You may already have an irrigation system in your yard, but it may be manual. Do you have to go outside to turn your pump on by a switch or breaker and then turn any manual ball valves, or gate valves to get your irrigation to come on? If so, then your system is not automatic. Sometimes people may install a lawn sprinkler system, but not make it automatic. I actually do at least a few manual to automatic system conversions per year. People get tired or fed-up with having to constantly manually activate their system. Not only do most of us not have time for this, but also every-time you want to take a vacation or just leave out of town for a little while you have to be worried about coming home to a dead lawn and landscape!
You basically have two choices when making a system automatic; Using a digital timer & electric valves, or using a mechanical timer with an index valve. Both types of automatic setups have their advantages and disadvantages. A digital controller (timer) is nice and has more programming options than a mechanical, dial type timer. The electric valves together with the digital timer are nice and make going directly to the zone or section you want to run very simple.
A mechanical (dial) timer with an index valve take longer when trying to get to one particular section. This is because the way an index valve works. The mechanical controller has a built-in pump start relay, which turns the pump on and the stem & disc in the index valve seats over one zone to activate/pressurize that particular zone. When the timer tells the pump to shut off, the stem& disc then prepare to switch to the next zone which will activate when the pump turns on again. The index valve goes in a set order and you cannot skip to another zone like you can with a digital timer. This makes doing inspections and maintenance work more time consuming.
Dial timers with index valves are more simple type systems than digital/electrical ones. As much as I love electric valves and digital timers, I admit that they do require more maintenance in the long-run than their counter-parts. The solenoids on the electric valves tend to go out within 5 to 7 years. The digital controllers (timers) also have an average life span of about 7 years. Some do last longer, but that is just an average. Dial timers and index valves tend to last longer before having to be repaired or replaced. You can expect anywhere between 10-20 years with these irrigation parts.
With the digital/electrical valve setup, you have multi-strand, 18 gauge, low voltage wire that is wired between the timer and valves. This bundle of wires is yet another part of this type of system that can go bad and lead to future maintenance. You also need a seperate pump-start-relay installed that communicates between the digital controller and the pump (unless you are using a pressure tank setup). These types of systems are more susceptible to power surges and lightning strike damage than indexing valve/mechanical controlled systems.
Even with all the disadvantages that I just mentioned about digital systems, I still like them because of the extra programming options and the ease of control when inspection or evaluating an irrigation system and doing maintenance. Plus it is currently the professional industry standard. Most people want the latest, up-to-date things they can have and utilize. Honestly, these types of systems are better for me because they are more expensive upfront and will require more service down the road.
However, a mechanical or dial timer with an index valve may be the better option for your existing, manual irrigation system. Smaller yards, or even those with the current manual valve (usually ball valves or gate valves), and switch or breaker turn on switch are still a good candidate for the mechanical/dial timer and index valve automatic system.
So, you need to figure out which the right choice for you is. If you’re into or interested in multiple programming options, a digital timer, and overall more control of your automatic irrigation, then the digital system is probably right for you. If you’re interested in less long-term maintenance, a simple automatic setup, and don’t mind a dial tuner, non-LCD screen or digital programming, then the index valve automatic system is the better choice for you.
Scott Young
850-729-7110
Advanced Irrigation Systems
Auto Lawn Sprinklers