Deep water... [RE-wrenches]

[Phil Undercuffler]

Hey Gary, how about this approach:
Use a 5548 (If not already locked into 24v, I'd go for the extra
oomph--although its surge capacity is no greater than the 40, it might
handle more loads at the same time) running through a T240.  Use a relay to
switch the well pump between Genset & Power System.  When operating from the
power system, use the Trace's auxiliary relays to allow pumping only when
the system voltage is high.  That way, any excess power available can go to
pumping water--minimizing generator run time.  If your generator has a two
wire start, you can use a float switch low in the tank to trigger it to
pump, or a "low water" warning light in the house (use a red neon or led
light to minimize wasted energy, of course!)  I haven't mapped out the
details, but I bet it wouldn't be difficult to set up.
Good Luck!

----- Original Message -----
From: Gary Higbee, Solutions from the Land <ghigbee at efn.org>
To: <RE-wrenches at topica.com>
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2000 12:35 PM
Subject: RE: Deep water... [RE-wrenches]


>
> Hi Wrenches,
>
> Thanks so much for the input for my 425' deep, "big water" client.
>
> Yes, the most important element in this system is conservation, and we're
> not going to be economical if we're using compact fluorescent bulbs in the
> home while we're gushing water all over the land! Good point about
strongly
> stressing this.
>
> I do see wind as a possibility, though this is hilly terrain, he's down a
> slope, and he wants something installed very soon (i.e., doesn't want to
> wait for monitoring).
>
> My client just plain wants lots of water, though he's backed down from
5,000
> gallons a day, thank goodness. We're still at a couple thousand gallons or
> so in the summer. At this point we're leaning towards as large an AC pump
as
> his generator can handle for summer use--pumped into a 5,000 gallon
holding
> tank on the hill. I'm not thrilled with this, but his budget doesn't allow
> 2-3KW of PV's at this time, he's already got a decent generator, and he
> still wants quite a bit of water. My biggest concern is that if he puts in
a
> 2hp electric pump (which would probably be most efficient in loading up
the
> generator) it probably wouldn't be practical to run the pump from
inverters,
> assuming there was enough array for it. I could see the possibility of
> adding a Sunrise for general domestic use in the non-irrigation season,
> though this would go in under the big AC pump, and should probably be done
> at the same time.
>
> In one sense I'd like to go with the largest AC pump a SW4024 or 4048
could
> handle, even though it would be run from a generator most of the time. At
> least then we'd have a possible upgrade path. I'm not excited about the
home
> computer crashing whenever the pump starts, though! So it seems that
either
> we've got two big SW's (too expensive), two big DR's (generator-control
> lacking, less efficient motor operation), or detaching the irrigation
> pumping from the household stuff (our likely direction).
>
> This is an interesting example of where my personal philosophy is
> challenged. My client--a wonderful guy, and retired firefighter (hmm,
could
> this be related to wanting lots of water?)--wants to "green" a harsh
place.
> It's hard to imagine using so much water in this particular place. I
suspect
> that once the propane generator bill starts mounting this will further
> promote water conservation (drip lines, mulching, sticking with
> drought-tolerant species). I suspect that the system will adjust itself in
> time (a Permaculture perspective, perhaps). For now it looks like we'll
> detach the pumping from the household system, and I'll try to keep some
> future options open.
>
> I am steering toward the most efficient AC pump we can find--maybe one of
> the new Grundfos models. Any of you have experience with any of the newer,
> efficeint "soft-start" models?
>
> Again, thanks!
>
> Gary
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>      Gary Higbee  (ghigbee at efn.org)
>              (541)607-1818
>     Solutions from the Land--solar,
>   wind, and hydro site analysis, design,
>             and installation
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
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