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TO PLAN YOUR NEW KIT:

Assembling your new Basic Drip Irrigation Kit for Row Crops is not difficult. Keep these points in mind when planning your layout.

1. Decide on the best path to lay out your 1/2" tubing. Normally in a drip tape layout you run your 1/2" poly tube along the top or bottom edge of your rows and then tap into the 1/2" poly at the start of each row. You can also run your 1/2" poly tube horizontally, through the middle of your rows and run drip tape off in both directions.
2. Once the tape is layed out you can keep it straight and tight by driving a stake at the end of each row and securing it gently with nylon ties or wire.

TO ASSEMBLE YOUR NEW KIT:

1. Connect the pressure regulator to the faucet or end of a hose.
2. Connect the filter to the end of the pressure regulator.
3. Connect The Perma-Loc Swivel Hose Thread Adapter to the 1/2" tubing. (note: It's easier to connect the tubing to the swivel adapter before the swivel adapter is connected to the filter.)
4. After you have connected the 1/2" tubing to the Female Hose Thread Adapter, screw the Female Hose Thread Adapter to the outlet of the filter.
5. Lay the 1/2" tubing out on the ground in the desired location. Usually this will be along the top or bottom edge of your row crops.
6. FLUSH THE LINE: Turn the water on and flush the lines. Let water run through the tubing for 1-2 minutes to remove any debris that may have entered the line. This is important, any contaminants that are in the line will not be filtered out by the filter and they may clog your emitters. So be safe, take a few minutes to flush the line before continuing.
7. Close the 1/2" mainline with a Perma-Loc hose end. Now you have a closed system that can be pressurized.
8. Use the punch to punch a single hole in the 1/2" tubing at the head of one row. Punch the hole into the side of the 1/2" tubing so that the barbed takeoff will lay horizontal to the ground rather than pointing straight up.
9. Barbed Takeoff's have a slightly larger barb than most other fittings. This is to allow more water to flow down the drip tape. Because of this, it can be a bit more difficult to insert the barbed end into a 1/4" hole. To ease this, you can use a nail to enlarge the hole slightly to help facilitate inserting the barbed takeoff into the 1/4" hole. Simply insert the nail into the 1/4" hole and twist it around. Be careful not to puncture the other side of the tubing. It is easiest to insert barbs into cold tubing. If your tubing is exposed to direct sunlight you may want to wait until the tubing cools down. Warm tubing will tend to collapse.
10. Connect the drip tape to the Perma-Loc Tape Barbed Takeoff.
11. Snap the Perma-Loc Tape Barbed Takeoff into the punched hole. To do this, push the barbed takeoff into the 1/4" hole while using a twisting motion. It is usually easiest to apply moderate steady pressure and a lot of twisting.
12. Unroll the tape down the row.
13. Cap the tape end off using a Perma-Loc Tape End Cap.
14. Repeat as necessary.

MULTIPLE ZONES:

If your kit comes with the ability to setup multiple zones (two or more filters and pressure regulators) you can install two completely seperate zones with independnat watering schedules. You do not have to use this feature if you do not want to but it's available to you should you need it. Operating independant zones is usefull if you have rows that require diffeent watering schedules. You would simply turn one zone on more often than the other. The choice is yours.

CHECKING YOUR SYSTEM:

After you have installed or maintained your system you should "walk the line" and ensure that all emitters are working properly. Newly installed systems will sometimes weep around newly punched holes, this is normal and should decrease over time as the tubing seals itself. Check for proper placement of emitters to ensure that each plant is getting its fair share of water and that sprayers are not being obstructed.

HELPFULL TIPS:

1. Tubing is much easier to work with when it is warm. Lay tubing out in the sun for a few minutes before installation. This will allow the tubing to uncurl and be much more pliable.
2. To use a Perma-Loc fitting: Turn the collar counter clockwise until it tightens up to the body of the fitting. Slide the tubing or tape over the barb as far as it will go toward the body of the fitting. Sometimes a back-and-forth wiggle motion helps. Turn the collar clockwise over the tubing until the collar is tight.
3. If you have difficulty punching holes in the tubing because the tubing is collapsing, either run cold water through the tubing or cap it off and pressurize the system, be ready to get wet. Either way will make punching holes easier. When using a standard punch, use a straight twisting motion to make a clean hole. You will usually hear a pop, but not always.
4. 1/4" tubing and barbed fittings can be hard on fingers. To make things easier, try dipping the ends of 1/4" tubing into hot water for a few seconds before use. Or use a blow dryer to heat up the tubing ends. Both solutions make inserting 1/4" barbs much easier.
5. A hose end timer can be used to automate your drip system. Hose end timers are connected directly to the hose faucet or hose end and the pressure regulator is connected to the end of the timer.
6. If you need to make tight turns, use an elbow or tee fitting. To use an elbow or tee simply cut the 1/2" line at the desired location and insert the elbow or tee.

MAINTENANCE:

• Inspect your system regularly.
• Filters should be cleaned regularly. To determine your cleaning frequency, Unscrew the filter body and inspect the screen after the first couple of waterings to gage how often it must be cleaned.
• Tubbing, tape and fittings can be left outside during winter as long as you drain any remaining water from your lines.
• Timers, filters and regulators should all be removed from the hose or faucet and taken indoors if freezing conditions are expected.

REPAIRING YOUR SYSTEM:

• 1/4" tubing can be repaired by cutting out the damaged section and inserting a 1/4" barbed connector.
• 1/2" tubing can be repaired by cutting out the damaged section and inserting a 1/2" coupler.
• Drip tape can be repaired by cutting out the damaged section and inserting a tape coupler.
• 1/4" holes in poly tubing can be plugged by using a goof plug.

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