Baseball Field Project

[PurpHaze]

Time for a new thread. We started a new baseball field project this week. It's at one of our Middle Schools and the field is used by both a Little League and the school's 8th grade baseball team. It's equipped to handle both 60' and 90' base paths, has a smaller looking infield grass area (60') and a larger looking crushed cinder dirt area (90'). This configuration has existed for over 40 years and they've gotten along fine with it. We will install new irrigation up to the LL configuration home run fence that goes up only after the school's baseball season is over.

The local LL is paying about $3800 of the total material cost and the school district is covering the rest. The original irrigation system was a 20+-year-old "do-gooder" project, just wasn't doing the job any longer and was fed off an old 1-1/4" galvanized line from the old days of a quick coupler system. We decided not to rely on their original wiring since it runs under new/old concrete/asphalt in two different directions and the reliability factor just wasn't there. Decision was made to install the system off a new 2" line and put in Hunter WVCs that only we have access to programming. There will also be a manual zone installed for wetting of the crushed cinder area to facilitate quicker game set-up.

First picture: Some of the guys wiring up the Hunter ICV valves after I've set them. Gotta give credit to Leo, Todd and John for all the help over the years. Todd is also my "right hand man" and we work together on a daily basis.

[PurpHaze]

Next Picture: Two valves will supply zones between the field and the street. I had to change course on the main line to get them facing the diretion I wanted since the ICV valves only come in globe configuration.

[PurpHaze]

Last Picture Today: Valves and WVCs all set. Ready to start installing zones come Tuesday.

[Dirty Water]

Why backfill the entire thing before connecting the zone?

Also, What size main, and when did you switch from Irritrol Centuries?

[PurpHaze]

Why backfill the entire thing before connecting the zone?

We always do this because we have to worry about open trenches and the possibility of safety hazards existing on school properties. We'll dig up the exit side of each valve and install zones as we go. Everything will be closed up each day.

Also, What size main, and when did you switch from Irritrol Centuries?

2" main line spur. We started using the Hunter ICVs with Hunter low voltage solenoids on these Wireless Valve Controllers instead of the Irritrol Centuries with problematic after-market LV solenoids. Seem to be working out much better and it gives us remote capability where Rain Bird TBOS systems don't.

[Dirty Water]

Bah, if Little Johnny falls in and breaks his leg its his fault :)

I absolutely hate working public area's, I put up caution tape and cones, but I still worry about some sue happy loser.

[PurpHaze]

Unfortunately, constantly having to look over your shoulder is now a fact of life. :mad:

We use cones and tape and sometimes it seems like it just attracts the little buggers. We had a little girl catch the corner of one of our drop-down doors right above the eye. Fortunately we had cones out and were absolved of any reliability.

[PurpHaze]

OK Jon... now you've gotten my dander up! :p

I'm getting up on my soapbox on the absolute stupidity of edukators. A couple of years ago there was a police chase where they ended up shooting a robbery suspect at an intersection that was approximately 1/4 mile from a middle school, high school and elementary school. Parents were so enraged about the district's "lack of concern" for their children that a "lockdown" procedure was implemented for security reasons. When a lock down is called for ALL district employees, students and parents on an affected site are supposed to immediately proceed into a secure building and be locked down until the danger has passed. This means that according to procedure I'm supposed to immediately drop everything and get into a secure building. Doesn't matter if I've just cut open a main line and have a swimming pool in a hole, have dangerous chemicals or tools out where anyone can get to them or have holes/trenches open or other potentially dangerous situations present. I asked during a safety meeting if district employees were therefore exempt from potential problems if someone was hurt while we were in lockdown. Three months later I'm still waiting for an answer. :cry:

We've had lockdowns for a principal hearing gun shots on the first day of dove season and another for a reckless (or drunk) driver reported over a mile from a school site.

Now down off soap box. :)

[Wet_Boots]

..... and were absolved of any reliability.That's good. You don't want to be accused of being reliable :rolleyes:

[jerryrwm]

That's good. You don't want to be accused of being reliable :rolleyes:
Don't do that Boots. Had coffee all over the place... LOL

[PurpHaze]

Oops... got an "re" tacked on where it shouldn't be. :p

[hoskm01]

Nice system. Keep the picture updates coming as you make your way around the fields.

[PurpHaze]

Thanks. We'll start installing the zones tomorrow if the rain goes away. It's hit here pretty hard and don't know if it's moving your way or not. My daughter-in-law lives in Las Vegas and it hasn't hit there yet but she says a storm is coming. :waving:

[Broker]

Purp do you work for a muni or private company?

[PurpHaze]

School district.

[PurpHaze]

Between holidays, vacation time off and rain delays we finally managed to get the first zone in. This zone of Hunter I-20s runs along the left field fence and the left-center field half of where the home run fence will be put up. We're trying to get these outer zones completed before school resumes on Jan. 9th so they can have their soccer/football fields back that extend into the baseball outfield. Don't know if we'll make it and with all the rain things could be quite sloppy for awhile.

[Dirty Water]

2" mainline spur? What size is your lateral? I'm guessing you bush down to 1" at the end.

That soil would be excellent for plowing.

[Broker]

Did you guys consider I-40's?

[Dirty Water]

Did you guys consider I-40's?

We like using I-25's for large field sprinklers, perhaps Hayes couldn't get the pressure and volumn to use I-40's effiecently for this area.

[Broker]

Probably... The people that I talk to in CA are in high pressure area's and we have looked at jobs with 2" mains specked out with 40's per Hunter's own design. It was just a thought.

[PurpHaze]

2" mainline spur? What size is your lateral? I'm guessing you bush down to 1" at the end.

The lateral starts out 2". There's a 2" cross with 3/4" that goes to the first sprinkler you see in the corner and then 1" down the fence line to two more sprinklers not shown. Heading out to the other sprinklers it's 1-1/2", 1-1/4" and 1". The farther away from the source I get the larger I keep the lateral pipe; usually one size larger than necessary.

That soil would be excellent for plowing.

If you say so but looks are deceiving. This soil is highly compacted and looks a lot like road base. Even with carbide teeth on the trencher it's slow going. Then when a soft spot is encountered (usually only about 3' wide) I almost get run over by the trencher because it's like slicing through butter. Even with almost four straight days of rain there is no moisture in this soil below a 3" depth except in those soft spots. :p

One of the main reasons we used the backhoe to set up the valves was due to the soil structure being so tight. I'll see if I have another picture that shows the trenching and soil.

[Dirty Water]

The lateral starts out 2". There's a 2" cross with 3/4" that goes to the first sprinkler you see in the corner and then 1" down the fence line to two more sprinklers not shown. Heading out to the other sprinklers it's 1-1/2", 1-1/4" and 1". The farther away from the source I get the larger I keep the lateral pipe; usually one size larger than necessary.

Congratulations on being oldschool like me and still sizing pipe. Its a dissapearing art in the days of Poly systems.


If you say so but looks are deceiving. This soil is highly compacted and looks a lot like road base. Even with carbide teeth on the trencher it's slow going. Then when a soft spot is encountered (usually only about 3' wide) I almost get run over by the trencher because it's like slicing through butter. Even with almost four straight days of rain there is no moisture in this soil below a 3" depth except in those soft spots. :p

One of the main reasons we used the backhoe to set up the valves was due to the soil structure being so tight. I'll see if I have another picture that shows the trenching and soil.

Anything is going to be slow going with that dinky trencher :) When I have a hard time trenching something with our 3500 I know its just about bedrock. Especially with the new chain.

You would be surprised how well a vibratory plow works in super compact clay/sand. Our 410 would walk through that stuff without any trouble on the 1.5" and smaller parts, we would trench the 2" section.

[PurpHaze]

Did you guys consider I-40's?

I CADed out three different designs for this field using I-20s, I-25s and I-40s. Based on the supply being only a 2" line, not wanting to run a new main 300' from a source, the weird configuration between the 90' infield/outfield arc and the home run fence, and the fact that if this system is on at the same time the main field is on a booster pump is activated I opted for the I-20s with a #6 nozzle.

[PurpHaze]

We like using I-25's for large field sprinklers, perhaps Hayes couldn't get the pressure and volumn to use I-40's effiecently for this area.

Pressure yes, volume no.

[Dirty Water]

I CADed out three different designs for this field using I-20s, I-25s and I-40s. Based on the supply being only a 2" line, not wanting to run a new main 300' from a source, the weird configuration between the 90' infield/outfield arc and the home run fence, and the fact that if this system is on at the same time the main field is on a booster pump is activated I opted for the I-20s with a #6 nozzle.

THis brings up a interesting thought. I try to balance precipitation as well as possible (though I won't spout useless numbers like a certian nameless member), so when I calculate out a zone's GPM usage I use smaller nozzes for rotors that are less than 360, an example zone:

2 360 Heads: #8 Nozzle
4 180 Heads: #4 Nozzle
1 270 Head: #6 Nozzle

I'm sure you do this right?

[PurpHaze]

Congratulations on being oldschool like me and still sizing pipe. Its a dissapearing art in the days of Poly systems.

I am old but I guess I could have just made ALL the pipe 2". This would have only added about $2000 to the total cost of the project. :p

Anything is going to be slow going with that dinky trencher :) When I have a hard time trenching something with our 3500 I know its just about bedrock. Especially with the new chain.

I use what they give me. If it's slow going then it's slow going because I'm not having to justify a profit margin. They've talked about getting a trencher attachment for our Bobcat but I guess it's $10k they can't afford right now. :cry:

[PurpHaze]

THis brings up a interesting thought. I try to balance precipitation as well as possible (though I won't spout useless numbers like a certian nameless member), so when I calculate out a zone's GPM usage I use smaller nozzes for rotors that are less than 360, an example zone:

2 360 Heads: #8 Nozzle
4 180 Heads: #4 Nozzle
1 270 Head: #6 Nozzle

I'm sure you do this right?

On this particular system I didn't "match precip" the nozzles due to the type of system. I have found that keeping them all the same on this type of open field works better than going by what the manufacturer suggests. I have found that regardless what their specs show there has to be some give and take. But, what I will do is watch the system in triple digit heat and if a corner is getting too much water I'll adjust the nozzles and/or zone time accordingly. The followup factor on one of our installations is one of my advantages.

When I calculate the zone GPM I'll always use the higher number and keep the pipe size up to compensate for potential future changes. This has worked well over the years for us.

[Dirty Water]

Doing it that way significantly over waters the 90 and 180 degree heads, and limits the number of heads you can use per zone...

More 2" Valves == $$$

[PurpHaze]

Doing it that way significantly over waters the 90 and 180 degree heads, and limits the number of heads you can use per zone...

More 2" Valves == $$$

If I was in a commercial venture, true. But when I have to constantly adjust irrigation on sites where there is never a master plan I have to be able and ready to adjust. I'd rather have too many valves and too large of pipe so adjustments can be made as easily and quickly as possible.

As far as overwatering an area of this type with this particular sprinkler it usually won't happen here. All 90*/180* sprinklers are on their own zones and watering can be controlled via the clock. There are a total of four 90* I-20 heads on the entire system. All other adjustable sprinklers are between 170* and 190* which is not a big difference. All 360 sprinklers are also on their own zones. Like I've said already, what a manufacturer states is not always practical for all types of applications.

[Wet_Boots]

I thought it was an 'interval' of three, to double precipitation with Hunter PGP nozzles. If the full circle heads used #8 then you'd use #5 on half circles and #2 on quarter circles. Of course, the distances wouldn't be quite equal, so you'd be reducing spray radiuses to achieve a balance. It's more practical to try to group equal arcs in their own zones, rather than have full and quarter circle heads in the same zone. Only occasionally would I mix them alltogether, when I had a lot of trees and a lot of water, using the 3-6-9 combination.

[Broker]

Purp did you own a company before the district job?

[PurpHaze]

Purp did you own a company before the district job?

No. I lived in Oregon and worked for the State Parks system.

[Broker]

It seems like you are a knowledgable asset to the district.

[PurpHaze]

Thank you. But I'd leave in a heartbeat for the right situation.

[PurpHaze]

Today's a holiday day off and the wife and I went out to breakfast. We swung by the site and it kinda looks like we won't be continuing the project for tomorrow after 19 straight hours of rain. :rolleyes:

[True Cut Lawn Maintenance]

i bet everyone of them valve boxes is like a minuture swimming pool right now:dizzy: :drinkup:

[PurpHaze]

I'm sure today will be used to scour different sites for damage. Hopefully I don't find these boxes floating down the street. :)

[jerryrwm]

Hayes,

You got a boat to check those sites? Hope the rain lets up soon. It gets old after a while.

[True Cut Lawn Maintenance]

Just think, if those boxes were a little bigger you and your guys could each have your own personal swimmin hole, but come to think of it add a little more water and the whole site might be one.

[PurpHaze]

The rain let up last night and was followed by extremely strong winds. Some flooding but mostly wind damage and some downed lines throughout the area. All ponding basins were filled to capacity also. That site had actually dried up quite a bit by mid-morning and we probably could have done some work on it today since it was so dang hard before. Getting between the gate and baseball field would have been a little questionable and some rutting damage might have occurred if we'd tried driving on it. My help spent most of the day pumping water out from between building wings at one of the high schools which in the long run was more important. I surveyed some of our sites where we'd had mud problems before and just took some pictures and checked for damage to insure that when things are reported as "irrigation problems" I can counter that it's drainage problems instead.

[PurpHaze]

Hayes,

You got a boat to check those sites? Hope the rain lets up soon. It gets old after a while.

I imagine what you guys in TX are going through is getting old also. Those high pressure heat systems can really be a PITA. Maybe it's not as bad on the coast though?

[PurpHaze]

Finally completed all the zones and QCV on the field interior including a manual zone for watering the clay skinned area. What a ***** with roots, existing old pipe, wet soil, fog, Fog, FOG, etc. Two more exterior zones and finished. Getting bored and time to move on to another project. :dizzy:

[PurpHaze]

Decided to use MP-Rotators between the base paths and dugouts. Seem to be working well. Get to tackle trenching through birch roots and over 480v electrical lines starting Tuesday. :mad:

[sheshovel]

Your going to have to take on muddpuppy's screen name after this storm blows thru.Get off yer dancin shoes and pull out yer waders Purple..it's a gonna rain like heck!

[PurpHaze]

We got hit real hard yesterday Sheshovel. I'm assuming you're north of me and there were six different NWS "severe thunderstorm warnings" that came across the TV while I was watching the playoff games yesterday. Most were along the foothills and they started from Fresno/Clovis on up past Mariposa.

[sheshovel]

I am... 41&49........ you know the little tourist stop bfr Yosemite?We got 3" of hail in lightning storms yesterday and it was right on top of my house part of that time..thunder shook the sheeeet outa my house and scared the sheeet outa me too!Plus all the rain A good one we sure do need it.

[PurpHaze]

Cool... been through there many times. Glad to hear that all is well from the storms.

[PurpHaze]

Finally finished the project today. Now the funny Ha Ha. Before this project was started an email went out to Maint Dept to locate utilities. Only section that did so to our knowledge was electricians and they were the only ones with paint markings. I'm standing in the infield tamping down around a sprinkler and generally doing some cleanup of trenches when one of my partners shouts, "We have a leak here" from a zone I'd fired approximately twenty minutes before to double check everything. I stroll over and there is a quagmire of roots and mud right where one of our lateral tees is located. We dig down a little through the slop and see that the tee is both primered and glued. I then fire the zone with the remote and there are no leaks whatsoever. Now I'm in a real quandary (no pressurized lines in this area either) when water suddenly gushes out of the trench for about 15 seconds, floods the area and then stops and seeps back down. We all look at each other and then suddenly it dawns on us what has happened. I trenched through a PVC line in this area when we did the zone and now determined it lines up with a manhole cover that contains a sump pump for the third base dugout. That dugout had been flooded for three weeks (see picture) and then the power had been off for three days. During that time vandalism had been done to the panel in a room on the side of the concession stand. Sump pump switch had been vandalized along with other panel components, power was turned back on, sump pump engaged and water gushed out of drain line that I'd trenched through. I called my supervisor and advised him of the situation, he called the plumbers and we left. You don't mark your lines and I'll be happy to trench through them. :p

[JWTurfguy]

Wow, I just found this thread and I'm really impressed, Purp, at your dedication and knowledge when it comes to this project.

I hope that your school district is taking good care of you! Sounds like you're a pretty awesome employee to have.

Shane

[PurpHaze]

Thanks for the compliments. You'll find on this forum that there are many guys/gals with vast amounts of training, knowledge and experience whether in the private or public sector. I just talk more than some. :)