Battery Multi Zone Irrigation Tap Manifold

Product details

A battery multi-zone irrigation tap manifold provides automatic control of four separate watering zones directly from a standard outside garden tap, without requiring a mains electricity supply. It is an ideal solution where several areas of the garden need independent automatic watering but installing a mains-powered controller or underground valve box would be inconvenient. The manifold uses four 9V DC latching solenoid valves, with each outlet supplying a separate irrigation zone. This allows lawn sprinklers, border drip irrigation, hedge watering, hanging baskets or other areas to be programmed and watered independently using a compatible battery irrigation controller. Installed above ground close to the outside tap, the manifold is straightforward to fit and keeps the valves and connections easily accessible for servicing. For a compact installation, it can be used with the Hunter NODE-BT 4 Zone Bluetooth controller, while the Hunter XC Hybrid is suitable where a wall-mounted battery controller is preferred.

At a glance

• Battery-operated multi-zone irrigation tap manifold
• 4 independently controlled watering zones
• Connects directly to a standard outside garden tap
• Uses four 9V DC latching solenoid valves
• No mains electricity required
• Compatible with Hunter battery irrigation controllers
• Suitable for sprinklers, drip irrigation, hedges, pots and other watering zones
• Above-ground installation close to the tap
• Easy access to valves and connections for servicing
• Controller and outside tap not included

Why use a battery irrigation tap manifold?

A battery irrigation tap manifold provides a straightforward way to create a fully automatic multi-zone watering system from an existing outside garden tap without needing a mains electricity supply. The four outlets can be controlled independently, making it possible to divide the garden into separate irrigation zones. For example, lawn sprinklers can operate on one zone, border drip irrigation on another, with separate zones for hedges and pots or planters. Each area can then be given a watering schedule and run time appropriate to its needs. Because the manifold is installed above ground close to the tap, there is no need to install an underground valve box. This makes it particularly useful for existing gardens where a simple installation is required but a conventional single- or two-zone tap timer does not provide enough control.

How does a multi-zone battery tap manifold work?

The manifold connects to a standard outside garden tap using a flexible connection hose. Water entering the manifold is distributed to four separate 9V DC latching solenoid valves, with each valve supplying an individual irrigation zone. A compatible battery irrigation controller sends a short electrical pulse to open or close each valve according to the programmed watering schedule. The four zones can therefore operate independently and will normally run one at a time. Running the zones separately allows different areas of the garden to receive different amounts of water and also helps keep the total water demand within the available flow and pressure from the outside tap.

Which battery irrigation controller can I use?

The manifold uses 9V DC latching solenoid valves and must be connected to a compatible battery-powered irrigation controller. The Hunter NODE-BT 4 Zone is particularly well suited to this manifold. It provides control of all four valves from a compact waterproof controller and can be programmed using Bluetooth from a smartphone. The Hunter XC Hybrid is a good alternative where the controller needs to be mounted away from the manifold in a more convenient position. It provides conventional controller programming and is connected to the four valves using low-voltage multi-core signal cable.

Battery or mains powered tap manifold?

Both battery and 24V tap manifolds allow several irrigation zones to be controlled automatically from a single outside garden tap. The main difference is the type of controller and solenoid valves used. The battery tap manifold uses 9V DC latching solenoid valves and requires no mains electricity, making it ideal where providing power to an irrigation controller would be difficult or inconvenient. Where mains power is readily available for the controller, our 24V Multi-Zone Irrigation Tap Manifold uses standard 24V AC solenoid valves connected by low-voltage signal cable to a mains-powered irrigation controller. This can be a better choice for larger permanently wired irrigation systems.

Tap-mounted or underground irrigation valve manifold?

A tap-mounted manifold is usually the simplest solution where the irrigation system is supplied directly from an existing outside garden tap. It requires minimal excavation, is straightforward to install and keeps the valves easily accessible above ground. For a more discreet permanent installation, our Battery Underground Irrigation Valve Manifold houses the 9V solenoid valves below ground in a purpose-made valve box. This keeps the valves and connections out of sight and is particularly suitable where an underground water supply pipe is already available. Both systems provide battery-operated multi-zone control without requiring mains electricity, so the choice mainly depends on how the irrigation system will be connected to the water supply and whether the valves need to be concealed.

Battery tap manifold or multi-zone tap timer?

A multi-zone tap timer is a simple and convenient way to automate smaller garden watering systems. However, the compact internal waterways and valves can restrict the amount of water that can pass through the timer, which can become important when operating sprinklers or larger irrigation systems. The battery tap manifold uses full-size Hunter PGV irrigation valves fitted with 9V DC latching solenoids. These valves have a substantially higher flow capacity than an all-in-one tap timer. Hunter rates the PGV valve for flows up to approximately 9,000 litres per hour, compared with up to 3,860 litres per hour through the Hunter 2-Zone Bluetooth Tap Timer. For small drip irrigation systems, pots and individual garden areas, a multi-zone tap timer may be perfectly adequate and offers extremely simple installation. For larger systems, sprinkler irrigation or applications where maintaining a high water flow is important, the battery manifold is generally the better choice. It also provides four independently controlled zones rather than the two zones available from the Hunter BTT.

Technical specification

The battery multi-zone tap manifold is supplied with four Hunter PGV solenoid valves fitted with 9V DC latching solenoids, together with a flexible connection from the outside tap and fixings for mounting the manifold. A compatible battery irrigation controller is selected separately.

UK Water Regulations

When connecting an automatic irrigation system to the mains water supply, suitable backflow protection must be provided in accordance with the UK Water Regulations. The tap manifold controls the individual irrigation zones but does not itself provide backflow protection. The level of protection required will depend on the type of irrigation system, how it is connected and the potential contamination risk. Fixed and automatic garden irrigation systems are also generally notifiable to the local water undertaker, so the requirements should be confirmed before installation. For more information, see our UK Water Regulations for Domestic Gardens guide.

Outside tap and controller NOT INCLUDED.