What situations work best with rotor-type sprinkler heads?
Typically rotors are used for sprinkler spacings from 18 feet to 55 feet apart. There are rotors available that can be spaced closer than 18 feet but they are generally not cost effective, as a spray sprinkler will work well at this spacing and cost less. There are also rotors available for spacings farther apart than 55 feet but they are typically only used for golf courses. Most rotors require a lot more water pressure to operate than spray-type sprinkler heads. When selecting a rotor keep Stryker’s Rule in mind; “the water pressure at the rotor head (in PSI) must exceed the distance (in feet) between the heads.”) Thus if you want to space rotors 35 feet apart you will need 35 PSI of pressure at the rotor. (Caution: you will actually need more pressure than 35 PSI to run the system due to pressure loss in the pipes and valves between the water source and the sprinkler. Figure a minimum of 15 PSI more will be required for the pipes and valves.) The small rotors sold for residential us
