Pressure Compensating Dripper on Stake

About Pressure Compensating Drip Emitter on Stake

DIG’s PC Drip Emitter Stakes with barbed inlets are available in two models and in two color configurations: black with 1 GPH, and green with 2 GPH. The turbulent-flow-path emitter stakes provide even-flow discharge at various water pressures from a low pressure of 10 PSI to a high of 40 PSI.

When using drip irrigation, it is important to select the correct flow rate and spacing in order to achieve the optimum wetted pattern shape. Drip emitters produce a pattern related to the type of soil and the drip emitter application rate; the heavier the soil, the slower the water is absorbed and the larger the wetted area is. Water movement through the soil is forced by gravity downwards and by capillary action outwards, producing a wetting pattern characteristic of the soil texture. In sandy soil, water tends to move down with little lateral movement, so applying a higher flow rate over a given time period will produce a wider pattern. Due to soil characteristics, for example, a .5 GPH PC drip emitter run for one hour will provide a smaller wetted area then a 1 GPH emitter run for the same amount of time.

The PC Drip Emitter Stakes are installed at the end of the micro tubing, with each drip emitter stake centered between the plant trunk and the plant canopy edge. One of the most common installation errors is using too few emitters. Often only a single emitter is placed at the base of a newly planted tree or shrub. In clay soils, a single drip emitter can wet three to four feet in diameter; on sandy soils, the same layout using the same drip emitter will only wet an area less than one foot in diameter. Given that plant roots can grow a few feet per year depending on the plant and location, after one year the diameter of the root system could be much larger than the wetted area. A single emitter per tree or shrub could restrict root development as early as the first year after planting. For this reason, it is especially important to place additional drip emitters around the plants early in a plant’s life (see soil type section for drip emitter placement).

Installation suggestions

Basic installation recommendations for this product include first reviewing the area and then making a drawing of the garden or site with your preferred layout.
If automation is required, use one of DIG’s hose end timers or battery operated controllers. The ideal controller should have flexible scheduling and two to four start times per day for added flexibility.

PC Drip Emitter Stake installation

PC Drip Emitter Stake placement into the micro tubing: Extend the micro tubing to the plant and add the drip emitter stake to the end of the 1/4″ micro tubing.

1. First measure a length of micro tubing from the drip tubing lateral to the plant area.
2. Cut the length of micro tubing and attach a 1/4″ barb to one end.
3. Punch a hole into the 1/2” drip tubing and insert the 1/4″ barb.
4. Insert the barbed end of the PC Drip Emitter Stake into the opposite end of the micro tubing and secure it to the ground close to the plant.
5. If additional drip emitters are needed for a plant, add a 1/4″ tee to the end of the micro tubing. To the tee, add additional lengths of micro tubing and add the emitter stakes at the ends of the micro tubing. Secure the stakes to the ground.