Solenoid valves with flow control

Solenoid valves with flow control

Flow control solenoid valves combine automatic control of an irrigation zone with an additional adjustment directly at the valve. In addition to automatically opening and closing the water supply, suitable models allow you to manually influence the maximum water flow and adapt the valve more closely to the individual irrigation zone.

This function is particularly useful when different areas of your irrigation system have different requirements. Pop-up rotors, spray sprinklers, drip irrigation and micro irrigation can vary considerably in their required flow and operating pressure. Flow control provides an additional way to fine-tune each zone.

Adjust water flow directly at the valve

The flow control function allows the maximum flow through the solenoid valve to be restricted. This can be useful for an irrigation zone with a lower water requirement. Depending on the valve, adjustment is made using a dedicated flow control screw or adjustment knob located on the valve.

Flow control does not replace correct planning of water pressure, pipe diameter and required flow rate. It also performs a different function from a pressure regulator that may be required for drip or micro irrigation. Always check the technical requirements of the connected sprinklers, nozzles or drippers.

Fine-tune individual irrigation zones

An automatic garden irrigation system can use several solenoid valves to supply different areas. One zone might operate pop-up sprinklers on the lawn, while another supplies dripline along a hedge. Valves with flow control allow each of these irrigation zones to be adjusted directly at the corresponding valve.

When selecting a valve, consider the connection size, permitted operating pressure, flow range and compatible solenoid in addition to the flow control function. Conventional controllers often use 24 V solenoids, while battery-powered systems may use compatible 9 V latching solenoids depending on the system.

Install valves with flow control

Solenoid valves are often installed together inside a valve box and connected to PE pipes using suitable valve fittings. This keeps the valves accessible from above for adjustment, inspection and maintenance. During installation, observe the specified flow direction and use the correct threaded connections.

After installation, you can test the irrigation zone and adjust the flow control according to its requirements. With suitable solenoid valves, valve boxes, control cables and an irrigation controller, you can build an organised automatic irrigation system and control the individual zones efficiently.