Flow Control on Well Head

[LittleBill21]

you shouldn't be trying to hit the max number, thats just going to give you difficulty, if the valves aren't crazy accurate, you should be tuning for 9gpm, which gives you the buffer, control logic should also not allow more then the max gpm allowed, either via computer control like an Arduino, or NC/NO relays, to create priority zones.

 

[LouNY]

Or irrigate less lawn, it's just decorative and bragging rights. It's not productive.

 

[steve tym]

The pump draws less amps when dead headed because it's not doing any work. Moving water is work, building pressure really isn't any work, the impellers are just spinning.

 

[npalen]

Very different perspective between posts 20 and 22.

 

[npalen]

From what I understand, most of the wells in this part of town are in the 30' to 40' depth. I was happy to let driller quit at 31' as that was all the money I had at the time.
As a side story, I had asked the driller if he would do some dousing (?) to find the vein. So he grabbed an old rusty pliers off the side of his truck and walked around the yard. We can drill it wherever you want as there is water all over here, he said, so we put it close to the house.

 

[sd455dan]

Key words pressure tank. If an enclosure is not a deal breaker.

I would consider a good sized captive tank, Could be a help for short term timed volume And pressure to support the sprinkler system.. Refill the tank on a programmable timer and rinse and repeat.Maybe.

 

[npalen]

Key words pressure tank. If an enclosure is not a deal breaker.

I would consider a good sized captive tank, Could be a help for short term timed volume And pressure to support the sprinkler system.. Refill the tank on a programmable timer and rinse and repeat.Maybe.

Sounds interesting but not sure I understand how it would work. What size tank?

 

[npalen]

you shouldn't be trying to hit the max number, thats just going to give you difficulty, if the valves aren't crazy accurate, you should be tuning for 9gpm, which gives you the buffer, control logic should also not allow more then the max gpm allowed, either via computer control like an Arduino, or NC/NO relays, to create priority zones.

Yes, in essence, I'm trying for the 9gpm that you mention to just stay within the well's current output capability. It's a fine line, however, between that and not having enough flow to maintain adequate pressure to keep the rest of the zone valves shut tight and operate all the heads on a zone. I have been achieving that but then started running into the issue of not enough flow when turning on a zone to seat all the closed valves tightly. Setting a time delay between the pump and valve will hopefully fix that.

A little bit of grit between the diaphragm and its valve seat on any of the valves will let it leak a little and start robbing from the well/pump output. I mentioned earlier that each of the two dozen sprinkler heads has a shutoff valve next to it and I could turn off half of them on a zone and then run that zone twice alternating. I've been doing that during past droughts over the last 48 years but it gets old in a hurry and have to run the pump 24/7 to maintain minimum moisture during the hot summer months in NCKS.

 

[WranglerX]

Sounds interesting but not sure I understand how it would work. What size tank?

You need a storage tank on your well - Bee Cave Drilling

Does your well:

www.beecavedrilling.com

How Do Home Well Water Pump and Pressure Systems Work

Learn the mechanics on how well water system works, how they are made and how you can build your own well water system.

www.cleanwaterstore.com

As a side note if your well can do 8GPM (not to stress well) that is 480 gallons a hour or 3840 gallons in 8 hours....... How many gallons do you calculate your lawn need in a watering session....

And..

You could always not include pressure tank that are shown in examples above and just use a booster pump if your sprinkler system controller has "well pump control" (probable 24 volt output to drive high voltage relay for pump) ....

https://www.northerntool.com/products/wayne-stainless-steel-self-priming-utility-sprinkler-booster-water-pump-720-gph-1-hp-1in-model-pls100-109258

 

[duffer]

I have a well head cycle stop valve. It keeps the pump operating during irrigation almost continuously which reduces wear and tear on the pump, from cycling all the time. You could control your GPM with that, as it's adjustable to a wide range.

Also agree with other posters about irrigating at night (or very early morning) when nothing else is in use.

It also sounds like your recovery time on your well is marginal at best. 10 GPM is very low. I'd contact another well driller to discuss if there are options for you, like extending the depth of the pump, adding a higher HP pump, or both.