With the 10 liter bucket test you can determine the water flow at a selected point of the irrigation system. In the following, we will show you how you can use this value to calculate the applied water pressure.
In a nutshell
- Fill 10 L container
- stop time
- 4 bar for sprinklers
- perform regularly
Table of contents
- Use of the 10 liter bucket test
- execution
- Guide values and table
- Print customization options
- frequently asked Questions
Use of the 10 liter bucket test
The applied water pressure is on the data sheet of the used pump or read off the manometer on the main tap of a water connection. However, this working pressure can drop over time due to wear and dirt. It is therefore advisable to do the 10 liter bucket test when purchasing a pump and then approx. to be carried out annually. If the calculated flow rate drops, this means that the performance of the pump has deteriorated and it needs cleaning or repair.
Tip: Frost, dirt and dry running increase the risk of wear. Therefore, you should use the pump
Store frost-free in winter, clean before storing and fill with water manually before commissioning.Another reason is the pressure drop in long lines. If the path from the water source to the receiving device is relatively long, the pressure arriving at the device will be lower than that at the water source. So that the device z. B. a sprinkler works as desired, a minimum flow rate and minimum pressure specified in the description must be present. These can be checked quickly and easily with the 10 liter bucket test.
execution
To determine the flow at the desired location, measure the time it takes for the water source to deliver 10 liters of water. To do this, turn on the corresponding water tap fully or let the pump run at full power. After a few seconds, the working pressure has fully built up and stabilized. Now fill a vessel with a capacity of 10 liters, e.g. B. a bucket and records the time (t) required for this. The flow rate can be calculated using the following formulas.
A notice: For water pipes, the measurement is taken at the faucet closest to the main faucet. With pumps, the water is taken from the end of a 1 meter long ¾ inch hose that is connected to the pump.
Guide values and table
A sprinkler to garden watering should be supplied by a pump with at least 3 to 4 bar. It should be noted, however, that the incoming pressure increases by approx. 1 bar decreases. A pump that draws from a 5 meter deep well at 4 bar delivers the water at approx. 3.5 bars down. This pressure can be checked using a 10 liter bucket test using the following guideline values.
| duration | water flow rate | water pressure |
|---|---|---|
| 25 seconds | 24 liters/minute 1,440 liters/hour 1.44 cubic meters/hour |
5 bar |
| 30 seconds | 20 liters/minute 1,200 liters/hour 1.2 cubic meters/hour |
4 bar |
| 40 seconds | 15 liters/minute 900 liters/hour 0.9 cubic meters/hour |
3.5 bars |
In addition, the function of an irrigation system not only depends on the incoming pressure, but also on the flow. Are on the hose z. B. 2 sprinkler connected with a consumption of 800 liters per hour, the flow calculation at this point must result in at least 1600 liters per hour.
Print customization options
The pressure depends on the performance of the pump and can therefore not be influenced directly. Nevertheless, there are some ways to increase the incoming pressure.
- as few internals as possible in the hose
- short conveyor distance
- larger hose diameter
- low head due to increased water reservoir
- regular cleaning of the pump
Excessive pressure is usually not a problem as most devices are designed for significantly higher pressures than required. The pain threshold is usually around 6 bar. If a pressure reduction is nevertheless necessary, an extension of the hose or a pressure regulator can help.
frequently asked Questions
No, you can also measure a different volume. However, this should not be too small in order to compensate for fluctuations and avoid measurement errors.
If you don't have a container with volume markings, use a measuring cup and fill 10 liters into a large container. Mark the fill level with a permanent marker. You can also use 2 vessels, each with a capacity of 5 liters. The extra time you need to switch from one canister to the other is negligible and only means that the actual flow is slightly higher than the calculated one.
Residential houses are connected to the public supply network and have a pressure gauge on the main tap that shows the water pressure. The main tap is usually in the basement. The law stipulates 2 bars for the ground floor and a further 0.35 bars for each additional floor. If you live in an apartment on the upper floor of an apartment building, the 10-liter bucket test makes sense to check the incoming water pressure. This should be around 2 bar.