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Selecting Nozzles while Calibrating Your Field Sprayer. Cecil Tharp Pesticide Education Program Montana State University Extension. Proper Calibration Offers. Better Pest Control Environmental and human safety Effective use of time Save $$. Backpack Sprayer (GPA) 128 th Acre Method.
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Selecting Nozzles while Calibrating Your Field Sprayer Cecil Tharp Pesticide Education Program Montana State University Extension
Proper Calibration Offers • Better Pest Control • Environmental and human safety • Effective use of time • Save $$
Backpack Sprayer (GPA) 128th Acre Method • Use water when calibrating • Use same nozzles and filters as when spraying • Measure an 18 ½ by 18 ½ ft area. • Spray area with water and time how long it takes • Constant speed and constant pressure • Spray water into a container for same amount of time. • Ounces = Gallons Per Acre Applied
Sample ScenarioUsing 128th Acre Scenario • Takes 10 seconds to spray 128th Acre • In 10 seconds you spray 10 ounces. • What is the GPA output? 10 GPA
CALIBRATING BOOM SPRAYERS Find GPA? How?
Product Label Recommendations • Your product label often describes the proper GPA (gallons per acre) for your sprayer. • ex. 20 GPA is recommended • Use the 5940 METHOD to find your nozzle size • GPM = GPA * W * MPH / 5940
5940 method • GPM = GPA * W * MPH / 5940 • GPA = Gallons Per Acre (product label) • GPM = Gallons per Minute collected from a single nozzle (Make sure all nozzle are within a 5% range.) • 5940 is a constant • MPH = Field Speed • W = 1) width between nozzles in inches or 2) width of a broadjet swath in inches.
Selecting the Appropriate Nozzle • GPM = GPA * W * MPH / 5940 • Let’s say you need to spray 20 GPA, you have 30” spaced nozzles, and you will drive 5 mph. • GPM = 20 GPA * 30” * 5mph / 5940 • 0.505 or 0.5 GPM nozzles needed
Selecting Nozzles (TeeJet.com) • Solid Stream Nozzles • Handgun sprayers (livestock, tree pests, crevice treatment) • Cone Nozzles • Complete penetration desired • Fan Pattern Nozzles • Uniform spray coverage • Most Common
Find the correct nozzles • Flat Fan Nozzles • Standard: 30 – 60 PSI • Even (E): uniform / banded applications • Extended Range (XR or LFT): 15 – 25 PSI / drift control can be as high as 60 PSI • ex. XR8001SS • Spray angles are 65, 73, 80, and 110 • We obtained 0.5 GPM so you would need a nozzle labeled with 05.
Selecting the right Nozzles (what material) Nozzle Material Nozzle Life Brass (B) Poor Nylon Fair Stainless Steel (S) Good Plastic Good Hardened Stainless Steel Excellent
Nozzle Description • Ex. XR8001SS • 1st 2 letters are the acronym for type of nozzle (Extended Range Flat Fan) • Last 2 numbers are always GPM = .1 GPM • Numbers remaining determine the width of your spray from each nozzle: 80 degrees / determines height of your sprayer • Last 2 letters are always material. = Stainless Steel
Examples of what you will see: Some Examples of Nozzle Material Acronyms • XR8004VS - Stainless Steel with Visflo color-coding • XR11004-VP - Polymer with VisiFlo color-coding • XR11004-VK - Ceramic with polypropylene VisiFlo color-coding • XR8010SS - Stainless Steel • XR11004VB - Brass with VisiFlo color-coding (110°)
Double Check your GPA Annually • Goal: To determine how many gallons of liquid your sprayer actually emits onto 1 acre. • Boom Sprayer • Shortcut Method to Determine GPA • Longhand Method
Nozzle Output • Check nozzle output for 1 minute and get average • If each nozzles output is not greater or less than 5% off of average, all is well. • How?
5% error level • To find 5% • Find your average…48 oz • Move the decimal place one space to the left. 48. = 4.8 This is a 10% error • Divide by 2 = 2.4. • This is 5% error • Now add 2.4 to 48 for +5% • Subtract 2.4 from 48 for • 5% Error range = 45.6 and 50.4 • Any nozzle output between 45.6 and 50.4 is OK!
GPA for Boom Sprayer cont.Shortcut Method 1st – Determine Nozzle output is same. 2nd – Flag out Course Length based on your nozzle spacing 18” = 227’ course length 20” = 204’ course length 30” = 136’ course length 40” = 102’ course length • Or 340 / spacing in feet 3rd - Drive course in gear and rpm you will use when spraying and time yourself.
GPA for Boom Sprayer cont.. • Conduct 2 or 3 times and get average 4th - Collect liquid from 1 nozzle for this amount of time 5th - Ounces of liquid collected = GPA
Sample Scenario Boom Sprayer • 18” wide nozzles, 6 nozzles • What to do? • Travel 227’ and time • 30 seconds • Measure amount delivered in that 30 seconds • 15 ounces in 30 seconds • 15 GPA
You know GPA, now how much solution do you need? • Acres * GPA = Volume in Tank • 10 acres * 30 GPA = 300 Gallons
How much chemical do you need? • Acres * product rate = Total Product • Product Rate = 2 pints / Acre • You will be spraying 10 acres • 20 pints of product
Sample Questions You have an output of 20 GPA You need to spray 300 acres #1 - How much of a spray mixture will you need? 6000 gallons You need to apply 2 oz / acre of Warrior 1E. #2 - How much product do you put in tank? 600 oz of Warrior
Questions Continued #3 You have 20” nozzles and travel 204’ in 25 seconds. -You collect 10 ounces in 25 seconds. -What is your GPA? 10 GPA
Question continued You are trying to select a nozzle and it reads XR11004B. #4 What type of nozzle is this? • Extended Range Flat Fan #5 What angle of spray mist is emitted from these nozzles? • 110 degrees #6 How low can you hold this boom at this spray angle? • 15 – 18” #7 How many gallons per minute does this nozzle emit at a standard pressure? • .4 Gallons Per Minute (standard 40 PSI) #8 What material is this? • Brass #9 What is the nozzle life of this nozzle? • Poor
Questions? #10: What width and length would easily qualify for using the short cut 128th acre method for calibrating your backpack sprayer? 18 1/2 x 18 ½ feet