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| How
it Works |
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The FertiGator was designed to be simple to use and easy to
install. The system has three components: A Controller, an
Injector and the Fertilizer. |
Overview |
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The Controller |
The brain
of the FertiGator is the controller. It is wired into the
sprinkler system controller and is usually mounted beside
it. When a sprinkler zone activates, the FertiGator reads
this and causes the injector to pulse which sends fertilizer
out into that zone.
Each irrigation zone on the controller is programmed to deliver
precisely the right amount of fertilizer for that zone. Injection
rates may vary from as high as 19 pulses every two minutes
to one pulse every eight minutes. A zone can also be programmed
at 0 pulses if necessary.
All controllers have non-volatile memory, which means that
they can be turned off without losing the program that was
entered, even for an entire winter. |
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The Injector |
Each
injector barrel has 3 sections: A top "fertilizer chamber",
a middle airtight "spring chamber", and the lower "water pressure
chamber." The injector has two high-quality, specially designed
3-way solenoids. These solenoids will not allow the fertilizer
from the fertilizer tube to back-siphon into the water system.
The top one handles the fertilizer and the bottom one controls
the water pressure used to operate the pump.
When the controller sends a signal to the injector, the two
solenoids open. Water rushes in through the bottom solenoid
into the bottom chamber forcing 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. Since more water is discharged than
fertilizer is injected, there is no increase in mainline pressure. |
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The Fertilizer |
| The
fertilizer is drawn from the container it is purchased in
through a ¼" OD polyethylene tubing to the injector and out
into the sprinkler system. The fertilizer container is located
anywhere the property owner desires - in a garage or shed.
Occasionally, the wires for the injector and the tubing for
the fertilizer are pulled together so that the fertilizer
ends up near the controller. |
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AR1
Controller
Injector
1.
Top Fertilizer Chamber
2. Middle Spring Chamber
3. Bottom Water Chamber
Fertilizer Container
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