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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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can't help with the local knowledge but feel your pain on trying to get reliable help. also on firing bad help. a caution on that. be prepared for
a struggle/pay off if the guy gets upset, threatens to go to labor board or whatever.
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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desertcpl
Super Nomad
Posts: 2406
Registered: 10-26-2008
Location: yuma,az
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Maybe my uncle can water your plants
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by mcfez
| Quote: | Originally posted by UnoMas
I am not a landscape contractor but have dealt with this same problem over ten years. First were the drip systems powered from the grid, inconsistent
pressure and power failures caused the timers to become unreliable. Went to battery powered units, change the batteries once a year and have had good
luck with this system. Timers stay accurate and everything is still alive when I return.
Fez'
Being a "landscaper" makes me think you are fishing and would hope you could solve this problem on your own . |
Fishing? I dont think dude. Glad you have dealt with similar issues.Sounds like you had many issues......and am glad that it sounds like...you live at
the location you are referring to.
I dont live at my beach house in San Felipe...so how can I deal with a issue 827 miles from home?
Let's talk drip systems then.
I'll install a system. Timer with back up.
Hell ...what could go wrong?
Dogs chewing thru the lines.
Critters chewing thru the lines.
Filter clogging up.
Emitters blown off or chewed off.
Somebody steals the parts!
Batteries died...oh oh!
Insects crawling into the emitters and clogging them (yes it does happen)
ATV runs thru my lot and chews the hosing.
Call a landscaper for repairs, in San Felipe? Nada.
Drive down there and fix a broken line....$700.00 fuel + expenses?
Drive down there and fix a broken line, for the second time?
Landscape is half dead by the time I get notified, and get there.
Believe me..if I live there...it be automated. Yes...I am a contractor. Years of experience tells me why to have a watering person!
Installations such as landscaping and irrigation is a whole different story under these conditions of a absentee homeowner.....in the middle of a
desert.
David....I appreciate your advice as always. My typed words in this topic has no ills towards you.
[Edited on 8-20-2011 by mcfez] |
You are correct... very logical... thanks! |
Thank you David.
As you know...I think you are a master at this drip watering engineering......so much so...we talked about a few sites for the Sacramento area. You
overwhelmed me with your details! Pure Einstein stuff.I would highly recommend you right off the bat for any install. I'll will always respect you
here.
grace59
Please do!
jakecard
Down town has piped water. We are 7 miles from downtown. Our campos just tapped in about 18 months ago. There are MANY areas without water....south SF
long the coast to some sites inside the El Dorado. Plenty of water to go around. The real issue is the cost to bring in water via truck. I "think" we
were paying $60 a load, back then.
To tap into the city side....well....we paid something like $2000 per lot. 
[Edited on 8-20-2011 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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UnoMas
Nomad
Posts: 328
Registered: 2-8-2008
Location: East Cape
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Mood: Great
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Fez'
I live 2600 miles from my home in Baja so traveling there for a water problem is out of the question. I agree that the absolute best thing you can
have is a person watering for you, but as you have experienced reliability is key. I have been using 9 volt battery drip system's for a while now and
have not had any problems with animals chewing through the tubes (all under ground), plugged filters or any of the other things you have mentioned. My
experience is that I can count on the battery more than the guy hired to water for me.
Also nice if a neighbor or a friend would look around once in a while.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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Thanks Deno.
UnoMas, that is very good to hear!
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RnR
Senior Nomad
Posts: 839
Registered: 5-1-2010
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DK,
What do you think about the simpler, cheaper, "hockey puck" style of battery controllers?
Our US town has them installed in all the parks and landscaped areas. They either work well, (and cheaply), or a really good salesman got a hold of
the Parks Director's ear.
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grace59
Senior Nomad
Posts: 614
Registered: 9-14-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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| Quote: | Originally posted by meme
Get in touch with Mauricio the landscaper guy. He does watering many places. I dont have his number as Im not at home but he shouldnt be too hard to
find. |
McFez, tried to U2U you, but not sure if it went through. So, here is Mauricio's number:
Mauricio's phone #001-52-1-686-151-8002
He is a landscaper who also waters yards for some people. I don't know what he charges, but you can call him for info. Sorry it took so long, but my
friends were out of town and didn't have his number on them.
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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| Quote: | Originally posted by grace59
| Quote: | Originally posted by meme
Get in touch with Mauricio the landscaper guy. He does watering many places. I dont have his number as Im not at home but he shouldnt be too hard to
find. |
McFez, tried to U2U you, but not sure if it went through. So, here is Mauricio's number:
Mauricio's phone #001-52-1-686-151-8002
He is a landscaper who also waters yards for some people. I don't know what he charges, but you can call him for info. Sorry it took so long, but my
friends were out of town and didn't have his number on them. |
Thanks you Grace ! I am looking at two possibilities...third now. Very difficult issue to address! I'll use artificial turf on the next house :-)
Just got your U2 as I got home a hour ago...
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by RnR
DK,
What do you think about the simpler, cheaper, "hockey puck" style of battery controllers?
Our US town has them installed in all the parks and landscaped areas. They either work well, (and cheaply), or a really good salesman got a hold of
the Parks Director's ear. |
Hi RnR, sorry didn't see this question until now...
I am going to guess that the 'hockey puck' battery timer is the Hunter model SVC... ? But, cheaper than what?
If the SVC, I don't care for them as they are not easy to program for customers (or me)... lots of button pushing to get the right display to flash
for changing. Once they are programmed, then they are probably okay. I just have had more luck with the DIG unit.
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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Thanks all for the help
Well...we finally got a new watering person today. He is the camp's security guard.....so that worked out well.
Thanks to the BN's here that U2 me and emailed me ...offering tips and help.
SPECIAL THANKS to Lee. AKA Baja.BBQ. Lee went to out house and surveyed the issues, gave us a good report. he also....watered our entire landscape! A
good man indeed.
Lee owns a great restaurant in San Felipe
http://www.Blowinsmokebbq.net
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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nbacc
Senior Nomad
Posts: 770
Registered: 12-27-2008
Location: Northern California
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Lee is a good guy and also has a GREAT eating establishment. Nancy
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Baja.BBQ
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-7-2010
Location: San Felipe, BC
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McFez and Nancy, Thanks for the kind words! Glad the issue is resolved.. Deno, I will visit your place once a week in the future so you will not have
to worry about it..
Best Regards,
Lee
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MitchMan
Super Nomad
Posts: 1856
Registered: 3-9-2009
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David K, thanks for sharing your professional expertise with us. When I finish landscaping my place in La Paz I will use your system.
Right now I use a $25 or $35 USD battery powered valve (two AAs) that is screwed onto the spigot that is plumbed to the tinaco house supply water tank
on the roof. That way I get consistent and adequate water pressure. I set the valve (very easy intuitive dial for settings) to water my orange tree,
mango tree, and small new lime tree for 25 minutes every other day. The back yard is big, about 90 feet long, so I have two 50 ft hoses joined end to
end and connected to a three way splitter which has 1/2 inch hard plastic irrigation hoses connecting the splitter to each tree. At the end of the
irrigation hoses I glued a hard plastic cap and then drilled two holes in the cap to let the water out at the trees' locations. Works like a charm.
The only hard part was getting the water supply balanced between the three plants as the terrain elevations were slightly different and the lengths of
the irrigation hoses were different, all of which affected the relative water volume (pressure) coming out at the end caps at each tree.
I test the batteries every two months to make sure there is plenty of adequate battery life left. Have never had it fail (going on two years now) and
I changed the batteries after 6 months even though they didn't really need to be changed.
Somebody on this forum in another thread related to this matter cautioned
me that in her experience, these valves may or will eventually clog up and stop working due to the hard water characteristic of Baja water. She
cautioned that it happened to her and that luckily it froze the valve when the valve was in the "off" position, but, in her opinion, it could just as
easily have jammed in the "on" position. The documentation that came with the valve said that if the batteries die, the valve stays in the "OFF"
position by design. Although, that is not the same as the valve freezing due to hard water deposits.
Her caution makes sense to me. So, I test the flow and functioning of the valve by turning it off and on with the "manual" control and witness
whether or not the valve is responding quickly. So far so good. I have decided to keep using the valve as it has worked flawlessly for almost two
years... it's cheap... and so am I.
Side point: I go to La Paz about every other month, that may be different than McFez's visit frequency which should be considered.
[Edited on 8-27-2011 by MitchMan]
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grace59
Senior Nomad
Posts: 614
Registered: 9-14-2004
Location: San Felipe, Baja, Mexico
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| Quote: | Originally posted by nbacc
Lee is a good guy and also has a GREAT eating establishment. Nancy |
Yep, I agree! The BBQ here is fantastic and the portions are really good, too!!
Whenever I hear that rainy, chill wind blow. I think it may be time to head for Mexico. Tengo que obedecer mi corazon!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by MitchMan
David K, thanks for sharing your professional expertise with us. When I finish landscaping my place in La Paz I will use your system.
Right now I use a $25 or $35 USD battery powered valve (two AAs) that is screwed onto the spigot that is plumbed to the tinaco house supply water tank
on the roof. That way I get consistent and adequate water pressure. I set the valve (very easy intuitive dial for settings) to water my orange tree,
mango tree, and small new lime tree for 25 minutes every other day. The back yard is big, about 90 feet long, so I have two 50 ft hoses joined end to
end and connected to a three way splitter which has 1/2 inch hard plastic irrigation hoses connecting the splitter to each tree. At the end of the
irrigation hoses I glued a hard plastic cap and then drilled two holes in the cap to let the water out at the trees' locations. Works like a charm.
The only hard part was getting the water supply balanced between the three plants as the terrain elevations were slightly different and the lengths of
the irrigation hoses were different, all of which affected the relative water volume (pressure) coming out at the end caps at each tree.
I test the batteries every two months to make sure there is plenty of adequate battery life left. Have never had it fail (going on two years now) and
I changed the batteries after 6 months even though they didn't really need to be changed.
Somebody on this forum in another thread related to this matter cautioned
me that in her experience, these valves may or will eventually clog up and stop working due to the hard water characteristic of Baja water. She
cautioned that it happened to her and that luckily it froze the valve when the valve was in the "off" position, but, in her opinion, it could just as
easily have jammed in the "on" position. The documentation that came with the valve said that if the batteries die, the valve stays in the "OFF"
position by design. Although, that is not the same as the valve freezing due to hard water deposits.
Her caution makes sense to me. So, I test the flow and functioning of the valve by turning it off and on with the "manual" control and witness
whether or not the valve is responding quickly. So far so good. I have decided to keep using the valve as it has worked flawlessly for almost two
years... it's cheap... and so am I.
Side point: I go to La Paz about every other month, that may be different than McFez's visit frequency which should be considered.
[Edited on 8-27-2011 by MitchMan] |
The important thing is what ever works for you!
Some water pressure is needed in order to balance the water output using pressure compensating emitters (10 psi to 40 psi is typical)... Netafim PC
emitterline works from 5 to 50 psi... If under 5 psi at the furthest planting, then water output could be un-even.... and the closer the plant is to
the sourse, the more water it will get.
Good luck!
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja.BBQ
McFez and Nancy, Thanks for the kind words! Glad the issue is resolved.. Deno, I will visit your place once a week in the future so you will not have
to worry about it..
Best Regards,
Lee |
What a super-kind offer! Wish you had a place south of San Felipe, closer to where we go camping. Looks great!
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
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| Quote: | Originally posted by grace59
| Quote: | Originally posted by nbacc
Lee is a good guy and also has a GREAT eating establishment. Nancy |
Yep, I agree! The BBQ here is fantastic and the portions are really good, too!! |
Yeah Grace...but you need to wear a Viking Skull Cap for larger portions for free 
Lee.....you da man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[Edited on 8-27-2011 by mcfez]
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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Baja.BBQ
Junior Nomad
Posts: 33
Registered: 8-7-2010
Location: San Felipe, BC
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David K. We are located on Hwy 5 @ Km 178 sea side which is just a short distance before the Rockidile sign. We would love to meet you and your group.
You are welcome to stop and stretch or Bano break before heading South. We send our food South to many people in the South Campos including your amigo
BajaRob. Cold products packed seperately from BBQ products packed in heavy foil for a quick reheat on the grill or fire pit. Anyway, no purchase
required, please stop by if time permits!
Best Regards,
Lee
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65410
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja.BBQ
David K. We are located on Hwy 5 @ Km 178 sea side which is just a short distance before the Rockidile sign. We would love to meet you and your group.
You are welcome to stop and stretch or Bano break before heading South. We send our food South to many people in the South Campos including your amigo
BajaRob. Cold products packed seperately from BBQ products packed in heavy foil for a quick reheat on the grill or fire pit. Anyway, no purchase
required, please stop by if time permits!
Best Regards,
Lee |
Oh wow... if you know BajaRob, then you know good cooking!
Here was BajaRob just 3 months ago delivering champagne to our camp!
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mcfez
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8678
Registered: 12-2-2009
Location: aka BN yankeeirishman
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by David K
| Quote: | Originally posted by Baja.BBQ
David K. We are located on Hwy 5 @ Km 178 sea side which is just a short distance before the Rockidile sign. We would love to meet you and your group.
You are welcome to stop and stretch or Bano break before heading South. We send our food South to many people in the South Campos including your amigo
BajaRob. Cold products packed seperately from BBQ products packed in heavy foil for a quick reheat on the grill or fire pit. Anyway, no purchase
required, please stop by if time permits!
Best Regards,
Lee |
Oh wow... if you know BajaRob, then you know good cooking!
Here was BajaRob just 3 months ago delivering champagne to our camp!
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This guy Rob....another Cool KING of Baja!
David..Rob came to the McFestivals ...brought this stainless steel gas camp cooker. From that came the best shrimp ever! I was trying to steal shrimp
off the other BN plates! He is a champion cook. Great wife too. What a couple!
Old people are like the old cars, made of some tough stuff. May show a little rust, but good as gold on the inside.
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