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Sprinkler valve

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 12:29 pm
by airman
Can you tell me how much pressure can a sprinkler valve withstand? Per example, a Rain Bird is rated at 150 psi with water. Will it work at higher pressures, like 200 or 250 psi?

Thanks

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 12:31 pm
by SEAKING9006
No, not safely.

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 12:41 pm
by airman
Well, it seems to me like a lot of you guys use those valves with pressures well above 150 psi from what I read or see on this forum... :wink:

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 12:45 pm
by airman
All the sprinkler valves or QEVs I find are rated at 150 psi max. How the hell do you fire your guns at 400 psi???

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 1:03 pm
by LCTChamp
You use metal pipe and a piston valve.

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 1:03 pm
by jackssmirkingrevenge
airman wrote:How the hell do you fire your guns at 400 psi???
Like this :D :D :D

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 2:09 pm
by airman
What exactly is a piston valve? And what type do I need? Where to buy?

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 2:48 pm
by SEAKING9006
Look here.

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:00 pm
by frankrede
airman wrote:All the sprinkler valves or QEVs I find are rated at 150 psi max. How the hell do you fire your guns at 400 psi???
Sprinkler valves are plastic, QEV are all metal, they have been used to over 500 psi.

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:14 pm
by airman
Yes, but are you talking about a 150 psi rated QEV?

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:15 pm
by frankrede
airman wrote:Yes, but are you talking about a 150 psi rated QEV?
YES.

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:23 pm
by airman
Well, that's great to know! :D

Thanks!

Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:48 pm
by MrCrowley
airman wrote:Well, that's great to know! :D

Thanks!
Rarely do people on this forum take sprinkler valves above 125psi, let alone 150psi. I think I recall one or two. It's not safe or recommended.

With a QEV, seeing as they're metal, when at pressures over 300psi but below 800psi, the first thing that will fail is the seal or the piston. As soon as they fail, all the air will leak out and the pressure drop back down to 0.
Because it will take a lot of energy, very quickly to destroy the metal casing before the piston inside.

It's pretty much a fail safe.

But with a sprinkler, seeing as they are plastic, they can fail at far low pressures with far lower amounts of energy.