DIG Product Info and Installation Tips

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by Stuart Spaulding —
CLIA Certified Landscape Irrigation Auditor Training & Communications Manager at DIG Corp.

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Micro-Tubing 

•  1/8” is for use with 12 outlet drip head (Maverick) and spray sticks (#9802-2) only 
•  ¼” micro-tubing is available in Vinyl or Polyethylene 
•  ¼” Poly is less bendable than vinyl but withstands high temperatures better than vinyl 
•  Micro-tubing is primarily used to extend a dripper or micro-sprinkler away from the ½” poly tubing or to branch off to reach plants in containers  Both ¼” vinyl and poly accept ¼” barbed fittings 
•  Uncoil the tubing and lay it out in direct sunlight or soak the end in a cup of hot tap water to make it easier to insert barbs 

 

Drippers 

•  Are categorized into two types- pressure compensating, and non-pressure compensating 
•  Pressure compensating (PC) drippers are pre-set at a specified flow rate and are non- adjustable 
•  PC drippers are preferable for drip systems that have significant changes in elevations and/or long run lengths (over 250’). 
•  PC drippers compensate for differences in pressure throughout the system and can provide better system uniformity 
•  Non- PC drippers are suitable for most residential drip systems that are under 250 feet in length and are relatively level
•  PC drippers should not be selected for use with gravity flow or rain barrel systems. 
•  PC drippers must be operated at pressures between 10 & 45 PSI
•  Non -PC drippers include flag drippers, button drippers, in-line drippers, adjustable drippers 
•  Select the drippers flow rate based on the soil type, not the plant type or size 
•  Use lower flow drippers for denser soils high in clay content 
•  PC drippers cannot be taken apart for cleaning

 

Dripline 

•  Is a type of soaker hose that saturates the soil adjacent to the tubing 
•  Can be laid on the soil surface and/or covered with mulch 
•  Available in two diameters, ¼” or ½” 
•  ¼” is non-PC, ½” is pressure compensating 
•  Emitters are “built- in” to the tubing wall at pre-set spacings 

•  Excellent choice for raised vegetable beds, square foot gardening, deep watering of trees 
•  Determine emitter spacing distance based on soil type-use shorter spacing for sandy, lighter soils 

 

Micro-sprinklers, Spray Jets, Misters 

•  Ideal for irrigating flower beds, groundcover, containers and slopes or areas where there are many small plants close together 
•  Excellent choice for sandy soils 
•  Are available in a variety of spray patterns and flow rates 
•  Not recommended to irrigate turf or to install at windy sites 
•  OK to install on the same zone as drippers 

 

½” Poly Tubing 

•  Maximum flow rate = 220 gallons per hour 
•  Is the primary supply line for residential drip irrigation systems 
•  Standard DIG ½” poly tubing is .600” ID (inside diameter) .700” OD (outside diameter) 
•  Connects to .700” compression fittings (color code- black) 
•  Maximum operating pressure is 60 PSI
•  Does not need to be buried, & contains UV inhibitors (carbon black) to ensure long-life in direct sunlight 
•  Maximum single run length = 400 feet 
•  Also available with .710” OD which connects to .710” compression fittings (color code- blue) 
•  Uncoil and lay out in direct sunlight to make the tubing more pliable and easier to push into compression fittings 
•  Never install as a main-line under continuous pressure 
•  If unsure of your tubing OD, use DIG’s universal Nut Lock fittings 

 

Hose End Timers 

•  Simple, do-it-yourself solution to automate a drip system or hose end sprinklers 
•  Connect to an outdoor faucet with no tools required 
•  Can be battery powered (BO9D) or light powered (EVO 100-battery free) 
•  Should never be connected to a PVC or copper mainline 
•  For outdoor use only 
•  Install the DIG D52 Y splitter on faucet to use a timer and garden hose on a single faucet 

 

Head Assembly Components 

•  Includes the backflow preventer, Y filter, pressure regulator, pressure regulating filter, and swivel adapters 
•  Can be either “Hose” threads or “Pipe” threads 

•  Use “hose” thread types (D57A, D46, D45, C34) when connecting to a faucet, hose end timer, or conversion elbow (Q59) 
•  Use “pipe” thread types (D46P, D55, D54, 50001) when starting from an inline or anti-siphon irrigation valve 
•  Do not install the pre-set regulators (D46, D46P) on a main line subject to continuous pressure 
•  Male pipe thread components need to be wrapped with 4-6 layers of Teflon tape to prevent leaks 
•  Hose thread fittings & components seal against a washer so no Teflon tape is necessary 
•  Male and female pipe and hose thread fittings and components will appear to screw together but thread damage and leaks will occur if they are connected 

 

Compression Fittings 

•  The fittings fit over the outside of the poly tubing 
•  No glues or tools required to install 
•  Compression fittings are not designed to be “re-used” 
•  The poly tubing is “compressed” as it is forced into the compression fitting 
•  The ends (inserts) are color coded by size 
•  Blue inserts fit .710” poly tubing 
•  Black inserts fit .700” poly tubing 
•  Green inserts fit .620” poly tubing 
•  Compression fittings are rated up to 60 PSI 

 

Retrofit Products 

•  A group of products designed to convert a conventional PVC sprinkler system into a drip irrigation system 
•  These products have a ½” female thread inlet to screw on to a ½” sprinkler riser 
•  Install multi-outlet drip heads (A4, AD6 or Maverick 12 outlet) and ¼” microtubing to reach plants that are near the riser 
•  Install the DSR or Q59 and connect ½” poly tubing to water numerous plants that are not near the ½” riser 
•  To connect ½” poly tubing to ½” PVC pipe, use the D48 adapter