After the rain we had the last week or so, I'm sure the last thing most of you are worried about is your irrigation. So, nothing deep & no information overload this week. I just want to remind everyone that Toro Golf Sprinklers (Infinity & Flex Series) are Buy 3 Get 1 Free. Conversion Assemblies (guts, drives, risers...whatever you want to call them) are Buy 4 Get 1 Free. I know this is the time of year where you're having to replace sprinklers that have gone bad or just getting a few extra on the shelves, so keep these deals in mind as you decide how many to order.
I also want to remind everyone that you can follow me on Twitter (@MPoundSTI) or Instagram (@mpoundsti). You can also follow STI on Twitter (@smithturf) or Instagram (@smithturf). We're always looking for cool pictures & videos of guys working on their courses.
Have a great week & let me know if I can help!
Monday, April 27, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
New Valve Insertion Tool for Infinity Sprinklers
I hope everyone is doing well & getting back into the groove at this point. This week I just want to remind/make everyone aware of the new valve insertion tool for Toro golf sprinklers. For those of you with Infinity sprinklers, you will need this tool, available in 1" or 1.5". The old tool will not work on the Infinity sprinklers, but the new tool will work on your older sprinkler models.
These new tools are cheaper ($19.) and easier (in my opinion). You simply place the snap ring & valve on the tool, line up the tube using the notches, and push down until you hear it 'click'. Then flip the lever up & lift the tool out.
Hopefully you won't have to worry about changing out foot valves on any of your new Infinity heads yet, but it's still a good idea to have a few of these on hand. Since they are backwards compatible, you can keep one in your cart to use on any of your Toro sprinklers, not just Infinity. If you need a few for your golf course, please let me know & I will get them ordered for you.
Have a great week & let me know if I can help!
These new tools are cheaper ($19.) and easier (in my opinion). You simply place the snap ring & valve on the tool, line up the tube using the notches, and push down until you hear it 'click'. Then flip the lever up & lift the tool out.
Hopefully you won't have to worry about changing out foot valves on any of your new Infinity heads yet, but it's still a good idea to have a few of these on hand. Since they are backwards compatible, you can keep one in your cart to use on any of your Toro sprinklers, not just Infinity. If you need a few for your golf course, please let me know & I will get them ordered for you.
Have a great week & let me know if I can help!
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Pump Stations
I hope everyone had a Happy Easter & hopefully got to spend some time with family. We're starting to see buds on the trees & some color in the bermudagrass, so spring is definitely here. This week I just want to briefly touch on pump stations & the new technologies available. I will be traveling with Mike Bartley of Flowtronex on Monday & Tuesday of this week, and will be visiting several of you that I know are in the market for new pumps. If you would be interested in having us stop by your course, give me a call & we will try to fit you in our schedule. While I will be traveling with Mike this week, I do want to make sure everyone knows that STI can work with any pump manufacturer (Flowtronex, Watertronics, MCI) to get you a new pump station or an upgrade for your current station.
The pump station is the heart of your irrigation system, so it is important to make sure your pumps are capable of doing what you need them to in regards to pressure & GPM. You can have 1000 sprinklers & the best control system, but if your pumps (and pipe sizes) don't allow you to run more than a couple heads at a time, you won't be able to take advantage of that great system & shorten your water window to be as efficient as possible.
The technologies in pump stations have also come a long way. For those of you still using constant speed or hydraulic (Cla-valve) pump stations, a VFD (variable frequency drive) pump station uses 20-24% less energy. That's a lot of savings on your electric bill! VFD also reduces water hammer by slowly ramping up instead of all at once. This will help your piping system last much longer. VFD's also have the benefit of being able to Auto-Restart, such as when power to the station is interrupted. This would allow the system to start at the current line pressure & then slowly ramp the system back up to operating pressure automatically. In addition to all the features listed above, there is simply less maintenance involved with a VFD compared to a hydraulic station. VFD's do not require control valves & have fewer mechanical parts that require servicing.
Another important benefit of newer pump stations is the technology to get you more data & information. The PLC of a pump station can provide flow totals, motor hours, fault history, & more. The PLC can also be interfaced with your central control systems to give you all this information in the same place as your irrigation controls. With the technology available now (with Lynx or independently), you can monitor or even control your pumps remotely.
If you're thinking about upgrading your irrigation system, take a hard look at your pumps to make sure they can deliver the results you're looking for. Have a great week & let me know if I can help in any way!
The pump station is the heart of your irrigation system, so it is important to make sure your pumps are capable of doing what you need them to in regards to pressure & GPM. You can have 1000 sprinklers & the best control system, but if your pumps (and pipe sizes) don't allow you to run more than a couple heads at a time, you won't be able to take advantage of that great system & shorten your water window to be as efficient as possible.
The technologies in pump stations have also come a long way. For those of you still using constant speed or hydraulic (Cla-valve) pump stations, a VFD (variable frequency drive) pump station uses 20-24% less energy. That's a lot of savings on your electric bill! VFD also reduces water hammer by slowly ramping up instead of all at once. This will help your piping system last much longer. VFD's also have the benefit of being able to Auto-Restart, such as when power to the station is interrupted. This would allow the system to start at the current line pressure & then slowly ramp the system back up to operating pressure automatically. In addition to all the features listed above, there is simply less maintenance involved with a VFD compared to a hydraulic station. VFD's do not require control valves & have fewer mechanical parts that require servicing.
Another important benefit of newer pump stations is the technology to get you more data & information. The PLC of a pump station can provide flow totals, motor hours, fault history, & more. The PLC can also be interfaced with your central control systems to give you all this information in the same place as your irrigation controls. With the technology available now (with Lynx or independently), you can monitor or even control your pumps remotely.
If you're thinking about upgrading your irrigation system, take a hard look at your pumps to make sure they can deliver the results you're looking for. Have a great week & let me know if I can help in any way!
Monday, March 30, 2015
Turf Guard Sensors "Buy 2, Get 1 Free" Ends April 30
It looks like we've got a great week of weather ahead of us, so hopefully everybody can catch up on projects that have been pushed back. This week I just want to give everyone the heads-up that some of Toro's Marketing Programs are coming to an end. The one that will affect the most courses is the "Buy 2 Sensors Get 1 Free" program for Toro's Turf Guard Soil Monitoring System. I have previously discussed the benefits of Turf Guard & how it will help you make better decisions when it comes to your irrigation, which will ultimately help you save water.
Many of you are taking advantage of the Turf Guard Starter Kit or already have Turf Guard set up at your course. This program is a great opportunity to expand your system to get more data from more areas & make even more educated decisions with your irrigation. In addition to soil moisture, you will also be able to track soil temperature & salinity. All the data & trends recorded from these sensors will not only help you make better decisions with your irrigation, but will also help you with your entire agronomic plan. The more information we can gather, the better decisions we can make.
On another note, I will be drawing for the 32" LED TV out of all my current Lynx customers on Wednesday, April 1. Since I announced the drawing last month, 4 more courses have switched over to Lynx. I've talked with a lot of you about upgrading to Lynx, so I hope the trend continues. I think any of the superintendents operating their irrigation on Lynx will tell you how much they like it & how it allows them to be more efficient.
I hope everyone has a great week & let me know if there's anything I can do to help!
Many of you are taking advantage of the Turf Guard Starter Kit or already have Turf Guard set up at your course. This program is a great opportunity to expand your system to get more data from more areas & make even more educated decisions with your irrigation. In addition to soil moisture, you will also be able to track soil temperature & salinity. All the data & trends recorded from these sensors will not only help you make better decisions with your irrigation, but will also help you with your entire agronomic plan. The more information we can gather, the better decisions we can make.
On another note, I will be drawing for the 32" LED TV out of all my current Lynx customers on Wednesday, April 1. Since I announced the drawing last month, 4 more courses have switched over to Lynx. I've talked with a lot of you about upgrading to Lynx, so I hope the trend continues. I think any of the superintendents operating their irrigation on Lynx will tell you how much they like it & how it allows them to be more efficient.
I hope everyone has a great week & let me know if there's anything I can do to help!
Monday, March 23, 2015
Free Shipping w/ a Case of Infinity Heads *THIS WEEK ONLY*
March Madness is underway, most of our brackets are already busted, & spring is officially here, even if the weather will keep playing games with us for another month or so. I know this means aerification, fertilizer, pre-emergent, & firing up irrigation systems. Some of you may have already been through all of this & some may be holding off a little while longer. Either way, it is time to stock up your inventory of sprinklers & irrigation parts.
This week only (March 23-27), I am offering Free Shipping for anyone ordering at least one full case of Infinity sprinkler heads. In order to take advantage of this offer, you must call or email your order to me (not customer service) and mention that you heard about the deal on the blog. As a reminder, all Infinity models are eligible for Buy 3 Sprinklers, Get 1 Free. It's also important to remember that the Infinity sprinklers come in ACME threaded inlets only (1" & 1.5"). For more info on the Infinity, visit www.toroinfinity.com.
Also remember that we are hosting our Irrigation Renovation Seminar in Richmond this Wednesday, March 25 from 9:30-1:00. I hope to see several of you there & I invite you to bring someone with you. Have a great week & let me know if I can help you in any way!
This week only (March 23-27), I am offering Free Shipping for anyone ordering at least one full case of Infinity sprinkler heads. In order to take advantage of this offer, you must call or email your order to me (not customer service) and mention that you heard about the deal on the blog. As a reminder, all Infinity models are eligible for Buy 3 Sprinklers, Get 1 Free. It's also important to remember that the Infinity sprinklers come in ACME threaded inlets only (1" & 1.5"). For more info on the Infinity, visit www.toroinfinity.com.
Also remember that we are hosting our Irrigation Renovation Seminar in Richmond this Wednesday, March 25 from 9:30-1:00. I hope to see several of you there & I invite you to bring someone with you. Have a great week & let me know if I can help you in any way!
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