Product & Prototype Development
Pasture Irrigation Control System
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Why doesn't the trailer's shut-off valve clog with debris such as ear tags, wood chips or other debris?
A. The valve is designed to handle debris while still being non-restrictive and over years of testing this has proven to be the case. For extra assurance we have added an easily inspected and non-restrictive filter at the valve inlet gallery. This is to accommodate farm systems that don't have pre filtering at the pond and encounter low pond levels and/or high levels of debris as a result. This filter retains long objects that could block irrigator nozzles, i.e. sticks, duck bones?, opossum legs? We do recommend some form of pre-filtering at the pump but this is not absolutely necessary.
Q. Having a solar panel which operates under a traveling effluent irrigator must mean that it requires frequent cleaning?
A. In practice the solar cell seldom gets too dirty, and hardly needs attention. Because the solar cell and battery are generously over-sized and the power draw of the trailer controller is minimal, battery voltage always remains high, regardless of ambient lighting or solar panel cleanliness.
Shown here is a solar panel during a mild Autumn afternoon, coated with fibre from the previous day's effluent application.... and the battery continues to be charged fully, no problem.
Q. Won't the "shut down pressure set-points" need to be constantly reset to compensate for terrain change as the irrigator operates?
A. The Kelco IPG20 sensor/controller continually compensates for change as does a special device within the trailer unit .... Start up, and ongoing pressure changes, are continuously compensated for.
Q. Does the the trailer shut-down valve induce water hammer when it suddenly closes at the end of a run, or when a fault occurs?
A. The trailer unit incorporates a relief valve that bleeds off any sudden hydraulic pressure rise within the pipework between the pump and the irrigator.
Q. What drag hose sizes does the trailer unit fit?
A. Typically: 2"/63mm or 2 1/2"/75mm
Enquiries: kjsmithengineering@xtra.co.nz
Mobile 0275730566