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Step 14Nutrient Delivery System - The pump(s)
The nutrient delivery system starts with a tank (plastic container) and uses a pump (Harbor Freight cheepie ) to send the nutrient fluid through tubes (1/4" Poly tubing for drip irrigation) up to the Plant troughs (Plastic rain gutters). The nutrient solution then returns to the tank (Evaporative (swamp) cooler drain and PVC pipe) via gravity.
If you are not building the experimental model, you will only need the first part of this step. If you are building the experimental version, you will need the second pump and tank.
1. These are the pumps and the adapters with which they come.
2. 1/2" hose barb to 1/2" MPT and the quad manifold.
3. Three wraps of Teflon tape on the male threads and thread in the hose barb..
4. Cut a piece of 1/2" tubing long enough to go over the barb and the pump adapter.
5. Pump, adapter, tubing and barbed manifold.
6. Assembled assembly.
7. Cut the 1/4" Poly tubing long enough to go from the middle of the tank to the supply end of the troughs. I left about a foot of extra length just in case. They came out to 60".
8. Force one end of each 1/4" poly line on the outputs of the manifold.
9. Use two for the experimental model and all four for the home use version.
10. Place the pump assembly in the tank. We will add to this later.
11. Force the output ends of the supply lines through the grommets in the troughs.
If you are not building the experimental model you can go onto the next step.
For the experimental model we wanted to be able to supply one trough with plain water and another will receive no fluid. A second pump is used with a single Poly line to supply the plain water
You can simply duplicate the manifold for the second tank or just use the 1/4" adapter and a single Poly line on the second pump.
12. Heat a small amount of water in a microwave safe dish in the microwave, turn off the microwave and submerse the end of the Poly line in the hot water.
13. Force the end of the Poly line through the adapter until about 1/8" is sticking through. Make sure you have adequate children's pottery on the top of the stove.
14. Using the propane torch, heat up the tapered punch (2 seconds max!) and use it to swage out the end of the Poly line in the adapter.
15. Swaged Poly line in adapter.
If you are not building the experimental model, you will only need the first part of this step. If you are building the experimental version, you will need the second pump and tank.
1. These are the pumps and the adapters with which they come.
2. 1/2" hose barb to 1/2" MPT and the quad manifold.
3. Three wraps of Teflon tape on the male threads and thread in the hose barb..
4. Cut a piece of 1/2" tubing long enough to go over the barb and the pump adapter.
5. Pump, adapter, tubing and barbed manifold.
6. Assembled assembly.
7. Cut the 1/4" Poly tubing long enough to go from the middle of the tank to the supply end of the troughs. I left about a foot of extra length just in case. They came out to 60".
8. Force one end of each 1/4" poly line on the outputs of the manifold.
9. Use two for the experimental model and all four for the home use version.
10. Place the pump assembly in the tank. We will add to this later.
11. Force the output ends of the supply lines through the grommets in the troughs.
If you are not building the experimental model you can go onto the next step.
For the experimental model we wanted to be able to supply one trough with plain water and another will receive no fluid. A second pump is used with a single Poly line to supply the plain water
You can simply duplicate the manifold for the second tank or just use the 1/4" adapter and a single Poly line on the second pump.
12. Heat a small amount of water in a microwave safe dish in the microwave, turn off the microwave and submerse the end of the Poly line in the hot water.
13. Force the end of the Poly line through the adapter until about 1/8" is sticking through. Make sure you have adequate children's pottery on the top of the stove.
14. Using the propane torch, heat up the tapered punch (2 seconds max!) and use it to swage out the end of the Poly line in the adapter.
15. Swaged Poly line in adapter.
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