High volume float valve

[jher77]

What kind of float travel does it take to open the valve all the way? Estimate with a tape measure.

 

[aart]

Is valve meant to be used with high pressure supply(garden hose) rather than gravity feed?
Is outlet from bucket plugged?

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I have the Tractor Supply Product as well, and am not displeased - though I wouldn't use it to fill a kiddie pool in a reasonable amount of time. It takes "a while" to refill the piece of plastic gutter I use as a trough when I empty it for cleaning.

I also note that you have a gravity fed system. These float ball designs are usually built with the idea they will be connected to a higher pressure system, whether well, household, etc. With a gravity fed system, you are best NOT using any ball or float dependent on a spring. Not sure how the piece you purchased is constructed, but that's something to avoid.

The TSC has a large hollow plastic float on a pivot. Gravity pulls it down, allowing water to flow in. As the water level rises, the float rises with it, eventually lifting to a position where it seals the supply line closed.

And there is a marked difference between filling it from my tote (bottom of which is about 3' above the trough) when it holds 50 gallons and when it holds 250 gallons...

Keep in mind that a column of water 2.3 feet high and one square inch base has a pressure of just 1 PSI. Your water column has a cross section of about .19" if that's 1/2" PVC, and high friction losses to overcome as well. So no matter what you do, it will be slow.

 

[jus10inla]

Pretty sure i got it figured out. There’s definitely no clog to it. I just filled the trough up manualy by hose then filled bucket up.

ima go to tsc tomorrow & look at there floats. But in the meantime this will get me by until they figure out how to break this too lol

 

[U_Stormcrow]

and now that my internet has done loading, i see its not a spring design, which is good.

The float valve opening itself - which is the only part that really matters, is even less than 1/2", which is not good. The float arm, on the other hand, is rather long, and will require significant travel for the small valve to be fully open. You may be able to mitigate somewhat by adjusting the float's position, relative to the arm with the provided hinge.

Ultimately, however, you need more pressure, which you just can't obtain with the height of a 5 gal bucket, alone.

 

[jher77]

Ultimately, however, you need more pressure, which you just can't obtain with the height of a 5 gal bucket, alone.

Keep in mind that a column of water 2.3 feet high and one square inch base has a pressure of just 1 PSI.

To get 60 psi, you just need to hang the bucket 138' high.

 

[jus10inla]

Thats kinda what i figured. Its almost 100 ft from a water source. And i only fill the 5 gallon bucket up about every 2 weeks, its worked fine inthe past with the oasis water cups but they kept tearing off the cups from the tit hooding in place. Then water goes everywhere. So i saw this design on here & did it myself. worse comes to worse in the summer when i dig up the shutoff valve to replace i might trench a new line so i can have water out there and will hose supply it.

 

[jher77]

Cant find any specs on it but your link in post #1 says "Ideal for low-pressure gravity fed systems" so it shouldn't be dependent on water pressure for water flow.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

Thats kinda what i figured. Its almost 100 ft from a water source. And i only fill the 5 gallon bucket up about every 2 weeks, its worked fine inthe past with the oasis water cups but they kept tearing off the cups from the tit hooding in place. Then water goes everywhere. So i saw this design on here & did it myself. worse comes to worse in the summer when i dig up the shutoff valve to replace i might trench a new line so i can have water out there and will hose supply it.

depending upon the height of your supply, you may be able to put your bucket there, run 100' of shallow buried flexible pipe, and end it in your trough. You don't live on a steep hill, by chance??? Also, what's your frost line, since that determine how deep at minimum you need to trench (though code is likely deeper).

and when you do, I recommend PEX. Just buy a 100' roll and lay it out in your trench, then bury - it doesn't take UV well, but it won't burst in your first freeze cycle. Also, you won't have to worry about buried fittings leaking. Finally, price is considerably more reasonable than it used to be.

 

[jus10inla]

I live in the swamp. Its always wet & low. Lol. Theres no elevation at all. No such thing as code out here either; closest house is 1/4 mile and thats my parents. Get by with what u got. I have PLENTY of pvc pipe; and we definitely dont have to worry about freeze. I havent seen temps lower than the 30s but twice in 2020; and thet was just overnite. Hell it rarely gets below 40