Off-grid pumps [RE-wrenches]

[Matt Tritt]

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Kelly,

Not to create the feeling that I have anything against the Lorentz pump 
(OK, maybe I do, since I've received yet another complaint call from a 
rancher about the second Lorentz pump and third Lorentz controller 
installed at one of his wells to have failed), BUT, since cost seems to 
be a big issue with your proposed system, why not use a Surflo? Yes, the 
diaphragm will need to be replaced in a few years, and yes, they do seem 
pretty cheesy - what with the plastic case and all, but I have never had 
an early failure problem with these things in all the years I've been 
installing solar pumps.

Limiting the output wouldn't be a problem either, since they will only 
produce about 1 GPM at that lift! :-)

As if that isn't enough, they are inexpensive, can be installed without 
a pump rig, weigh very little and always work right out of the box. You 
can also run them from a 24 volt battery if needed. I would use one 24 
volt Sharp 180 for max performance in Winter.

Whatever.

Matt T

Kelly Keilwitz wrote:

>Wrenches,
>Here's what we are looking at for the resolution to our off-grid pump design
>problem: 140' static water level, 10 foot water column and pump at 3 gpm or
>less to avoid salt intrusion. Part of the equation was to stay efficient to
>keep down the size of the needed tree-mounted PV array.
>
>We¹re proposing to use the Lorentz HR 14-2 24V for the well pump. It'll pump
>at 3 gpm on 180 watts, and the flow can be adjusted at the controller down
>to 1 gpm. The helical rotor design seems like it should be dependable and a
>good choice for this situation.  
>
>The pressurizing pump from the storage tank will be the Flowlight Booster
>Pump (slow speed model), which will be located at the batteries. The
>slow-speed model can deal with a suction head of up to 20 feet, which might
>be needed if intake filtration or screening gets clogged.
>
>We¹ll need to use #6 wire down the well to keep the voltage drop down. But
>overall, the cost savings of the 24V pumps (and, especially, controller)
>will be much less expensive than with a 48-V system. And, staying on the DC
>side will free up the inverter capacity.
>
>Of course, we¹re also recommending that the power system and PV's should go
>in ASAP!
>
>Thanks to Windy and others suggestions on and off list. Any last comments?
>
>
>
>
>Kelly Keilwitz, P.E.
>Whidbey Sun & Wind, LLC
>Renewable Energy Systems
>NABCEP Certified PV Installer
>987 Wanamaker Rd, 
>Coupeville, WA 98239
>PH & FAX 360-678-7131
>sunwind at whidbeysunwind.com
> 
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