Selection and Installation

PRODUCT: ICV Valve
SUBJECT: Selection and Installation

Hunter developed the new ICV institutional valve because of a need in the market for a strong product with dependable performance. With the increasing popularity of this solidly constructed, versatile valve, we are devoting this Tech Tip to the techniques for choosing and installing valves.

Choosing Valves

When determining what might be the best valve for your particular needs, it is a good idea to keep these considerations in mind:

Choose a valve that will operate at the pressure available on the project.
If your system will be subject to pressure surges or water hammer, the surge can be several times higher than your static pressure (for large projects, it's best to choose a valve with a higher operating pressure). A valve with a 200 psi rating will provide the best long-term performance.

Choose a valve that will be easy to work on should the need ever arise.
For example, the ICV's bonnet bolts, solenoid plunger and plunger spring, diaphragm and diaphragm spring are all captive parts, eliminating the chance of their becoming lost. Additionally, the bonnet bolts can be loosened or tightened with a variety of tools, so servicing is always easy.

Look for a valve that has bonnet bolt holes which are open at the bottom.
This allows dirt to fall through the bolt hole instead of packing to the bottom, where it would make it impossible to tighten the bonnet bolts.

Choose a valve to specifically handle reclaimed, well or lake water (if needed).
Valve diaphragm filters can get clogged by high amounts of sand, particle debris, algae, minerals, sludge or other contaminants commonly found in such water sources. Hunter valves (especially HPV, ICV and HBV) have excellent self-flushing filtering systems with a specially designed turbulent flow around the diaphragm filter to wash contaminants away and assure reliable operation. With especially dirty or effluent water this action may not completely clean, and thus may eventually clog, some filters.

When working with algae or other biological contaminants, or where longer life is desired, select a valve with a mechanical filter cleaner.
To eliminate clogged filters and the time spent for cleaning, or simply for extra insurance in clean water applications, use a valve such as the ICV. Its extra large filter and optional Filter Sentry™ system scours the filter clean each time it opens or closes, making this valve a good choice for both installations where long-term reliability is an absolute must, as well as situations where biological water is being used.

Installing Valves

We recommend that you follow these guidelines when installing your valves:

Use nipples with "cut" threads rather than fittings with molded threads.
From brand to brand, there can be a substantial variation in the thread size of molded threaded pipe fittings (such as male adapters). When used with any type of valve, this variability in size can lead to fittings which can be "too tight" with some brands and "not tight enough" with others. Using nipples with cut threads will help to avoid these problems.

Use teflon paste on the threads of the nipple in lieu of teflon tape.
Teflon paste will fill in the voids between the threads of the valve and nipple. In contrast, teflon tape tends to add dimension to the nipple, making a tighter fit than necessary between the fitting and the valve. As a general rule of thumb, hand-tighten the nipple into the valve, then tighten 1/4 turn more using a wrench. While not a hard and fast rule, in almost every case this will provide a correctly installed, leak-free connection. When tightening the nipple, do not use the solenoid or flow control as a grip handle.

Use waterproof wire connectors to connect solenoid wires to low voltage irrigation wire in the valve box.
Connections that are not waterproof will corrode causing too much electrical resistance. This high resistance will blow fuses or circuit breakers in the controller.