Rain Bird 1800 Spray Conversion to Drip Retro Kit | SprinklerSupplyStore.com

[@3wbishop]

For the larger 1800 sprinkler bodies you would want to keep the spring inside when converting to the drip system. The reason is because the compressed spring will keep the drip conversion filter in place and prevent it from dropping down into the body.

[@Andy_Humphrey]

That's a great tip! Thanks for sharing!

[@mariamyoussef1412]

Yo are an amazing please do more videos it is very important to me to watch some one has information look like you. Good job

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Thanks for your kind words! We'll keep doing these videos for sure. Please let us know if there are any specific products that you'd like to see us do a video for!

[@Bobby19811]

I think I know this question but I want to be sure. I have the 5000 series Rain bird sprinklers can I use the 1800 retrofit to do drip irrigation in my garden or is the a 5000 retrofit kit that is have not seen on the internet?

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Hi Robert. Yes, you could. However, the kit is not a direct replacement because the service fitting on the 5000 is 3/4”, and the Retro Kit uses a 1/2” fitting. With this in mind, you might consider feeding the drip by removing the sprinkler and connecting directly to the 3/4” service fitting.

[@jayadams9375]

I tried to connect using 1/2” tubing, but couldn’t get it to fit. Is that the correct type?

[@jconn5865]

I converted a zone for a rock garden to drip using these conversion kits. It’s a two tier garden with three heads on top and three on bottom. I capped the two middle heads and put 4 conversion kits running the drip line from one kit to another. So two kits up top on either corner and two on bottom. Basically I don’t have any cut off ends of the drip line as I ran one end from one conversion kit to another. Is this ok to do this way ? Basically it’s a closed system with no cut off crimped closed ends and seems to be working just fine so far. Was curious your thoughts

[@Andy_Humphrey]

You can absolutely do that. No real advantage or disadvantage, unless your zone is really big, too big to feed from one spot. Nice idea. Bonus - if the drip is accidentally cut, feeding from both ends will ensure everything is still watered.

[@troyhall2317]

Silly question but does both ends of drip hose go on the tee

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Kinda of. You could simply plug one side of the TEE, with a short piece of drip tubing, and only use the other side.

[@AndreaJoyce-n2c]

Can I attach Hunter (or any other) 1/2 inch drip tubing to this kit? Or do you need to use rainbird drip tubing?

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Perfect question! It is not brand specific, you can attach any brand of your choice that fits. Have fun!

[@joyofanimation]

If one zone has a few spray sprinklers can you use this kit in place of one sprinkler that sprays so I can conver it for a drip system on the plants at the edge of the lawn?

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Yes, absolutely. Keep in mind that it will operate at the same time with your sprinklers and the precipitation rate of drip vs. sprinklers is usually different, and it won’t be possible to increase/decrease just the drip area - it will be watered with the sprinklers. Depending on the plants this might be fine - but it also might not be what you need.

[@jacvalencia2697]

Does this adapt to the Hunter Pro spray, Hunter PGP, or Hunter SRC models or would I have to dig up each spray head? Does hunter make an equivalent retrofit kit?

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Hi Jac. This video is for the PGP model. The PRO-SPRAY has it's own unique check valve, available here: sprinklersupplystore.com/products/437400-pro-spray-check-valve

[@simonsuh227]

Thanks for the video. Can I use this Rainbird kit for my Hunter sprinkler heads? So difficult to find conversion info for the hunter products...

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Hi Simon - not sure if the caps are interchangeable, however, the kit does come with a sprinkler body. We will test this our here in the shop and replay back and/or make another video to answer this question for you. Thanks! -Andy

[@Andy_Humphrey]

UPDATE: This kit does not fit inside of the Hunter Pro Spray. To retrofit Hunter Sprinklers, you will need one of these kits (to replace the Hunter Pro Spray), and then Hunter Caps to cap off the other Hunter Sprinklers. Caps can be found here: sprinklersupplystore.com/products/hunter-213600-sp-pro-spray-shut-off-cap-priced-per-cap

[@SERVISONE]

Should you replace the regular valve with a drip valve?

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Thanks for the question! There's no need to change out the valve, as the conversion kit has a regulator to take the pressure down to 30psi and also has a build in filtration system. That makes the conversion especially easy if you already have a Rain Bird 1804 installed!

[@mikedove7062]

Do you need a pressure regulator and backflow preventer?

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Maybe. If your system is connected to a hose bib then you do not (typically) need a backflow preventer, otherwise, if it is connected to the main water supply, yes. Drip fittings are design to be used without clamps up to 50psi - if your pressure is greater than 50psi, I recommend adding a pressure regulator. This could be easiest to add at the valve.

[@alibalooch]

I am confused. I thought this unit has a pressure regulator built into it. Is that not the case?

[@Andy_Humphrey]

You are correct. 30psi built-in regulator. My apologies, I only answered the backflow portion of your question.

[@qingzich1489]

Is it okay to put two retrofit kits in one zone? Thanks.

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Absolutely. You can feed the drip from multiple sprinkler kits- connect them together - or keep the separate. Have fun! -Andy

[@jturtledov]

I attached this kit yesterday and it leaking from the top are around the base. Not the screwed on coupler but from the base of the connection any recommendations on what to do?

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Very sorry for the delayed response to you. Is this still an issue?

[@turbotong]

Which part is the pressure regulator?

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Hi Peter. The 30psi pressure regulator is locator in the top portion of the sprinkler body.

[@lesliebehrens7252]

What if you want to use other heads on the zone? Capping off all the others is not practical in my setup

[@Andy_Humphrey]

It’s all possible - cap, don’t cap - do what works for you, there is no perfect method, just many different methods. If you want to keep other spray heads active, go for it. Just keep in mind the difference in precipitation rates.

[@lesliebehrens7252]

@@Andy_Humphrey thank you so much

[@Andy_Humphrey]

My pleasure

[@Al49415]

I’m finding that the connection between the 1/2” nipple and the barbed elbow/tee leaks.

[@Andy_Humphrey]

That piece should definitely not leak! You may want to unthread the barbed elbow and check and see if there's some debris that may have gotten trapped in the threads. Try rinsing the threads with water and reinstall the item. If you're still getting leaks, the unit is probably defective and need to be replaced.

[@audiophileman7047]

Did you try putting some teflon tape on the threads to see if that stops your leak?

[@gibbyqq]

The instructions say this kit is for specific rainbird heads, but you seem to indicate you can use it for any. I have 13 1800s on one zone and was gonna convert one but am unsure if it will work with the 1800 model. Do you know?

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Hi Gibby! Thanks for the question. If you have an Rain Bird 1800 series head, it's pretty simple to retrofit in the 1800 kit by just removing the insides of your existing sprinkler and replacing it with the insides of the kit. However, Rain Bird also provides you with the housing for the entire kit that has a 1/2" inlet on the bottom. If you have some other brand of spray head (like a Hunter Pro Spray) with a 1/2" inlet on the bottom, you can also use this retrofit kit by removing the entire existing sprinkler and replacing it with the complete RETRO kit. You can even use it in place of a rotor using the above instructions, but you'd also need to change the fitting connecting the head to the water supply to a 1/2" fitting, as most rotors are 3/4".

[@gibbyqq]

@@Andy_Humphrey awesome, thanks for the detailed response.

[@americanhero6965]

Could you put 13 conversion to drip heads in this scenario since it’s on the same zone you mentioned you can only have one drip conversion head and the 12 others need to be capped off? Or can you convert all 13 to drip?

[@BillyBob-wk5ew]

I would seriously recommend not using these. I deviated from using the traditional filter/pressure regulator to use them and wish I hadn't because they leak from the area where fitting swivels on the top. Leaks quite a bit.

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Thanks for sharing, it’s definitely possible to have leaks. My recommendation would be to always remove the sprinkler, and kept the fitting that feeds it, but for temporary purposes, it can be an easy fix. Thank you!

[@americanhero6965]

Is there a benefit of pressure or other using the large 1800 tube and not the shorter one it came with ? Thanks for your help

[@Andy_Humphrey]

Can you add more information about the “large 1800 tube” - a bit confused by what you’re asking. Thanks.