Water consumption miscalculation

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Jeffnhelen

February 28, 2017 21:12

I have set my zones up with some best guess numbers of what the manufacturer says the heads should put out at the respective spray patterns and PSI just to get a closer estimate of the usage.  I have three main pop-up zones that use approx. 16.5GPM total.  Why is it that if Rainmachine is showing a "scheduled" runtime of 37:00 but only runs for 7:00 does it say that it saved over 800 gallons?  That would put this particular zone at a staggering 26GPM.  Each zone only uses around 5GPM so the difference in 30 minutes should have only saved 150 gallons...

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  RainMachine Nicholas March 01, 2017 11:35 (Edited March 01, 2017 16:59)

  Hi,

  Did you correctly input the zone area ? You can either use zone area or zone total flow for water consumption, but only the zone area is used with the precipitation rate from sprinkler heads. If you input zone total flow (by reading a meter while watering the zone) it will no longer user zone area and sprinkler precipitation rate.

  Bottom line:

   

  1. Fill Zone Area if you want the water consumption be calculated based on sprinkler head precipitation rate

  2. Fill Zone Total Flow if you want the water consumption be calculated based on this value or if you have drip irrigation for which precipitation rate doesn't really make sense.

   

  
  
  

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  Jeffnhelen March 01, 2017 15:25 (Edited March 01, 2017 15:28)

  I updated both the zone area and flow rate. When you say that the zone area uses the sprinkler head precipitation rate, where does it get that rate from?
  I assumed that the area was used to calculate the required duration of watering based on the vegitation, field capacity and zone flow rate.

  So do I just need to omit the area number or set it back to 9999 since I have the flow rate input?

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  RainMachine Nicholas March 01, 2017 16:58

  If you have flow rate input you can set area to 0. Area it's not required for duration it's just for water consumption.

  Sprinkler Head precipitation rate it's defined by chosen sprinkler head. The rates are detailed here: https://support.rainmachine.com/hc/en-us/articles/228001328-Sprinkler-Head-Types (in the brackets).

  You can also define a custom sprinkler head (if you have the datasheet/or make a cup test) to enter your precipitation rate for that zone.

   

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  Jeffnhelen March 02, 2017 16:55

  Thanks for the input and suggestions!

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