Off-grid pumps [RE-wrenches]

[Jason Lerner]

<x-flowed>
Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Get up to 4 No-risk mortgage quotes – No SSN needed
Competitive rates from the nation’s top lenders in minutes
Lower your mortgage payments by up to $303/month!
http://click.topica.com/caaeYi1bz8Qcsbz9JC9a/ BestLenderFinder
-------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello Kelly,

We have a serious problem with salt water intrusion here,  so usually =20=

use a Shurflow 9300 submersible,  since it pumps the slowest,  and is =20=

straight DC.  It works fine with a DC to DC converter.   If the well =20
is really producing 6 GPM, and the Shurflow is pumping at 1.5 GPM =20
there might not be a need for a low water shut off.  Putting a high =20
water float switch in the cistern would keep it full,  unless there =20
is a leak somewhere,  and it pumps all the time.  I keep rebuild kits =20=

for the 9300 always around,  the first sign of wear seems to be =20
drainback down the well, and twice the plastic around the stainless =20
bolts holding the bottom part of the pump had cracked,  and when =20
pulling up the pump,  the whole bottom came off,  woops.

For off grid systems who really want to watch the watts we either put =20=

a shurflo pressure pump (cheapest), dankoff pressure pump (medium =20
$),  or just started putting SQ Grunfos pumps mounted horizontally in =20=

the bottom of the holding tank.

Good luck,

Jason Lerner
Waldron Power and Light Co.
Waldron Island, Wa.
98297

(360)317-4980



On Jul 21, 2006, at 10:56 AM, Kelly Keilwitz wrote:

> Your free subscription is supported by today's sponsor:
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Get up to 4 No-risk mortgage quotes =88 No SSN needed
> Competitive rates from the nation=82s top lenders in minutes
> Lower your mortgage payments by up to $303/month!
> http://click.topica.com/caaeYi1bz8Qcscje7m4a/ BestLenderFinder
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Pump Wrenches,
>
> We have an off-grid customer living on an island in Puget Sound who =20=

> needs
> pumps for his well and storage tank. We don't have a lot of =20
> experience with
> pumping and would appreciate any suggestions.
>
> It's a small home (~800sf) that will be used part-time for probably =20=

> several
> years before going full-time. The well is 151' deep, with a static =20
> water
> level at 138' and a reported water column of just under 13'. The =20
> well report
> says 6 gpm production. But, as this is a salt water intrusion area, =20=

> we want
> to pump at no more than 3 gpm. There is an existing 1000 gal concrete
> storage tank in the ground about 20 feet from the well head (no elev
> change). Considerations are low-water sensor shut off and, probably
> grit-tolerance of the pump (or some way to keep grit out), as the =20
> pump will
> have to be located close to the bottom of the well.
>
> The power system is not in-place, or even designed yet. But we're
> contemplating an Outback PS-2 system starting with one FX2548 =20
> inverter. The
> batteries (48V) and inverter will be about 50 feet from the well head.
>
> I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of either using a more expensive
> battery-based, more efficient positive displacement (?) well pump =20
> or a less
> expensive, but more power hungry soft-start 120V AC pump running =20
> off of the
> inverter. If the energy savings of a more efficient pump (and =20
> keeping the
> inverter off) can reduce the needed PV array size, then it will be =20
> a good
> thing, as the PV array will probably live in a tree.
>
> I've only considered the Grundfos SQ Flex, so far, as I'm not up on =20=

> other
> currently available pumps. The differences in cost between the 120V
> soft-start pump and the SQ flex seem to be around $1000, not =20
> considering
> larger wire sizing for the DC. I don't see the power needs of this =20
> place
> needing more than one inverter, even using the AC pump - but have been
> surprised before.
>
> This customer also needs a pressurizing pump from the storage tank. =20=

> There is
> less than 10 feet suction head from the bottom of the storage tank =20
> to the
> power house, where the pump will be located.
>
> I would appreciate any suggestions and recommendations.
> Thanks,
> -Kelly
>
>
> 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
>
>
>
> - - - -
> To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com
>
> Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-=20
> wrenches/read
>
> List rules & how to change your email address: www.mrsharkey.com/=20
> wrenches/etiquette.php
>
> Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/
>
> Hosted by Home Power magazine
>
> Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
>
>
>
>


- - - -
To send a message: RE-wrenches at topica.com

Archive of previous messages: http://lists.topica.com/lists/RE-wrenches/read

List rules & how to change your email address: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/etiquette.php

Check out participant bios: www.mrsharkey.com/wrenches/

Hosted by Home Power magazine

Moderator: michael.welch at homepower.com
--^----------------------------------------------------------------
This email was sent to: michael.welch at homepower.com

EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?bz8Qcs.bz9JC9.bWljaGFl
Or send an email to: RE-wrenches-unsubscribe at topica.com

For Topica's complete suite of email marketing solutions visit:
http://www.topica.com/?p=TEXFOOTER
--^----------------------------------------------------------------



</x-flowed>