Full Product Manual

Table Of Contents
Calculate System Run Time Page 43
CALCULATE SYSTEM
RUN TIME
The system run time is determined by the base plant. Since the base plant is the
plant that requires the least amount of water, you will run the system only long
enough to supply the correct amount of water to the base plant. In the next
chapter, you will determine the flow rates for the non-base plants as well as the
best-suited emission devices to achieve these flow rates. This will be based on
two things: the watering schedule for the base plant and the daily watering
requirements of the non-base plants.
This chapter will use the same hydrozone design worksheets introduced in the
previous chapters. Refer to the sample worksheet (Figure 7-1) located at the end
of Chapter 7, as you read this chapter.
The process of calculating the system run time involves several steps:
1. Calculate the run time per day using a general formula.
2. Determine the maximum system run time. Maximum run time is the length
of time the system can run before you begin to waste water due to deep
percolation loss below the desired watering depth.
3. Determine the irrigation interval—how often you will run your system.
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