What is the difference between heavywall dripline and thinwall dripline?
Similarities
Both do the same job of watering rows or beds. Both have built
-in drippers factory installed. Both types of dripline
are rated by the amount of water delivered at each dripper in gallons
per hour
(or litres per hour) and the spacing, in inches, of the built-in drippers.
Differences
Our heavywall dripline (DL4100) has a wall thickness
of 45 mil. That results in a long service life of up to 15 years
if protected from harsh sunlight by mulch.
In contrast, our DL6200 thinwall dripline has a wall thickness of 15 mil which allows it to be
shipped rolled flat. DL6200 thinwall has a service life of about
5 to 7 years if protected from the sun by mulch. It is inexpensive, less than
half the cost per foot compared to heavywall.
Our dripline only requires filtration by a 120 mesh filter, much lower than other brands that require as much as 200 mesh. That means that DL6, DL7 and DL4 dripline are all very resistant to clogging by fine sediment. |
Heavywall dripline ships round and can be laid out in gentle
curves
Thinwall dripline ships rolled flat
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Water pressure causes thinwall dripline to expand
to a round tube shape
Twist Lock fitting (FB17T) joins thinwall dripline with T2 1/2" tubing |
Contours
When water flows in thinwall dripline, the tubing fills
to a round shape as seen to the left. As it fills, it tends to
straighten any curves in the tubing, so we recommend it for straight
rows only.
If you need dripline that must curve gently to follow land contours or curved garden beds,
order heavywall dripline instead, such as our DL4100.
Our DL4100 and DL6200 dripline is suitable for level ground. If your crop land is hilly or if the rows are on a slope, DL7200 dripline has pressure compensating drippers which will deliver the same amount of water despite changes in elevation.
Fittings
Thinwall
dripline requires special fittings that lock the dripline in place.
Normally, 1/2" tubing (T2100) is used as a supply line to the start of
the row or bed. Then a special adaptor (FB17T) seen
at the
left connects the 1/2" tubing to each length of thinwall. |
Fittings available for thinwall include a Coupler (FB16T) to join two
lengths of thinwall (seen at the right). An End Stop fitting (FB18T) is used to
close
the
end of a
length of thinwall.
Another adaptor (FB19T) is available
to connect thinwall dripline to 3/4" female pipe threads often
found on commercial drip irrigation equipment. (see bottom photo to right)
Advantages
Thinwall dripline is an inexpensive alternative to heavywall
dripline in vegetable and flower gardens. It ships rolled
flat and is lighter to handle. Fittings for thinwall are quick to
install and damaged sections can be easily repaired.
Our thinwall dripline can be kept in the field during winter. Snow cover will help protect the dripline from UV degradation by sunlight.
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Lengths of thinwall can be connected together using a special
coupler (FB16T)
An FB18T end stop closes the end of each length of thinwall dripline.
This fitting, FB19T, connects thinwall to 3/4" female
pipe threads often found in commercial irrigation systems
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