[RE-wrenches] Off-grid deep well pumps

Dana dana at solarwork.com
Mon Jun 22 10:07:42 PDT 2015


One thing to add on the horizontal installation: Even with the soft start I
have had the pump break & unscrew partially Sched 40 PVC pipe in more than
one installation. I would add a couple of horizontal pieces of unistrut and
(I think its 2.5 or 3") unistrut clamps around the pump to keep the pump
from twisting. It is an un-needed service call to avoid.

 

 

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Dana Orzel 

Great Solar Works, Inc -  NABCEP # 051112-136

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From: RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-bounces at lists.re-wrenches.org] On
Behalf Of Allan Sindelar
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2015 10:59 AM
To: RE-wrenches
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] Off-grid deep well pumps

 

Adding to James' post about Grundfos SQ pumps:

The 1/2 HP models (only) are available in 115V as well as 230V. The
5SQ05-180 pumps around 5-6 gpm at up to about 300' of TDH, or 200' plus
pressurizing in a single-pump installation. This makes it an ideal
replacement in certain situations where existing 24V DC pumps have failed or
wells have dropped and inverted AC is available, but only 120V, such as
Outback FX and old Trace SW. It's soft-start, so there's no surge and no
flickering lights.  

I have used this solution several times successfully, and just installed one
in place of a failed Lorentz running at 24V. 

This pump can also safely be laid horizontally in a storage tank and used as
a pressurizing pump. Both the 5SQ05-140 and the 5SQ05-180 will work in this
application, controlled by a standard pressure switch. I will generally
mount the pump in a sleeve (also offered by Grundfos), with spacers to keep
the pump off of the tank bottom. This is a good approach for rainwater
catchment, as the pump will tolerate some sediment, unlike some better
surface pressurizing pumps.
Allan

Allan Sindelar
 <mailto:allan at sindelarsolar.com> allan at sindelarsolar.com
NABCEP Certified PV Installation Professional
NABCEP Certified Technical Sales Professional
New Mexico EE98J Journeyman Electrician
Founder (Retired), Positive Energy, Inc.
505 780-2738 cell



 

On 4/10/2015 11:52 AM, James Jefferson Jarvis wrote:

The SQ is not just a simple AC motor. It has the soft start and pretty much
all of the same features as the SQE, besides the variable speed that makes
the constant pressure work well. 

 <http://www.grundfos.com/products/find-product/sq.html>
http://www.grundfos.com/products/find-product/sq.html 

I use SQ on my own two wells. Both run perfectly on Magnum MS4024PAE (single
inverter). Both are around 300 ft deep with ~100' static water level. Use
3/4 HP in one and 1 HP in the other. No starting surges. Can't even tell it
is running. Can run 12 AWG wire out and down the well and voltage drop won't
cause them to run any slower. 

-James Jarvis 
APRS World, LLC 
 <http://www.aprsworld.com> http://www.aprsworld.com 

On 4/10/2015 12:30 PM, Ray Walters wrote: 



I think you've started a good rundown of the three pump lines, I believe 
they all use the same basic multistage pump head.  The SQ line has just 
a simple AC motor; no constant pressure, and the usual starting surge 
associated with regular AC submersibles. 

R.Ray Walters 
CTO, Solarray, Inc 
Nabcep Certified PV Installer, 
Licensed Master Electrician 
Solar Design Engineer 
303 505-8760 

On 4/10/2015 11:25 AM, Howie Michaelson wrote: 



Thanks everyone for the feedback - as always the best source of hands on 
info anywhere! 

So as I understand it, the 2 basic choices are the SQ,SQE line or the 
SQFlex line. 
Advantages of the SQE are: 
* cheaper 
* Constant pressure 
Advantages of the SQFlex are: 
* More efficient (how much?) 
* Can run on AC or DC 

Both are soft start, and both can run without the controller.  No 
controller looses the display readout and a couple other smaller bells 
and 
whistles, but otherwise no operational change.  I haven't be able to 
determine the difference between the SQ & SQE lines.  Are there any 
durability differences between the SQ, SQE, and SQF lines? 

Howie 


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