Solar water pumping

[Treetohouse]

I have a 200-tree apple orchard that's off the grid, last year we put in a 5000-gallon tank. We want to put in a drip system as we currently have to water by hose. But I don't want to spend a lot of moony. I have seen these 12v pumps that can pump up to 35 feet, could I use these in a series? And I was thinking of using 12v battery charging panels but could they power the pumps? If they could this system would only cost $300.00 or so. We are currently using a gas pump to fill the tank. But this is slow and not efficient. We drilled a second well on the property and I want to put in some kind of solar system. The well is 51' deep and its 31' to the water, the tank is 80' up through a 1000' of pipe. The tank doesn't have to be filled fast at all as long as it fills up every two weeks I would be happy. If you have any ideas I would appreciate them.

[ghurd]

Series pumps.  Not a great idea.  It gets expensive, after a month or 2.

Gas, generator maintainence, time, etc.  I'll say its better to bite the bullet now.

Get a good pump that will do it for a long time.

I would suggest looking into 12V battery pumps, 12V panel(s), 12V battery, tank / pump controller, etc.

Then set the LVD a little high (12.2V).  Let it do what it can, when it can.

Not sure $300 will buy the panel.

Still a cheaper option,

G-

[kurt]

they make solar pumps that will work great to fill your cistern see this page for the basic idea http://www.otherpower.com/otherpower_waterpumping.html

they make solar pumps that will pump from 300' deep wells so you should be able to get one that fits your needs.

[wdyasq]

Not cheap - but works - A small old Water-Pumping windmill. Long life has low upkeep and low running costs.

Ron

[veewee77]

This is likely the best option. . . IF. . . you have a wind resource there.

The solar pump is a good option if you have the sun for it.

Perhaps a combination for the best of both worlds. . .

Doug

[shay]

Aermotor 10' windmill sustains ours but it is in a canyon where medium strength winds are common during the growing season (several gallons a minute from 70 feet).  Sunpumps will do a gallon a minute but mine has not been reliable (2 versions - 100' and 200' head). We'll resort to a second 10' Aermotor on the second well (currently has a pumpjack on it with a 5 Hp gas motor). We've contemplated a more modern pumpjack with a longer stroke, solar panels, batteries, and motor but the water pumping windmill would be cheaper. Tankage is 20,000 gallons for ~100 trees and a acre of garden. Bubblers are better than drip but we will hybridize the system this spring with adjustable emitters for specific garden crops.

It is a very difficult problem and I'd like to hear what you decide on.

[adobejoe]

Does anyone know about pump control by use of pressure control rather then float switches? I do not want to run a 600 ft wire lead across my pasture to connect the float switch. Can one use a pressure switch, say 20 psi on and 60 psi off? I am pumping up about 50 ft vertical.

Adobe Joe

[jonas302]

a regular well switch should do the job

[adobejoe]

A regular well switch?

Is that a switch activated by change in water pressure? Pressure drops and it trips?

Or something else.

Another option that is probably too expensie for me would be wireless switching from floats at my tanks.  Big bucks, I imagine.

AdobeJoe

[jonas302]

yes they turn the pump on when the pressure drops in the tank I dont see a problem with putting it by the pump if you had a automatiic tank valve it would shut pressure would rise pump kicks off find them at the hardware store most are adjustable contacts might not last as long on dc if that is what you are using