How to Install a Timed Sprinkler System

Irrigation Timer

• 1

  Strip an end of the irrigation wire of its insulation about 10 inches to reveal the inner wires. Select the white ground wire and two other color-coded wires and bend the rest back. Strip these three wires along with each of the irrigation valve wires about a half-inch. Wind the white wire with one wire each from the irrigation valves and twist a splice connector onto the connection. Twist a color-coded wire with each remaining irrigation valve wire and twist splice connectors onto these two connections.

• 2

  Tape the main irrigation wire to the side of the irrigation line leading to the main water line to keep it secure.

• 3

  Mount the irrigation controller in the desired location, which could be in the garage or outside, preferably close to a power outlet.

• 4

  Strip the other end of the irrigation line about 10 inches and pick out the white common wire, and the other two color coded wires from the irrigation valve connections. Bend the rest back. Strip the three wires a half-inch. Insert the white wire into the “Common” terminal of the irrigation controller. Insert the other two wires into the first two station terminals of the controller.

• 5

  Plug the irrigation timer into a power source.

• 6

  Turn the irrigation timer on and test it.

• 7

  Fill in the irrigation line trench, burying the wire and the irrigation line with dirt.

Sprinkler System

• 8

  Dig trenches according to your irrigation plan by hand or with a trench digger. Lay out the supplies you plan to install, beside the trench in the location you plan to install them.

• 9

  Wrap Teflon tape around the threads of the two fittings that will screw into the irrigation valve outlets. Screw the two fittings into the outlets.

• 10

  Wipe PVC primer on the inside of the fittings and onto the ends of the two zone pipes you plan to install. Wipe PVC glue on the inside of the fittings and the outside of the zone pipe ends. Insert the zone pipes into the fittings and hold them there for 15 seconds.

• 11

  Prime and glue the connection fitting to the first zone. Prime and glue the first zone pipe coming from the first irrigation valve and the next zone pipe that leads to the first zone sprinkler. Insert the fitting onto the first irrigation valve zone pipe, then slide the first sprinkler pipe into the fitting. Hold the two connections in place. Repeat this step until all of the pipes and fittings for each zone are connected together.

• 12

  Wrap Teflon tape around the threads of a swing pipe assembly and screw it into the first sprinkler T-fitting along the first zone line. Wrap Teflon tape around the first sprinkler threads and screw it into the open end of the swing pipe assembly. Repeat this step until all sprinklers are attached to the irrigation lines.