Nelson 50940 Multi-Pattern Spray Oscillating Sprinkler with Auto Shut-Off and 3750-Square Feet Coverage, Metal with Wheels
- Spray tube with 3 pre-set coverage selections
- Heavy-duty metal base with wheels
- Rectangular coverage area up to 3,750 sq. feet
- Built-in automatic water shutoff
- Metal swivel coupling 2.75-Pound weight for stability
Product Description
Triple spray oscillator. Rectangular coverage area up to 3,750 sq. ft. Heavy duty metal base with wheels. Built-in automatic water shut-off. Brass swivel coupling…. More >>
Pros: This is a heavy duty sprinkler. It looks like it will take a lot of abuse.
Cons:As some of the above reviewers have noted, it requires enormous water pressure to work. Compared to other sprayers we have had, this one sprays 2/3 as far or less. The result is a more frequent need to move the sprayer to cover the areas requiring water.
I have purchased this sprinkler several times over many years. It is the ONLY sprinkler I have found that will cover my shared half of lawn between my home and my neighbor’s home, a 16-foot-wide swath that is 60 feet in length.
My neighbor, of course, has an underground system for his 8-foot strip. I don’t have a husband to tinker with toys like that.
When purchasing this, it must be considered that in in order to get such a long cast, the arc will be rather high, and water pressure must be decent (of course). For people with low water pressure, only low-to-the-ground types will EVER work. Not even a Rainbird will give a long enough cast if water pressure is low.
For a long-casting sprinkler to be effective, it is best to water when there is absolute stillness. For any long-cast sprinklers (like this one, or a Rainbird), I use programmable timers so they go after sundown when the breeze has dropped. This is necessary where I live anyway (Florida), because we are often assigned ONLY ONE day a week, and certain hours of that day, or suffer fines.
The only other options for narrow strips is either a small circular sprinkler pulled, or one that travels the line. A sprinkler that travels the line is terribly inconvenient, because those must be set out manually for that one day, then manually taken back up for that week’s mowing. Again, living in Florida means year-round watering, and weekly (sometimes more often) mowing.
Having to set only ONE sprinkler, ONE time, with very little hose hassle, is a great convenience. I always keep 2 of these in perfect working condition (for each side of my house) so that I am not tied to lawn watering on my assigned day.
A disadvantage to this sprinkler is the plastic moving mechanism. It corrodes, and unlike a metal sprinkler, you can’t disassemble it to soak in vinegar. So, if used at least weekly, year-round, it won’t survive but 2-3 years. I have to say, though, in the decades of lawn-watering that I’ve done in Florida, there simply is NO moving mechanism, even the metal ones, that survive. I witness my neighbor “watering the street” frequently with defective system heads, and then he has the lovely task of digging them up for repair. In any mechanical system, replacement costs must be factored.
When replacement costs are considered for this product, I still give it a 5-star. There simply is NO other sprinkler on the market that will do a long, narrow strip in just ONE setting.
While this item has all the advantages of my previous Nelson multi-pattern sprinklers with auto shut-off, it doesn’t seem to have the same coverage, either by width or range.
Anyone seeking a durable (made of steel) timer sprinkler this is the one to purchase. My old one broke after several years of use and I just replaced it with the same Nelson Metal sprinkler. It cost a little more but it is so worth the extra few dollars. Put the timer on and go about my other business. This is a water saver for sure! and a very dependable product!
I have multiple units of this sprinkler, and they ALL leak excessively at the hose junction. There is nothing that can be done, because it isn’t in the threads, it’s behind them in the unit. Frustrating, because otherwise a good sprinkler. Finding a good timed sprinkler is hard. Can’t live without the timer.