Anyone know if this type of valve already exists and where I can buy one?

[Ric2013]

Hi,

I'm still abroad and slightly bored.

My father waters the plants on his balcony using plastic bottles. Refilling them from the kitchen tap is time-consuming and laborious and 16 bottles take up a fair bit of floor space. It has occurred to me that if there were, say, 2-4 bottles filled from flexible hoses from a cistern (bucket) placed on a shelf, a cylindrical miniature low pressure and low flow float valve could be inserted into each bottle and refilling would be as quick as decanting a pail of water into the cistern.

When you took a full bottle, you would bung the miniature float valve into another bottle and it would fill as you used the previous bottle. I expect the float could be weighted to keep it submerged.

The main thing preventing me from doing this is I do not have the miniature float valves I have just invented, but I expect someone else has already made them and they can be sourced... any ideas?

 

[Aquarius]

Can’t you just fit a garden tap under sink, and then a hose to connect?

 

[snowhead]

Use a micro drip irrigation system, no need for bottles or buckets at all.

 

[Ric2013]

Can’t you just fit a garden tap under sink, and then a hose to connect?

LCS pipework buried in walls... Could tee off where the flexi emerges, but you've then got a hose running through the lounge and I can't see that being permitted. Good idea otherwise!
[automerge]1596272548[/automerge]

Use a micro drip irrigation system, no need for bottles or buckets at all.

Too technical for my father (and for me, probably) as the growing season here is about 3 months and then everything needs to go indoors before it freezes. Plus you lose the advantage of storing the water before use thus giving it opportunity to warm to ambient temperature in the summer.

More practically, doesn't that require a mains connection, which the balcony doesn't have? Getting mains to the balcony would be a difficult undertaking even if I were in the UK with my tools, which I'm not, which is why I was looking for a 'cheap and dirty' solution.

 

[oz-plumber]

If you're filling from a cistern or tank, can you not just install a ball valve to open and shut the flow of water?

 

[Ric2013]

If you're filling from a cistern or tank, can you not just install a ball valve to open and shut the flow of water?

I see your point Oz. My thought is, however, that the flow will be very slow. Perhaps half a litre a minute. So if you have to have manual valves on each bottle, you may as well walk back and forth to the kitchen to fill the bottles rather than stand there to watch the bottles refill.

 

[Aquarius]

Had a little more thought on this (my mind tends to drift) any of these any good? Bottom one seems best to me.

iFCOW Auto Aquarium Water Filler Controller Auto-top-Off System Adjustable Float Valve Mounting Auto Water Controller: Amazon.co.uk: Pet Supplies

Free delivery and returns on eligible orders. Buy iFCOW Auto Aquarium Water Filler Controller Auto-top-Off System Adjustable Float Valve Mounting Auto Water Controller at Amazon UK.

www.amazon.co.uk

D.M. Automatic Syphon Bottle Filler Home Brew Wine Making Bottling Filling | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for D.M. Automatic Syphon Bottle Filler Home Brew Wine Making Bottling Filling at the best online prices at eBay! Free delivery for many products!

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3 Spout Syphon Bottle Filler

Automatic Syphoning Bottle Filler For Quick And Easy Bottling With Three Nozzles. This Bottle Filler Needs To Be Setup For Use With Your Specific Bottle Profile, By Adjusting The Height Of The Red Retaining Plate. If You Change The Bottle Type, This Plate Will Need Re- Adjustment (This Is

www.balliihoo.co.uk

 

[Ric2013]

The first one is no good for the purpose. The other too merit further consideration, though I need to work out exactly how they work before thinking of making an order. Thanks mate!

 

[Aquarius]

though I need to work out exactly how they work before thinking of making an order.

Try this, shows it's operation, scroll down to the bottom where it states operation and components. Also the machine being Italian made, might be cheaper there?

Grifo Two-spout Hand Filling Machine, stainless steel filling nozzles and plastic tank

Manual bottling machine with incorporated bench, 2 filling nozzles

www.agrieuro.co.uk