Page 11 - The Club, Issue 3

THE TRUTH ABOUT TAP TIMERS...

By Danny Picinic, Malvern Irrigation

Tap timers, where do I begin? Firstly lets discuss what tap timers
actually are. They are a convenient, simple, easy to install unit to
automatic control your irrigation system. The manufacturers use
phrases such as “better scheduling consistency with this easy-to-use
digital controller. Along with rugged dependability for season-long
outdoor use, this professional grade controller offers sophisticated
functions for worry-free watering convenience”, “complete control and
functionality over your watering needs” and “designed to make your
watering schedule effortless”. Sound good doesn’t it?

Most of these timers are in fact very simple to use and install giving the homeowner an easy alternative over a standard irrigation controller and
valve set up. They are also handy when there is no power available onsite. In short they are great for the “hardware” market, cost effective (range
between $30-$100) and the amount sold per year would be huge.

After reading all the supplier mumbo jumbo, seeing how easy they are to use and install or a new and improved model comes out homeowners and
contractor put them in continuously. From a professional contractors point of view they are basically nothing more than a pain in the butt. Yes we
have all used them, recommended them and we even sell them. We tend to get stuck in the mould to take the easiest option, which can be tap tim-
ers. But from experience they can cause more trouble than it’s worth.

The way we look at tap timers is that you are getting a lucky dip when purchasing or installing one. You can put two in right next to each other one
may last you 10 years and the one next to it 3 months… The main problem we face with tap timers, especially in Melbourne is static pressure. This
is the water pressure behind the timer when it is turned off and preventing water from running out. In theory that is about 95% of your timers life.
Most tap timers have a pressure rating of 600-8000k.pa, in Melbourne most of our established suburbs have a static pressure between 800-
1000k.p.a, this basically wrecks havoc with the timers. We see them burst of taps, have the internal mechanisms blown and just stop working for no
reason at all. This issues can happen within days, weeks, months even years after they have been installed. Imagine that you have your tap timer
running your lawn sprinklers and you go away on holidays. While away the timer bursts or the internal mechanisms fail, this causes water to flow out
of your tap until a friendly neighbour shuts it off or worst case until you get home. What your left with is an expensive water bill, damage to your
landscaped areas and looking like a goose for water wastage.

In fairness to the manufacturers some models are now coming out with models that if the internals fail it will always be in the off position but this
doesn’t help if it blows off your tap. Now what can you do to prevent this? You can install a high quality brass static pressure regulator to ensure
your static pressure is below that off the specs of the timer. These regulators are generally around $70.00 for a good quality one. Also many new
builds must have a 500k.p.a regulator installed on the mains which will also prevent this. Once again sound good and easy but truth be known we
see many tap timers just plain fail even when the static pressure is below that of the manufacturers specs. It can be poor seals on the timers allow-
ing water in to the electrics or they just plain fail due to the cheap materials used in the construction. So what do we do?

We make sure that on all our installations we used a battery operated solenoid valve and controller such as the Hunter NODE or Rainbird WPX.
Both of these timers come with 25mm professional grade solenoid valve that have a high pressure rating and are not flow restrictive like many tap
timers. The controllers are IP68 rated so they are able to be submersed in water without any issues with the seals and have a lot more programming
features. The down side to these types of controllers is that they are not as aesthetically pleasing as a tap timer, can be a little harder to program
and they do cost more (generally starting at approximately $140.00 for a single station unit). These downside though do outweigh the “lucky dip” of
tap timers. We would estimate that we are lucky to get 1 out of every 500 sold back, compared to 3 out of every 10 of tap timers.

So our advice is to spend the extra few bucks and put in a battery operated valve and controller over a tap timer any day of the week. If you want to
find our any more info on these types of systems feel free to give us a call.