Things are starting to fall in place for me to build my country home. No city water so I will need a water well. My neighbor was tellling me what a problem he had trying to run the well water on generator power. At first I wanted to use a 5kw generator but I think that will not start a 1 hp pump. I was thinking of having a smaller pump ready to go next to my regular pump and give up volume during hurricane power outages. Those with water wells what size gen and pump hp you are running.
Generator power for water well.
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ultrarunner
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Friend is running solar to pump low volume to holding tank... no generator.
I would think pump manufacturer would list starting amps to give you a better idea... also some generators are continuous rated and others peak rated.
I do know someone with a small 1800 rpm Onan Diesel Unit and it powers a well pump in case power is out...
RadarTech
Elite Member
Good evening...
I live in the foot hills of NC and while building our house we used a generator to provide water.
The well is 465 feet deep and is about 60 feet below the basement. We used a 5500 watt generator. The pump was a 30 amp, 220 volt setup. I don't remember the HP..
the generator ran the well easily. During the construction an eldery relative below us had their surface spring go dry. So we filled their supply tank every third day for a week or 2 until their new well was drilled. The tank was 1500-2000 gallons. The generator ran for a few hours each time. And never had an issue.
So with all that said, this generator was good enough...
Don't think I would run much else with it though...
Later,
J
I live in the foot hills of NC and while building our house we used a generator to provide water.
The well is 465 feet deep and is about 60 feet below the basement. We used a 5500 watt generator. The pump was a 30 amp, 220 volt setup. I don't remember the HP..
the generator ran the well easily. During the construction an eldery relative below us had their surface spring go dry. So we filled their supply tank every third day for a week or 2 until their new well was drilled. The tank was 1500-2000 gallons. The generator ran for a few hours each time. And never had an issue.
So with all that said, this generator was good enough...
Don't think I would run much else with it though...
Later,
J
BobRip
Elite Member
I have a well about 320 feet deep with a 1.25 HP pump. Initially I used a 4KW generator to start it. This worked OK for awhile. After a couple of years it would not start. I went to an 8KW generator (10KW surge) and it did OK until Hurricane Isabel. I called the well guy out and he ended up putting larger wire in the well. So we went from 12 guage to 10 guage. It works fine now. It turns out that we were at the end of the recommended wire length for 12 guage. My recommendations are to go at least one size larger in wire size than required and getting at least a 8 Kw generator for a 1 HP pump. A well pump has to start the motor and then accelerate the column of water from the well, through the pipe, up the well, and to the house. This means the pump motor exceeds normal running current for perhaps 30 seconds. The water acts like a huge flywheel which must be acclerated. Basically the pump is a lot harder to start than an equally sized motor for any other application. I wish I had actually gone to 8 guage wire in the well, since I cannot easly change the wire from well to house. It is about 100 feet long and still 12 guage. I did change the 50 feet of wire in my crawl space to 10 gauge.
Alan L.
Elite Member
Not to hijack the thread, but I wonder how much sense it makes to get a large holding tank - maybe 250-500 gallons for water to use during a power outage? I have a 5HP pump nearly 400 feet down the hole, so no chance for multiple pumps.
What is the "shelf life" for water in a sealed tank? Maybe flush it out and refill every couple of months for emergency use?
Then buy a 5KW generator run a couple of lights, the frig, and maybe a window a/c. Here in Texas in the summer I'd rather have AC than lights or water either one......
Had a storm earlier this week and we were without power 3 hours. Not real hot yet so not a problem, but when it doesn't get below 80 at night in mid summer it is difficult to sleep without some AC.
What is the "shelf life" for water in a sealed tank? Maybe flush it out and refill every couple of months for emergency use?
Then buy a 5KW generator run a couple of lights, the frig, and maybe a window a/c. Here in Texas in the summer I'd rather have AC than lights or water either one......
Had a storm earlier this week and we were without power 3 hours. Not real hot yet so not a problem, but when it doesn't get below 80 at night in mid summer it is difficult to sleep without some AC.
One of my other options with a generator for the well is to get a tote that can hold 275 gallons of water. Use the water from the tote for flushing the toilet, washing the dishes, about anything that I can do with a bucket. Just run the well pump for filling up the tote, filling up my drinking water containers, taking a quick shower etc. In that area there was no power for a good 2 weeks so planning for a possible long outage has to be taken into account.
Where I live now I have parish water. The last hurricane I ran a honda e2000during the day for freezer and ref than my 4kw at night for the whole house with a window unit in my bedroom for cooling. The 4kw struggle to run the washing machine on a full load. I may upgrade to at least 6kw.
Where I live now I have parish water. The last hurricane I ran a honda e2000during the day for freezer and ref than my 4kw at night for the whole house with a window unit in my bedroom for cooling. The 4kw struggle to run the washing machine on a full load. I may upgrade to at least 6kw.
RonMar
Elite Member
3KW, but only have a 1/2 or 2/3HP pump. With a deep well, I think it makes sense to have a large holding tank that the well keeps topped off. You then draw water from the holding tank thru a smaller pressurization pump that keeps the domestic water system pressurized. Pumping water is tough, and asking a deep well pump to both lift and pressurize the water makes for a large pump and lots of large gauge wire and electric current to feed it. A pump that is only tasked with lifting the water(high volume/low pressure) has an easier life, and reguires less copper and current to provide for it's needs. This type system could be fed by a smaller generator in an emergency, with you only topping off he holding tank as needed. The holding tank also gives you options, such as hauling water to add to the tank if you should have a well or pump problem... Plus any well problem does not mean you are immediatly out of water. YOu have a little time to decide on a course of action, or find someone to work on the system.
CurlyDave
Elite Member
What is the "shelf life" for water in a sealed tank? Maybe flush it out and refill every couple of months for emergency use?
One ounce of Clorox per 30 gallons of water will make any clear water safe for drinking. When I had a motor home I always added it to the water tank as I filled. I didn't actually drink from the on-board tank, but we bathed, washed dishes, and used it wash veggies and stuff like that. Bottled water for drinking and cooking is under $1 per gallon at Wally World, and there is an expiration date printed on the bottle.
* * * * *
Our well is 710 feet deep and there is another 100' or so of elevation change to the house. Pump is either 3 or 5 HP, don't remember.
We have a 15kW Generac, which runs it with no problem. Clearly overkill, but I got it from Home Depot, delivered for $1800. It was on special and I had a 10% coupon.
The only disadvantage is that it uses more gas than a smaller generator, but a smaller one would have actually been a lot more expensive. We don't have hurricanes, but we do have several hour power outages a few times per year.
A big advantage is that it weighs ~500 lbs when full of fuel. It is not going to just grow legs and walk off like a smaller one can.
One ounce of Clorox per 30 gallons of water will make any clear water safe for drinking. When I had a motor home I always added it to the water tank as I filled. I didn't actually drink from the on-board tank, but we bathed, washed dishes, and used it wash veggies and stuff like that. Bottled water for drinking and cooking is under $1 per gallon at Wally World, and there is an expiration date printed on the bottle.
* * * * *
Our well is 710 feet deep and there is another 100' or so of elevation change to the house. Pump is either 3 or 5 HP, don't remember.
We have a 15kW Generac, which runs it with no problem. Clearly overkill, but I got it from Home Depot, delivered for $1800. It was on special and I had a 10% coupon.
The only disadvantage is that it uses more gas than a smaller generator, but a smaller one would have actually been a lot more expensive. We don't have hurricanes, but we do have several hour power outages a few times per year.
A big advantage is that it weighs ~500 lbs when full of fuel. It is not going to just grow legs and walk off like a smaller one can.
Why not make your large holding tank your pressure tank, only elevate it so you can gravity feed during power outage, or pump failure, that's what I did in S AZ. 1000 gal steel tank 8 feet up.
You could do the same thing on a smaller scale with two of the large size air bladder pressure tanks and end up with 2 to 3 hundred gallons of water in reserve.
good luck
arrow
Super Member
If it serves as any kind of marker. I have a 1/2 hp pump 300' down. When putting in my generator panel, the electrician measured 1900 watts at start up and 1400 w continuous on his meter. Of course that's to say his read and meter were correct. Do not know the draw on a 1 hp motor or if it would necessarily double the wattage to start up. Depth run and wire gage would be just as important a determining factor in my mind as to how much generator I would need. I have run the furnace, the well, living room lights and the washer all at once with my 5000 watt continuous generator.
RobertN
Super Member
My Uncle lived for 10 years out in the boonies. Had phone, but no power. He ran his well off a 5500W generator. Even when the house was done, and solar was in, he still ran the generator to pump water.
I bought a 5500W generator some time back to run our well if we lose power. Once we were without for about 18 hours is all. Since getting the generator, we have lost power for a couple of hours; nothing I needed to start the generator for.
We had to put a new pump in our well. Water production was really down. So, we added a 2500 gallon tank. It has its own pump. Well, now we have 2500 gallons of reserve. Turns out, the new well pump pumped water very well.
The small pump on the water tank does not take much power.
I like having the reserve. The two engines from our fire station have 500 and 800 gallon tanks; I can fill them each 3 or 4 times just from the tank.
We are on one well, but have two houses(2nd is granny flat). The granny flat is about 50' up the hill from ours; my Mom in law had hardly any water pressure, especially if we were using water. We added a 300 gallon tank and booster pump at her house a few years ago. Works great. And, she has reserve water...
I bought a 5500W generator some time back to run our well if we lose power. Once we were without for about 18 hours is all. Since getting the generator, we have lost power for a couple of hours; nothing I needed to start the generator for.
We had to put a new pump in our well. Water production was really down. So, we added a 2500 gallon tank. It has its own pump. Well, now we have 2500 gallons of reserve. Turns out, the new well pump pumped water very well.
The small pump on the water tank does not take much power.
I like having the reserve. The two engines from our fire station have 500 and 800 gallon tanks; I can fill them each 3 or 4 times just from the tank.
We are on one well, but have two houses(2nd is granny flat). The granny flat is about 50' up the hill from ours; my Mom in law had hardly any water pressure, especially if we were using water. We added a 300 gallon tank and booster pump at her house a few years ago. Works great. And, she has reserve water...
BobRip
Elite Member
I have about 40 gallons of air bladder tank (two tanks in series). If I suspect a storm is coming, I make sure the tank is full. This can give us many hours of water if we are careful.
whistlepig
Elite Member
I just went through the generator/well pump thingy. We bought a place and the previous owner had not a clue to the size of the well pump. Dedicate 3500 watts of your generator to the well pump. 3500 watts will start and run a 2 HP 220 volt well pump easily. From what I have read a 2 HP well pump is on the high end of well pumps for homeowners. A 5500 watt generator is more than enough for just a well pump. Our generator is 6500 watts. We can run the well pump, pellet stove (200 watts), fridge, freezer, some lights, and the TV. I think a 5500 watt can do all this and a little bit more. We bought a 6500 watt just to be safe.
jas67
Platinum Member
I used a 5 KW generator (box-store Troy Bilt w/ briggs engine) to run my 1/2 HP (240V) during an ice storm induced power outage a few years back. I have since acquired a 4.2 KW diesel generator (yanmar clone -- got it for $200 used!), but haven't tried it with the well pump yet.
My well is only 75 feet deep, so 1/2 HP is plenty. I'm sure you can find a chart on any number of well pump mfg's sites to determine what sized pump you'd need.
The big thing with any induction motor (or any inductive load for that matter), is providing enough start-up power, which can be 3X the running power. A 1/2 HP motor should only need about 550-600W to run, but my 1/2 pump still causes the lights to dim briefly when it comes on (using the 5 KW generator), but if I connect a 500W work light and turn it on, the generator barely notices this.
jas67
Platinum Member
If you get frequent power outages, and, like many of us on this forum, you have a diesel tractor, or fuel-oil heat, consider a diesel generator, instead of a gas-powered one. Diesel fuel can be stored for about 5-10X longer, and you probably already have a good supply of it on hand for your tractor and or furnace (#2 fuel oil and diesel fuel are the same thing).
Also, be sure to have motor oil on hand to change the oil in the generator during any extended outage. Most Briggs-powered (and similar) generators require oil changes every 50 hours (they do not have a filter, or pressured lubrication).
Also, be sure to have motor oil on hand to change the oil in the generator during any extended outage. Most Briggs-powered (and similar) generators require oil changes every 50 hours (they do not have a filter, or pressured lubrication).
tommu56
Elite Member
I have a grunfus sq flex down 450ft and it runs on a 120v 2500 w inverter.
The difference is in the pump it is expensive but do you want to pay for fuel for a life time or a one time for a better pump.
This pump will actually run on dc or ac it doesn't have a surge on start up.
has dry well protection all built in to pump.
Most well drillers and plumbers put the most economical pump in but don't look at the start current because of 98% are grid fed
link http://www.grundfos.us/web/homeus.nsf/Webopslag/85A210EAD5DF90C786256B7D005AF12F
tom
The difference is in the pump it is expensive but do you want to pay for fuel for a life time or a one time for a better pump.
This pump will actually run on dc or ac it doesn't have a surge on start up.
has dry well protection all built in to pump.
Most well drillers and plumbers put the most economical pump in but don't look at the start current because of 98% are grid fed
link http://www.grundfos.us/web/homeus.nsf/Webopslag/85A210EAD5DF90C786256B7D005AF12F
tom
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RonMar
Elite Member
To add to Jas67's comments about oil, air cooled engines consume oil. Your typical air cooled generator with a briggs or honda engine has about 4-4 1/2 days run time before they shut down on a low oil alarm(if so equiped)...
Wistlepig. Other than the demands of your large wellpump, it sounds like you have a lot of excess power. I run all the same things you mentioned, with a 1/2HP well pump, on 3KW
Wistlepig. Other than the demands of your large wellpump, it sounds like you have a lot of excess power. I run all the same things you mentioned, with a 1/2HP well pump, on 3KW
BobRip
Elite Member
To add to Jas67's comments about oil, air cooled engines consume oil. Your typical air cooled generator with a briggs or honda engine has about 4-4 1/2 days run time before they shut down on a low oil alarm(if so equiped)...
Wistlepig. Other than the demands of your large wellpump, it sounds like you have a lot of excess power. I run all the same things you mentioned, with a 1/2HP well pump, on 3KW
I agree, but go a step further. Stock a spare air filter, oil filter (maybe two of this), and spark plug. You cannot get any of this stuff during a power outage even if you can get to a store. I had an air filter go bad from oil evaporating from the foam filter and clogging the paper filter. There were very few hours on. This is all cheap insurance. Also you should have a torch to heat up the plug in case it gets saturated with gas or it's cold out. Starting and running your generator on a load is very important. I start both of mine twice a month and run electric heaters on them for 20 minutes or so. If you don't do this, don't bother to buy one. You are just wasting money. You did want it to work during a power outage, not just for bragging rights?
When you get the generator and at least once a year you should actually connect it to the house and run the loads you need to run. A friend found he had the wrong connector during a power outage.
whistlepig
Elite Member
To add to Jas67's comments about oil, air cooled engines consume oil. Your typical air cooled generator with a briggs or honda engine has about 4-4 1/2 days run time before they shut down on a low oil alarm(if so equiped)...
Wistlepig. Other than the demands of your large wellpump, it sounds like you have a lot of excess power. I run all the same things you mentioned, with a 1/2HP well pump, on 3KW
I think you are right about me having excess power. I don't think I have a well pump as large as 2 HP but have no way of knowing with out digging it up. The people we bought the place from were going through a divorce. We quickly and unknowingly became the enemy and information on this place was hard (impossible) to get. I do know the pump is 220 volt and 30 amp. We don't need to go whole house generator here. After two years here we haven't had any power outages to amount to anything. We do live out in the boonies with four horses and two dogs. No power equals no water for the horses and no way to flush the toilets. No place to take the dogs. A generator out here is a necessity.
