[RE-wrenches] Booster Pump/Slowpump information

Thu Oct 20 18:41:17 PDT 2011

This was an AC pump, not a dc pump. That changes the numbers somewhat, and
yes I should have put one in after the inspector left. So much for
hindsight..

I still have the carcass here somewhere, and it was also 15 or 18 years ago.

Guess that says something about my collect of gear.

Bob Ellison

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Allan
Sindelar
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 7:00 PM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Booster Pump/Slowpump information

Bob,
This doesn't make sense to me. A 12V standard-speed model #2920 runs 22A
max; 24V is 11A max. A low-speed model #2910 runs 15A and 7.5A max
respectively.
I would think that you could have used a circuit breaker to satisfy the
inspector, then added a time-delay fuse of the correct amperage for your
application in addition to the CB. 

The instructions in the manual are pretty clear (although if I used an ATC
fuse it would have to be after the inspector left; AGC time-delay would more
closely meet Code...):

FAILURE TO INSTALL A FUSE OR BREAKER equal to or less than the motor's Max
Amps rating WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY. If water flow becomes blocked, or if
the pump jams or freezes and cannot turn freely, the motor will draw
excessive current. A fuse or circuit breaker will then break the circuit.
Without such a "safety valve", a minor fault can burn your motor and wiring.
Install a fuse or breaker with an AMP RATING close to the "MAX AMPS" rating
of your motor, OR LESS (but not more higher). If a Linear Current Booster is
being used (for array-direct Slowpumps) install the fuse between the booster
and the pump. Use the rating recommended for the booster or for the pump,
WHICHEVER IS LESS. This fuse will protect the booster as well as the motor
and wiring from overload.

FUSES: Use a "time-delay" type. The 3" paper cartridge type is good, and may
be installed into a raintight disconnect switch available at any electric
supplier. An automotive in-line fuse holder is fine for 12 or 24V systems.
Automotive blade fuses (type ATC) are preferred over glass fuses. They have
sufficient time-delay. (Time-delay glass fuses are available from ELECTRONIC
suppliers only, not automotive.) Use good quality fuse holders, protected
from weather. Keep spare fuses handy. Never substitute a larger fuse!

CIRCUIT BREAKERS: Most AC breakers cannot be used for low voltage DC
circuits. We recommend only the SQUARE-DR QO or QB-series which been rated
safe up to 48 volts DC. A 10 amp size is available, but not in most stores.
It may be ordered from your PV dealer or from an electric supplier.

Locking up is usually a result of freezing. I have seen one motor ruined in
all of my years with this pump, and it was the result of freezing and
improper fusing. If the pump is installed correctly, and the correct inlet
fitting with safety screen is used, there is little else to cause a lockup.
And the fuse protection is designed to protect the pump in the event of such
damage. Freezing solid will usually ruin the head but not the motor if it's
fused correctly.

Allan

Allan Sindelar
 <mailto:Allan at positiveenergysolar.com> Allan at positiveenergysolar.com
NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Positive Energy, Inc.
3201 Calle Marie
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
505 424-1112
www.positiveenergysolar.com <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/>  

On 10/20/2011 4:09 PM, bob ellison wrote: 

I HAD one installed and the inspector would not let me use an inline fuse
(seems like it was a 1 amp) so we had to run it from a breaker and it locked
up and let the smoke out of it.

Just another experience,

Bob Ellison

From: re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org
[mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On Behalf Of Roy Butler
Sent: Thursday, October 20, 2011 5:33 PM
To: Allan at positiveenergysolar.com; RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Booster Pump/Slowpump information

Thank you Allan, this is really good information. I have about 35 of these
in the field at this time
and I'll need this info soon, I'm sure!

Roy Butler
NABCEP Certified Small Wind InstallerR
NABCEP Certified Solar PV InstallerR
NYSERDA eligible PV & wind installer
Four Winds Renewable Energy, LLC
8902 Route 46
Arkport, NY 14807
607-324-9747

www.four-winds-energy.com

Although no trees were killed in the sending of this message, 
a large number of electrons were terribly inconvenienced.

On 10/20/2011 4:10 PM, Allan Sindelar wrote: 

Wrenches:
This information is important to those companies that have customers with
Dankoff/Flowlight Booster Pumps and Slowpumps. These pumps use DC motors to
drive rotary vane positive displacement pump heads made by Procon. Windy
Dankoff developed these pumps about 30 years ago and I think thousands have
been sold. Other than the quirkiness of their need for fine (10 micron)
filtration on the intake side, and the relative unreliability of the
optional dry run protection thermal snap switch, the pumps are exceptionally
well-made and long-lasting, in my experience.

Early (before around 1998) pumps were sold under the "Flowlight" name; then
under "Dankoff Solar Pumps" name until Conergy bought Dankoff around 2004.
The pumps had Conergy's name on them until around two years ago, when
Conergy closed its sales and distribution of water pumping, solar thermal,
and wind products. Innovative Solar bought the water pumping line and
restored the "Dankoff Pumps" name. Innovative Solar became Argand, and
changed their distribution model in order to not compete with their dealers
(attaboy!); Dankoff Pumps, while owned by Argand, is wholesale only; new
dealers must place a minimum stocking order. The pumps continue to be
manufactured here in Santa Fe by the same folks that have made and serviced
them for years, and quality and support remain high. 

Dankoff Pumps website is currently www.Dankoff-Pumps.com. Note the hyphen;
www.Dankoffpumps.com takes you to a (currently closed) online store, with
referral links to Dankoff Pumps for dealers who want to become dealers.
Dankoff Pumps will soon be either moving to or adding
www.DankoffSolarPumps.com as well, I understand, but this hasn't happened
yet. Contact Dankoff Pumps at matt at dankoff-pumps.com.

The Procon heads wear out. New replacement heads are available through
Dankoff Pumps (and probably other sources as well). However, the heads are
rebuildable, and the cost is much less than new. We always ask customers for
their old pump heads in exchange for new or rebuilt ones. The rebuilder is
Edco Service Center, 8220 Belvedere Ave., Suite F, Sacramento, CA 95826;
916-454-1445. The contact person there is Sandie,
sandie at edcodistributing.com.

Recently we learned some critical information related to pump rebuilding:
the heads may rebuilt in many configurations, and it's essential to specify
that the pump heads must be for potable water applications. This has to do
with the amount of lead in various internal components. According to Sandie
at Edco, you must specify a 114E head. According to Matt at Dankoff Pumps,
the full designation is 114E240F11XX for the Booster Pump head and this
should be specified in full. All original Booster Pump and Slowpump heads
were acceptable for potable water; however, due to a mixup of indeterminable
cause, we were recently sent a set of 104 rebuilt heads, which aren't
(according to the State of California) suitable for potable applications due
to lead content. To their credit, Edco will re-rebuild these heads to
potable standards at no cost to us save shipping, but this seemed to me to
be a good opportunity to share this information widely with other water
pumping Wrenches.

Allan

-- 
Allan Sindelar
 <mailto:Allan at positiveenergysolar.com> Allan at positiveenergysolar.com
NABCEP Certified Photovoltaic Installer
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Positive Energy, Inc.
3201 Calle Marie
Santa Fe, New Mexico 87507
505 424-1112
www.positiveenergysolar.com <http://www.positiveenergysolar.com/>  

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