Analytical Mind

Analytical Mind was Originally Posted on February 20, 2009 by lavarock

Having an analytic mind is not fun.

To control my water vales, I visited Home Depot and Lowes, evaluated PVC pipe sizes, number of couplers and wire sizes and finally decided on 1 and 1/4 inch PVC. The pipe will extend from the pump to the top of the property where the other three awter tanks are. Along the way, I will break out wires to control vales for each acre of coffee.

I ended up with one hundred pieces of 10 foot pipe, which I have already laid out along the trench tonight. It was too late to start joining them together yet. Also, a friend told me a neat way to break the wires out. It seems the white PVC is the same size and material as the grey pipe used for electricity. However, the grey pipes have a nice 90 degree curved albow, while the white PVC for water has a very sharp turn. I’ll run the white PVC pipe along the trench and then attach a gradual elbow to come above the ground. Then I’ll attach a junction box for the wires. Then the wires will go back down another elbow to the next run of pipe. I’m not sure how I’ll join the junction box t othe second elbow, if that is possible. Still, I liked the look of the junction boxes and may find a use for them anyway.

I still need to get the control valve wire, but already have prices and where to get it. I’m going to see if a friend can build me a simple controller based upon my design. I finally decided that if I can change 1 valve from normally closed to one that is normally open, that I can eliminate 1 wire!

I’m still on schedule to have crops in the ground by the end of March!