Water pipe for troughs

NewBeefFarmer

This is a rant,

In my low cost farming mode, I realised that this water for the troughs business can be expensive.

when I was buying the pipe, i bought NG, . . of course i got the connections and the valves, . . the black ones with blue on/off.

thing is, . . i seem to have a good few valves/couplers. . and these things are dam dear. . . . i figured that to join two NG pipes i use a HG coupler, then buy the 2 NG red things to use with the HG coupler all in, i pay about €7.50 per connection, the valves are dearer.

I bought one clip, (jubilee) hose type connection. . and at one water tank i had copper pipe and heated the waven with torch, pushed it on the copper, clip in place, all done .49c.

im thinking, copper pipe & 2 clips. . connection done for less than €1

might be slower, but id hate to think how much ive paid out on water. ive had a fair few busts also. . . thinking I should have gone HG, id have paid the same by now anyway with connections.

NBF

Timmaay

Was done here with lots of troughs over the years, main problem I have is the copper is corroding now, so have to fix several leaks every year, usually in the height of summer when the trough is covered in weeds/brambles etc! I'll agree with ya, ridiculous rices for those proper NG, but seeing as I'm always busy on the farm, I usually just fire them on and be done with it, one less job to worry about!

delaval

Saw a great idea for toughs on a farm a few years ago. The guy had just purchased it and had to stock it so money was tight. He used IBC's, cut off top drilled hi volume valve in bottom and dug tank one foot into ground.

The only thing I would say is do not use any pipe smaller than 1" 3/4" to ball valve. Water is about volume not pressure. I would also recommend that you use proper fittings as you will only have to do this job once if done properly IMO

Farmer Pudsey

NewBeefFarmer wrote: »

when I was buying the pipe, i bought NG, . . of course i got the connections and the valves, . . the black ones with blue on/off.

thing is, . . i seem to have a good few valves/couplers. . and these things are dam dear. . . . i figured that to join two NG pipes i use a HG coupler, then buy the 2 NG red things to use with the HG coupler all in, i pay about €7.50 per connection, the valves are dearer.

NBF

There is another maker of connectors Gripmax and there product is about half the price.
http://www.gripmax.ie/

NewBeefFarmer

thanks pudsey, ive seen that before, and just like then, my first opinion is "disaster distribution".

nearest stockist according to the 2010 excel sheet is 45 mins away from me.

wonder why the main agri places around me dont stock them, must less in it for them,

nice price chart though, ur correct regarding half the price.

Farmer Pudsey

NewBeefFarmer wrote: »

thanks pudsey, ive seen that before, and just like then, my first opinion is "disaster distribution".

nearest stockist according to the 2010 excel sheet is 45 mins away from me.

wonder why the main agri places around me dont stock them, must less in it for them,

nice price chart though, ur correct regarding half the price.

Half the price means half the margin

grange mac

Ordered 6*3/4' coils yest @130 a roll...there is actually a little knownthird known fitting supplier. I picked up some fittings at ploughing last year bout 1/3 less than pilmac. Grippomax have bad name. I have sanbrofyffe fittings from dublin...gave a good presentation to me, had serious offer at ploughing so planning to get alot more fittings at this years ploughing...progress slow but surely down here.

freedominacup

grange mac wrote: »

Ordered 6*3/4' coils yest @130 a roll...there is actually a little knownthird known fitting supplier. I picked up some fittings at ploughing last year bout 1/3 less than pilmac. Grippomax have bad name. I have sanbrofyffe fittings from dublin...gave a good presentation to me, had serious offer at ploughing so planning to get alot more fittings at this years ploughing...progress slow but surely down here.

Providing those 3/4 rolls are only for the spurs leading to the troughs you won't be too bad. But laying your main water supply in 3/4 is a mistake. 1 and 3/4 to 2" would be more like it. I wouldn't agree totally with Delaval (shocker) on pressure. We found a new spring about 10 years ago near to the highest part of the farm. The old supply we used was at the very lowest and most distant point on the farm an excellent spring but very expensive to pump from. Probably 500 feet and most of a KM from the bottom of the well to the yard and the highest point. Now once the water is overground most of the work is done and gravity takes care of a lot of the work. The difference in pressure is huge. We used to have troughs at points on the roadways to give cows access walking from milking to take pressure off the troughs in the field in summer weather they're not needed anymore with the increased pressure.

grange mac

You must be dairy freedom. I am small beef 30 bullocks...3/4" is fine for my requirments. For last 20 years 1/2" has done but flow is small esp when filling troughs. Increased cost of 2" not pay me. I am also replacing ballcock inserts from std high pressure white to low pressure red, makes huge difference to me @20c per insert.

Viewtodiefor

Farmer Pudsey wrote: »

There is another maker of connectors Gripmax and there product is about half the price.
http://www.gripmax.ie/

Steer clear of them a cheap alternative to a proper fitting also too restrictive on water flow

Viewtodiefor

NewBeefFarmer wrote: »

This is a rant,

In my low cost farming mode, I realised that this water for the troughs business can be expensive.

when I was buying the pipe, i bought NG, . . of course i got the connections and the valves, . . the black ones with blue on/off.

thing is, . . i seem to have a good few valves/couplers. . and these things are dam dear. . . . i figured that to join two NG pipes i use a HG coupler, then buy the 2 NG red things to use with the HG coupler all in, i pay about €7.50 per connection, the valves are dearer.

I bought one clip, (jubilee) hose type connection. . and at one water tank i had copper pipe and heated the waven with torch, pushed it on the copper, clip in place, all done .49c.

im thinking, copper pipe & 2 clips. . connection done for less than €1

might be slower, but id hate to think how much ive paid out on water. ive had a fair few busts also. . . thinking I should have gone HG, id have paid the same by now anyway with connections.

NBF

Water piping if done correctly will last for one or two generations.
I have seen ng piping buried for 30 years and no problem but it depends on the ground and if there are roots etc around.
I wouldn't dream of using copper as a joiner ( this was done years ago before philmac a etc) however the copper pipe back then was far superior to the ****e we have now ! Do the job right and it will stand to u otherwise you'll be going back again and again fixing problems! Even if it means doing it by degrees.

3/4" is fine unless you have lots of cows etc who need loads of water in the summer

delaval

3/4" is only fit for loading cattle!!!!!

Viewtodiefor

delaval wrote: »

3/4" is only fit for loading cattle!!!!!

It's good for that too!!!