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San Jose [email protected]

I have seen a few coloradoians/ites posting about frost nights

Assuming you have a sprinkler system already in your patch, just put a thermostat in line with your sprikler valve. You have to put that valve, or those valves on constant power, through the thermostat, this is VERY simple and cheap, if you do not have a sprinkler system in line, email me and I can figure out something.

This can also be done for next years HOT days, just a bit different

9/19/2006 10:00:01 PM

Colorado Springs, Colorado

I don't have a sprinkler valve. ahhh! what should I do since I am a Coloradoain?

9/19/2006 11:13:30 PM

Sioux Falls, SD [email protected]

get up at 3am
turn on sprinkler

9/19/2006 11:41:52 PM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

Garysand, I use the cheap method of a simple melnor timer with the built in programable mist cycle, I wish there was a thermostat seperate controlled valve that is somewhat inexpensive to purchase that I could integrate to work with the melnor timer. Has anyone heard of an inexpensive thermostatic valve for water applications that works independently from the timer ?? I wish I knew of one it would save sleep hours. Thanks JK

9/20/2006 2:59:04 AM

Little-TON - Colorado

What are we using to heat the water, anything? A thermostat would just open a switch at a certain tempeture. Are we using cold water from the tap or warmed water from a hot water heater? What is used in the orchard/orange fields? One possible answer is an internal radiator in the house that serves as an accumulator, perhaps 100 feet of sprinkler hose coiled with a fan forced heater in the center on low. Metal would serve better Ill have to look in some junk piles......moving to a warmer climate may be cheaper..lol

9/20/2006 8:35:54 AM

Northern Cambria, Pa.

The idea here is to just get the leaves wet. DO NOT use hot water! Ice may form on the leaves but it will protect them from frost. This will not work for a hard freeze though.

9/20/2006 10:45:51 AM

San Jose [email protected]

behemoth,

go buy a sprinkler valve, if you have 120v near by you can buy an inverter, to go from 120 to 24v dc, or failing that you can use 3 - 9 volt batteries in series, as your power source, then wire a thermostat in line between 24v and your valve

400sf,

find the 24v constant power on your melnor, put a regular heating thermostat in line, to your misting valve

Wiz,

no need to heat water

if anyone needs a diagram drawn email me, if you have a fax# that would be the easiest to send a diagram

9/20/2006 6:37:59 PM

Colo.Spgs.CO. Pikes Peak Chapter @ [email protected]

I was talking about a thermostatic valve that does not heat any water that will open to pressurize my line when the temp hits 33-34 degrees and as far as I know this type of valve does not exist for my small application. Then I could program my timer for the appropriate settings depending on the severity of the freeze which there are few settings for as L Checkon states above when it is a hard one. Thanks on the reply JK

9/21/2006 3:18:44 AM