Weatherproof "button"
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From: John Ferrell on 5 May 2010 09:05 On Tue, 04 May 2010 14:05:31 -0700, D Yuniskis <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote: >Hi, > >I need some sort of "button" (sensor?) that I can locate out >"in the elements" and use to activate the irrigation system. >I.e., "push this button to turn on the water supply". > >It need not be a traditional "button" (in the electrical sense). >E.g., a pressure sensitive pneumatic switch, a photoreflective >sensor, etc. would all provide the intended function. The >trick is finding something that will operate reliably and for >many years when exposed to sun, rain, ice, etc. > >Ideally, the thing will be cosmetically unassuming so you >don't notice it unless you go *looking* for it (despite the >fact that it will be "in plain sight"). > >And, it should be operable without requiring anything other >than the typical parts of the human anatomy. :> > >My first thought was a traditional pushbutton in a flexible >rubber hood. But, I suspect the Sun will eat the hell out >of the plasticizers in the "rubber" in short order. > >I then thought of a magnet sliding in a channel passing a >Hall effect device (i.e., put a spring behind the magnet). >But, you'd need something (flexible) to keep the magnet >"sled" from falling out of its channel, etc. > >Are there any other clever approaches that might work? >Even "weatherproof" switches fail one or more of the >above criteria... :< I have a switch on a sump pump at the bottom of a ramp entrance to my basement workshop. I has been there for about 17 years without any problems. Its purpose is to allow the pump to be turned off for service. It is a common electric switch from the home improvement store in a normal weather proof utility box from th same place. Meets code, works well and easily replaced when the time comes. Less than $20. John Ferrell W8CCW
From: D Yuniskis on 5 May 2010 14:43 Hi John, John Ferrell wrote: > On Tue, 04 May 2010 14:05:31 -0700, D Yuniskis > <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote: > >> I need some sort of "button" (sensor?) that I can locate out >> "in the elements" and use to activate the irrigation system. >> I.e., "push this button to turn on the water supply". > > I have a switch on a sump pump at the bottom of a ramp entrance to my > basement workshop. I has been there for about 17 years without any > problems. Its purpose is to allow the pump to be turned off for > service. It is a common electric switch from the home improvement > store in a normal weather proof utility box from th same place. > Meets code, works well and easily replaced when the time comes. Less > than $20. Weatherproof j-box is not "unobtrusive" :> Also, I don't want a "switch" that holds "state" (though I can obviously deliberately *ignore* that state) since the purpose of the "button" is to *call* for water -- not *gate* the water supply. I.e., I will turn the water off "later" without regard for the state of the switch *or* the manual valve on the hose bib. I think the magnetic-sensor-with-attached-magnet scheme I described elsewhere will work. I just need to come up with a pleasing way of dressing it up!
From: D Yuniskis on 5 May 2010 14:46 Hi Joseph, JosephKK wrote: > On Tue, 04 May 2010 14:50:12 -0700, D Yuniskis <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> > wrote: > >>> In article <hrq1s1$ve1$1(a)speranza.aioe.org>, >>> D Yuniskis <not.going.to.be(a)seen.com> wrote: >>> >>>> I need some sort of "button" (sensor?) that I can locate out >>>> "in the elements" and use to activate the irrigation system. >>>> I.e., "push this button to turn on the water supply". > > I have seen water timers that you place inline with your hose, it gives > you a set amount of time (adjustable) and stops the flow. You have to > disconnect it (pressure lock) to use it again. No batteries either. Yes, neighbor had one of those -- until their (large) dog "tripped" on the hose and broke the plastic timer assembly off of it :> Quite a bit of water in the yard before they returned home to discover it! Controlling the duration, etc. is easy -- it's just another "channel" on the irrigation controller. The tough part is providing a means ("button") for the user to tell the controller, "please begin irrigation cycle for circuit X".
From: Rich Grise on Google groups on 5 May 2010 18:26 On May 4, 2:50 pm, D Yuniskis <not.going.to...(a)seen.com> wrote: > > What I am looking for is something to supply water *to* the > individual hose bibs (3 of them) located around the yard > (independantly). E.g., there are times when I may need > supplemental irrigation in a particular *spot* (like just > after planting a tree; or, if it is unusually dry/windy and > the roses need more water (without also watering everything > *else* on the "rose circuit"). > > So, I want to be able to run a hose to the spot in question, > connect it to a bib, open the (manual) valve to the desired > flow rate and then "turn on the electrically operated valves" > to cause water to be made available *to* that hose bib. > Then, the controller can turn the water off some time later > (without me having to go outside and close the manual valve). > > I.e., this sort of configuration (hose feeding some portion > of the yard) might persist for several days at a time depending > on weather conditions. > > Likewise, I might be outside and just want to "turn the hose on" > to wash some dirt off my hands. I'd be annoyed if I had to "walk > into the house/garage" just to get a splash of water from the hose. > I don't understand what's wrong with just turning the knob on the hose bibb, like they do on every other house in the world. (that has hose bibbs.) Are you afraid of water thieves, or what? A secret button won't dissuade a clever thief - a lock only keeps an honest man honest. Thanks, Rich
From: D Yuniskis on 5 May 2010 19:21
Hi Rich, Rich Grise on Google groups wrote: > On May 4, 2:50 pm, D Yuniskis <not.going.to...(a)seen.com> wrote: >> What I am looking for is something to supply water *to* the >> individual hose bibs (3 of them) located around the yard >> (independantly). E.g., there are times when I may need >> supplemental irrigation in a particular *spot* (like just >> after planting a tree; or, if it is unusually dry/windy and >> the roses need more water (without also watering everything >> *else* on the "rose circuit"). >> >> So, I want to be able to run a hose to the spot in question, >> connect it to a bib, open the (manual) valve to the desired >> flow rate and then "turn on the electrically operated valves" >> to cause water to be made available *to* that hose bib. >> Then, the controller can turn the water off some time later >> (without me having to go outside and close the manual valve). >> >> I.e., this sort of configuration (hose feeding some portion >> of the yard) might persist for several days at a time depending >> on weather conditions. >> >> Likewise, I might be outside and just want to "turn the hose on" >> to wash some dirt off my hands. I'd be annoyed if I had to "walk >> into the house/garage" just to get a splash of water from the hose. >> > I don't understand what's wrong with just turning the knob on the hose > bibb, like they do on every other house in the world. (that has hose > bibbs.) Knob won't automatically shut itself off 15 minutes later (nor turn itself on the next day, etc.) We have hard water. Solution: install water softener. Ah, but now all the "faucets" on the outside of the house will dispense *softened* water! Unnecessarily expensive way to wash your car, water your yard, etc. So, irrigation system is plumbed "upstream" from the water softener. But, that doesn't do anything for the "faucets" as they are tied into the house "as convenient" for the plumber when the house was built! Solution: add "faucets" to the irrigation supply line and disconnect the old "faucets". Irrigation supply has a "master valve" (plus antisiphon required by local ordinance) to disconnect it from the municipal water supply. This "irrigation supply" line feeds the various valve manifolds for the irrigation system. It also feeds three "faucets" scattered around the property. Since the master valve is typically off -- unless one of the irrigation circuits is calling for water -- there is no water pressure in the "irrigation supply" line. Turning on any of those three faucets does nothing. By adding a "button" to *call* for water, the controller can turn the master valve on and the faucet can then operate like a regular faucet -- with the exception that when the master valve is later turned off (automatically), water will cease to flow from that faucet. Of course, the faucet is still *open* (manually) so the next time *any* irrigation circuit calls for water, water will flow out the still-open faucet. :< I've added a valve by each faucet so each faucet acts as its own, independant "irrigation circuit". This eliminates the problem mentioned above (since the controller can turn *off* that "faucet circuit" regardless of the state of the master valve). But, mainly, it allows each faucet to be used as a supplemental irrigation circuit as needed. E.g., I can run a hose from a faucet to a new planting, program the controller to "water daily" (required for new plantings) and, a few weeks later, remove the hose and clear the supplemental program as the "established" planting can survive on the normal irrigation circuit (to which it's been plumbed). > Are you afraid of water thieves, or what? A secret button won't > dissuade a clever thief - a lock only keeps an honest man honest. |