12 Volt water well pump.

MPrewitt · Jan 15, 2010

I need some input, I have a shallow hand dug water well that is lined with cement culverts, I don't know how old it is or how deep it is. When I remove the lid and look inside I can see what appears to be water 10 to 15 feet below the lid.

I would like to use this water to water 6 to 8 head of cattle.

Here are the issues:
1. Need to verify it is water and how deep the well is.
2. Need 12 volt solar system to run submersable pump.
3. Need 12 volt submersable pump.
4. Holding tank 10 foot or so above ground level. Gravity feed to water trough.
5. Water trough will be 100 foot plus or minus 20 foot from the water well.

I have access to the solar panels so these are not a problem.
Doing a little research on the web I have found pumps under $200 but they only have a 400 hour motor life.
I have found pumps in the $1000 to $1500 range but that is out of my budget.

I was thinking about a large plastic water tank I have seen on Cragslist for under $100 to use as my storage tank. My son is a welder so he can build the stand for the holding tank.
The trough would need a switch that opened the flow to the holding tank when the water level in the trough got to a certain level then shut off the flow when it filled back up. ??????

Is anyone using something like this or seen something like this?

All input is welcome.

Murray..

Jimbrown · Jan 15, 2010

My whole well system is solar powered. This is one area that you get what you pay for.

The cheapest submersible that I know of is the shureflo 9300.

Shurflo 9300 Submersible Solar Water Pump

You could probably get on of the non submersible ones to work if you lowered it into the well and kept it just a few inches above water level. They will suck water for a few feet (they claim 12 ft) and push it to over 45psi.

I have two the 2088 series pumps that take water from my storage tank and pressurize my pressure tanks. The 2088 pumps generally last about 2 years if I do not let em freez.

You can buy a stock tank auto float water supply in any feed store there are many different kinds. less than $20.

Here just a few Stock Tanks & Float Valves - Neeps Lawn, Garden, Pond, Bird, and Equine Products

By far the best solar well pumps are the Grundfos SQFlex series. I have one that pumps 6 gallons a minute it will run on just about anything AC/DC 30 to 300 volts.

jaquetarr · Jan 16, 2010

Do some Google research on 'airlift' pumps. Its mostly a pipe & airhose that uses compressed air to push water to the top & your tank. No moving parts in the well.
Brumby & Buffalo are two that come to mind
Rgds,
tim

Egon · Jan 17, 2010

Consider using a 12 volt on demand pump like are used in RV's.

Hang it in the well so it's above the water level and put a check valve on the bottom of the suction tube.

jenkinsph · Jan 19, 2010

I don't see the point in the storage tank part of the setup. An on demand pump and fill valve with float should do the trick, the water trough should be the storage tank. I have used both livestock trough and Fluidmaster toilet fill valves with good success.

I would test the water quality too, you don't want sick livestock either.

tommu56 · Jan 19, 2010

Ok I have a solar set with a well at my cabin I did a lot of research on this before I bough my system I dont and wont have ever have power avaible and I've been usng for 3 or 4 years so far.

What solar panels do you have?
Can they produce the current you need directly or need a battery?
Will you pump it manually?
How close it the nearest 120v source?

An rv pump will draw about 10 amps at 12 volts with and they are only rated at about 8' of lift at that point you wouldent get that much flow if you were luckey 1- 2 gallons per minuit.

I don't want to dissuade you but this would be the minimum system I would suggest.

the sure flow 9300 $690.00
my Mitsubishi panels were around $750.00 each you would need 2 to run the pump directly then pump linear booster $230.00
2 float switches $50.00 (one tank full one low water in well to stop pump)
the minimum wire size should be #10 # 8 or larger would be better

So you will be just under $3,000.00 with all the mounting wiring doing it your self.

If you have any chance of running power to the site I'd do that.

I just checked panels are on sale for $595. so it would be a little lower than my estimate

Treemonkey1000 · Jan 19, 2010

So do the bilge pumps from boats work for that? There are many sizes available. You can use a float switch at the tank to tell it when to pump. Charge some large batteries with the solar cells. Another option is a wind driven either water pump. (cool looking windmill) Or a wind driven generator to either power your pumps completely or as a charging system. That's if you have enough wind. The windmill could either power an ac generator or a car alternator. You may have already looked at those options though.

MPrewitt · Jan 19, 2010

tommu56 said:
What solar panels do you have?
Can they produce the current you need directly or need a battery?
Will you pump it manually?
How close it the nearest 120v source?

I don't want to dissuade you but this would be the minimum system I would suggest.

the sure flow 9300 $690.00
my Mitsubishi panels were around $750.00 each you would need 2 to run the pump directly then pump linear booster $230.00
2 float switches $50.00 (one tank full one low water in well to stop pump)
the minimum wire size should be #10 # 8 or larger would be better

So you will be just under $3,000.00 with all the mounting wiring doing it your self.

I don't know the name brand but I have acces to several 80 watt 2' x 4' solar panels. I also have a charge requlator that will not over charge the marine battery I want to use.
AC power is close to 400' from the well.
The pump, float switches, water tubing and wire should be my only expense.

Iplayfarmer · Jan 19, 2010

MPrewitt said:
I don't know the name brand but I have acces to several 80 watt 2' x 4' solar panels. I also have a charge requlator that will not over charge the marine battery I want to use.
AC power is close to 400' from the well.
The pump, float switches, water tubing and wire should be my only expense.

I think you can do it. 1-2 gallons a minute anytime the sun is shining would be plenty for a half dozen or so cattle. Ideally you'd have a tiny little pump that is always pumping. The nice thing about a solar setup is that supply will track demand to some extent. Hot days when you have more sun for the solar panels are the days when your cattle will drink more water.

About the marine battery... You'll need some way of shutting off the system at night. If your pump runs enough when there's no sun to charge the battery, it will regularly deplete the battery and shorten it's life.

I think you should get the smallest pump you can find and hook it directly to the solar panels without a battery in the system. Use the tank from Craig's List to store your energy rather than the battery. Make sure that whatever pump you find is rated for continuous duty. I'd wouldn't even put a float switch on the pump. If you find that you're pumping too much water you can add it later.