Emergency water pump

[handirifle]

Both my pumps are jet pumps, the pressure pump needed to be to meet county pressure requirements (50 psi at 35 gpm IIRC) but I would have to rewire it at the pump every time the power went off. That was an $1100 pump, so I don't want to mess with it if it isn't needed. I already had the seals rebuilt once.

I might look into the solar. I could run the generator to recharge the battery(s) is need be. It would be nice to just flip a switch out there. Either that or a 110v plumbed parallel to the jet pump. I hate to run a generator (or gas pump) with all the noise, just to take a shower, but my 110v generators are pretty quiet (Smarter Tools, Costco). With the Solar setup, I wouldn't have to run anything.

Hmmmm Let me do some research on this.

BHD
Yea gravity only give like 1/2psi per foot from what I have read. We can use toilets with no power but takes a long time to refill the tank.

It just occurred to me, that a solar system could probably be set to sense when there is a power outage and not have to be turned on manually.

 

[jwstewar]

I have one of the Champion 3500/4000 Watt generators. I believe I paid $249 for it, I think now they are $329 or so, it will do 220 volt. For that price, that seems like the quickest/easiest solution for this problem. Not like you will be using the generator day in and out. A small generator like this would have more uses than a gas powered water pump.

 

[jaotguy]

OK ... see where you're at now ...

a small 1/3 HP shallow well jet pump in parallel with 2 separate check valves ( one for each pump ) would work ... set the small pump at 5 PSI lower than the main above ground pump .... lower pressure but more than enough for drinking / flushing and showers.... and runs off the 120 gen ...

 

[handirifle]

Yea I am going to price out a battery back up system, with solar or converter charger, and also 230v generator. If I go 230v route, I might as well look at one that will run the submersible. I don't remember what HP the submersible is either. I guess I could size the generator off the breaker size, ie 30 or 40 amp output for 30 or 40 amp breaker. If I go that route I will have to pay an electrician to wire it up for both meters, to keep from back feeding to line.

I could isolate the circuits for the well easily enough, to possibly run it off a single feed. Have to talk to an electrician about that one.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Got a link or a part number for that amazon kit you found. I'm interested. Hard to mod the panel?

I can't find my exact one on Amazon anymore but here it is on EBay.

This is just the interlock. What I bought was the interlock, outdoor panel, and 50 amp breaker as a kit.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=171706549426&globalID=EBAY-US

Chris

 

[Egon]

You could install a 12 volt battery run system like an RV. Hook up should be simple and give you house water till the tank runs dry. Charge batteries by solar or 110 generator.

 

[Soundguy]

I can't find my exact one on Amazon anymore but here it is on EBay.

This is just the interlock. What I bought was the interlock, outdoor panel, and 50 amp breaker as a kit.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&alt=web&id=171706549426&globalID=EBAY-US Chris

thanks, i have been thinking about an interlock system like that.

currently to use gen, i just have it on a carry all and drive tractor to the side of the house and run the heavy duty cable into the lania, and then in a window. end of the box terminates at a 4 prong male, however it is mated to a 4 prong female with a locking cable coupler setup ( matching ends are locked together.. think it is an rv plug setup ).. anyway, from there is a breakout box giving me 220v or 120v circuits . From there I just run an extension cable to the fridge etc.. we don't run alot of power during outages. just a line to the well and that breakout box for the house. the line to the well is just some 10-3 romex direct bury that i roll up and plug into the other 220v plug on the pto gen, and then toss over the fence to the well. I have a junction box wired up ad the well in a wet location box, and I can just plug in there to provide well power. Used that on the farm for months before i had power out there.

this lockout would make it much easier.

thanks

 

[handirifle]

Every Friday morning a bunch of men meet for breakfast at our church, and then we do "chores" till noon. Yesterday I asked one of them, who is a retired electrician, about this and he said, "let me come out and give you a list of what all you need". So most likely I will get a generator, probably a "dual fuel" one at Costco, 7KW I believe, and use it. I have an extra 120gal propane tank that would be perfect.

Thanks for humoring me on the water pump idea. I get a lot of ideas, not always good ones.

 

[Soundguy]

Don't feel bad, I like to build things, many times I have been walking isles to make parts price lists, and about half WA done, I will see the thing I was building, for sale, cheaper than I could buy half the parts.

 

[GLyford]

Don't feel bad, I like to build things, many times I have been walking isles to make parts price lists, and about half WA done, I will see the thing I was building, for sale, cheaper than I could buy half the parts.

At least you usually see the item before you get your solution built.

Typical example, I had an 85 ranger that I kept leaving the lights on. So I designed a circuit with a relay and a piezo buzzer that would let me know when the key was off and the lights were on, cost me maybe $10 in parts at radio shack.

A week later I see a gadget in walmart for $2 that did the same thing with just a buzzer and a diode...