CATCH-CAN TEST · MEASURED RATE

Measure the water.
Work out the time.

Turn your test duration and collected depths into an average application rate. Then calculate the time for a depth you choose.

Your test. Your target.This tool calculates time from measurements. It does not choose a watering amount, frequency or schedule.

Enter the timed test

Use one test of the same sprinkler zone. Record the actual duration in minutes.

Test duration

min

Must be greater than zero. For 1 minute 30 seconds, enter 1.5.

Your chosen target depth

The mean collected depth you want to model. No target is recommended here; zero gives a zero-minute result.

Add your catch-can depths

Use readings from that same timed test, already measured or converted to millimetres of depth. Include cans that collected zero.

1 of 30 readings

Each reading has equal weight. Use comparable collection openings and representative positions; a single can does not describe coverage across the zone. About the measurements →

Calculator arithmetic runs locally. No account or upload is needed. Downloads are created on your device. Privacy information

Your measured-rate plan

A timed test.
A useful rate.

Add a test duration, your chosen depth and at least one catch-can reading to calculate a plan.

The example shows the arithmetic without choosing a watering target for your garden.

Time at your measured average rate

—minutes

Average collected depth: — mm
Lowest / highest reading: — mm
Measured application rate: — mm/hour
Test duration: — min
Your chosen target: — mm
Readings / zero readings: —

Test

Modelled runtime

The result models the average collected depth, not the depth at every position. It assumes the measured rate continues and does not account for runoff, soil absorption, rain or losses.

Displayed figures are rounded to four decimal places. Calculations use the entered decimals before display rounding; very small positive values may display as 0.

Keep the zero readings.

Zero is a measured result, not a blank field. Removing zero-depth cans changes the average.

How zeros are handled →

Average is not evenness.

The lowest and highest readings stay visible so the average does not hide the spread in your test.

Read the model limits →

Revisit your seed plan.

For seed quantities, use your measured lawn area and the application rate on your actual seed product.

Open the seed calculator →

JavaScript is needed for the interactive calculator. The catch-can guide explains the same arithmetic for calculating by hand.