Junior and AWS

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Full Member, agrif. This user is located in Alameda, CA Sunset Zone 17 USDA Hardiness 9a-10b. This was originally posted on March 8, 2012.

Does the AWS work with the Junior Earthbox? Does not seem like it will but thought I would ask.

Thanks

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on March 8, 2012.

The box depth is shallower. I suppose with some modification (or a new tube) of the fill tube to get the sensor cup at the right height above the water level it might work...  I dunno...

Mickie

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Donald1800. This user is located in Fontana, CA Zone 8. This was originally posted on March 8, 2012.

First the caveat:
I do not own a 'junior' model, and have not tested this combination.

Having said this, I can not envision EB not accommodating the AWS in their design.  The tube/valve assembly will sit a little higher in the 'junior' than the regular sized box when properly seated in the bottom socket.  Kathy should be responding here tomorrow, Friday.

Donald1800

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Horticulturalist, over 45 years in the business. The EarthBox Hero Member, Kathy. This user is located in the mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4. This was originally posted on March 9, 2012.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Donald1800. This user is located in Fontana, CA Zone 8. This was originally posted on March 8, 2012.

First the caveat:
I do not own a 'junior' model, and have not tested this combination.

Having said this, I can not envision EB not accommodating the AWS in their design.  The tube/valve assembly will sit a little higher in the 'junior' than the regular sized box when properly seated in the bottom socket.  Kathy should be responding here tomorrow, Friday.

Donald1800

Ok here is my response, we have not tested it yet. We had no way of testing it, until we had product. We do not know if it will work, and won't know for a while. We will begin tests shortly, keeping in mind our garden was down to 15 degrees the other night. We never really considered the AWS being used in Junior, we never thought Junior would be used in a high volume growing situation. Looking at the design of the reservoir, the probability is not high of it working. Also, you would have the full size tube inserted in the box.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Donald1800. This user is located in Fontana, CA Zone 8. This was originally posted on March 9, 2012.


Kathy:
Sometimes I am surprised by corporate thinking.  This is one of those times.

The major error is thinking that the AWS is primarily used in high volume.  My guess is that most of your customers are using the AWS for the convenience of NOT being married to the farm - being able to leave home for the weekend during the peak summer temps. without worrying that you will return to a withered-up garden.  I know THAT is the reason I bought into the system.  I would have bought it for only one box!

I think EB has lost track of the value the AWS is to your product line and its customers.  PLEASE - don't do this again for any future products.

Donald1800

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on March 9, 2012.

I know THAT is the reason I bought into the system.  I would have bought it for only one box!

I =did= buy it originally for only one box--for exactly the reason you state--to be able to leave it for some days without losing the plants.

How about a fill tube for Junior that is same height as standard one, with top that will accept the AWS and a bottom that fits the Junior screen/box?  I would even suggest that such should be shipped with the box once it is created--or at least available as an option.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, ErnieHodge. This user is located in Lake Panasoffkee, FL Zone 9a. This was originally posted on March 9, 2012.

Is the Junior fill tube a different size than the regular EB? If it was the same size it would have been easy to incorporate the AWS.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Horticulturalist, over 45 years in the business. The EarthBox Hero Member, Kathy. This user is located in the mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4. This was originally posted on March 12, 2012.

Well, Donald we hope it does work, but to be honest with you we made this box to compete with the window boxes of the world and to out perform them by having a water reservoir. That mission is accomplished. Now, we will test the AWS and hope that it we will work in our design. There's a good chance it won't because of the limited size of the water reservoir.  Something to keep in mind is we do not own the AWS design or product.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Horticulturalist, over 45 years in the business. The EarthBox Hero Member, Kathy. This user is located in the mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4. This was originally posted on March 12, 2012.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on March 9, 2012.

I know THAT is the reason I bought into the system.  I would have bought it for only one box!

I =did= buy it originally for only one box--for exactly the reason you state--to be able to leave it for some days without losing the plants.

How about a fill tube for Junior that is same height as standard one, with top that will accept the AWS and a bottom that fits the Junior screen/box?  I would even suggest that such should be shipped with the box once it is created--or at least available as an option.

I guess what everybody isn't understanding, is the AWS valve works on a pressure measurement from the reservoir. Junior's reservoir is small, a lot less depth than what the AWS valve was created for, it's not as simple as saying here's a longer tube.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on March 12, 2012.

OK, indeed. I think we do understand how AWS works. What was not realized was the lack of depth in the water of a Junior. If the depth of the water in the reservoir cannot be high enough to shut off the valve. the current AWS will not work, regardless of the mechanics of getting it into the box. I did not realize the Junior reservoir was that "un-tall."

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Donald1800. This user is located in Fontana, CA Zone 8. This was originally posted on March 12, 2012.

From where I sit, there are two areas which will nix the use of the AWS with the Junior:

1.  The Junior filling tube diameter is smaller than the EB filling tube, preventing insertion of the AWS valve assembly (although, even here, the top of the Junior tube can be squeezed to fit the top of the valve).

2.  The top of the filling tube, even when trimmed shorter to allow the black sensor to sit lower in the reservoir, the water level still does not rise high enough to turn the valve off.

Donald1800

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Horticulturalist, over 45 years in the business. The EarthBox Hero Member, Kathy. This user is located in the mountains of PA Zone 5, almost 4. This was originally posted on March 13, 2012.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, Donald1800. This user is located in Fontana, CA Zone 8. This was originally posted on March 12, 2012.

From where I sit, there are two areas which will nix the use of the AWS with the Junior:

1.  The Junior filling tube diameter is smaller than the EB filling tube, preventing insertion of the AWS valve assembly (although, even here, the top of the Junior tube can be squeezed to fit the top of the valve).

2.  The top of the filling tube, even when trimmed shorter to allow the black sensor to sit lower in the reservoir, the water level still does not rise high enough to turn the valve off.

Donald1800

The Junior fill tube is the same size, the two factors of concern are the size of the reservoir and the length of the tube, as said before the length of the tube is easy to amend.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, movrshakr. This user is located in Zone 10a - Cape Canaveral. This was originally posted on March 13, 2012.

OK, by 'is the same size,' I take it you mean it is the same diameter, but is shorter length. 

If that is correct, then a standard tube could be put into it (and an AWS would fit in the tube), but it would not work because the water level at the bottom would never get high enough to shut off the valve.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, RatedPG. This user is located in Zone 8b (Jacksonville, FL). This was originally posted on March 19, 2012.

I have tried tweaking the AWS for a "homemade self watering system" (which I disposed off out of respect for the EB).  But I got it to work.  I test the AWS when I'm monitoring it's performance on regular EB's with a little water in a cup and it works.  So the depth on the Junior might not be a problem unless the water level in its reservoir is really too low.

[EarthBoxAdmin]

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, mjb8743. This user is located in Zone 7, South NJ, Garden State. This was originally posted on March 19, 2012.

Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, RatedPG. This user is located in Zone 8b (Jacksonville, FL). This was originally posted on March 19, 2012.

I have tried tweaking the AWS for a "homemade self watering system" (which I disposed off out of respect for the EB).  But I got it to work.  I test the AWS when I'm monitoring it's performance on regular EB's with a little water in a cup and it works.  So the depth on the Junior might not be a problem unless the water level in its reservoir is really too low.

In following this thread, a thought keeps kicking... maybe it's not the water depth that matters, but the air space. The sensor reacts to air pressure which changes as the air space changes due to rising or lowering water levels. It doesn't care how deep the water is....

Mickie