Durability for a poorly designed college campus...

[1idejim]

Originally Posted by LawnMastersTx

We have looked at the Hunter PRS but they come made with the check valve which does not work with our flow monitoring.

Why is that?
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[LawnMastersTx]

Originally Posted by 1idejim

Why is that?
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It does not allow enough flow to go through it to alert our system. We have a threshold of 5 GPM and when a nozzle comes off, the flow is around 7 GPM depending on pressure, but with the check valve, it only becomes 1-2 GPM.

[1idejim]

Originally Posted by LawnMastersTx

It does not allow enough flow to go through it to alert our system. We have a threshold of 5 GPM and when a nozzle comes off, the flow is around 7 GPM depending on pressure, but with the check valve, it only becomes 1-2 GPM.

So what you are saying is that you use the flow control to monitor the heads of each zone. You can determine the issue from the control room via historical data?
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[LawnMastersTx]

Originally Posted by 1idejim

So what you are saying is that you use the flow control to monitor the heads of each zone. You can determine the issue from the control room via historical data?
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We are using a central irrigation system on campus, Calsense. When a problem occurs at night due to a break, stuck valve, etc., then the system shuts down that zone and alerts me in the morning so I can send my guys to fix it. On average we have 125 high flows at night during a given month.

[1idejim]

Originally Posted by LawnMastersTx

We are using a central irrigation system on campus, Calsense. When a problem occurs at night due to a break, stuck valve, etc., then the system shuts down that zone and alerts me in the morning so I can send my guys to fix it. On average we have 125 high flows at night during a given month.

That's 4 or more per nite, what's the major reason?

Did you have any input when selecting the system or was it soley the LA's spec?

How do you like Calsense?
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[LawnMastersTx]

Originally Posted by 1idejim

That's 4 or more per nite, what's the major reason?

Did you have any input when selecting the system or was it soley the LA's spec?

How do you like Calsense?
Posted via Mobile Device

We have a wide range of issues during the night. With 74,000 people on a given day there were broken heads/nozzles. I remember one day testing a zone and watching a student ram his bike into an active head with me standing 15 feet away. I asked him what was going on and he gave me a blank stare. We also have people stealing our nozzles, we use the MP's. Contractors are constantly hitting lines during the day. We also have valves that are over 50 years old still being used so our new system is catching valves that are either sticking on or very slow to turn off.

We have full input on selecting what was going in on campus. At first we were leading towards Rain Master, but once we saw the capabilities of Calsense, we decided on them.

I enjoy the Calsense system and being able to work with it every day. I am a data cruncher and the system gives me plenty of that and reports that I can easily understand. It has helped us discuss the idea with the city on instead of limiting us on the amount of days to water but to give us a budget based off square footage. We have just completed our first year of the trial program and the campus is green with a reduction of overall water use by 51-66% across campus.

The University of Texas does not endorse any product and my views on the materials used are of my own and not from the University.

[Kiril]

Originally Posted by LawnMastersTx

It does not allow enough flow to go through it to alert our system. We have a threshold of 5 GPM and when a nozzle comes off, the flow is around 7 GPM depending on pressure, but with the check valve, it only becomes 1-2 GPM.

Change your threshold.

[Mike Leary]

Do you have that way cool Calsense remote?

[LawnMastersTx]

Originally Posted by Kiril

Change your threshold.

I have tried lowering it to the 1-2 GPM, but at night with the fluctuating pressure, I had over 300 high flow alerts.....

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

Do you have that way cool Calsense remote?

My techs all use the remote and I use my Ipad or Iphone to control the system.
The remotes have helped them trace down breaks in jasmine beds that they would never have found before. They tally up the GPM based off nozzles/PSI and then check to see what the remote says, if it is not within 2 GPM, they start hunting.

[Kiril]

Originally Posted by LawnMastersTx

I have tried lowering it to the 1-2 GPM, but at night with the fluctuating pressure, I had over 300 high flow alerts.....

Program around it.

a = average flow
b = current flow
c = % deviation suspend
d = % deviation alert level 1
e = % deviation alert level 2
f = % deviation alert level 3