Irrigation Product Listings & Reviews
Hunter PGJ Series Rotor Pop-Up
Hunter PGJ rotor & Nozzles
(this is the 6" pop-up model)
Description:
The Hunter PGJ is a short-range (Hunter calls it mid-range) rotor intended for spacings between 15 feet and 37 feet. It is the replacement for the earlier Hunter PGM series rotors, which have been discontinued. It features a very small diameter body, a water lubricated gear-drive, and adjustable arc. It comes with 8 nozzles on a nozzle tree. This is a good-quality rotor for residential use. If your area to be irrigated is more than 35 feet wide I would suggest stepping up to Hunter's PGP series rotors as they are better suited to those larger areas. The PGJ is designed to be used in applications where typically a spray-type head would be used. For example, a 28 foot square lawn would need 4 of the PGJ rotors to water it, verses 9 spray heads. While you won't get a huge cost saving by using rotors, you will not need nearly as much trench for the pipe.
There's a lot of debate in the industry about which is better, spray heads or short range rotors. I think it can go either way. I tend to use spray heads on my (commercial) projects, primarily due to the training needed to adjust a rotor. Unfortunately, my clients tend to use the cheapest landscape maintenance company available, and these "mow, blow & go" maintenance people often do not take the time to properly adjust and maintain the rotors. My advice? If you are a do-it-yourselfer who is willing to take the time to learn how to use and maintain the rotors, using rotors will save you a lot of installation time and effort. If you plan to hire the cheapest company you can find to maintain your landscape, I would stick to spray heads for simplicity.
Model Numbers:
| Model Number | Description |
|---|---|
| PGJ-00 | Shrub Style Body (ie; installed above ground.) |
| PGJ-04 | 4" Pop-Up Body. |
| PGJ-06 | 6" Pop-Up Body. |
| PGJ-12 | 12" Pop-Up Body. |
Features:
- Radius adjustment screw
- Rubber cover is standard (all rotors should have this feature!)
- Arc adjustable from 40° to 360°
- Optional check valve (see discussion on Slopes & Check Valves.)
Specifications:
- Minimum pressure: 30 PSI
- Maximum pressure: 50 PSI
- Nozzle trajectory: 14°
- 1/2" (female) inlet size.
Manufacturer's Performance Data:
| Nozzle No. | 30 PSI | 40 PSI | 50 PSI |
|---|---|---|---|
| .75 | 15' - 0.64 GPM | 16' - 0.75 GPM | 17' - 0.85 GPM |
| 1.0 | 18' - 0.85 GPM | 19' - 1.0 GPM | 19' - 1.1 GPM |
| 1.5 | 21' - 1.3 GPM | 22' - 1.5 GPM | 22' - 1.7 GPM |
| 2.0 | 24' - 1.7 GPM | 25' - 2.0 GPM | 25' - 2.3 GPM |
| 2.5 | 27' - 2.2 GPM | 28' - 2.5 GPM | 28' - 2.8 GPM |
| 3.0 | 30' - 2.5 GPM | 31' - 3.0 GPM | 31' - 3.4 GPM |
| 4.0 | 33' - 3.7 GPM | 34' - 4.0 GPM | 34' - 4.3 GPM |
| 5.0 | 36' - 4.7 GPM | 37' - 5.0 GPM | 37' - 5.3 GPM |
Don't forget Stryker's Rule: "Distance between rotor heads in feet should never be greater than the head operating pressure in PSI"! Therefore 35 PSI = 35' maximum spacing between heads.
Recommended Nozzles:
The following are the nozzles I recommend that you use with this rotor. Using these nozzles you can combine any of the spacings and arcs on the same valve zone. The precipitation rates will be balanced so that you get uniform water coverage. For the arc select the closest arc to the actual arc you will be using. So if your arc will be 60° you would use the 90° nozzle. Spacing is distance to furthest adjacent sprinkler. Ie; if the rotor is in a row between two others, one is 30' away the other is 35', then the spacing is 35'. After installation watch the watered area for a couple of weeks then fine tune the nozzle selection. If wet or dry areas are noted, adjust the nozzles of one or more rotors adjacent to that area to correct the problem. These nozzle selections shown will be sufficient for your design and as a starting point for installation. For spacings over 35 feet use the Hunter PGP series rotors with the nozzles I recommend in my review of that rotor. I have intentionally balanced my recommended nozzles for both the PGJ and PGP rotors so that you can mix them together on the same valve.
| Spacing | Arc | Nozzle | Pressure | GPM |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15'-20' | F | 2.0 | 30 PSI | 1.7 GPM | 15'-20' | TQ | 1.5 | 30 PSI | 1.3 GPM | 15'-20' | H | 1.0 | 30 PSI | 0.85 GPM | 15'-20' | Q | .75 | 30 PSI | 0.64 GPM | 20'-25' | F | 3.0 | 30 PSI | 2.5 GPM | 20'-25' | TQ | 2.5 | 30 PSI | 2.2 GPM | 20'-25' | H | 1.5 | 30 PSI | 1.3 GPM | 20'-25' | Q | .75 | 30 PSI | 0.64 GPM | 25'-30' | F | 4.0 | 30 PSI | 3.7 GPM | 25'-30' | TQ | 3.0 | 30 PSI | 2.5 GPM | 25'-30' | H | 2.0 | 30 PSI | 1.7 GPM | 25'-30' | Q | 1.0 | 30 PSI | 0.85 GPM | 30'-35' | F | 5.0 | 35 PSI | 4.9 GPM | 30'-35' | TQ | 4.0 | 35 PSI | 3.9 GPM | 30'-35' | H | 2.5 | 35 PSI | 2.4 GPM | 30'-35' | Q | 1.5 | 35 PSI | 1.4 GPM |
TQ = Three-Quarter Circle, 270 °
H = Half Circle, 180 °
Q = Quarter Circle, 90 °
For an in-depth description of features found on this and other rotors, see the faq on "How to Select the Best Rotor-Type Sprinkler".