Welcome to the Wobbler Buying Guide!
In this guide, we will cover the 4 main factors to consider when selecting a wobbler for your application. The four factors are:
The flow rate (GPM) you want to supply with each unit
The coverage area needed per unit (measured in feet)
The pressure (PSI) required by the system for optimal performance
The application it will be installed in (inverted, indoor, outdoor...etc).
To begin, here is a flow rate chart of the different wobbler models and their corresponding flow rates:
Flow rate is important to consider for a few reasons; one being the plants in your system will require a specific amount of water (you’ll want to make sure you aren’t providing too much or too little water), and two; the water source you are using will be limited to the maximum flow rate it can supply. (This is important because if the required volume of water from the system is higher than the volume of water supplied by the water source, you will need to zone your system to avoid overtaxing your water source).
Second is the coverage area. This is the wetted area provided per unit. Here is a quick diagram showing the different wobbler models and the maximum and minimum coverage areas offered.
Please note, the coverage area can vary depending on the nozzle used and the operating PSI of the system.
In determining the coverage area per each wobbler, it will also be important to consider the spacing between the units. For best results, the chart below has the recommended wobbler spacing.
Next up is pressure (PSI). Wobblers are unlike traditional sprinklers in that they don’t require high pressure in order to operate optimally. Wobblers operate between 10 - 30 PSI, depending on the specific model selected. It is important to note that wobblers are pressure sensitive and the PSI of the system directly affects the performance of the units.
Pressure regulators are always recommended for all wobbler installations. Let me say that again - yes, pressure regulators ARE ALWAYS recommended for all wobbler installations! (If you believe your system might be an exception to this rule - PLEASE don’t hesitate to ask!)
Why a pressure regulator? Pressure regulators help to regulate and maintain a consistent pressure within the system, assuring the best performance from your wobblers. They’re part of the components that contribute to the ‘insurance’ of your system as these not only help to achieve the expected performance from your wobblers, they also protect and preserve the longevity of your system and the system components, including but not limited to the wobblers.
Lastly, the configuration or application in which the wobblers will be installed needs to be taken into account. Whether you’re going to be using inverted or upright, you’ll also want to consider if your system will be indoors or outdoors and what challenges each environment may have.
Here is a chart of the wobblers, their recommended applications and installations:
Inverted vs Upright and Indoor vs Outdoor - which models are which?
Here is a quick overview of the different models inverted vs. upright and indoor vs. outdoor:
Other considerations…
Does droplet size matter?
Droplet size does matter. Equally as much as droplet size, soil type matters. Specific soil composition (what soil type you have) also plays a part in the infiltration rate. Certain soils are susceptible to ‘surface sealing’ which unfortunately can negatively affect the absorption rate of the soil. Soil that has lower silt content and a higher sand composition tends to be more resistant to this surface sealing.
The image above demonstrates the differences between soil compositions and their corresponding resistances to surface sealing on a scale of 1 to 4; 4 being most resistant. The larger the number, the larger the droplet size can be on that soil type.
Here is a breakdown of the different wobbler models and the information we have covered:
Here are the different wobblers in action!
Inverted Mini Wobbler: Upright Mini Wobbler:
Xcel wobbler: Wobbler:
Xi-Wob: UP3 i-Wob2:
