Irrigatia SOL-C60 Tank Series Weather Solar Automatic Watering System Instructions
- June 4, 2024
- Irrigatia
Table of Contents
Solar Automatic Watering System
Instructions: Irrigatia Tank Series
irrigatia.com/tank-series
Contents
Tank series controller with main pump and secondary feed pump| Water level sensor| Solar Panel with 5m lead (model shown is the C120)| 1 x inline filter
- 2 x 13mm adaptors
1 x foot strainer +
2 x 13mm adaptors &
1 x 13mm end cap| 1 x 25m roll of
13mm tube| 1 x 2.5m 3.5mm tube and inlet filter| 1 x 4mm punch
12 x 4mm joiners| 2 x 13mm T-piece| 4 x 13mm end plug| 4 x 13mm elbow
10 x 13mm stakes| 6 x 13mm clamps| 2 x 13mm valves| 12 x 4mm valves
Submersible pump| Battery pack containing 10 x AA rechargeable batteries C60/C120:
Battery Pack 2200mAh| Battery pack containing 20 x AA
rechargeable batteries C180:
Battery Pack 4400mAh
User Instructions for Irrigatia Tank Series
Standard Set-up
Key
- Tank
- Foot strainer
- Isolation valve
- Pump
- Inline filter
- Solar panel
- Regulating valve
- Anti-siphon device
- Valved connector for ext kits
- Nipple connector for ext kits
Submersible Set-up
Key
- Tank
- Submersible pump & filter
- Controller
- Solar panel
- Regulating valve
- Isolating valve
- Inline filter
- Anti-siphon device
- Valved connector for ext kits
- Nipple connector for ext kits
For video instructions: irrigatia.com/how-it-works/setuptank- series
The kit is supplied with a choice of water pumps.
Internal diaphragm pump. (fig 1) This pump delivers about 1.5lpm at 3 bar
pressure and is ideal for use where the outlets are 2 – 5m higher than the
water source. However, it is not very good at self-priming so needs to be
situated low down where the natural flow from the tank will avoid the problem.
Submersible pump. (fig 2) This delivers more water at a lower pressure,
the volume delivered varies with the lift required to reach the outlets but up
to 2m will be higher than the diaphragm pump. As it is submerged it does not
require priming. In a typical situation, it will deliver 50% more water per
week from the same amount of solar power, but it will be at a lower pressure
which reduces the risks associated with over-pressurization, especially with a
micro-porous hose. It is also very quiet.
If the submersible pump is required, leave the diaphragm pump in place, but
unplug it from the circuit board. The submersible can be plugged in, in its
place and the molded-in grommet is used to fit it into its designated slot in
the case.
Positioning
Using the fixing holes indicated by the green arrows, mount the controller
close to the water source and low down so that the pump inlet (for the
standard pump) is below the
water line in the tank – for the submersible pump it can be mounted at a
convenient height. The controller case is weather resistant but can be mounted
inside if desired. The solar panel should be mounted, facing the midday sun,
and has a 5m cable, a 5m extension can be added if required. The panel can be
connected and screwed tight to the socket hanging from the base of the
controller.
Small tank gravity fed from the main tank
If using the standard pump screw in the hose connectors to the pump.
Foot Strainer
Standard Pump
Top entry
Vertical
Resting on tank bottom (see fig 5)
Water Level Sensor
The water level sensor should be secured so that the higher probe is at least
3cm higher than the water inlet. Secure it using cable ties.
During operation, if one of the sensors is out of the water the pump will stop
and the beeper will sound. If the beeper is a nuisance it can be silenced by
unplugging it from the
circuit board.
The water level sensor comes with a 5m cable – this can be extended by
purchasing an extension lead.
Water Outlet Tube & Filter
To protect the drippers from debris, there is a fine mesh filter. This can be fitted on either side of the pump, (fig 3) but a valve must be fitted between it and the tank to turn off the water flow while cleaning. (Valve 3 in fig 1).
Anti-Siphon Device
The anti-siphon is needed to stop the water flow when the pump has stopped if the first emitter is lower than top of the water source. It should be fitted in the delivery tube to the emitters, (it is number 8 in fig1). It can be fitted by making a hole with the punch provided and pushing the blue part of the anti-siphon directly into the tube, threaded end first. Anti-siphon device must be fitted higher than the water source.
Supplement Feed Pump
The C120 has 2 pumps. As well as the water pump there is a small supplement
pump that runs intermittently to dose at a rate of about 1:100. (Your feed
concentrate needs to be 100x the strength you wish to apply to your plants).
This can be used to dose your water only with 100% soluble supplements.
Connect a piece of small bore tube with the filter on the end to the pump
inlet and connect the outlet tube to the delivery line before the first off-
take (see fig 7). Use a valve for this connection. If not needed supplement
pump can be unplugged from the circuit board (pump 2) and closed valve. The
feed container must keep all light out.
Irrigation Kits
The Tank Series can be used with up to 180 drippers. The C180 will deliver up
to 1 irrigation unit (equivalent to a large tomato plant) per dripper, the C60
1/3 and C120 2/3 of that.
Use 13mm tees, elbows and end plugs with the 13mm tube to make the
distribution main. Use either 4mm joiners or 4mm valves to connect the
irrigation kits.
Dripper kits (12 or 20 each of drippers, tees and stakes, and 15m of small
bore tube.) Cut and join the pipe using the tees to make a network which
reaches all of the plants. Remember the rules for even watering apply
especially where there are more than 12 drippers per outlet, see:
irrigatia.com/how-it-works/principles-of-good-installation
Seep hose can be plugged onto individual drippers with a stopper at the other
end in lengths of up to 1.2m, and 2.4m were connected to a dripper at both
ends. They will not change the water output, but they spread it out more which
is useful for seedlings and small plants. Works best slightly buried.
Micro-porous hose emits water along its whole length, but unlike seep, hose is
best used in long lengths. Follow the kit instructions and use the punch and a
connector nipple to connect with the distribution pipe.
Starting up
Open regulating and isolation valves (3&7 in drawings) fully – handle in line
with tube. Ensure there is water flow to the pump.
Open the case.
-
Unplug the feed pump from the circuit board – marked as pump 2 on the board.
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Make sure the switch is in the off position.
-
Remove 2 screws, open the battery case, install battery, replace lid and plug in connector to terminal marked ‘bat’ on the circuit board.
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Attach the solar panel in the socket on the bottom of the case.
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Switch on to position 3. If it is reasonable daylight and the water sensors are in water the pump should start.
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As the bypass valve (Valve 7 in fig 1) is wide open most of the water pumped should return to the tank. Wait until all the air has cleared from the system before VERY SLOWLY starting to close the bypass valve. This will push more water towards the drippers. The valve should be gradually closed until the drippers are dripping about once per second, or the microporous hose is full of water but soft, like a soft bicycle tire. If you are using the micro-porous tube, check the adjustment every few days after the installation as when it is wetted up it will emit less water than when newly installed.
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Check whole system is working properly and for leaks.
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The duration of the first watering is likely to be long, the pump will not switch off until the batteries fall to 10v, this may take several hours, but after that proper control should be established. If the excess watering is likely to be a problem the bypass valve can be opened until this has happened.
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The switch on the circuit board controls the solar panel. This is charging the battery on a 5-minute cycle. On switch positions 1,2,3,4,5, the solar panel is turned on for 1,2,3,4,5 minutes respectively. Changing the switch position will not affect the current run time or flow rate, but will control the amount of charge available for the subsequent watering cycle, thereby affecting the pumping duration. The application can be fine-tuned with small adjustments to the bypass valve.
Supplementary pump – if the main pump is running, this should run
intermittently to dose the water with feed.
After 24-48 hours the unit should have settled down. Monitor the water
application, turn the switch up or down accordingly. Once it is set up it will
adjust itself for light intensity but you will need to readjust it for your
plants as they grow.
Detailed instructions can be found at: irrigatia.com/how-it-works/setuptank-
series
For further information on this or any of the
other products in our range, please visit:
www.irrigatia.com
Documents / Resources
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Irrigatia SOL-C60 Tank Series Weather Solar Automatic Watering
System
[pdf] Instructions
SOL-C60, Tank Series Weather Solar Automatic Watering System, Solar Automatic
Watering System, Automatic Watering System, Watering System, SOL-C60,
Automatic Watering
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