IRRIGATION


Standard equipment like screwdrivers, wrenches, shovels and wire cutters are all must- haves on the job, but are often replaced. Photos: Controlled Irrigation and Backflow


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Here are additional tools and accessories irrigation technicians should always carry:


Flat-screen assistants


In the field, today’s irrigation technician is at a loss with- out their tablet device. Smaller than a laptop but larger than a cell phone, its portability and touchscreen interface make the tablet a digital job site pocketknife. “[A tablet] is by far the most important tool we carry out on the job site,” says John Newlin, CIC, CIT, CLIA, owner of Cleveland-based Quality Sprinkling Systems Inc., who’s been equipping his irrigation technicians with tablets for the better part of the last 20 years. It’s the field service management software installed onto the tablets that makes these digital devices so worthwhile, Newlin says. Tis specialized business soft- ware simplifies scheduling, billing and communication with irrigation service teams and customers. “It’s how we run our business and how we communicate,” he says. “Te tablet takes us to the job. It times us in and times us out. It tracks what parts are used and what services need to be billed.” Equally as important are the manufacturer- and prod- uct-specific apps installed on each tablet, which a service technician utilizes to troubleshoot product-specific issues and assist with installations. In addition, customer ser- vice portals, which link technicians with manufacturer reps, augment the apps’ convenience, Newlin adds. “Tis is essential when a technician requires extra help trouble- shooting a problem in the field.” Te tablet also provides technicians with another criti-


cal advantage: access to YouTube. Most manufacturers and distributors serving the irrigation industry post problem- solving videos to the popular video-sharing platform. Newlin trains his irrigation technicians on how to locate


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this troubleshooting information on the online video platform to address problems out in the field. “My service techs are all well-versed on how to use


YouTube out in the field,” Newlin says. “I advise them not to call me [with a technical issue] unless they’ve first sought the answer to their question on YouTube.”


Old faithfuls


It’s a foregone conclusion that a wide assortment of screw- drivers, wrenches, multigrip pliers, clamps, shovels and wire cutters are on every irrigation technician’s essential tool list. Coincidentally, these must-haves also rank near the top of the irrigation contractor’s “most-replaced tool” list. “I don’t know where they go or how they get lost,


but I always seem to be replacing screwdrivers and wire cutters,” says Steve Smith, CIC, CIT, owner of Smitty’s Sprinkler Systems, Centennial, Colorado. “My [techni- cians] will come in mid-season claiming they need new pliers,” he says. “Where are the five pairs I sent you out with at the beginning of the season?” Tere are other must-have tools to aid irrigation tech-


nicians, including several handheld devices specific for use with irrigation systems. A multimeter, or volt/ohm meter, is the most basic. Tis electronic measuring instru- ment combines several measurement functions, such as the ability to measure voltage, current and resistance, into a compact, handheld unit. Typically, an irrigation techni- cian places a multimeter lead on the common wire and one on the zone wire’s tip to test the line’s resistance. If the reading is above a specific range, the wiring is most likely cut or has a bad connection. If the reading is below this range, a faulty solenoid is a likely culprit.


• caution tape: You dig a hole or a trench, but you’re forced to leave the job site, leaving behind a potentially dangerous situation. Tape off that hazard and alert passersby not to fall in.


• PVC cement: The primer and glue are vital to connecting plastic pipes, connectors and joints.


• surgical gloves: Heavy- duty latex or nitrile, these gloves protect hands and fingers while providing touch sensitivity for delicate work. Buy in bulk and grab a variety of sizes.


• disposable boot covers: These booties are vital when your crew must walk in and out of residential and commercial buildings.


• remote control receivers: These are vital when servicing older systems. While most remotes are manufacturer-specific, the time they save a technician makes them a worthwhile investment.


March 2023 Irrigation & Lighting 23


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