Calibrate a Sprayer
Sprayers are used on a regular basis in the farming and landscaping industries, and they are essential to the upkeep and health of plant life. Sprayers can now be made smaller and less expensive because of increasing technology resulting in individuals purchasing sprayers for their own personal landscaping. When owning a sprayer, calibration is extremely important because all sprayers, no matter the size, must be calibrated according to the application rates of the chemicals being used. Therefore, it is essential for a user to know how to calibrate a sprayer.
Steps
- Thoroughly wash out the sprayer to ensure that you do not come in contact with hazardous chemicals.
- Place enough water in the tank to be able to run the sprayer for about 5 minutes (amount of water varies depending on sprayer size).
- Clean all nozzles to ensure that they are not clogged
- Turn on the sprayer and watch all of the nozzles. Make sure that all nozzles are putting out the same amount of water. If not, replace nozzles that appear to be putting out a different rate than most nozzles. Turn off sprayer.
- Place the catch can (measuring cup) under one nozzle and turn on the sprayer for one minute. After one minute is over turn off the sprayer and record the amount of water in the catch can.
- Follow the calculation procedure given to find the current application rate that the sprayer is set on. If the rate of the sprayer is higher than the application rate needed, you will have two options: 1. Choose a faster speed of travel. 2. Decrease the pump rate on the sprayer. If the rate is lower than the application rate needed: 1.Choose a slower speed of travel. 2. Increase the pump rate on the sprayer.
- Pour the chemicals into the sprayer and begin spraying.
Tips
- Step 6: Formulas
- A = Travel Speed mph
- D = Chemical Application Rate
- C = Number of Nozzles
- B = Nozzle Flow Rate
- Step 5 Note: any amount of time can be used but one minute is a good number and works well in the calculations that are going to be made.
- (B/128) * C = Total Flow Rate
- 50 / (Total Flow Rate) * Speed * (6/43560) = Area
- A * (5280/60) = Speed
Things You'll Need
- Sprayer
- Hose
- Catch Can: A measuring cup large enough to catch the
- water released by the sprayer for one minute.
- Stopwatch or Timer
- A smaller measuring cup in ounces for measuring and pouring the chemicals into the sprayer.
- Flow Meter: An alternative method for calibration that automatically reads flow rate.
