poindexterous
Active Member
So I have done a lot of testing on many different spray nozzles to find an ideal one for aeroponics and hydroponics in general.
Most commercial spray nozzles rely on higher pressures and a tiny orifice to produce very small droplets, both of which are a problem in ponics since our pumps tend to be low pressure, and tiny nozzle openings clog easy.
I tested many different types of nozzle with a mag drive type pump with 10 feet of head or about 4.3psi(2.3ft/head=1psi).
The Antelco 15745, which is what the EZ-Clone units use, and other similar ones sold through drip irrigation companies are effective with a not too hazardously small orifice and reasonably fine droplets. Most companies who make these type of nozzle color code them based on orifice size/gallons per hour, red being the largest, so be careful to avoid ones with tiny orifices like the blue ones. Antelco also makes a 15715 which is a 90 degree nozzle which is handy for top feeding pots where a 360 degree nozzle would have to be pointed straight down to not get water everywhere. These type on mini nozzles are also handy if you need to attach them to thin hoses as their 10/32 threads screw right into spaghetti hoses.
But on to the point, I found the most superb spray nozzle made by Delevan, their "1/4" WRW Whirl Rain nozzle" http://www.delavanagspray.com/Products-a5.htm .It makes much smaller droplets at much lower pressure through a much larger orifice than any other nozzle I've tested. It does it by simply creating a tiny vortex so the water spins out the hole. The orifice in the whirl rain is three times the area of an Antelco/EZ-Clone nozzle yet it's droplets are much finer. The whirl rain's have 1/4" NPT threads making them easier to attach to rigid pipe, but you would need the right thread to slip adapters. Also the caps screw off in case you ever did want to clean the nozzles without having to take you whole system apart. Delevan only rates these nozzles at high pressures of 20 to 60 psi since they're designed for commercial AG applications, but they really are superb under 5psi.
The photo's show the Whirl Rain's, an EZ-Clone/Antelco, and a 1/4" adapter with a 1/2" PVC tee.
So anyway just wanted to share this and save anyone interested the trouble of all the research I did.
![IMG_2043.JPG](/data/attachments/990/990237-e0e0c0a6b1a4e05c3aefc9625ff0e76b.jpg)
![IMG_2040.JPG](/data/attachments/990/990238-30366f647705a9816eff621f2f35096a.jpg)
Most commercial spray nozzles rely on higher pressures and a tiny orifice to produce very small droplets, both of which are a problem in ponics since our pumps tend to be low pressure, and tiny nozzle openings clog easy.
I tested many different types of nozzle with a mag drive type pump with 10 feet of head or about 4.3psi(2.3ft/head=1psi).
The Antelco 15745, which is what the EZ-Clone units use, and other similar ones sold through drip irrigation companies are effective with a not too hazardously small orifice and reasonably fine droplets. Most companies who make these type of nozzle color code them based on orifice size/gallons per hour, red being the largest, so be careful to avoid ones with tiny orifices like the blue ones. Antelco also makes a 15715 which is a 90 degree nozzle which is handy for top feeding pots where a 360 degree nozzle would have to be pointed straight down to not get water everywhere. These type on mini nozzles are also handy if you need to attach them to thin hoses as their 10/32 threads screw right into spaghetti hoses.
But on to the point, I found the most superb spray nozzle made by Delevan, their "1/4" WRW Whirl Rain nozzle" http://www.delavanagspray.com/Products-a5.htm .It makes much smaller droplets at much lower pressure through a much larger orifice than any other nozzle I've tested. It does it by simply creating a tiny vortex so the water spins out the hole. The orifice in the whirl rain is three times the area of an Antelco/EZ-Clone nozzle yet it's droplets are much finer. The whirl rain's have 1/4" NPT threads making them easier to attach to rigid pipe, but you would need the right thread to slip adapters. Also the caps screw off in case you ever did want to clean the nozzles without having to take you whole system apart. Delevan only rates these nozzles at high pressures of 20 to 60 psi since they're designed for commercial AG applications, but they really are superb under 5psi.
The photo's show the Whirl Rain's, an EZ-Clone/Antelco, and a 1/4" adapter with a 1/2" PVC tee.
So anyway just wanted to share this and save anyone interested the trouble of all the research I did.
![IMG_2043.JPG](/data/attachments/990/990237-e0e0c0a6b1a4e05c3aefc9625ff0e76b.jpg)
![IMG_2040.JPG](/data/attachments/990/990238-30366f647705a9816eff621f2f35096a.jpg)
![IMG_2044.JPG](/data/attachments/990/990239-aa749dc3668e669811e606b3b4e2be14.jpg)
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