How It Works

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The Fertigator
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How it Works

The FertiGator is designed to be simple, efficient and easy to use for maximum versatility. It is composed of two main parts - an injector and a controller. Program the controller and it tells the injector when to put fertilizer into the line and out onto your property.

Overview

-	The controller reads the sprinkler system timer to determine what zone is on.
-	The controller then tells the injector how many times to pulse in order to deliver the right amount of product to that zone.
-	The injector pulses the proper number of times, drawing the fertilizer through the ¼-inch polyethylene tubing from wherever the fertilizer is located (the garage, shed, basement or nearby valve box) and injecting it in one milliliter pulses into the sprinkler system line

The Controller

The brain of the FertiGator is the controller. It is wired into the sprinkler system controller and is usually mounted beside it. When a sprinkler zone activates, the FertiGator reads this and causes the injector to pulse which sends fertilizer out into that zone.

Each irrigation zone on the controller is programmed to deliver precisely the right amount of fertilizer for that zone. Injection rates may vary from as high as 19 pulses every two minutes to one pulse every eight minutes. A zone can also be programmed at 0 pulses if necessary.

All controllers have non-volatile memory, which means that they can be turned off without losing the program that was entered, even for an entire winter.

The Injector

1. Fertilizer Tube
2. Top Fertilizer Chamber
3. Middle Spring Chamber
4. Bottom Water Chamber

Each injector barrel has 3 sections: A top "fertilizer chamber", a middle airtight "spring chamber", and the lower "water pressure chamber." The injector has two high-quality, specially designed 3-way solenoids. These solenoids will not allow the fertilizer from the fertilizer tube to back-siphon into the water system. The top one handles the fertilizer and the bottom one controls the water pressure used to operate the pump.

When the controller sends a signal to the injector, the two solenoids open. Water rushes in through the bottom solenoid into the bottom chamber forcing the piston up, coiling the spring, and injecting the fertilizer into the water running through the tubes across the top of the injector. After the injection is completed, the solenoids close relieving the water pressure in the bottom chamber.

The spring pushes the piston down, forcing water out the port on the bottom solenoid and sucking a new charge of fertilizer into the top chamber. Since more water is discharged than fertilizer is injected, there is no increase in mainline pressure.

The Fertilizer

The fertilizer is drawn from the container it is purchased in through a ¼" OD polyethylene tubing to the injector and out into the sprinkler system. The fertilizer container is located anywhere the property owner desires - in a garage or shed. Occasionally, the wires for the injector and the tubing for the fertilizer are pulled together so that the fertilizer ends up near the controller.

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