[RE-wrenches] Retrofit variable speed drive to old well pump?

[Dan Fink]

Hi Bob; I checked the connections for corrosion, and the wire size looks
like "the usual" for up here in this area, it's only about 100 feet and the
usual well depth around here is 350 ft. Running stouter wire might be an
option to consider...but that's a lot of digging. I'm just hoping VSD might
be a quick and dirty solution.

Dan Fink
Adjunct Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute
IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
~ PV Installation Professional
~ Small Wind Installer
Executive Director, Buckville Energy
NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers™
970.672.4342



On Sat, Dec 10, 2016 at 9:53 AM, RE Ellison <reellison at gmail.com> wrote:

> Don't know about the variable speed but are the wires feeding the pump
> large enough for the distance?
> Sounds like it might be voltage starved because of a high resistance / bad
> connection or a long wire run and the need for a larger wire ?
>
> Just a thought,
> Bob Ellison
>
> On Dec 10, 2016, at 11:39 AM, Dan Fink <danbob88 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Esteemed Wrenches;
>
> I have a client in a very remote mountain location who is having trouble
> with his inverter starting his well pump when battery state of charge is
> below 75%. 24v system, Magnum inverter.
>
> It's a 2-wire pump, unknown age, model, horsepower, or well depth. It has
> always given him trouble, that's why he upgraded to 24v, and the situation
> is better, but not ideal yet. I don't think adding a hard start capacitor
> would help as there should be one inside the pump itself, though I suppose
> it could be blown.
>
> Because of the distance and the rough road, it would be super expensive
> for a well company to come up there, pull the old pump and set a new,
> modern soft-start one.
>
> Has anyone here had any experience with retrofitting variable speed drive
> units to an unknown pump? If so, what models have you tried and what do you
> prefer?
>
> Thanks;
>
> Dan Fink
> Adjunct Professor of Solar Energy Technology, Ecotech Institute
> IREC Certified Instructor™ for:
> ~ PV Installation Professional
> ~ Small Wind Installer
> Executive Director, Buckville Energy
> NABCEP Registered Continuing Education Providers™
> 970.672.4342
>
>
>
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