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Planting Season Revolutionized: The Introduction of Lawn Sprinklers

May 15, 2019

There’s a Keystone in every great invention.

Modern Sprinkler Systems and their Electronics

Spring is finally here, and lawns and gardens across the countryare coming back to life. However, this fresh greeneryneed more than warmth and sunshine—many planting season growths require a dependable source of water for consistent irrigation.

In many cases, that water comes from lawn sprinklers. Let’s take a look at the history of these gardening powerhouses, along with the modern electronic components that make them operate efficiently.

The World’s First Lawn Sprinklers

In the late 1800s, Americans started moving out of cities and into suburban areas. They did so because real estate was more affordable, enabling them not only to buy their own house but also some land for them to cultivate. For concrete-accustomed individuals seeking to add more space and color to their homes, this was an opportunity to have a garden of their own. They put down literal roots, planting trees, flowers, and vegetable gardens around their new homes. 

Maintaining these gardens necessitated a rigorous watering schedule, which was difficult for working people to remember and keep up with. The market responded with a flurry of sprinkler inventions, but the technology didn’t really get off the ground until Joseph Oswald invented the first rotating sprinkler head in 1890.

Oswald’s sprinkler used the water’s force to rotate the mechanism. This revolving system not only widened the area that sprinklers could irrigate, but it also cut down on wear and tear caused by the sprinkler’s constant motion.

Since that time, lawn sprinklers have only grown in popularity. People use them in their landscaping, greenhouse, and gardening projects. Modern sprinklers are very convenient, and they allow people to control when, where, and how their greenery is watered. 

Modern-Day Lawn Sprinklers

The classic lawn sprinkler uses a simple and elegant design. A pipe carries water to the sprinkler, which expels the water through a metal arm. The arm broadcasts this water in a thin spray that covers a wide area. Inside the sprinkler, gears move the mechanism at a pace that allows an even distribution of water over the entire area.

The irrigation sprinkler has come along way since Joseph Oswald’s rotating wonder. Modern sprinklers come in a wide array of sizes, costs, and intricacies. Some of the most prevalent sprinkler designs include:

  • Drip sprinklers
  • Impact sprinklers
  • Oscillating sprinklers
  • Portable sprinklers
  • Underground sprinklers 

In recent years, advances in sprinkler technology have resulted in increased user control over the irrigation process. Many sprinklers now incorporate advanced electronics that allow users to control them by apps and other systems.

For example, new oscillating sprinklers include specially designed cams that regulate the water spray’s width depending on the needs of the crop. Other sprinklers have specialized sensors that measure the soil’s water content and water the lawn only when it needs to be watered. Some extended sprinkler systems even tie into one master clock that operates many sprinklers at once, even those that work on different lawns and have differing irrigation requirements.

Many of the new innovations in the lawn sprinkler field revolve around the growing capabilities of sprinkler system timers. These timers typically operate via 24-V AC current  but many have battery back up systems to maintain their settings and clocks in the event of power interruption.

Based on this simple principle, highly advanced and customizable sprinkler networks have arisen, allowing landscapers to precisely tailor their irrigation processes to applications as varied as lawns, public parks, golf courses, and more.

Electronic Components for a Successful Planting Season

Keystone Electronics manufactures  a wide variety of battery clips, contacts and holders which are ideal for use in sprinkler clocks and similar purposes. These battery connectivity devices can handle the wide range of electrical hazards that sprinklers encounter, including water, weather, corrosion, and more.

Some of our most widely used battery products and accessories are the coin cell holders, contacts, and clips that enable batteries to power their systems. These components act as the positive and negative relays into which batteries attach. We offer a wide range of stock products, and we also custom design positive and negative ends for oversized or irregularly shaped batteries.

Our production capabilities enable us to supply a wide range of mechanical components used in modern day sprinkler and irrigation systems.  Learn more about our

Learn More About Keystone Electronics’ Battery Solutions

At Keystone Electronics, we offer precision electronic components used in all types of lawn sprinklers and automatic irrigation systems. We provide hardware, spacers, screws, backup batteries, and more for these systems, and have done so for more than 70 years. Our core capability is the production ofprecision electronic components and hardware to serve the needs of many businesses worldwide.  

To learn more about any of our electronic components or services, contact us today.

 


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