Terracotta is porous and so the water level in the terracotta pot falls as water seeps through the terracotta. A float inside the pot floats on the water. When the water level reaches the low level, a magnet inside the float activates the valve so that the valve opens and the irrigation starts. During the irrigation event a control dripper drips water into the pot and the water level rises. When the water level reaches the high level, the magnet inside the float disengages from the valve so that the valve closes and the irrigation stops.

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The Unpowered Irrigation Controller is suitable for automatic sprinkler irrigation or drip irrigation. The valve operates in the pressure range 10 kPa to 800 kPa. The irrigation frequency responds automatically to the on-site prevailing weather conditions (namely, evaporation and rainfall). 

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During an irrigation event, the control dripper replaces the water that has seeped through the terracotta since the previous irrigation event. This volume is called the control volume. The Unpowered Irrigation Controller has a control volume between 105 ml and 395 ml.

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The Unpowered Irrigation Controller is a game-changer for automated gravity feed irrigation from a rainwater tank without using a pump.

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Key Features​

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1. Unpowered (no batteries, no solar panels, no electronics, no computers, and no WiFi)

2. Water supply pressure 10 kPa to 800 kPa

3. Use for sprinkler irrigation or drip irrigation

4. Use for gravity feed or pressurised irrigation

5. Use indoors or outdoors

6. Can deliver water to at least 400 2 L/H drippers

7. Adjust the water usage rate by adjusting the control dripper

8. Adjust the interval between irrigation events by adjusting the float

9. Responds automatically to on-site evaporation and rainfall

10. The irrigation frequency increases significantly during a heat wave

11. The Unpowered Irrigation Controlelr has an adjustable control volume between 105 ml and 395 ml 

12. Irrigate directly from a rainwater tank without using a pump

13. Water in the terracotta pot is protected from debris, algae, mosquitoes and thirsty animals

14. Simple, unpowered, and low tech, and therefore fewer things can go wrong

15. Leave your irrigation application unattended for months on end