Pressure Regulator / Pressure Reducing Valve for nipple waterer

[Gallo del Cielo]

I have three nipples hooked to a pipe, which is gravity fed from a 5 gallon bucket - pretty typical setup. No water hose or active water supply other than the bucket.

I too have been looking at the 4090 pressure regulator, because all three nipples leak! Yes, just from the simple gravity feed. I noticed they leak more when the bucket is full, and less when it runs empty. These nipples did not leak AT ALL when they were attached to the bottom of quart jars, so I'm pretty sure this is pressure.

So now, like you all I am thinking about sinking more money into the system to get the regulator. After $200 on the coop - I'm ready to stop spending money! but I hate the wetness a lot.

So - been trying to read and see if this regulator will help stop drips.

The poultry nipples really shouldn't leak under these conditions, even with the bucket full. Where did you purchase them? Before I spent a lot of money on a pressure regulator, I'd get a couple nipples from a different source and see if that stops the leaking.

 

[ChickenJerk]

Poultry nipples that are designed for layers (day old to adult) and broilers (day old to slaughter) are designed to work on 10" or less water column. That means it is 10" from the nipple to the top of the water.

To achieve a hydrostatic pressure of 1 PSI the water column height has to be 27.71"

So for every inch of water column height the hydrostatic pressure exerted is 0.036 PSI

As you can see a 5 gallon bucket alone, when full of water, far exceeds the design specifications of a poultry drinking nipple. Then you add the vertical distance between the bottom of the reservoir (bucket) and the nipple itself if you use a pipe or something and the water pressure is even further out of spec.

At pressures higher than 8" water column (0.288 PSI) the nipples will flow more water than a bird can drink and waste will occur. In addition to that very few backyarders have the nipple drinkers at the optimum height for the bird to drink from. This causes more waste. Both equal dampness under the nipple. Not a big deal for a few birds or birds that are outside but there are situations where it is a problem.

Most of the miracle working pressure regulators available outside the poultry industry simply will not reduce the pressure enough for optimum performance.

A lower level of performance out of the cheap, Asian made copy cat nipples available on line that so many of you are in love with is to be expected. They may even leak when in a static state.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

But higher pressure should seal them even better...

Are they actually leaking or are they discharging too much water when the birds are drinking? If they are discharging too much water it is due to high water pressure. If they are actually leaking then you may have some sediment that is keeping the nipples from sealing properly. Commercial nipple drinkers have a means of flushing the line to help remove sediment and biofilms which may grow in the line.

We use nipple drinkers to water 2500 hens. We only run four to six inches of water column pressure on the lines, otherwise too much is dripped on the floor when the birds are drinking.

 

[ChickenJerk]

No. Higher pressure does not seal them better.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

No. Higher pressure does not seal them better.

I disagree. Each nipple has a small ball sitting on machined seat, as long as there is no sediment holding the ball open higher pressures make the ball seat better. Obviously if they are leaking due to to sediment on the seat then higher pressures will make them leak larger quantities of water. Manufacturer's instructions for introducing chicks is to turn down the water pressure extremely low, less than an inch of water height, so that the nipples drip a little to attract the chicks to the nipples. Higher pressures help seat the ball.

Our commercial water lines have a a regulator bypass so that you can apply full supply pressure to the water lines to blast out any debris. When I flush the lines at high pressure, I do not see any leaking nipples. In fact trying to operate them by hand takes a good amount of force to operate the nipple. Birds that do manage to peck hard enough to operate the nipples at this time are usually met with a spray of water from the nipple due to the high pressure.

 

[Chris09]

No. Higher pressure does not seal them better.

Most of the cheaper poultry nipple waterer use water presser to seal them, now there are a few types like the nipple waterers that are used at rabbitries that are made of brass and are spring loaded with these type it doesn't matter what the water they will seal with no leaks.


Chris

 

[ChickenJerk]

I disagree. Each nipple has a small ball sitting on machined seat, as long as there is no sediment holding the ball open higher pressures make the ball seat better.
Pray tell how?
Obviously if they are leaking due to to sediment on the seat then higher pressures will make them leak larger quantities of water.
Exactly correct.
Manufacturer's instructions for introducing chicks is to turn down the water pressure extremely low, less than an inch of water height,
Well only one of the big four, Ziggity, recommend less than 2". I Quote Ziggity-


How do you determine the best pressure setting for the watering system?
Virtually all manufacturers of nipple-type drinkers without catch cups recommend minimum pressure settings for day-old chicks. Most manufacturers recommend settings below 10 cm to start, while Ziggity Systems recommends only 2.5 to 5 cm (1 to 2 inches) of column height pressure in order to ensure dry litter from the very start. After the first week, manufacturers differ on pressure settings, but generally pressure settings do not go beyond 50 cm (20 inches) of column height.
To determine the correct pressure setting, examine litter conditions. If the litter is wet, reduce pressure until it starts to dry. Only then, increase pressure. Producers should strive for dry, friable litter.
The other three biggies - Chore-Time, Val and Impex all recommend 2 to 4 inches first week of life. To keep the litter dry.
so that the nipples drip a little to attract the chicks to the nipples.
Not the case. They used to recommend "brooming" the nipples to have a drop of water appear but not even that anymore. Brooming was walking the drinker line with a soft broom contacting the nipples so the last slight action of a bristle left a droplet without it falling off the trigger pin.
Higher pressures help seat the ball.
Only if the weight of the water can compress the solid stainless steel. That cannot happen, not even at the bottom of the Marianas Trench.
Our commercial water lines have a a regulator bypass so that you can apply full supply pressure to the water lines to blast out any debris. When I flush the lines at high pressure, I do not see any leaking nipples.
Of course not. They do not leak under low pressure either.
In fact trying to operate them by hand takes a good amount of force to operate the nipple.
How much more force? Are you saying that it takes more force to lift a measure of mass in the bottom of a pool than it does near the top of the pool? Are you saying tat a rock is less buoyant in shallow water than it is in deep water.
Birds that do manage to peck hard enough to operate the nipples at this time are usually met with a spray of water from the nipple due to the high pressure.
More water coming out due to the pressure, yes. The nipple being harder for the bird to operate due to pressure, no.

 

[ChickenJerk]

Most of the cheaper poultry nipple waterer use water presser to seal them,
Water pressure has nothing to do with the stainless steel to stainless steel contact providing a seal. It has to do with the precision of the contact between the two. And the very best machining is not cheap.
now there are a few types like the nipple waterers that are used at rabbitries that are made of brass and are spring loaded with these type it doesn't matter what the water they will seal with no leaks.



Chris

 

[ChickenJerk]

OOPS.

The other watering biggie I should have mentioned is Lubing. Not <2" there as well.

 

[Chris09]

Water pressure has nothing to do with the stainless steel to stainless steel contact providing a seal. It has to do with the precision of the contact between the two. And the very best machining is not cheap.

If water pressure has nothing to do with it then what makes them seat and not leak, yes the mill work has some to do with it but something has to make it seat. (spring, gravity or water pressure)


Chris