[RE-wrenches] Grundfos

Mon Nov 8 16:47:47 PST 2010

Wrenches,

More details on the Grundfos failures:
  1st failure 11 SQF-2 w/ 204ft TDH 
  2nd failure 6 SQF-2 w/ 220ft. TDH 
  3rd failure  6 SQF-2 w/ 253ft. TDH 

All controllers were displaying F3 failures, there was voltage at the well
head. Only one replaced so far and seems to work fine.

Any ideas or similar problems?

Gary Gordon
Santa Ynez Valley Solar
P. O. Box 688
Santa Ynez, CA  93460
805 688-1213
Gary at SYVSolar.com

  _____  

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Mike Nelson
Sent: Saturday, November 06, 2010 10:07 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Grundfos

Doug, 
Thanks for the feedback. I have to install the monoflo, because it was
purchased 2 summers ago, but the customer didn't have the site work done to
install the pump. This summer the site work was finished and now the
customer is ready to have the system installed, so wish me luck!

DC Power is getting out of the pumping biz, so is Wholesale solar up north,
hopefully Solar Depot will remain in it. Our only other option is to go
through the plumbing supply houses.

I hear the bugs are being worked out of the Lorentz pump line, anyone have
any experience with them?

Mike Nelson
MD Electric & Solar
Gualala, Ca.

On Sat, Nov 6, 2010 at 7:45 AM, Doug Pratt <dmpratt at sbcglobal.net> wrote:

Mike, from another Mendo native, don't do the Monoflo.  DC Power is getting
out of the pumping biz, and we're the only Monoflo distributor in the US.
Our experience with Monoflo hasn't been good. We've seen a number of pump
failures recently, support from the manufacturer is pretty thin, and
troubleshooting in the field is poorly developed and documented.  Basically
it's. pump not working?  Try plugging in a new controller. Still not
working? Plug in a new pump.  Dealers don't keep expensive pumps on the
shelf in case of breakdowns, so repairs usually end up taking weeks. Not
good for dealer/customer relations!

DC Power is getting out of water pumping because we just don't have the
technical bandwidth anymore. We're being pressed so hard by the
rapidly-expanding grid-tie market that our tech support crew is getting
loved to death. There's no time. I'm sorry to see it go, I found water
pumping projects challenging and interesting, but the tech cloning project
has hit some snags.

>From a sales perspective, the Grundfos SQ Flex was the best of the lot. We
heard the fewest problems from them, and those problems were usually on the
surface (the CU200 control).

Doug Pratt

DC Power Systems  

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Mike Nelson
Sent: Friday, November 05, 2010 5:37 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Grundfos

I have also installed several Grundfos SQ Flex submersible well pumps, and
had trouble with them, primarily with the control systems, the low water
shut off sensor has failed on several pumps, and the CU200 control boxes
have failed. The pumps themselves have held up so far, and seem to be very
efficient. I wish there were more solar direct well pump options, I've tried
the ETA pumps, the Sunpumps (which are great for low head, low flow) and am
about to try a Monoflow. Any other thoughts?

Mike Nelson

MD Electric & Solar

Gualala Ca.

On Fri, Nov 5, 2010 at 4:40 PM, Gary Gordon at SYV Solar <gary at syvsolar.com>
wrote:

Wrenches,

I set up the PV arrays for six Grundfos SQ Flex submersible well pumps on a
cattle ranch. The first three have failed (in exact order of installation)
in about a year. Anyone else experiencing similar problems? I had always
heard great things about their equipment, is it time to look elsewhere?
Where?

Gary Gordon

Santa Ynez Valley Solar

P. O. Box 688

Santa Ynez, CA  93460

805 688-1213

Gary at SYVSolar.com

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