6-Outlet Drip Irrigation Manifold

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6-Outlet Drip Irrigation Manifold

6-Outlet Drip Irrigation Manifold

DIG’s Six-Outlet PC Drip Emitter Manifold is a high-flow emission device used to retrofit an existing 1/2″ sprinkler riser into a six-outlet drip irrigation system without altering or increasing the flow of the sprinkler system zone. The manifold with 1/2″ female pipe thread is a pressure compensating head operating at a pressure range of 15-50 PSI with an even flow rate of 6 GPH per each outlet. It allows installation flexibility when incorporated into a new system or as a part of a sprinkler system zone. The manifold has six rotating barbed elbows outlets that can be connected to 1/4″ micro tubing to deliver water under the plant canopy, using stakes to support the micro tubing in place. It can also incorporate 1/4″ drip line, 1/4″ soaker hose or drip emitters to a maximum flow of 6 GPH to achieve good root zone coverage of individual plants or groups of plants.

Features

  • Replacing the sprinkler riser with the six-outlet manifold can lead to water savings of 50% to 70%
  • Can be used to water roses, shrubs, groundcover and trees
  • Applies water directly to the plant root zone area, leading to less surface evaporation from leaves and soil
  • Eliminates wet walls and discoloration and staining of fences and windows
  • Designed for new and existing landscapes, including oddly shaped areas where a sprinkler head cannot provide good coverage
  • No special tools or glue are needed
  • DIG’s drip irrigation products may be exempt from residential and commercial watering restrictions (check local codes)
  • Barbed elbow outlets allow installation flexibility
  • Pressure compensating feature allows for equal flow rates from each outlet
  • Install above grade, or place below grade in a 6″ emitter box
  • Use with any 1/4″ micro tubing

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How to Order
MODEL DESCRIPTION COLOR
A6 6 GPH, 6-outlet Drip Manifold with 1/2 in. (FNPT)
Black

Specifications

  • Operating pressure: 15 to 50 PSI
  • Temperature range: up to 122°F (50°C)
  • Flow rate:
    • Model A6: 6 GPH per outlet, color code black/brown
  • Inlet size: 1/2" with female pipe thread
  • For use with 1/4" micro tubing (.140 to .170 ID)
  • Materials:
    • Body and cover: high-impact plastic
    • Diaphragm: Silicon
** High water temperature in a micro irrigation lateral will influence the flow discharge.

About

The A6 Six-Outlet Drip Irrigation Manifold can be used on new or existing installations to convert a sprinkler riser into a drip irrigation system, applying 50% to 70% less water than a conventional sprinkler system. It can be used to apply water at the root zone area of the plant only, eliminating pest problems, weed growth, and water waste from evaporation and run off. The manifold has even uniformity from each outlet and it is recommended for watering individual shrubs, roses or trees. It is installed using the converter barbed elbows for each outlet with 1/4″ micro tubing and support stakes to secure the micro tubing. The manifold can be used to cover individual plants or closely spaced groups of plants within the layout.

The manifold can be used to apply water to most landscape gardens, utilizing the same short range watering cycles as used with spray heads to meet most watering applications. Using drip irrigation, water first thing in the morning before the temperatures begin to rise. This will allow excess moisture on leaves and top soil to dry before fungal and other diseases can develop. The most common cause of early plant death is over-watering. Using drip irrigation can help sustain healthy plants by applying water directly to the plant root zone when and where it is needed. For established plantings, deep, infrequent watering is recommended. In most cases, applying deep watering will encourage deeper rooting, which leads to stronger, healthier plants.

Installation suggestions

Retrofitting a conventional sprinkler riser to a water-saving drip irrigation system requires a few simple steps including evaluation of the areas to be watered, selection of the best watering method and selection of flow rate. The most suitable uses for a multi-outlet drip irrigation manifold include watering shrubs, trees, roses, pots or individual plants that can be irrigated more efficiently using a drip irrigation system.

  1. First, we recommend using the six-outlet manifold in an area where the plants are close to the sprinkler riser you are replacing. We recommend using shorter lengths of micro tubing, not exceeding six to eight feet from the riser, to allow for easy maintenance.
  2. Make sure that the output of the manifold is sufficient to cover the plants in the area close to the sprinkler riser.
  3. Remove the sprinkler from the riser.
  4. Turn the water on to flush the line. Then, shut off the water and thread the 6-GPH multi-outlet drip irrigation manifold onto the riser.
  5. From the manifold outlets, extend 1/4″ micro tubing to the plant areas (models B38 for 50′ and B38100 for 100′). At this point you have a number of options:
    • a. Secure the end of the micro tubing with the stake (model P35B with pack of 10). This option will allow for a flow of 6 GPH from each outlet used.
    • b. To the end of the micro tubing, insert a 1/4″ barb (model H80A, pack of 5) and connect 1/4″ drip line (model SH50, 50′ with .5 GPH drip emitter every 12″) or soaker hose (model PSH50) and loop it around the plant. This option will provide a larger wetted area under the plant canopy and provide even water distribution from each of the four outlets. This option allows for five to six feet of drip line or soaker hose per each outlet with 6 GPH.
    • c. To the end of the micro tubing, insert a 1/4″ tee (model H82A, pack of 5). From the tee, extend additional lengths of micro tubing and insert a PC drip emitter or adjustable drip emitter (models B224B, 4 GPH in pack of 10, or B10B, adjustable drip emitter in pack of 10) with the drip emitters placed under the plant canopy, at the center between the plant trunk and the plant canopy edge.
  6. Connect the micro tubing onto the converter barbs included with each model and insert each barb into one of the open outlets.
  7. Turn the water on and check the system, making sure that all outlets are working and the location of each outlet meets your needs.
Maximum Number of Drip Irrigation Manifolds on 1/2″ Schedule 40 PVC Pipe
Flow (GPM) Flow (GPH) Head loss (psi) Velocity (psi) Max. # of 6 GPH heads per zone
5 300 10.5 5.6 8
7 420 18.6 7.9 12
Maximum Number of Drip Irrigation Manifolds on 3/4″ Schedule 40 PVC Pipe
Flow (GPM) Flow (GPH) Head loss (psi) Velocity (psi) Max. # of 6 GPH heads per zone
7 420 4.6 4.4 12
10 600 8.7 6.3 17

Note: One of the most common installation errors is using too few, and poorly spaced, drip emitters. Often only a single emitter or outlet is placed at the base of a newly planted tree or shrub. In clay soils, a single drip emitter or outlet can wet three to four feet in diameter; on sandy soils, however, the same layout using the same drip emitter will only wet an area less than one foot in diameter. Because plant roots can grow a few feet a year depending on the plant and location, after one year the diameter of the root system might exceed the diameter of the watered area. A single emitter or outlet per tree or shrub could therefore restrict root development as early as the first year after planting. For this reason, it is especially important to place additional drip emitters or outlets around each plant, early in the plant’s life.

Note: To expand the system, we highly recommend continuing with the some model kit or products. Review the instruction manual included with the kit for complete details.