Guide to Senninger® Wobbler® Technology

Wobbler Technology

Wobbler® Technology was introduced in 1978 and became an industry standard that enabled the development of more water and energy-efficient sprinklers, including our own sprinklers carrying the Wobbler name.

Senninger Wobbler sprinklers are famous worldwide for their ability to spread water in a large, uniform pattern using low operating pressures. They have become popular in over 80 countries, especially among farmers looking for water and energy savings.

Wobbler sprinklers instantly and uniformly cover their entire wetted diameter. They do this using a unique off-center rotary motion. When the flow hits the sprinkler’s deflector, it creates a thrust which spins it into motion. Then, the grooves in the deflector divide the flow into streams. Because the deflector in a Wobbler sprinkler is off-center, it breaks those streams into droplets as it moves. The droplet size varies based on deflector grooves and the pressure, with higher pressures producing smaller droplets.

These droplets are large enough to resist wind and evaporation, yet small enough to meet soil needs. Plus, since they instantly and uniformly wet a large area, they also distribute water at a lower instantaneous application rate. The lower application rate reduces soil compaction and runoff.

Senninger has several Wobbler sprinklers designed to improve irrigation efficiency in agricultural, horticultural, and industrial applications.

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  BENEFITS OF WOBBLER TECHNOLOGY

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  CHOOSING AN IDEAL MODEL

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  SUCCESS IN THE FIELD

BENEFITS

• Uniform Distribution
  Wobbler sprinklers deliver outstanding uniformity over a large diameter.
• Low Operating Pressure
  Senninger Wobblers require low operating pressures of 6 to 15 psi (center pivot models) and 10 to 30 psi (solid set, nursery, greenhouse, and mining models), which saves money and energy.
• Droplets Resistant to Wind-drift and Evaporation
  Wobbler sprinklers produce droplets that are resistant to high winds and temperatures to help improve irrigation efficiency.
• Low Application Intensity
  When using the right model, Wobbler sprinklers can distribute water at a rate that closely matches the soil’s infiltration rate. This preserves soil structure and prevents over-watering and run-off.
• Several Deflector Models
  Each deflector model is designed to distribute water at varying trajectories and droplet sizes to best suit soil, crop, and installation requirements.

CHOOSING THE IDEAL MODEL

FOR PIVOT & LINEAR SYSTEMS

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  The i-Wob®2 provides the most uniform water distribution compared to any pivot applicator on the market.

  Installation: Flexible hose drops

  Droplet Size: Small, Medium, or Large

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  The Xi-Wob™ takes the instantaneous, uniform distribution pattern popularized by the i-Wob®2 to semi-rigid PE and steel drops.

  Installation: Semi-rigid, steel and PE drops

  Droplet Size: Small, Medium, or Large

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  The Xcel-Wobbler™ TOP takes the instantaneous, uniform distribution pattern of Wobbler® technology to top-of-pipe applications.

  Installation: Top-of-pipe

  Droplet Size: Large

FOR OPEN FIELDS, NURSERIES & GREENHOUSES

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  The Senninger® mini-Wobbler® provides instantaneous and uniform coverage over large diameters.

  Models: Upright & Inverted

  Spacing Recommendation: 10 to 20 ft
  (3 to 6 m)

  Connection Options: 1/2" NPT

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  The Xcel-Wobbler® provides an extremely uniform and instantaneous application pattern over a large area at lower pressures, and with very low evaporative loss.

  Models: High & Mid Angle

  Spacing Recommendation: 10 to 30 ft
  (3 to 9.1 m)

  Connection Options: 1/2" NPT & 3/4" NPT

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  The Wobbler®, patented over 40 years ago, was the first sprinkler to bring Wobbler benefits to irrigation.

  Models: Standard & Low Angle

  Spacing Recommendation: 10 to 30 ft
  (3 to 9.1 m)

  Connection Options: 1/2" NPT & 3/4" NPT

*To ensure consistent startability, the minimum recommended nozzle size at 15 psi (1.03 bar) is #5.

More Than Just Irrigation

The water and energy savings benefits that Wobbler sprinklers provide are like those of drip irrigation. But many farmers choose to water with Wobbler sprinklers because they require less maintenance and labor costs. Wobbler technology also provides more versatility than drip and can be used for:

Salt Leaching: Wobbler sprinklers’ uniform application can help minimize the build-up of soluble salts in the soil. All you need is to apply more water than required by the crop during the growing season to move the salts downward, through, and below the root zone.

Insect Control: Because they can spread water and chemicals from above and/or below the foliage area, Wobbler sprinklers can be useful for insect control.

Frost Protection: With their instantaneous 360° distribution pattern, Senninger Wobbler sprinklers are an effective solution to combat frost damage. They gently apply an even and uniform water layer over plants to keep them always covered in ice. As the ice encases the plant, it partially insulates it from the harsh exterior temperatures and prevents sudden heat loss.

Overtree Cooling: Wobbler sprinklers can be installed above the crop canopy. This installation allows applying small amounts of water throughout several short cycle irrigation events to lower crop temperature, raise the air humidity, and reduce the water loss by transpiration. Tree cooling can improve fruit color and quality and prevent solar injury.

FOR MINING & HEAP LEACHING

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  The CMS mini-Wobbler® brings the Wobbler Technology's outstanding uniformity to solution leaching and minimizes the potential for channeling or clogging often associated with drip.

  Models: Upright only

  Spacing Recommendation: 20 by 23 ft
  (6 by 7 m)

  Connection Options: 1/2" NPT

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  The CMS Xcel-Wobbler® brings Wobbler Technology benefits to solution leaching, including low operating pressures and very low evaporative losses.

  Models: High & Mid Angle

  Spacing Recommendation: 20 by 23 ft
  (6 by 7 m)

  Connection Options: 1/2" M NPT & M 3/4" NPT

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  The CMS Wobbler® was the first to bring the Wobbler's outstanding uniformity to solution leaching, making it one of the first sprinkler options with very low evaporative losses.

  Models: Standard & Low Angle

  Spacing Recommendation: 20 by 23 ft
  (6 by 7 m)

  Connection Options: 1/2" M NPT & 3/4" M NPT

*To ensure consistent startability, the minimum recommended nozzle size at 15 psi (1.03 bar) is #5.

SUCCESS IN THE FIELD

i-Wob - Sao Paulo, Brazil - Potato

The Rocheto Group is one of the main producers and processors of potatoes in Brazil. In one of its divisions - Hacienda Três Marias in Casa Branca, cultivation is carried out over 1,300 irrigated hectares under 24 center pivots.

Senninger's i-Wob guarantees the efficiency of irrigation in this field. The sprinkler's pattern preserves the original structure of the plant bed so potatoes can develop in a well-aerated environment.

There are approximately more than 500 thousand hectares irrigated with Wobbler technology in Brazil. Overall, Senninger is responsible for equipping around 95% of the new pivots and other mechanical move systems placed in Brazilian market.

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Xcel-Wobbler - Escuintla, Guatemala - Sugarcane

Xcel-Wobblers have been in this producer's field for over five years. They initially installed drip to try and maximizing water efficiency, but the system could not handle the rocky terrain and shallow, dry soils.

Since the installation of the Xcel-Wobblers, this field has been producing approximately 125 metric tons of sugarcane. The Xcel-Wobblers spread water with 90% distribution uniformity. In contrast, alternate irrigation solutions tested only produced 90 to 100 tons of sugarcane with 70% uniformity.

The producers believe that this significant variance in uniformity is the main reason behind the 25% difference in metric tons yielded.

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mini-Wobbler - Lake Worth, FL United States - Flowers

Eric Aanonsen has been in business for 27 years. During that time, he's tried and tested many sprinklers in search for one that could give him the uniform coverage he was looking for.

He learned about the mini-Wobbler at a local nursery & greenhouse event and now has 10,000 Wobblers in his entire nursery. He now has better control over the amount of water each plant receives.

“The other sprinkler heads we used would bypass certain areas," Eric said, "so we had to water twice as much just to get them wet and the other ones were getting too wet. So, the mini-Wobbler has really helped us to keep uniform watering in our 4-1/2-inch pots.”

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Discover the differences between Senninger's Wobbler products for pivot irrigation, how to select a model, the best practices for installing these sprinklers, as well as troubleshooting tips.

Learn about the benefits of Wobbler® Technology for solid set, nursery and greenhouse installations. Get troubleshooting tips, installation recommendations, and even examples of ideal setups.