Methods and apparatus for checking emitter bonds in an irrigation drip line

An emitter bond tester for testing discrete emitter bonds to an extruded drip line tube, the tester comprising:

• a vacuum chamber configured to store fluid within the chamber to enable submersing the extruded drip line tube, the chamber having a first inlet opening that forms a first seal between the vacuum chamber and extruded drip line tube passing through the vacuum chamber and having a second outlet opening that forms a second seal between the vacuum chamber and the extruded drip line tube passing through the vacuum chamber;
• a flow meter in association with the vacuum chamber configured to measure an actual amount of air escaping from precut outlet passages in the extruded drip line tube passing through the vacuum chamber, each precut outlet passage associated with a drip emitter bonded to the extruded drip line tube;
• a processor;
• and
• a non-transitory computer readable medium including software, wherein the non-transitory computer readable medium and software are configured, with the processor, to compare the actual amount of air to a predetermined threshold amount of air, determine whether there is an excessive amount of air escaping from the precut outlet passages, and indicate an improperly bonded drip emitter, wherein the predetermined threshold amount of air is determined based at least in part on an irrigation flow rate of the drip emitter bonded to the extruded drip line tube.