How To Install a Bulk Head Connection

Irrigation Tutorial

Gravity Feed Drip Irrigation Kit for Clean or Dirty Water

Step 1: Installing a Bulk Head Fitting in a Rain Barrel

So we need to install our bulk head fitting, and we have chosen a 35 gallon Rubbermaid container to act as our rain barrel. Now most drip irrigation systems and components such as this drip emitter are designed to run within 20 to 30 psi. So this half gallon per hour emitter will put out a half gallon per hour at those psi ranges. Since this is gravity feed system, we have much less pressure to work with and we will also have much less output.

Now there are too main factors in determining our overall pressure within our gravity feed system. The first is the height of the rain barrel off the ground. For every foot of elevation, we increase the pressure by .433 psi. So at two feet, we would have .866 psi of pressure.

The other factor is the vertical column of water in the rain barrel. It also increases by every foot at .433 psi. So as an example, if we had a two foot elevation in a rain barrel, with a 24 inch vertical column of water, we would have 1.7 psi of pressure to work with. So let’s get started.

Okay, so we have all the parts laid out from our bulk head fitting kit. And let’s take a quick look at each component. We have an instruction sheet that will walk you step by step on how to install, we have a lock ring, we have two rubber washers, and we have the bulk head fitting. Now for installation, we are using a drill with a 7/8” hole saw and a pair of channel locks. So to begin, we need to locate an area within our rain barrel where we want to place the fitting. Now we need to figure out where in the rain barrel we want to place our bulk head fitting. We want it low enough so that we don’t have any standing water at the bottom that we are not using. Since we are dependent on all of this water to run our system we want to use every bit that we can. So we will mark an area with about an inch to an inch and a half up from the bottom. Now we will take our drill with the 7/8” whole saw and create the hole necessary for the bulk head fitting.

Alright, now that we have our hole drilled let’s make sure we clean out any debris, and then we will test fit our bulk head fitting. Perfect.

Now that we have created our hole, we need to install our bulk head fitting into the rain barrel. To begin, simply add one rubber washer to the small end of the bulk head fitting. Push it against the base. Then we are going to insert the bulk head fitting into the hole. And then take our other rubber washer and install that onto the backside.

So here is a reverse view of our installation. I have already placed the rubber washer onto the bulk head fitting. I place it through the hole we have created. I take the rubber O-ring, place it over the fitting, and with my free hand I spin the fitting on the other end while pushing the O-ring down against the base of the fitting. Then I take the lock ring, place it onto the fitting, and again, on the other side, with my free hand, I twist the lock ring down. Now if your arms aren’t long enough, that’s okay, just get one person to spin the fitting on one end, and someone to hold the lock ring on the other end. Now, we take our channel locks, grab the lock ring, and again, spin the fitting on the other side to synch down the lock ring, creating a seal.

Alright, so now that we have our bulk head fitting connected into our rain barrel, we are ready to test. To test, simply use a cap, a 3/4" female cap or some plastic around the fitting with a rubber band to hold it into place. Fill it about two inches above the fitting and then monitor it for about 30 minutes. Look for any water coming from around the O-ring seals. If you see any leaking, drain the water, get your channel locks and tighten just a little bit more.