North Star Sprayer Question

[Aggie66]

I Purchased, a Northstar spray rig 26 gallon tank with a 5 gallon a minute pump. I started calibrating it yesterday and it appears to me that the 5 gallon a minute pump is a lot more than I need for what I am doing on our place. Basically small food plots and I was setting up to control grass burrs in a couple of spots, but with a 5 gallon a minute pump in just a few minutes it would pull down half of the tank. I tried running the pressure way down, but it didn’t seem to make much difference. Is there anyway I can Reduce the flow output to where I would probably spray 12 to 15 gallons over an acre at 6-7 mph on my side by side. at the current right I am thinking I would have to drive 10 to 15 miles an hour to be able to put out the recommended amount of chemical per acre. The only thing I can think of is changing the boomernator 1400 ps nozzles to something smaller. Any suggestions are appreciate. I’d rather not have to buy $150 2 gallon a minute pump and replace the 5 gpm. Thanks

 

[dodge man]

Attachments

• 
  4989E542-19D8-4AA8-BD4E-69CD6D3C8468.jpeg

  2.9 MB · Views: 534

Is this your sprayer? I have this one, I mounted on a rack on my 3 point. It doesn’t have a boom but two spray nozzles that make a pretty wide pattern. Mine seems to spray out at a rate much slower than 5 gpm if I use the broadcast nozzles. If I use the wand it seems like it’s spraying at a much higher rate.

 

[TractorTech]

Can I assume that you bought the electric spot sprayer? If so, you need to add a regulator to your system or you will be a slave to speed for you only regulation option.
Buy the kit or something similar to the one listed and you can dial in the numbers you want.

https://www.northerntool.com/search?s=sprayer%20regulator

Good tip on sprayer calibration here:

Boom Sprayer Calibration

Boom sprayers, or sprayers with multiple nozzles, are used to apply liquid products more efficiently to larger areas than with a single-nozzle sprayer.

www.lsuagcenter.com

 

[Aggie66]

Attachments

• 
  4989E542-19D8-4AA8-BD4E-69CD6D3C8468.jpeg

  2.9 MB · Views: 534

Is this your sprayer? I have this one, I mounted on a rack on my 3 point. It doesn’t have a boom but two spray nozzles that make a pretty wide pattern. Mine seems to spray out at a rate much slower than 5 gpm if I use the broadcast nozzles. If I use the wand it seems like it’s spraying at a much higher rate. View attachment 804623

Yes that’s my spray rig dual boomless Boominator 1400ps L&R nozzles I should have given more detail

 

[dodge man]

I’ve never really timed mine but with the spray nozzle’s it just doesn’t seem to be putting out 5 gpm. In the picture above I was testing the spray pattern with water. I suppose you could fill it with water and see how fast it gets pumped out. If it’s really 5pm it should empty the tank in less than 5 minutes.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

You need to calibrate with a chart. Pressure and tip size plus travel speed to meter chemical per acre. I run 40psi, 4mph with my aftermarket tips to apply 20 gallons per acre. Spray pattern matters too, depending on droplet size you desire for herbicide vs pesticide

 

[Seven Gables]

If you study the boominator nozzle chart that TractorTech left it tells you what you need to know. You’re 1400 size nozzles put out 13.5 gallons/acre @ 40psi traveling 6mph. This is based on a 15’ band width per nozzle, you would just raise or lower the boom to get your 15’ spray width. I’m assuming you can regulate you’re pressure down to 40psi. With sprayers large changes in rates per acre need to be made with nozzle sizes and then fine tuned with pressure.
Interesting tidbit; To double the output you have to quadruple the pressure

 

[dodge man]

If you look at my picture above I was spraying water with mine to test it out. It’s a little hard to tell but I’m probably getting a 24 foot width with my 3 point all tge way up. I recently spit sprayed with my wand and over did it because it burned the grass.

 

[LouNY]

Most of those sprayers have a recirculation line to aid in mixing and keeping the solution mixed. To vary your spray rate you can use the recirculation valve partially opened so that much of your flow returns to the tank.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

On my Northstar sprayer, as I change the pressure, the recirculation line volume changes at the same time. It’s basically diverting flow to control the pressure down line. I have noticed that if I set pressure with the ATV idling, when I’m at operating RPM of about 3000, the pressure is higher, as the pump is getting more voltage. So, I rev up the engine a bit while I adjust the pressure regulator

 

[jaxs]

The pump is CAPIABLE of 5gpm @60psi but if pressure to nozzles is set to 40psi the nozzles are desighned to deliver x gpm @ 40psi and excess flow delivered by pump is returned to tank. Choose nozzles that deliver your desired gpm @ desired psi then calculate ground speed required to apply gallons per acre or gallons per sq ft. Nozzle suppliers list gpm @ various psi and width of spray pattern @ x inches above ground.
It sounds like your pressure regulator is malfunctioning or your nozzles are too large.

 

[jaxs]

On my Northstar sprayer, as I change the pressure, the recirculation line volume changes at the same time. It’s basically diverting flow to control the pressure down line. I have noticed that if I set pressure with the ATV idling, when I’m at operating RPM of about 3000, the pressure is higher, as the pump is getting more voltage. So, I rev up the engine a bit while I adjust the pressure regulator

If the pressure gauge is on line leading to nozzles that shouldn't happen unless nozzles are too large and if the pressure regulator works as it should. As you correctly pointed out, bypass should compensate for increased pump delivery. For peace of mind and monitoring pump health,I suggest gauges on both sides of regulator. My pto driven pump is capable of 300 psi but rarly operates above 160 due to by-pass relief.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

If the pressure gauge is on line leading to nozzles that shouldn't happen unless nozzles are too large and if the pressure regulator works as it should. As you correctly pointed out, bypass should compensate for increased pump delivery. For peace of mind and monitoring pump health,I suggest gauges on both sides of regulator. My pto driven pump is capable of 300 psi but rarly operates above 160 due to by-pass relief.

Welp, it’s done this since day one, and the nozzles are much smaller than what it came with. They are only 003 nozzles. The pressure difference isn’t large, but it’s there. I love the unit, it’s very accurate when it comes to application rates.

 

[Aggie66]

If you study the boominator nozzle chart that TractorTech left it tells you what you need to know. You’re 1400 size nozzles put out 13.5 gallons/acre @ 40psi traveling 6mph. This is based on a 15’ band width per nozzle, you would just raise or lower the boom to get your 15’ spray width. I’m assuming you can regulate you’re pressure down to 40psi. With sprayers large changes in rates per acre need to be made with nozzle sizes and then fine tuned with pressure.
Interesting tidbit; To double the output you have to quadruple the pressure

Thanks for the input. That makes sense. I’ll use this. Thank you

 

[Aggie66]

Most of those sprayers have a recirculation line to aid in mixing and keeping the solution mixed. To vary your spray rate you can use the recirculation valve partially opened so that much of your flow returns to the tank.

Good idea. Thanks never considered throttling

 

[ArlyA]

To reopen this thread, how far can you guys spray with the spot gun? Yes, I know the manufactures claim X,Y,Z distance but I'm skeptical of the 30 ft some claim. Any brand.

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

I'd say I get 30' at 60psi and full stream

 

[RjCorazza]

To reopen this thread, how far can you guys spray with the spot gun? Yes, I know the manufactures claim X,Y,Z distance but I'm skeptical of the 30 ft some claim. Any brand.

My run of the mill County Line (TSC) sprayer gun easily sprays 30'. Last time I used it I was hitting the tops of my mature Leland Cypress trees at at least 40', but the over spray and drifting was way too much to continue doing it.

 

[ArlyA]

I'd say I get 30' at 60psi and full stream

Looks like you have the Northstar version. Ever have any difficulties keeping the atv's battery up?

 

[CloverKnollFarms]

Looks like you have the Northstar version. Ever have any difficulties keeping the atv's battery up?

I have no issues as long as the ATV is running. Of course if I’m mixing chemical and I leave the ATV off, I will drain the battery. Sitting at idle, no issues. Same battery the last three years.