Off-grid pump for 250' deep well?

[Gurnis45]

I current have a 230v pump in the 250' deep well but no way to power it. My question is this: Is there a 12v or 24v DC pump that will reach this depth? What about a 115v AC pump? I just don't have the means to power a 230v AC pump and am desperately looking for an alternative.

[Jim-mi]

The best is Grundfos SQ Flex. These pumps can be powered direct by PV panels. . .You will have over $2500 for it
Or the Grundfos SQ soft start 120ac pump . .which is good to 260' . . . . $780

For these prices you could go buy a generator to power it...............

[jwal10]

Generator to run the 230v well pump you have to get the water above ground and to fill a big storage tank and a 12v pump to provide pressure from the storage tank....James

[Ozarks Tom]

You might look into the Simple Pump, it's a manual deep well pump that can be fitted for a DC motor. They have engineered both solar and wind power systems.
http://www.simplepump.com/

We've had one for several years, just plain manual, and it's well built to last a long time. You can get a maintenance kit with it to replace O rings, etc.

[chronic66]

I don't know your circumstance, but, the generator idea is what comes to my mind. Depends on what you need it for and you don't say.

[sisterpine]

I have used both the simple pump and a grundfos and found both to be excellent pumps. There are so many hiccup's that can occur with a generator powered pump, it seems that our biggest worry was did we have a back up generator and was it ready to go because when we least expect it, like the middle of winter, we would put a piston through the wall of the jenny motor.

[ChristieAcres]

If you properly set up your water system, you aren't using the pump constantly. We had a 1,000 gallon tank, with a float switch, so when it reached a preset level, the well pump would then start up to fill it back up. Now, while that took consistent power to be available for the automatic operation, a generator setup would work just fine.

As James already posted, you just use the generator to power the well pump, fill up your reserve tank, then use an AC pump whenever you need water. The larger tank you use, the better.

We haven't had any issues with our generators (have multiple ones for different uses). If you buy a quality generator and maintain it properly, you should get plenty of reliable use. It is a good idea to have more than one generator. When we lost power, DH always had at least (2) generators that could power our deep well pump. We lost power frequently over the Winters at our last property. In (8) years, zero generator failure.

[Forcast]

How do you keep the holding tank from freezing?

[Jim-mi]

The best set up is with the Grundfos SQ Flex powered by the sun . . Into a 1000 + tank. Pressure to home by other means.

Yes a quality Yamaha or Honda generator will last a very long while.........

[Gray Wolf]

Our well is 560' deep and then the pump has to push the water another 150' up to our 1,000 gal holding tank. Then gravity brings the water down to the house.

We run the pump every 7-10 days, or so, to fill the tank. Float switch in the tank turns off the pump when full. Power is from an 8,500 watt generator. It all works great and the only need for power is a few hours of generator run time.

[ChristieAcres]

Originally Posted by Forcast

How do you keep the holding tank from freezing?

In our case, we had a 2-room pump house/garden cabin (2 rooms). Right now, DH is building a little log cabin to serve as an all around utility outbuilding for our water system, as well as washer, tub, etc... Since we are living in a motorhome while we build, this is necessary.

[Gray Wolf]

We buried our 1,000 gal water tank. The top of the tank is about a foot underground. No freezing problems. The well water temperature itself helps keep things from freezing too.

[rambler]

Buying a 230v generator is going to be the cheapest solution.

Low voltage pumps are spendy, you will need bigger wires to run down and/or give up capacity, and the time or expense of pulling the old pump, put in a new pump.....

Then you have a bigger generator for other tasks, and are not spending money to buy a pump you already really have down there. Instead you are getting a better tool above ground that will have more uses.

Dollars and cents......

Paul

[Jim-mi]

And run that pump into a very large holding tank . . . . .the larger the tank the less frequently you run the generator.

Pressure pump on the output of this large tank......................

[Gray Wolf]

Another benefit of having a 8-12,000 watt generator is that it will allow you to run a 220 welder.

[MichaelK!]

Our homestead uses the generator route, and it's worked well for us for 10 years. We have large 5000 gallon irrigation tanks and their large thermal mass keeps them from freezing in the winter (if kept full).

I've plumbed a gallon per minute meter in-line with the storage tanks, and I just have to estimate how many gallons I need to pump and run the generator for that specified amount of time.

We just have to ride the ATV up the hill a couple of times to monitor tank fullness, but it really is mostly an excuse to ride the ATV.

[Gray Wolf]

I ran standard house wire, buried kind, from our generator shed up to our water tank (about 400'). Then I put a 24 volt DC float switch in the tank. The other end of the wire in the shed is hooked to a 24 volt DC transformer, to create low voltage for the float switch and the 24 volt DC relay that turns the 220 volt AC pump on/off. No need to run up the hill anymore. Probably have $100 or so in the whole setup and I sure like not having to go up to the tank to see if it's full.

[Gurnis45]

Lots of good replies to my problem. The well is for household use and drinking water. I was trying to find a solution that didn't depend on gasoline or propane to pump water. I'm currently hauling water in, which is even worse because it involves a pickup truck, just another weak link in the chain.

I am totally off-grid, with 560 watts solar array and a tiny 215 AH battery bank with only 107.5 AH of usable reserve. I have plenty of daytime power. But at night I'm pretty much limited to 50 watts of continuous AC from the inverter. Thats enough to power the internet, charge laptop & phone and run a 8w LED lamp.

I own my homestead free and clear, no utility bills other than propane for the fridge and cook stove, use wood head, etc. My biggest problem is water. I collect about 40 gallons each time it rains (about once a week)and haul in about 75 gallons of drinking/cooking water a month. And that handles most everything but laundry. The problem is that I'm just one breakdown away from not being able to haul water and that scares me.

[wy_white_wolf]

What's the static water level in the well?

You might beable to go with Shurflo 9300 model set at a little higher level. At 200' it would only require a 160 to 180 watts to work.

Beware though this is a diaphram pump and will need rebuilt in 3 to 5 years and can only be set with 100' of submergence.

I'm in the process of putting one in our well. The well is 180' deep with a static level of 66'. I'll be setting the pump at 150' with a 120watt 24volt panel. The panel may be a little on the small side and if it doesn't produce the way I want I'll have to increase it's size. The basic kit was purchased from the Solar Store. I'll do a posting on the setup in the alternative energy forum once it's done. I'm just waiting on the panel mount to arrive.

WWW

[Jim-mi]

Know what you mean about "one break down away" feeling it can be scary.
You might consider a Berkey type water filter to work with the rain water.........

Wolf's ideas on the Surflo 9300 are very good. He is well aware of the Surflo's short comings.......

Can you add another shed roof too increase rain collection . . . ?????
'