Fw: Need a Deep Well Pump Solution [RE-wrenches]

[Ray Walters]

Hi Allan:

Actually over the years I have gravitated away from Brad's thinking of
tying the well pump to the main system. I now have a slight preference for
array direct systems. The main reason is that when a plumbing failure
occurs ( toilet running, leaky cistern, floatswitch not switching off,
etc.) the well pump keeps running until the batteries are drained. More
than once has the toilet flapper valve stuck open slightly over night,
resulting in a wake up call to no water, and no power. To fully use the PV
power in array direct mode, we've added switching relays that switch the
pump's array over to charge the batteries when the cistern is full. It does
limit the water usage, but this increases the time between service calls
and it makes water usage more predictable. In battery based systems,
predicting GPD accurately can make or break your entire PV power system
design. Unless you actually meter the flow or have a time counter on the
pump, you could be off a hundred gallons per day or more.
Also, the SDR pipe used on both the Sunrise and Solamotor pumps is approved
for potable water. Its not garden hose or that clear vinyl tubing Brad may
be thinking of.
Installation of the Solamotor is similar to the Sunrise: it is continuous
pipe that is laid straight on the ground or can be rolled up on 6 ft diam.
spool. We have a 6 ft diam roller that the pipe rolls out of the well on.
First we pull the pipe up with a winch and boom arm to get over the roller,
then we drive away from the well happily dragging the remaining several
hundred feet out in a few minutes. Walkie Talkies keep the driver/puller in
touch with the person at the wellhead.

Ray


At 03:27 PM 6/1/02 -0600, you wrote:
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Brad Bassett" <bsbassett at earthlink.net> and "Jay Peltz, Peltz Power"
><jay at asis.com>
>
>> The SQFlex pump only needs 2 conductors and a ground down the well. The
>> low water sensor is built into the lead on the pump and is wired to the
>> pump where it does it's thing.
>Oh, OK, thanks. I wasn't clear-- for this SunRise installation we used two
>#10 conductors in flat-jacketed submersible cable to minimize weight. We
>will still need the ground.
>>
>> I will get you watthours per gallon for generator and solar direct next
>week.
>Thanks again.
>>
>> It sounds like some of the solutions to run off a battery might cost
>> more than a solar direct system with it's own array, especially when you
>> consider the labor and troubleshooting involved.
>You may be right. As it is now, the SQ Flex would run off of PS inverter
>(preferably) or generator AC, so there's not much reworking to this option.
>The ETApump would run off of the main array, using relays to control voltage
>and destination; fair amount of finagling labor there. The Solamotor would
>be a conventional 24V DC load on the main system; probably a pull of heavier
>conductors through existing conduit.
>Jay, we too prefer to run off of the main battery system whenever possible.
>>
>> In general I do not recommend using flexible hose for well pumps. They
>> are generally made with vinyl or rubber, both of which can leach various
>> hydrocarbons into the water, and so are rarely rated for potable water
>> (Even if vinyl hose is rated, do you trust the raters on this issue,
>> also I consider it an environmentally undesireable material). Also, it's
>> sometimes hard to find hose rated for the pressures you're talking about
>> at that depth.
>>
>The SunRise hand installation method uses 200psi SDR9 3/4" polyethylene pipe
>with bronze compression adapter fittings. This has never been a problem in
>the past. 200psi = 462' of head. While it has been used over that, weight
>for a hand pull gets prohibitive beyond about 300'. Standard installation
>material, readily available. I have recommended, however, that the client
>not use hand method with the ETApump or the SQ-flex unless he develops a
>hand crank drum assembly to raise and lower it. Otherwise, use conventional
>1" Sch. 80 PVC well drop pipe and a conventional pump installer, as hand
>assembly is way too heavy. I don't know what is used with the Solamotor jack
>pump down-hole assembly.
>
>> Brad
>
>> Allan Sindelar wrote:
>>
>> >
>> > Option 1: Grundfos SQ-Flex, set at 350-390',
>>
>> 4. Requires 2 conductors plus dry run
>> > sense plus ground, so means replacing existing pump cable and in-ground
>> > conductors. 5. Least efficient in watthours/gallon pumped of the three,
>> > although I lack numbers (if it was array-direct, I am quoted 267 gpd
>> > using
>> > 172W of PV).
>> >
>
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