Replies

1. 
   Dave45 | Aug 14, 2009 05:20am | #1

   Home Depot, Lowes, and almost any hardware store will probably have anything and everything you might need - including "how-to" books on design, building, etc.

   You can also try the Toro, Champion, and Orbit websites (to name a few)

2. 
   Goffer | Aug 14, 2009 05:08pm | #2

   Try this site.

   sprinklerwarehouse.com

   Kevin

3. 
   kurt99 | Aug 14, 2009 05:48pm | #3

   I have used http://www.sprinklersupplies4less.com. I previously used http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com and had difficulty getting an order mistake corrected. I may have been the unluck one in a million but I switched. Your mileage may vary.

   You will get a much better selection at either website than at your local big box. The big boxes are probably the place to get your piping and likely the fittings but they will only give you a couple of valves and timers to choose from and the sprinkler heads tend to be lower end. I use the Hunter PGP and PGJ heads for a condo complex. The big boxes have Orbit heads that seem to an exact copy of the PGP heads except for color but the smaller head is much inferior to the Hunter PGJ and you never know when they are going to replace the guts of the bigger Orbit head with a wet noodle to cut costs.

4. 
   KevinH | Aug 14, 2009 09:29pm | #4

   I second (or third) Sprinklerwarehouse.com - I just purchased a whole new system from them earlier this summer and had no issues whatsoever.  Much better seletion and quality then at the local boxes (stick with hunter, rainbird, etc for heads and valves).  Parts and fittings will be cheaper online and any decent size order usally gets free shipping. 

   I dealt with a local sprinkler supply house for rolls of pipe and other big items like the valve box - just didn't fell like having those things shipped.  I used Hunter PGP heads with stainless steel risers and found that the website had them for more than $12.00 less each (no not a typo) than the local supply house - adds up quickly when buying several cases.

   A recent Northern tool catalog had an Orbit timer on sale that caught my eye.  It is a twelve station digital timer WITH a remote... I wasn't fmailar with the Orbit brand but I gave it a try - it's the best timer I've used so far (usually Rainbird ESP series).  Any of the other timers I found online were dificult or expensive to addd on remotes but the Orbit had one included for not too much more than another decent timer.  Not that a remote is a necessity - but a luxury I am now enjoying when it comes time to make adjustements or run a zone for a few minutes before or after fertilizer, etc., etc.  It is also very easy to set for automatic odd/even watering days as is required in many towns.

   it's still on the website: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200380043_200380043

   Not sure if you're planning rigid PVC or poly pipe like I used, but here's a couple shots of my valve box work - it's kinda fun taking the jumble of pipe after the initial pulls and making it all fit together - glad I added a lot of extra elbows in my order.

   View Image

    

   View Image

   Good Luck!

   edited so much to figure out photo embedment and fix typos...

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   Edited 8/14/2009 2:31 pm ET by KevinH

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   Edited 8/14/2009 2:32 pm ET by KevinH

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   Edited 8/14/2009 2:36 pm ET by KevinH

   
   

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   Edited 8/14/2009 2:59 pm ET by KevinH

1. 
   PatchogPhil | Aug 15, 2009 06:31am | #5

   Is the PVC vertical pipe that feeds your manifold, UV resistant?Common practice is to have any exposed feed pipe under constant pressure to be copper. And to add a port for winterizing blow-out.
    

   Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?

1. 
   popawheelie | Aug 15, 2009 06:45am | #6

   I did everything in copper before the valves. By code you need an intisyphon valve. Blow out is good too."There are three kinds of men: The one that learns by reading, the few who learn by observation and the rest of them have to pee on the electric fence for themselves."Will Rogers

2. 
   KevinH | Aug 17, 2009 03:38pm | #7

   Interesting thought - In all the jobs I've done (for myself or for others) , we  transition from copper to PVC on the interior of the house and use PVC out to the manifold.  Never had any issues.  I've never heard of any issues with PVC degrading from UV exposure, but I could be enlightened if you have any information.  I cannot imagine that the pipe would degrade to the point of failure in my lifetime.

   What you don't see is the completed assembly that included a vacuum breaker and an easily accessible port for winter blow-out.

1. 
   PatchogPhil | Aug 17, 2009 11:34pm | #8

   I do not have a specific "code rule". But the way I was taught was, copper out to the manifold.Depending upon how much sun exposure, PVC can get brittle. A weedwacker can also shatter PVC, and if it is under constant pressure, that is a flood condition.Some areas they wrapped the exposed PVC with a sticky tar-like impregnated padding.Heavier SCH80 pipe would be a better idea than other thinner PVC.Personally, I'd rather have the copper. 

   Quantum materiae materietur marmota monax si marmota monax materiam possit materiari?