Most connections are push-fits, so the only special tool you will need is the Hole Punch, product which is supplied with all kits, or available separately. You will also need:
A Stanley knife or a strong pair of scissors, for cutting tubing
A hammer, for fixing tubing to walls or fencing
A bowl of hot water, for softening the ends of tubing, to make inserting connectors easier.
To install the system, first lay the supply tube. Weight it down in places until it "relaxes". Immersing it in warm water or laying it in the sun will help. Use "T" connectors, elbow connectors and straight connectors where required to join up the lengths and create a continuous supply network. If necessary, fix the tubing to the ground with supply tube stakes to stop it moving as you work. Cover or bury it later if you wish.
Seal off the supply tube by using either a "Stop End" or "End Sleve".
Attach the tube to your threaded outside tap using either a standard Hozelock or threaded tap connector
Inserting flow control valves into the supply tube, will allow you to shut off parts of the system. This can be useful when parts of your garden or vegetable patch no longer require watering, while others still do.
If you will need access to your tap for other uses, use a dual tap connector or a 4-way tap connector , which will allow permanent connection of the automatic watering system as well as ongoing tap access.
Now start to insert the micro tube and outlets (drippers, sprinklers etc).
All you have to do is identify where you want the micro tube to be attached, make a small hole in the supply tube with the special hole punch, and join the micro tube to the supply tube using a micro tube connector. If you make a hole in the wrong place by mistake, don't worry ; simply fill it with a special blanking plug and try again elsewhere.
Pierce the supply tube with the pointed end of the hole punch, taking care not to make the hole too large.
Measure and cut a length of micro tubing and push a micro connector into one end. Push the other end of the micro connector into the hole in the supply tube. Fit the outlet to the free end of the micro tubing.
Where you need to water close to the supply tube, you can fit the outlets directly onto the supply tube, by piercing the tube as above, and push-fitting the outlet directly, without using micro tube.
You should keep micro tube to a maximum of 3m lengths from the supply tube to ensure good water flow. You can use micro "T" connectors to join short lengths of micro tube together.
Our special chart will help you to decide which outlets you should use and when. You can fit any combination of outlets. The number of outlets your system will take depends upon the size of the system, how much water flows through your tap and the slope of your garden.
(if you have any problems email our Customer Service for details), but generally on a small system, trial and error works best! Fit a few outlets, turn on the water and test, fit some more and so on.
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Having set up your system, you could simply turn on your tap every time you want to water. But an water control timer will automate your system completely; saving you time and making sure your plants are regularly watered even when you are away!
We offer a range of timers to suit every need. We offer the simple battery powered, easy to programme and screw directly onto your outside tap. They also feature a manual over-ride facility and you can now fit a rain sensor to some of our timer to ensure that your system only comes on when it needs to.
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