Valve Buying Guide

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Are you looking to buy irrigation valves but can’t quite decide on which ones? This guide provides a detailed breakdown of the different valve options to help you select the right one for your irrigation system.

What is an irrigation control valve?

An irrigation control valve is used to regulate the flow of water throughout your entire irrigation system, starting from the primary water source. An irrigation valve allows you to divide your irrigation system into multiple watering zones. An automated valve acts as the shut-off for the water source, with a signal from your irrigation controller.

Who needs an irrigation valve?

Anyone with a garden or landscape may need an irrigation valve. This will depend on the size of your garden or landscape, the type of irrigation you are using, and the available flow from your water source. Installing valves and creating irrigation zones provides you access to your available flow rate in each zone. Valves also allow you to accommodate different types of watering devices into zones to provide the most efficient use of these devices. For example, if you have pop-up sprinklers for your lawn and emitter tubing for your flower beds, these will need different watering durations.

How does a valve work?

The three main components of an irrigation control valve are the solenoid, the bonnet, and the diaphragm.

When the system is between watering cycles, water fills the bonnet chamber, putting pressure on the diaphragm and closing the valve. The first action to take place when a watering cycle is to begin, happens with the solenoid. The timer sends an electrical signal through the wires to the valve’s solenoid. This tells the valve to open or close. The solenoid coil then becomes an electromagnet and pulls the plunger up into the solenoid. This allows the water in the bonnet chamber to flow out of the valve via the outlet, which in turn decreases the pressure on the diaphragm. With the decreased pressure above the diaphragm from the water flowing out, the water entering the valve from the inlet can now rise high enough to push the diaphragm up, into the open position and allow continuous flow through the valve. At the end of the watering cycle, when the timer stops sending electricity to the solenoid, the plunger drops, and the water begins filling the bonnet chamber above the diaphragm once again. This forces the diaphragm back down and closes the valve.

How do you choose a valve?

When you are choosing an irrigation valve, the first thing you should consider is if you want an automated or a manual valve. You will also want to consider the flow rate requirement for each zone and your starting pressure.

Manual valves have a handle that is used to open and close the valve, starting and stopping the flow of water. A common manual valve example would be a ball valve. The spigot on your water faucet is also a type of manual valve. The downside to manual valves is the need for the user to turn the system on and off. If the homeowner is not always available to do this, the landscape or garden can suffer. There is also the risk that the valve may not get shut-off, leading to severe overwatering and increased water bills.

When choosing which automated valve to purchase, you will need to first determine what type of power source your controller is using. AC-powered controllers will only operate AC solenoid valves and battery powered controllers will only operate DC valves. DC-powered valves will have two different colored wires; most will have black and red wires, indicating positive and negative connections. Some are green and black. All AC-controlled valves will have two of the same-colored wires.

AC Valve options:

There are several different types of AC valves to choose from once you have decided this is the correct power source for you: Anti-siphon valves, globe valves, jar-top valves, and a standard flow-through valve.

Angle Globe

Jar-Top

Anti-Siphon

Globe

Galcon, Baccara, Irritrol, and Rainbird valves offer a globe version of AC valves. These valves come with a female pipe thread inlet and outlet. Flow control handles on the Galcon, Baccara, and Irritrol valves allow you to reduce the flow rate through the valve for lower flow systems. The minimum pressure required for the Baccara valve is 4.3 PSI, while the Galcon valve requires a minimum of 7 PSI.

Irritrol and Rainbird Anti-siphon valves are installed at least 6" above the highest point in your irrigation system. These valves have a built-in atmospheric vacuum breaker to eliminate back flow. By using one of these valves and installing it properly, you reduce the need for a separate backflow device and decrease your pressure loss through devices.

Irritrol Angled Globe valves are the perfect choice for dirty water sources. These valves can handle up to 220 PSI and have an internal bleed for flushing debris from the diaphragm. Angled globe valves are commonly installed underground and have the extra feature of an inlet on the base of the valve, creating a 90-degree angle between the inlet and outlet.

K-Rain and Hunter jar-top valves are the most accessible valves to clean. The top of the valve does not have any screws, you unscrew the top like you would a jar. This is where the valve gets its name. Neither of these valves have a flow control.

DC Valves:

The Baccara DC valve has the lowest pressure and flow rating of any DC valve. This valve has a 3/4" female pipe thread inlet and outlet. The minimum pressure required to open and close the valve is 4.3 PSI, with a maximum pressure rating of 145 PSI. With a minimum flow rate requirement of 0.5 GPM and a maximum flow rate of 22 GPM, the Baccara valve is an excellent option for a wide range of systems. This valve brand is identified as DC with one green wire and one black wire.

The DIG DC valve is identified with red and white wires. The valve has 3/4" female pipe thread inlet and outlets. This valve has a flow control handle, which gives the user the ability to reduce the flow rate through the valve as needed. Because of the flow control, the minimum flow rate on this valve can be turned down to 0.1 GPM, with a maximum flow rate of 28 GPM. While this valve has a slightly more extensive flow range than the Baccara valve, the minimum pressure required is higher. The operating pressure range for the DIG valve is 10-150 PSI.

The Galcon DC valve is identified by having one black and one red wire. The Galcon DC valve also comes with a flow control handle. DripWorks carries the DC valve in sizes ranging from 3/4" up to 2", with female pipe threads on the inlet and outlet on each size option. The operating pressure range for these valves is 10-150 PSI.

Manufacturer/Model

Power Source

Type

Features

Connection

Flow Rating

Pressure Range

Galcon:

DC Latching Solenoid

24V AC Solenoid

DC

AC

Globe

Globe

Flow Control

AC/DC have interchangeable solenoids for the 3/4" & 1" valve.

Flow Control

3/4" FPT

1" FPT

1 1/2" FPT

2" FPT

3/4" FPT

1" FPT

1 1/2" FPT

2" FPT

0.1-28 GPM

0.2-44 GPM

20-130 GPM

30-160 GPM

0.5-26 GPM

0.5-44 GPM

22-140 GPM

22-176 GPM

10-150 PSI for all sizes

7-145 PSI for all sizes

Baccara:

DC Latching Solenoid

24V AC Solenoid

DC

AC

Globe

Globe

Low Pressure

Flow Control

3/4" FPT

3/4" FPT

1" FPT

0.5-22 GPM

0.5-22 GPM

0.5-29 GPM

4.3-145 PSI for all Baccara valves

DIG:

DC Latching Solenoid

DC

Globe

Flow Control

3/4" FPT

0.1-28 GPM

10-150 PSI

Irritrol:

2700 Series Anti-Siphon Valve

700-1/ 700-1.5

205TF

100P1

AC

AC

AC

AC

Anti-Siphon

Globe

Globe

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Angle Globe

Jar-Top, Flow Control

Flow Control

Internal Bleed, flow control

Flow Control

Internal Bleed, Flow Control

3/4" FPT

3/4" FPT

1" FPT, 1 1/2" FPT

1" FPT

1" FPT

0.25-30 GPM

0.1-150 GPM

0.25-30 GPM

0.5-50 GPM

10-150 PSI

5-100 PSI

10-150 PSI

20-220 PSI

Toro:

P220-26-04

AC

Angle Globe

Flow Control

1" FPT

5-40 GPM

10-220 PSI

Hunter:

PGV-100JT-G

AC

Globe

Jar-top

1" FPT

0.2-30 GPM

20-150 PSI

K-Rain:

7101-J

AC

Globe

Jar-top, Manual External Bleed

1" FPT

0.25-30 GPM

10-150 PSI

Rainbird:

75DVF, 100DVF

075ASVF, 100ASVF

AC

AC

Globe

Anti-Siphon

Flow Control

Back Flow Prevention, Flow Control

3/4" and 1" FPT

3/4" and 1" FPT

0.2-22 GPM

0.2-40 GPM

0.2-22 GPM

0.2-40 GPM

15-150 PSI

15-150 PSI

To get the correct valve for your system, first think about the power source from your controller. Once you have picked the right power source, think about the pressure your system will be operating at and the flow rate each zone will be using. After reading this guide, you should be able to narrow down which valve is best for your system. If you have more questions, please feel free to call our customer service center. It is available Monday-Friday from 8 am to 4 pm PST.

Did you know that operators of fluid control systems may suffer inappropriate or poor fluid system performance, heightened downtime, and preventable safety issues if the appropriate valve for the application is not utilized? This is why valve selection is critical, particularly during the system design stage. By choosing the ideal valve from the start, the system should perform better and last longer, with fewer valve replacements.

In order to make the best valve selection, you may need to consider the application, size, temperature, media, pressure, ends, and delivery. Let’s discuss things further below.

Application

What a valve must perform will undoubtedly influence your choice. To limit your selections, consider the following typical valve functions:

• Ball Valves - provide leak-tight on/off shutoff
• Butterfly Valves - provide flow regulation and tight shutoff
• Check Valves -  allow fluids to flow in a single direction to control backflow
•  Gate Valves - provide full flow in an open position; generally used for complete shutoff
• Diaphragm Valves - provide effective shutoff, especially in high-purity and ultrahigh-purity applications
• Needle Valves -  generally used for control flows and severe service applications
• Rising Plug Valves - lift a plug out of the flow path to attain full flow
• Relief Valves - provide simple and reliable over-pressure protection

Size

The size of a valve influences its flow capacity, which should match the system's intended or needed flow rate. To establish the valve's compatibility, you have to look at its flow coefficient (Cv), which is the connection between the pressure drop over the valve and the related flow rate.

The size and geometry of the flow route are two factors that influence a valve's Cv, with bigger orifices having higher flow capacity. The Cv is also influenced by the valve's design and activity once activated; for example, a ball valve offers minimum flow resistance. However, a needle valve might limit or slow down the flow.

It would be best to consult a reliable manufacturer if you are unsure about how to properly size a valve. Your chosen manufacturer can surely give assistance and possibly provide a precise Cv calculation.

 

Temperature

The temperature of the system media passing through the valve, as well as the ambient operating temperature of the surrounding environment, are both critical considerations in valve selection. Keep in mind that temperature fluctuations may cause sealing materials to expand and contract, so consider whether the temperatures will be stable or fluctuate regularly.

Furthermore, establish with your maker that a valve has been thoroughly tested at temperature and pressure extremes. Note that at higher temperatures, metallic parts and components can lose strength, which can affect their pressure ratings. As a result, make sure that the valve you choose satisfies the requirements of the application.

 

Media

In choosing a valve, you have to keep the system media in mind since the materials used to manufacture valve bodies, stem tips, seats, and other softer elements must be compatible with that fluid. Corrosion, embrittlement, and stress corrosion cracking may develop if this is not done, which may pose safety dangers as well as potential production difficulties.

The working environment of the valve is also important when selecting appropriate construction materials. The valve may be subjected to elevated temperatures within a heated instrument enclosure, as well as dramatic temperature variations. It may have to withstand direct sunshine, rain, frost, snow, and ice.

So to encourage longer service life and improved performance, select valves that are best suited to these situations.

Pressure

Any chosen valve must be able to hold pressure and operate when required across a wide range of temperatures and pressures. The pressure restriction of a fluid system is determined by its lowest-rated component. Keep this in mind when choosing valves. Also, keep in mind the distinction between "working pressure," which refers to the system's usual operating pressure, and "design pressure," which refers to a valve's maximum pressure limit. The working pressure should never be higher than the design pressure of any fluid system component.

End Connections

Choosing the right valve end connections is crucial for keeping systems leak-free. Integral tube fittings, pipe threads, pipe flanges, welded ends, and other end connectors are examples. These connections must be adequately sized and rated for the operating pressure and temperature of the system. Choosing the proper end connection can help to ease installation while also avoiding extra leak locations.

Delivery

Last but not least concern is not so much about the valve itself as it is about how you will get your hands on it once you need it. On-time delivery and consistent supply are just as critical as having the correct valve for keeping your fluid system operational and efficient. As a result, you need to verify that your suppliers can provide the items when you need them.

Also, make sure that there is a representative from your reliable manufacturer who’s always available and willing to collaborate with you to understand your system's requirements. Having a provider with readily available new valves and replacements can help you assure improved system uptime.

 

Conclusion

That concludes our article! We hope that you learn something from it. If you are still seeking a trustworthy valve manufacturer, check out our website IDC to give you lists of valves that could be perfect for your project. Check it out now!

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