DC well pump (Grundfos SQFlex system)

[genusCastor]

I'm looking for a way to have well water in the event of an extended power outage. I have a generator, but must rely on fuel for it. Would prefer a renewable energy source. Looked into a solar panel system, but running 220V from solar gets expensive in a hurry. So I wondered about 110V pumps, and came across this Grundfos SQFlex DC pump, which can also run off an AC supply. Our well is 330'.

So, anyone have experience with a DC well pump?

- djb

 

[dave1949]

No experience. Grundfos has an excellent reputation so I would expect that pump to work as advertised.

 

[Jimbrown]

I have a 6QF2.

It just purrs away every day.

I run mine off of solar panels 5 60 watt panels in series for 60 volts at 300watts. It pumps about 3 gallon a min at that voltage. The thing will run on just about anything. 30 to 300 volt DC and 90 to 240 volt AC. I have mine wired where I can run it off a generator if I need to. It will pump over 6 gal a min on 120 AC. The depth of the well really does not matter it how far the water is below the surface. My well is 300ft but the water level is 80ft the pump is set at 120ft.

I run mine into 1800 gal of storage tank and use a separate pump for the pressure pump.

You can run directly to a pressure tank but your recovery is going to be slow if you do that.

They make some special solar panels just for these pumps that put out 60 volts. They drillers around here usually use 2 or 4 of those to get 120volts DC which works very well.

 

[genusCastor]

I have a 6QF2.

It just purrs away every day.

I run mine off of solar panels 5 60 watt panels in series for 60 volts at 300watts. It pumps about 3 gallon a min at that voltage. The thing will run on just about anything. 30 to 300 volt DC and 90 to 240 volt AC. I have mine wired where I can run it off a generator if I need to. It will pump over 6 gal a min on 120 AC. The depth of the well really does not matter it how far the water is below the surface. My well is 300ft but the water level is 80ft the pump is set at 120ft.

I run mine into 1800 gal of storage tank and use a separate pump for the pressure pump.

You can run directly to a pressure tank but your recovery is going to be slow if you do that.

Allrighty, this is good to hear.

I'm not sure where the water level is, I need to find out. I was also wondering about a pressure tank. Right now we have one, I was hoping to be able to keep the system as intact as I can (i.e., not have to switch from a pressure tank and install a large storage tank).

- djb

 

[Larry Caldwell]

You are going to have to have a storage tank, because the sun doesn't shine all the time. Sometimes it doesn't shine for many days. I have a friend who set up a solar well pump with a 1000 gallon gravity feed cistern. He put a booster pump and pressure tank at the house, but it will serve fine for anything but showers. His system worked OK out of the gate, except he needed bigger solar panels. Once he upsized the solar, it worked fine.

 

[8N Ren]

No experience with what you're asking, but the 2 out of 3 pumps that are in our house are Grundfos, the guy that installed them said that's all he's used for the last 20-25 years, he said he replaced 1. I trust him cause I know he's a straight shooter.

 

[genusCastor]

You are going to have to have a storage tank, because the sun doesn't shine all the time. Sometimes it doesn't shine for many days.

There aren't many days here (east Texas) that the sun doesn't shine. But the pump can run on AC, as well as DC battery backup, so I'm not as concerned about getting water on cloudy days as I am with having to revamp the entire delivery system. I'd prefer to use the pressure tank I already have, if one of these DC pumps can do it.

I plan to call a guy this week for more details on what my options are...

- djb

 

[DarkBlack]

330' is a pretty deep well. Not something you want to visit often....
Put in a normal 220-240ac pump. Spend your extra $$ on the surface of the land.
But that's just me..

 

[Jimbrown]

Well it ain't gonna work at night either. So you have to have some sort of battery system unless you can live thru the night without water.

 

[genusCastor]

330' is a pretty deep well. Not something you want to visit often....
Put in a normal 220-240ac pump. Spend your extra $$ on the surface of the land.
But that's just me..

Well it ain't gonna work at night either. So you have to have some sort of battery system unless you can live thru the night without water.

I think some folks may have misunderstood my OP...

Right now I have a 220V pump, it's been in service over 5 years. In the event of an extended power outage, like a hurricane, a generator is required to get water. During such an extended emergency, I want to be able to pump water without having to rely on gas for a generator. So I'm looking at alternative energy to power the pump for every day service as well as during an emergency.

With one of these Grundfos SQFlex systems, when the power is on it'll apparently use solar when it can or the AC when it can't, and when the power is off it'll use solar and battery backup.

- djb

 

[TheGoose]

I have installed several. They are great systems but are pricey. Depending on your water needs you really need to supply the pump with about 90V DC which would be at least 3 panels wired in series. They do run on either AC or DC and you need the correct interface to do so. I prefer the large 200 watt panels which wired in series gives the pump 600W at 90V.

I find that many many people want to be "preppers" in this way until they find out the cost.

The other option is to look into the Grundfos SQ that runs on 110VAC only. It has a built-in soft-start that will run on small generators like the popular Honda EU2000i. It's a 3" pump but far less pricey than the SQ Flex. PM me if you want more details. Depending on what part of TX you're in I can give you a quote. I'm in the SE south of Houston and West of Galveston.

 

[Jimbrown]

Look here.
Solar Water Pumping Guide

 

[speedbump]

I'm in agreement with TheGoose. I have installed many SQ's over the years and they are very dependable. The way they get the volume and head out of a three inch pump is by spinning the motor at 10,600 rpm's. They come in 115 volts in the 1/2 hp only. The 3/4, 1 and 1.5 are all 230 volts AC. I also have a knock off that is identical to the 15SQ07-180 but less money.

Another option you might want to look at is the Simple Pump. It is a hand pump basically and will go down the well with your existing pump still in the well. It also has two seperate solar powered motors that make it easy to pressurize water into your bladder tank. You can check it out here: Sub & hand pump in well - Simple Pump - PumpsAndTanks

 

[Jimbrown]

Hey Goose. I am an aggie also. Class of 63 my handle was also Goose.

 

[TheGoose]

Gigem!

 

[DarkBlack]

I think some folks may have misunderstood my OP...

Right now I have a 220V pump, it's been in service over 5 years. In the event of an extended power outage, like a hurricane, a generator is required to get water. During such an extended emergency, I want to be able to pump water without having to rely on gas for a generator. So I'm looking at alternative energy to power the pump for every day service as well as during an emergency.

With one of these Grundfos SQFlex systems, when the power is on it'll apparently use solar when it can or the AC when it can't, and when the power is off it'll use solar and battery backup.

- djb

I think I understood your question. I just think you are looking for a poster who agrees with your pre-determined solution ( I think ).

Pulling up well pumps sucks. That's why I would stick a popular, reliable 240v AC pump don there, so it's done.
Why you can't run it with batteries and an inverter, I don't know.
You say in an extended outage, you don't want to "rely" on a gas generator in an emergency. I don't get that at all...
Your alternative is to "rely" on the sun shining?? I didn't know you could rely on that, any more than having gas.

 

[TheGoose]

A 1-HP A/C pump (common) pulls about 1600-2200 watts running and 5-7 times starting. For it to work with an inverter and batteries would be a substantial investment. The Grundfos basically does what he needs and plugs and plays nice with either solar or regular ac power but is also pricey. There are many ways to accomplish what he wants at various price points, none of them are very cheap.

As to your statement of the "sun not always shining" I can assure you that in the morning the sun will rise in the east and set in the west during the late afternoon and only the cloudiest of days will a solar pump not work. Basically if it is raining then the pump will not work but then again why do you need to pump water if it's raining? Also, with a large enough storage tank you can store several hundred gallons of water (under pressure) to cover 2-3 days of low sun and night-time pumping.

I have installed multiple solar pumping systems that will do anywhere from 3-5000 gallons per day with even moderate sun.

I think I understood your question. I just think you are looking for a poster who agrees with your pre-determined solution ( I think ).

Pulling up well pumps sucks. That's why I would stick a popular, reliable 240v AC pump don there, so it's done.
Why you can't run it with batteries and an inverter, I don't know.
You say in an extended outage, you don't want to "rely" on a gas generator in an emergency. I don't get that at all...
Your alternative is to "rely" on the sun shining?? I didn't know you could rely on that, any more than having gas.

 

[boggen]

had to read the thread. i am in shock, of one heck of a find. (can't remember style of pump one would call it) a screw pump i do believe? nice pump style, that can overcome a lot of friction (depth of a well)

===========
on a different note, i could see if you were already off grid to begin with. but if you already have a pump down in the well...

i would think a battery bank, and a simple 12v to 230 volt inverter would work to get current pump running and working. and if you wanted solar power as a backup to generator. then get yourself some solar panels, and *duh* automatic switch thingy *i forget what its called*, to go between batteries, solar panel, and generator, with abilty to charge batteries via generator, and also abilty to charge batteries if you still have power, and waiting for some major storm or like to happen.

you skip all the extra pumps, extra wiring, extra plumbing, extra tanks, etc...

and just simply go with power converting from solar, generator, batteries, and main electrical power.

 

[genusCastor]

I think I understood your question...

Your alternative is to "rely" on the sun shining?? I didn't know you could rely on that, any more than having gas.

:laughing:

Wow.

- djb

 

[TheGoose]

The grundfos pump have regular centrifugals as well as positive cavity (wiggle worm) pumps. Depends on the pumping depth and the required head.

Do the math on what you suggested and you will see that it's just not practical. Better to just get a generator and as many gallons of fuel/oil as you can store. A regular house uses 300-500 gallons per day, a well pump will pump about 10 gallons per minute. I would think that if a person could get by on 100 gallons per day (light bathing, light washing, re-use of water etc) you can run your genie for 10 minutes in a day for weeks on end without running out of fuel.

The SQ flex would basically allow you to use your water "normal", but what would you do with that much water if you had no power for a water heater or washing machine?

had to read the thread. i am in shock, of one heck of a find. (can't remember style of pump one would call it) a screw pump i do believe? nice pump style, that can overcome a lot of friction (depth of a well)

===========
on a different note, i could see if you were already off grid to begin with. but if you already have a pump down in the well...

i would think a battery bank, and a simple 12v to 230 volt inverter would work to get current pump running and working. and if you wanted solar power as a backup to generator. then get yourself some solar panels, and *duh* automatic switch thingy *i forget what its called*, to go between batteries, solar panel, and generator, with abilty to charge batteries via generator, and also abilty to charge batteries if you still have power, and waiting for some major storm or like to happen.

you skip all the extra pumps, extra wiring, extra plumbing, extra tanks, etc...

and just simply go with power converting from solar, generator, batteries, and main electrical power.