Talk:Sprinkler valve

I don't believe the statement concerning diaphram sprinkler valves "Unfortunately for spuders, sprinkler valves are designed to open relatively slowly to prevent "water hammer" is correct. A fast opening valve will not give significant "water hammer". A fast closing valve will have significant water hammer since water hammer is caused by the momentum of the water in the piping. A rapidly closing water valve has to absorb the "hammer" caused by the velocity of the water entering the valve rapidly changing from a few feet per second to zero feet per second. I would think that sprinkler valves open relatively slowly because there is no particular reason for them to be designed to open quickly. They are designed to close slowly to minimize water hammer. A slow closing valve is probably of some benefit in a pneumatic gun since it will reduce the tendency for the valve to "honk".