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Misting system

Discussion in 'Growing Areas' started by Clusty, Nov 4, 2016.

  1. Nov 4, 2016 #1
    Clusty

    Clusty Member

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    Hello,

    Now that my warm growing box is on autopilot, :) I am looking towards adding some automation on my cold growing one, namely misting.
    I am currently having one pump with 6 nozzles connected "in series" that water the hot box.
    How would I connect the second box to this system? Extends the "series" connection, or I connect in parallel 2 boxes with 6 nozzles each.

    Second question is: My mistking pump is rated for up to 10 nozzles. Think it could be stretched to 12, or the mist quality would degrade a lot?

    Thanks a lot for the help.
     
    jai likes this.
  2. Nov 5, 2016 #2
    Gregg Zollinger

    Gregg Zollinger Active Member

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    I don't think it matters if you continue the run off the end of the line of 6 you currently have, or split it before the run of six. The total pressure of the line will be the same.

    I am betting you will be fine with 12 nozzles, but that is a guess. Try it and see. The less extra hose you have will increase the pressure slightly and increase your chances of running extra nozzles.
     
  3. Feb 9, 2017 #3
    Clusty

    Clusty Member

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    I am sort of resurrecting an old thread I started:

    It feels like the drop size generated by the mistKing is a bit large and they drop down a bit quickly, resulting in very uneven distribution of humidity.

    Is anybody familiar with nozzles that would generate more of a fog rather than than rain? :)
    Think I could operate them from the 125psi the mistKing generates, or I'd need one of thoe crazy high 1000PSI pump to attain the small droplet size?
     
  4. Feb 9, 2017 #4
    carl

    carl Active Member

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    Oil burner nozzles?
     
  5. Feb 9, 2017 #5
    Gregg Zollinger

    Gregg Zollinger Active Member

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    If you run only one nozzle, is the droplet size the same? I may have given you bad advice and 12 nozzles maybe too many.

    The mist king nozzles should produce drops of around 55 microns which is very small. I use something like this: Amazon.com : Dig 3/4 GPH Misting Nozzle on Barb- 5 pack : Patio, Lawn & Garden and they are 60-80 microns which is still really fine.

    To get smaller, you probably want to go to an ultrasonic humidifier. That will create more of a fog. Not great as an alternative to watering, but an awesome way to get really good humidity really fast. The fog looks really cool and it doesn't require any high pressure pumps or anything complicated.
     
  6. Feb 9, 2017 #6
    Clusty

    Clusty Member

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    The pump is having a hard time handling 12 nozzles with full flow on the last 6 (I connected the second tank "in series" and have a ball valve on the last 6 that I can choke).

    The mist is not great even with 6. It falls down within 3 seconds leaving a few spots quite dry while others are drowning.

    I was reading about nozzles that generate about 10um droplets, but i cannot seem to find a supplier apart from huge quantities.
     
  7. Feb 9, 2017 #7
    Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    Hmmm.... I had 6 nozzles in my "orchid incubator", and it was so fine that it looked like the air turned gray, rather than forming any droplets.
     
  8. Feb 9, 2017 #8
    Clusty

    Clusty Member

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    Which pump did you get?
    I went for the cheapest, which in theory should be sufficient for 6 nozzles.
     
  9. Feb 10, 2017 #9
    Gregg Zollinger

    Gregg Zollinger Active Member

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    I would go look at some YouTube videos of your pump in action with other people. If what your pump is doing looks like those, then I would look for a finer misting head. if yours looks a lot different, then it may just be a problem with your pump or set up. Maybe something is broken, or a hose is pinched.

    If you do find finer misting nozzles, please post back on the forum, I would love to buy some to try out.
     
  10. Feb 10, 2017 #10
    Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    Yep. Me too. Bought the starter kit.

    How long are the lines from the pump to the nozzles?
     
  11. Feb 10, 2017 #11
    Clusty

    Clusty Member

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    About 6 feet going straight up.
     
  12. Feb 10, 2017 #12
    Clusty

    Clusty Member

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    Mine is about right.
    Still feels like the plants are soaking a bit much...
     
  13. Feb 10, 2017 #13
    Ray

    Ray Orchid Iconoclast Supporting Member

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    That's about where miine was, too....

    Hmmmm......
     
  14. Apr 14, 2017 #14
    CoveLady

    CoveLady Active Member

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    I would like to set up a mist system that would work off my water pressure and a timer. I hear about oil burner nozzles, which I can get, but am confused about how to set up the whole thing. Any suggestions would be welcome.
     
  15. Apr 14, 2017 #15
    carl

    carl Active Member

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    I've done that. Bought a solenoid valve and a timer with multiple on/off cycles with short intervals (a minute or so). I used some plastic misting nozzles. If you have hard water, two things will happen - your nozzles will clog in short order, and your leaves will develop white deposits, as the mist drifts over them.

    You can buy the valves commercially, or scavenge them from discarded dishwashers or washing machines. I can't remember where I got my nozzles right now, it was a long time ago.

    Now I use R/O water, and a pump (150psi) and some stainless nozzles from Aeromist.