Self-Travelling Sprinkler

There are different main types of self-travelling sprinkler unit, with two common operating mechanisms: one is powered by water directed to the gears to drive the sprinkler unit forward, often having a front wheel with side discs that will typically be placed over the hose pipe and with water being connected to the back of the sprinkler drives it forward, this allows the hose pipe to be laid out to water irregular shaped lawns. The other main operating mechanism is controlled by a cable or rope which is unreeled and securely fixed into the ground and then the cable or rope is wound up by a motor / water turbine, gradually pulling the hose and sprinkler along. Long lengths of hose can be connected to a coupling point to allow large pitches to be watered over the day.

Benefits of self-travelling sprinklers include:
• Much cheaper than automatic pop-ups.
• Relatively simple to maintain and repair.
• Can be used on multiple pitches, by just moving them around.
• You can get on with other work once it's been set up.
• It's easy to set up and use.
• Less labour intensive than moving static sprinklers.
• Some can be set to follow a pre-set irregular shape by following the pattern of a laid-out hose.
• They shut off when reached the end of their run, so could, in theory be used for overnight watering.

Some of the limitations and disadvantages include:
• Water pressure can reduce over the length of a long hose.
• Time consuming to water an entire pitch: it can be a day or more using a single sprinkler.
• A couple of sprinklers will usually be required to water a pitch in half a day, to allow for other work to take place on the pitch on the same day.
• An even surface is mostly required to prevent the sprinkler deviating off course.
• It is liable to vandalism or being interfered with if used on a public park pitch.
• Long hoses can be heavy to drag around.