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FertiPro
Technical Information
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FertiGators are designed to be easy to use and install.
Here are the basics.
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| How
it Works |
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FertiGator
Pro Model
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| How
to Install the Pro Model
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FertiGator
Pro Injector
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Pro
Injectors are mounted on a plug that easily inserts
into the included specially designed MT (Mounting Tee).
A 1" Tee is standard as most residential systems have
a 1" mainline.* Glue the injector, plug into the MT,
cut the irrigation system pipe and install the MT anywhere
between the backflow preventer and the first zone valve.
*Other
sizes available by special request are 3/4", 1-1/4",
1-1/2", 2"
Special Direct Mount Pro Models
are required for main lines in excess of 2-inches
in diameter
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Mounting
T
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The
M series injectors come mounted on a Schedule 40 PVC plug.
This plug fits into the Mounting Tee (MT). The MTs are composed
of a standard high-quality PVC T upon which are factory-mounted
the two male connector fittings, properly aligned, with
lengths of 1/4-inch OD polyethylene tubing already inserted.
The plug of the M series injectors glues into all sizes
of MT. We suggest that you glue the injector and MT together
and insert the tubes in your shop before proceeding the
jobsite for installation into the main line. The two tubes
are inserted in the T fitting on top of the injector. Be
sure to push the tubes through the O-rings for proper sealing.
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Controller
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Attach
the FertiGtor controller to the wall next to the sprinkler
timer. Run or use two wires from the Pro injector to the
FertiGator controller and insert into the "Output Connections."
Jump wires from the sprinkler timer to the FertiGator controller,
common - common, zone - zone.
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Fertilizer
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The
fertilizer can be located anywhere you want, but is usually
put right next to the injector in the available above ground
"Outdoor Enclosure" or below ground in a valve
box. Run the included tubing from the injector to the fertilizer
and insert the tube into the container the fertilizer was
purchased in.
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| How
the FertiGator Pro Model Works |
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The
Pro Model operates on the basic concept of pressure differentiation
by using water pressure to inject the fertilizer into the
system.
When
the controller sends a signal to the injector, the two solenoids
open. Water rushes in through the bottom solenoid into the
bottom chamber and water pressure forces the piston up,
coiling the spring, and injecting the fertilizer into the
water running through the tubes across the top of the injector.
After
the injection is completed, the solenoids close relieving
the water pressure in the bottom chamber. The spring pushes
the piston down, forcing water out the port on the bottom
solenoid and sucking a new charge of fertilizer into the
top chamber.
For
every 1 ml of fertilizer injected, 16 ml of water is taken
out of the system so, there is a net 15 ml loss every time
the injector injects. Thus, there is no potential for increase
in downstream pressure in the irrigation system.
In
2001, FertiGator® received 40 patent protections from the
US Patent Office for our innovative technology!
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| How
to Program |
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The
FertiGator controller has two program modes. You can control
the quantity of fertilizer delivered (pulse rate) and the
frequency of its application (pulse period). Controllers
come set at a default pulse period of 5 minutes.
For
example, if you have a pulse period 3 minutes and a pulse
rate of 9, as long as the zone is being watered the FertiGator
will send nine milliliters of fertilizer out into the zone
every three minutes that the zone is on.
The
FertiGator Controller has non-volatile memory, which insures
that your settings will not be lost if you lose power or
unplug the system, even for the entire winter. There are
no batteries required.
Step
1: Determine Controller Settings
1)
Easy
Method (Recommended):
Set the pulse rate to equal the gallons per minute for that
zone. For example, if zone one has four corner heads that
each deliver 2.5 gpm and a central 360 that delivers 4 gpm,
that zone has a gpm of 14. The front garden may have six
pop-up spray heads at 1.5 gpms each. That zone has a gpm
of 9. If you designed the system so that all of the zones
have the same gpms, set all of the zones to that number.
2)
Precise Method:
Use the pulse calculation spreadsheet which is available
on this website to determine precise pulse period and settings.
You will need to know the following information:
· The
square footage of your property
· Number of zones in your system
· Gallons per minute flow rate for each zone
· Watering duration for each zone
· Number of waterings per week
Step
2: Program the Controller
To enter into the Controller's program mode momentarily
press Pulse and Zone keys simultaneously. When the run light
is off and the program light has come on you are in program
mode. Press the Pulse and Zone keys together to leave program
mode.
- A
Quick Press (hold keys for one second - the program, zone
and pulse rate lights will come on) allows you to change
pulse rate in the different zones.
- A
Long Press (hold keys until only the zone and program
lights come on - about 15 seconds) allows you to change
the pulse period.
Once
you are in the appropriate program mode:
Setting
Pulse Rate:
- Press
Zone key to change between zones.
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Press the Pulse button to change the pulse setting for
that zone.
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When leaving the program mode push and hold the Zone key
then push the Pulse key momentarily to exit to avoid changing
the setting upon exit.
Setting
Pulse Period (Normally not needed):
In
this mode, the zone light represents the pulse period. There
will be no pulse lights on. For example, if Zone 5 is lit,
it means that the FertiGator will pulse at the pulse rate
you set every five minutes that each zone is operating.
- Press
the Zone key until the ZONE light is lit for the proper
Pulse Period
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When leaving program mode push and hold the Pulse key
then push the Zone key momentarily to exit to avoid changing
the setting upon exit.
The
controller is now programmed and ready to go. You can easily
change your settings based on your preferences or when you
change watering times or waterings per week.
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| Backflow
Prevention Information |
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The
Fertigator was design with backflow prevention in mind.
(You
can download this information in a printable.pdf
format
by clicking here: Backflow
Protection Features.)
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| Specially
designed valves. |
| The fertilizer
source is isolated from the water system by a special 3-way
solenoid valve so that there is no way the fertilizer will
siphon out of the container into the water system in the event
of a backflow event and backflow preventer failure. |
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| Does
not create backpressure |
| The FertiGator’s
design of the internal piston makes it impossibly to increase
downstream pressure. The only way for that piston to move
up is if water is allowed into the bottom chamber below the
big end of the piston. As the water is let into the chamber,
the piston rises forcing the 1 ml of fertilizer into the water
stream. 16 ml of water must be removed to allow 1 ml to go
in. This all happens simultaneously. Physics will not allow
any other possibility. |
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| Cannot
pulse if there is no water pressure. |
| No fertilizer
can be injected once the pressure drops below 25 psi even
if the system is attempting to operate. |
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| Does
not increase water pressure. |
| For every
1 ml the FertiGator injects, 16 ml of water are discharged
from the system. Even if there is pressure in a stagnant situation
so that the FertiGator will pulse, the FertiGator will actually
reduce the pressure in the line preventing a backflow across
a PVB backflow preventer. |
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| Fertilizer
container is not pressurized. |
| If our
valve seat should get fouled or stuck slightly open, water
will rush out through the fertilizer tube (and into the fertilizer
container). Fertilizer will not get into the irrigation system
because the fertilizer container is not pressurized. |
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| Micro-feeding
is the safest way to fertilize. |
| Fertilizer
is injected at only one milliliter per pulse. The small amount
of fertilizer in the line at any given time should not pose
a significant health hazard to anyone. |
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is no flow due to a stuck zone valve. |
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If a
zone valve is supposed to be open and the valve for some
reason does not open (perhaps due to a burnt coil or cut
wire), there is no possiblility for an increase in downstream
pressure from the FertiGator.
If
there was an electric pump pumping fertilizer into a line
with this condition the pressure in the line would begin
to climb. The check valves in the PVB would close but this
might allow some leakage and the vacuum breaker would not
open because there is still pressure in the pipe. An electric
pump would require a RP backflow preventer because of the
downstream pressure increase.
But
for every 1 ml the FertiGator injects, 16 ml of water are
discharged from the system. So, there is a net 15 ml loss
every time the injector injects. Each time the injector
injects 15 ml of water actually flows through the PVB in
the forward direction thereby maintaining maximum protection!
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| Tips
of the Trade from the FertiGuru |
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Cover More Than 8 Zones
With One 8-zone Controller
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Provide
the Benefits of Fertigation to Larger Properties
at a Very Small Cost using the "8 Plus" Wiring
Method
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Many
properties (such as large residences and athletic fields)
have more than 8 zones on their irrigation systems. When
designing a FertiGator system for a property with more
than 8 zones, you have two choices:
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Use
additional AR-1 controller(s) (AR-3 controller is
available for large, complex properties)
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Use
"8 Plus" Wiring "trick" to operate
your system with one
AR-1 controller
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In
many cases there are several turf zones tha have nearly
identical design and water flow rate, therefore identical
fertilization needs. If this is your situation, you may
utilize the "8 Plus" Wiring instructions and
increase the number of zones you can fertilize with one
8-zone controller.
Each
8-zone controller has 8 independent programming options.
They do not have to be matched to the zone of the same
number. The lower numbered inputs take precedent over
the higher numbered inputs. This means that if the
FertiGator controller receives a signal from the sprinkler
system timer that two zones are on (say inputs 1 and 8),
it will activate the program for the zone connected to
the lowest numbered input. In this example, the program
for input 1 will be run and the program for input 8 will
be ignored. Zone 8 has the lowest priority and so can
be used as a default for similar zones.
Do
NOT wire two zones into the same FertiGator
Controller input.
Since
the Master Valve (MV) on the sprinkler system timer is
on when any zone is on, we can use that as the default
for all the zones with the same fertilization rate. By
running a wire from the MV output into the 8th FertiGator
input, this standard/default fertilization rate will be
used unless some other input is turned on. That leaves
room for 7 other zones to be treated with different fertilization
rates, such as garden zones, shady areas, or areas where
more or less fertilization than normal is desired.
The
wiring process is very simple.
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1.
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Run
a jumper wire from the Master Valve output on the
sprinkler system timer to input 8 of the FertiGator
controller (whether you are using a Master Valve or
not.)
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2.
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Program
input 8 to deliver the proper amount of product for
the similar or identical (zones 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, and
10, for example).
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When
the system turns on any zone, the Master Valve output on
the timer is turned on, even if there is no Master Valve
attached. This sends a signal to input 8 of the FertiGator
controller. The FertiGator controller then tells the injector
to deliver the correct amount of fertilizer based on the
zone 8 setting you use.
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3.
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Run
a jumper wire from each of the zones that may need
different amounts of fertilizer to inputs 1
through 7 on the FertiGator controller.
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Example:
Zones 1, 2, 5, 6, 8 and 10 on our sprinkler system are
all lawn zones with nearly identical design and flow rate
of 12 GPM. Use wirign instruction above and set zon 8
Pulse rate to 12, matching the GPM. Inputs 1-7 take priority
over input 8. Assume zone 3 is a garden area. You can
wire Zone 3 on your sprinkler system to Zone input 1 on
the FertiGator Controller, and program input 1 to deliver
fertilizer to that garden zone at a Pulse Rate of 8, which
is the GPM Flow Rate for that Zone. Do this for each "unique"
zone as all inputs 1-7 override the Zone 8 setting.
This
makes the FertiGator by far the most cost effective and
dynamic fertigation system in the World!
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Don't Get Fooled By Fake Fertigation Systems
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True
"Fertigation" is not just putting fertilizer through
an irrigation system - it is the consistent micro-dosing
of fertilizer over a long period of time.
If
you don't control the rate of fertilization, it isn't true
fertigation and you don't get the benefits.
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"The
keys to successful fertigation are micro-dosing the
fertilizer over the course of a significant period
of time, delivering fertilizer with every watering
and delivering the same amount of fertilizer each
time you water."
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-
Steven King, Professor of Irrigation Management
at Lake City College, Florida
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The
FertiGator does what no other competing system can do -
it provides consistent, precise fertilization by zone every
time you water. With flow-through-type systems the fertilizer
is frequently used up in 2 to 3 days and the grass and plants
starve until the next load of fertilizer is applied.
That
is not even as good as granular fertilizer - which isn't
good if you want healthy plants and green grass!
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The Easiest Way to Program Your Controller
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Set
the pulse rate to equal the gallons per minute for that
zone.
For
example, if zone one has four corner heads that each deliver
2.5 gpm and a central 360 that delivers 4 gpm, that zone
has a gpm of 14.
The
front garden may have six pop-up spray heads at 1.5 gpms
each. That zone has a gpm of 9.
If you
designed the system so that all of the zones have the same
gpms, and you want the same rate of fertilizer everywhere,
you can run a wire from the Master Valve Output on your
sprinkler system controller to the FertiPro controller Input
8 and set the Pulse Rate desired on Zone 8 only. Every zone
that operates will get the same rate of fertilizer.
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