will begin, during which the LED will flash green rapidly. At the end of watering, the controller will go into standby mode - the LED will flash green slowly until the next watering.

System configuration

Control unit (Timer - 1 pc.), Hose - 10 meters, Filter - 1 pc., Tee - 10 pcs., Crosspiece - 3 pcs., Hose connector (Double) - 3 pcs., Droppers - 10 pcs. Plugs - 3 pcs.

When flower growers need to leave home for a while, they are very worried that no one will look after their pets during their absence. Although if you have Good friends or neighbors, you can ask them to take care of the flowers while you are away. However, this is not the only solution in such a situation. Enough effective method plant care is the use of self-watering houseplants.

Ensuring the water regime for flowers

The easiest option to provide plants with moisture during your absence is place containers with flowers in a basin of water, and then you can be sure that for at least a week, and possibly two, your plants will be provided with enough water. This method is beneficial for the owner in that he does not have to spend additional funds. However, it is still better to use the automatic watering system for indoor plants, because it is able to maintain optimal humidity flowers for a longer period.

How to prepare flowers for your absence?

Any grower, regardless of experience, knows that if you water the plants well, then they will have enough moisture for about two weeks. Therefore, if you have a planned departure, then it is necessary to carry out with regard to your pets certain preparations:

Organization of independent moisture supply

The main advantage of the automatic watering system for indoor plants is that they roots are regularly supplied with moisture in the required quantity. If you decide to make the homemade greenhouse described above, then you can increase the efficiency of its work by supplementing it with such a source of water, thanks to which your pets will receive life-giving moisture for several weeks.

The organization of a do-it-yourself automatic watering system for indoor plants has its own characteristics. At the same time, there is an easier-to-implement option. It will require ordinary plastic bottles, in which you must first make small holes in the lids. Next, the bottles are filled with settled water, turned upside down, and then placed between flower pots.

Throughout the day, moisture will flow to the bottoms of the pots in small drops, maintaining the humidity of the expanded clay layer where the flowerpots are located. However, it is necessary correctly calculate the diameter of the holes so that water enters required quantity. You can find out the optimal diameter experimentally. After that, you just have to decide how much of the bottle will be enough for your plants to constantly receive life-giving moisture.

When determining the size of the bottle, it is necessary to proceed from the size of the earthy clod in the pot. Say, if you have rather large pots in your room, then there are several big bottles with water. If your mini garden consists of tiny pots, then this will be too much for them.

Industrial automatic watering devices

If you have sufficient financial resources, you can solve the problem of providing plants with moisture by installing an automatic automatic irrigation systems for industrial production.

Other methods of water supply

Among other frequently used systems for automatic watering of indoor plants, one can distinguish a method in which flowers are connected to a container filled with water. through improvised wicks. Cords, ropes or woolen threads are suitable as the latter. It can also be ordinary bandages that need to be twisted, giving them the appearance of a cord.

When the wicks are ready, one end is immersed in a basin or other container of water, and the other is attached to the pot, fixing it in the substrate with a peg or clothespin. This design will provide a difference in capillary pressure, as a result, water will be directed through the wicks from the basin to the pot. The automatic watering system for indoor plants, based on the use of wicks, allows you to minimal cost achieve a constant supply of moisture to plants.

Safety of Automatic Houseplant Watering

If it is important to you that your pets feel good while you are away, then for greater confidence, it will not hurt you check in work selected automatic irrigation system. So, it is advisable to make sure that moisture flows well enough through a homemade wick to the pots, and also whether you made a mistake with the supply of water in the basin.

It is possible that after a day there will be no water left in the basin, and this is very dangerous for your flowers, which can dry out and die. Therefore, first of all, you need to pick up bottles suitable sizes so that your plants do not experience moisture deficiency during your absence. It is also necessary to correctly calculate the height of the placement of the basin with water so that moisture enters through the wicks in the required amount.

Capillary mats

You can also solve the problem of providing your pets with moisture with the help of capillary mats. They usually look like mats made of hygroscopic material. These products are presented in large quantities in specialized shopping malls while they are available at an affordable price.

Typically, capillary mats are laid on any available surface, for example, it can be a wide table or window sill. However, for effective use, one end must hang down into a container of water. Before laying the mat, be sure to lay an oilcloth, otherwise moisture drops can damage the table lining.

Sometimes the size of the mat does not allow immersing its end in a container of water. In this case, special strips can come to the rescue, which must be moistened in water, after which one end is placed under the mat, and the other is immersed in a container. The effect of using these bands will resemble homemade wicks that provide moisture. Also, to organize an automatic watering system at home, you can use special pallets, which are based on the principle of operation of capillary mats.

Their designs include:

• deep tray;
• small inner tray;
• capillary mat.

A large tray is used for water, a small tray is placed in it, which has a mat on the bottom. Next, a flowerpot with flowers is placed on it. Every day, through this rug, moisture will go to the flower pots. The advantage of this method of organizing the irrigation system is that it avoids the decay of plant roots.

Thus, today there are many automatic watering systems for indoor plants, each of which has its own characteristics. Therefore, if you are going away for a while and want to be sure that your plants will be provided with moisture, then you can choose any of the proposed systems that suits you best. Moreover, if you do not have sufficient funds to purchase industrial system production, then if you wish, you you can make a simple system organization of automatic watering independently. Moreover, it will demonstrate the same level of functionality as the factory systems.

Conclusion

The owner, who is not indifferent to his indoor plants grown in the apartment, will try to do everything possible to create favorable conditions both during his presence and at those moments when he has to leave the house for a while. Such situations are not uncommon, so you need to have a plan, as in this case, to help the plants survive this period.

If the grower does not have the opportunity to find people who could take care of his favorite flowers in his absence, then he can do much easier - organize a do-it-yourself automatic watering system for indoor plants. Today there is many options for such systems, which differ not only in cost, but also in functionality. Therefore, the owner can only get acquainted with the features of each irrigation option in order to decide what suits him best.

But there are other methods of getting out of this situation: to keep the moisture obtained with the last watering (this method can work at most within 2 weeks and practically does not require financial costs) or equip an automatic irrigation system.

Ways to create automatic watering systems, irreplaceable in the event of a long absence of owners, there are many. They can be both budgetary and quite expensive.

Keep moisture at the lowest cost

First, let's look at a way out of the situation with least cost . This method is very simple, but it is advisable to use it only in extreme cases He has too many cons.

So, to organize the simplest moisture conservation system, you need to water the plants well, best of all immersion method root together with a lump in the water.

Remove pots from windowsills: the weaker the lighting, the less moisture evaporates, and the less the plant consumes. Of course, no light growth will slow down, tender plants may be oppressed.

Cut buds and flowers, if possible, thin out the green mass - this is also necessary to reduce consumption water. Of course, the loss of decorativeness in this case is inevitable, and many plants recover for a long time after such an execution.

Compose all pots closer to each other, preferably in one container - for example, in a bath or a large basin. At the bottom, pour a five-centimeter layer of expanded clay, fill it with water. We put the pots, in between them laying pieces of wet sphagnum.

We cover the structure with a film. The most tender specimens can be placed in individual greenhouses.

Keep in mind that being "under the hood", plants with pubescent leaves (saintpaulia, pelargonium) can become moldy and rot.

Another minus - after they will have to again get used to the open air, opening the film in stages or reducing the humidity in the room.

Tips for creating automatic watering of indoor plants using pallets, see the video below:

The simplest drip irrigation

The system described above will be viable longer if it is provided with moisture source. You can make small holes in the lids plastic bottles, turn them over and place them between the pots, making sure that moisture seeps out drop by drop.

Bottles can be stuck directly into the ground. Capacity of each bottle selected individually- 0.5 l is enough for one plant, and for large plants in tubs, you may need several 2-liter bottles.

Despite the simplicity and artisanal nature of this method, there is production devices operating on this principle.

They consist of glass flask, connected to a container immersed in the ground for uniform distribution of moisture.

The Austrian irrigation systems which can be purchased in our stores.

Wick system

This is a well-known method - connecting to the irrigation system through improvised wicks made from any laces, ropes, etc. One end of the wick is lowered into a basin of water, the other is fixed in a pot (you can use an ordinary female hairpin or a wooden peg).

Most reliable way - pass the wick through the hole in the bottom of the pot before planting the plant. All plants can be equipped with such a system in advance if you often leave the house.

The material for the wick is needed in this case is selected synthetic. Thus, water will drain into the ground due to capillary pressure difference.

All homemade systems need testing: water should drain with the desired intensity - this is regulated by the height of the water container relative to the pot.

Watch the video for a master class on making the Wick automatic watering system at home:

Hydrogel and granular clay

Well hydrated granulated clay or hydrogel(buy from garden centers) are also used for sub-irrigation equipment. These materials have ability to absorb a large amount of water, and then gradually give it to the roots of plants as needed.

Lumps of clay in granules are placed in a separate pot (selected in a larger size), and then a plant with an undisturbed lump is transplanted into it, covered with a thick layer of clay (hydrogel) from all sides. Then the soil is covered with polyethylene.

Droppers

Another not too expensive way of automatic watering can be arranged using medical droppers and a large plastic water can (5-6 l):

1. Buy droppers at the pharmacy at the rate of one for each flower.
2. Remove the tips and check each for integrity (purge).
3. Fasten the ends of the droppers together without pinching the tubes, and make the structure heavier with something. The tips should lie at the bottom of the jar and not float.
4. Put the jar on a hill, and the flowers - below. Dip the fastened tips into a jar, and the ends of the droppers into pots.
5. Open the regulator on the droppers and immediately cover them with the regulator, setting a slow drip of water.

colorful cones

Original watering came up with domestic producers- multi-colored cones that are filled with water, inserted into a thin stem and stuck into the ground.

As the earth in the pot dries out, oxygen enters the stem, pushing just as much water out of the flask, how much does a flower need.

Perfect fit for irrigation home plants, as well as greenhouse, garden, etc. This method has its advantages:

• practicality and originality of the solution;
• additional interior decoration;
• no threads, droppers, complex structures- everything is beautiful and simple.

Capillary mats

AT flower shops sell rugs made from hygroscopic materials- so-called. capillary mats. They can be spread on any surface by lowering one edge into a container of water, and then set the plants on the mat.

Sometimes capillary mats are sold as a set with 2 trays: water is poured into the outer tray, an inner tray with holes is inserted into it and a mat is laid out. Manufacturers of this invention guarantee the watering of flowers within two weeks, and without rotting of the roots.

How to create a do-it-yourself automatic watering system for indoor plants, see the video:

By and large, you need to choose from two options: make an irrigation system yourself or buy a ready-made one. After analyzing them, you will surely find the best solution for yourself.

But don't forget and about the old proven way- to transfer your pets to the reliable hands of a person whom you completely trust.

Still, it is he who remains the most reliable.

This article will talk about the experience of organizing an automatic irrigation system for suburban area with the ability to monitor and control via the Internet.

Introduction

Currently, automation systems are increasingly migrating from industry to the domestic environment. Now it is hardly possible to surprise anyone by talking about the automatic irrigation system seen in the neighboring area - such systems appeared on the market more than a year ago. However, in percentage terms, not so many people use this miracle of technology. There are many reasons: perhaps this is a skeptical attitude towards everything new or difficulties in choosing a particular system. . In any case, I hope that this article will help dispel all doubts and understand such systems.

Another important obstacle to installing automatic irrigation, for those who live in the city, is the inability to monitor the process remotely and, if necessary, control it directly from their city apartment.

Of course, in order to make the system fully automatic, it is necessary to supply power, equip the system with a pump, control it to maintain required level water in the watering tank, etc. Due to the presence of dangerous factors (power supply, the threat of water leakage), users are simply afraid to leave the system unattended. But you can discard all worries if you have the ability to constantly monitor the state of the system, alert in case of malfunctions and the presence of protective automation - all this is realizable if you connect the system to the Internet. In addition to status monitoring, a network connection will allow you to manage the system. This can be important when, for example, it started to rain and you need to cancel the scheduled watering, or change the duration of watering depending on the weather.

Of course, not every dacha has a router for accessing the network. In the example below, a GPRS modem is used to connect to the Internet, allowing the “sprinkler” to access the network in the same way as a regular one does. mobile phone. At the same time, the amount of transmitted data is quite small - so the system will work even in places with a very weak signal.

I think the introductory words are already enough, let's go directly to the example.

Designing an automatic irrigation system

The irrigation system consists of two storage tanks with float level sensors, a mechanism for automatically maintaining the water level in the tank and a controlled top-up blocking valve, a water distribution system for irrigation lines with electrically controlled valves and a pump.

storage tank

The reservoirs are united according to the principle of "communicating vessels" - therefore, we can conditionally say that this is one container for the accumulation of water. were used as reservoirs. eurocubes.

To combine the tanks, brass spurs with gaskets were cut into the covers of their drain holes:
Further, the evacuations from the tanks were combined with the help of polypropylene pipes. A filter and a tap are installed on the resulting common outlet pipe:

The tanks are mounted on a frame made of profile pipes and channels.

It turned out the following:

Tank water level sensors

Storage tanks are equipped with three.

The signals from the sensors are sent to the control system and are used to register three different water levels: full tank”, “water level less than half”, and “almost empty tank”. This information is transmitted to the server to display the water level in the tank through a web application. According to the last two signals, the server generates warning and emergency events, respectively, to notify the user by SMS or e-mail.

Since tanks are communicating vessels, i.e. the level in them is always the same - all sensors are installed in one of them for convenience.

For the same reason, the water top-up system is connected to only one of the tanks.

System for automatic filling of water into the tank

For automatic filling with water, the tank is equipped with a mechanical float valve:

This valve works in a similar way to a toilet tank valve, i.e. when the liquid level drops, the valve float drops, opening the water supply.

To block topping up, a normally open solenoid valve was installed on the supply pipe. Such a valve is open in the absence of supply voltage and allows the system to automatically fill the storage tank. When the user needs to prevent the system from adding water, he can close the tap using the web application or the switch on the control cabinet.

Blocking automatic topping up is needed due to the fact that a running irrigation system reduces the water pressure in the house. Therefore, when you need to wash the dishes, take a shower or turn on washing machine, you can temporarily prohibit the “sprinkler” from auto-topping.

When the user gives a command to block topping up, the control system supplies the valve with a control voltage of 220 V and it closes - only in this state the valve consumes energy. Most of the time (of the total system running time) the valve is in open state and does not waste energy, which is why the normally open valve type was chosen.

Water distribution system

The water distribution system for irrigation circuits is a distribution manifold with 8 outlets, 7 of which are equipped with solenoid valves, so that you can turn on / off watering by an electrical signal from the control system. On the 8th outlet without a valve, a quick-release connector is installed for connecting a hose and watering in manual mode.

The SMART SP61355 solenoid valves used are controlled by applying a 220V signal to them. These valves are normally closed. This means that in the absence of a control signal they are closed. This state is the safest, because. in the event of a power failure to the installation, the valves will be closed. Otherwise, water would leak out of the tank and flood the site.

When testing the system, it turned out that significant disadvantage of these valves is a narrow internal passage hole (only 2.5 mm), therefore, at the pressure that water creates, flowing out of the tank by gravity, the water flow through the valve is only 40 l / h. According to the passport for the valve, in order to ensure a water flow of 250 l / h, it is necessary to create a pressure of 1 bar on it - therefore, a pressure increase pump Ksitex CL15GRS-15 was added to the system.
How it works and how to choose it correctly is written in.

Control system

The irrigation system control system "collects" signals from sensors and sends them to the server, and from it receives commands for actuators: valves and a pump.

The control cabinet looks like this:

On the front panel of the cabinet there is a switch for emergency closing of all valves in case of a malfunction of the controller and a switch for turning on the topping blocking valve.

In addition to the sensors discussed above, the controller also receives a signal from a temperature sensor that measures the street temperature.

We will tell you more about the device of the control system in.

Determination of the number of irrigation circuits

As is known, different plants need to be watered with different frequency and abundance. The desired water temperature may also differ for different cultures. Therefore, in order for the irrigation system to be flexible, all plants on garden plot were divided into groups according to the irrigation regime. Plants with large area plantings, such as a potato field.

In our system, the plants were divided into the following groups:

1. Onions, carrots, greens (dill, parsley, lettuce), peas, eggplant and zucchini - all these crops fit on three 10-meter beds and one 2-meter greenhouse.
2. Tomatoes (in greenhouse)
3. Cucumbers and peppers are also greenhouse
4. Potato
5. Strawberry
6. Flowers

The following figure shows an approximate site plan with the location of plant groups:

Currently, there are many ways of irrigation - these are all kinds of sprinklers, sprinklers, etc. For the implementation of this project was chosen drip method glaze. This type of irrigation is characterized by significant water savings and does not require high pressure liquids in the supply line. You can install a watering tank at a height of 2-3 meters, and this will be enough to create required pressure in the system, even if the water flows out "by gravity".

There are two main types of drip irrigation: drip tape and point droppers.

drip tape

It is a thin-walled tube with special devices - droppers. Droppers provide a gradual outflow of water with a certain constant flow rate (for example, 1.6 l / h). It is convenient to use a drip tape when it is necessary to moisten a certain area of ​​soil, the plants on which are quite heaped, in rows.

Drip tape "entangled" beds and potatoes

Attaching the drip tape to the main pipe

This method is well suited for watering beds with onions, carrots, herbs, rows of potatoes, etc.

Spot droppers

An irrigation system with point droppers is a main hose with “antennae” extending from it - thin tubes with droppers at the end. According to their principle of operation, point droppers are similar to the droppers that make up the drip tape - they also dose the water that goes to the roots of plants.

This method of drip irrigation is good when the plants are large, planted at a relatively large distance from each other and not necessarily in rows (for example, tomatoes, strawberries, etc.).

In this project, we used Zhuk drip irrigation kits.

Conclusion

In this article, we have reviewed general device automatic irrigation systems, and already in this article we will describe in detail what the control system is, what components it consists of and how it works, and we will also show how a web application looks like for remote irrigation control and system status monitoring.

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