newly assembled automatic water system - unequal pressure?

[JessiL]

Hello, folks! So, I finally managed to assemble my automatic watering system for my bunnies - without leaks! only took me three tries! - and I have a few questions for those of you with experience here (summon Grumpy... and thanks so much for the great post about this topic, Grumpy!).

First of all, I seem to have unequal pressure in the different halves of the system. It's a PVC gravity fed system, with the Bass stem valves, and is unidirectional only rather than recirculating like some other designs. I have only six cages, three on each side of the "barn," so the pipes make a "Y." One ends in a faucet so I can bleed/flush the system. Valves on the faucet side practically squirt water like geysers when activated, whereas the other side only anemically drips. I've tried rehanging the puny side so that there is a more pronounced slope from water source to pipe end, but that did not change the lackluster water pressure. Is this a problem, and if so, how can I fix it?

Second, how do I know if the rabbits have figured out the system? One of my rabbits came from a rabbitry with Edstrom valves, so he should have a clue about this setup. I don't know how the others were raised. In the ahem, four, months it took me to get my auto system to not leak, I rigged up loaf pans as waterers for the bunnies, so that's what they are used to. That's all that I see them drink from now, and if I go out to an empty pan, the cage resident charges the pan as I fill it up. I activate the valves for them all of the time (as well as check that they actually work), and I don't know what else I can do.

So, any advice or tips about my two issues would be very welcome! Otherwise, things are going great. Who needs some American Blues near northern Nevada - my doe kindled 9!!!

-Jessi
-www.flyingfossilfarm.com

 

[paradox]

Are you sure there is no clog in the pipe that isn't flowing well?

 

[JessiL]

Hmm, I am not sure about the clog issue. But it would have to be in a three foot section of pipe to not be affecting the other side (the stretch between the tee connector and the first affected water valve). I am considering adding a faucet to that side too, I was just being cheap in the hardware store as those faucets are considerably more expensive than just a cap.

 

[Tegan]

Put a chimney on it right at your water source to let air out and keep it from vaporlocking. Should help.

 

[grumpy]

You "Y-ed" off the mainline. Right? You've got a valve on that line. Does the other line end with a cap? If so, cut it off, put an elbow on with a stand-pipe going above the highest point on your water reservoir.

It would be most effective if the lines were in a continual loop, instead of a "Y". Even if you have to drop your line to the floor, span the doorway and bring it back up to start your other row of cages you would have equal pressure throughout the system. At the end of the run, put in a "T". One end facing straight down with a valve, the other going up as a stand pipe with an open end. The water pressure will then be equal.

Constructing it in this fashion, you've basically created a "water-level".

A water level is used to span great distances and guarantee both heights will be exact. I can level a 100' long building using one of these simple devices.

grumpy.

 

[JessiL]

Thanks for the advice, Grumpy.

If I were to complete the loop, could I also do it by raising the pipe up to span the doorway? The other solution (stand-pipe) isn't as handy, maybe, since the reservoir is a good 10 feet high, and it would be more than a little weird to have a snorkel coming up from the bunny house. It would take less PVC to close the loop.

-Jessi

 

[grumpy]

Thanks for the advice, Grumpy.

If I were to complete the loop, could I also do it by raising the pipe up to span the doorway? The other solution (stand-pipe) isn't as handy, maybe, since the reservoir is a good 10 feet high, and it would be more than a little weird to have a snorkel coming up from the bunny house. It would take less PVC to close the loop.

-Jessi

you've got to complete the loop by returning the pumped water into the top of the tank. Or....you could stub off the end and the rabbits would still get water...just gravity-fed....w/no return pressure.

grumpy.