Help choosing a water pump for burn pile safety

[muckdp]

I have a number of burn piles I need to do this year. Gubberment regulations, and common sense say that I need to have a water source nearby, but unfortunately I don't. I have a Kubota M series, and a 250 Gallon pallet tank (like one of these: 250 gallon liquid shipping container tank ibc lot of 52 ), but I don't have a good way to be able to spray the water from the tank. I've tried reading through some pump information I find on the interweb, but I'm not clear what exactly I need. Here are my basic specs, and hopefully someone can fill in the blanks for me, and point me in the right direction

* Should behave roughly the same as water from a standard water spigot ( which I believe is in the 50-60 PSI range) when run through a garden hose. Both in terms of water volume, and in terms of "spraying range".

* I'd prefer to be able to just drop the "suction" hose down from the top, instead of having to connect to the valve on the pallet tank.

* Preferably would use 120v or 12v electricity, instead of being a gas powered unit -- I'd rather hook this up to my existing gen set, or to a pair of batteries, than have to maintain yet another gas motor).

* Being able to leave the pump running, and having the trigger from the garden hose sprayer be the "on/off" switch would be great -- but not a necessity.

* I'd like to keep the cost under $300 if possible.

I realize I may be way off base here, and I'm sure I'm not using the proper terminology, so I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.

Thanks in advance!

 

[idaho2]

This may not help your current delema but if you find one do what I'm doing.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/rural-living/234486-went-my-paying-job-minding-new-post.html

idaho2

 

[Wnc3]

I don't know which pump, but I know it will work better to draw from the valve at the bottom. The gravity will work much better with no head pressure.
I need to set up the same rig. Maybe a pto pump is the way to go...
Sure flo makes a good 12 volt rv pump for under a 100.
It will auto shut off, but only enough for a garden hose.

 

[Garybake]

I am sure you can not dead head this with closed nozzle but switch on electric when needed. Ten minutes would empty your container. I use one and like it but pump housing needs prime. If set below tank simple on/off switch as long as outlet is above tank.

Portable utility pump with up to 120 ft. lift capacity.

■Max. flow rate: 1500 GPH/25 GPM
■Powerful 800 watt pump motor
■Brass standard water hose connections
■Cast iron pump body
120 volts, 60 Hz, 8.4 amps


Portable Utility Pump - Save on this Portable Utility Pump

 

[The It]

Get yourself a PTO driven pump, like this one: Hypro Pumps Roller Pump, 5 Rollers:: Cast Iron, Less PTO Coupler - Dultmeier Sales

You can get them in various gallons per minute and psi. I bought this one this week to suck water out of my picking bins.

If you decide on one of these, make sure you also buy a PTO coupler, the company in the link above sells it too. The y also sell the hose fittings and screeners that go on the end of the sucking hose.

You'll also need to attach a small gauge chain to the pump and hook the other end on something sturdy (like your tractor's drawbar), to keep the pump from spinning when you engage the PTO.

 

[studor]

I have a PTO pump, an 1 1/2 inch gas and a three inch gas pump. When I light fires in areas that I cannot reach with hose and one of the gas units I use the smaller gas pump and a tote to provide emergency water -- it provides plenty of pressure and volume to control the fire. In most cases the PTO pump gives lots of pressure but not much volume. The 12 volt electric pumps that I looked at just did not seem to pump enough to control an emergency. I do not have a genset so I also steered away from 120 volt pumps. Maintenacew on the gas pumps is pretty minimal -- making sure they are drained before winter is the biggest PITA
I usually also cut a line around the pile and wet it with a sprayer prior to starting the fire. Once the fire is going I use hand sprayers to control sparks.

 

[Willl]

Preferably would use 120v or 12v electricity

This will only get you a 'garden hose' type of results. Like you have at home.

 

[Willl]

Oops, missed the part of your post that says home type results would be fine.

I would suggest a Shurflo RV type pump, something like this.

Classic Series Water Pump - SHURflo

I've installed 2 of these in my campers and have 3 other friends that have done the same. Good pumps.

And you'll have 'at home' type results.

 

[The It]

I have a PTO pump, an 1 1/2 inch gas and a three inch gas pump. When I light fires in areas that I cannot reach with hose and one of the gas units I use the smaller gas pump and a tote to provide emergency water -- it provides plenty of pressure and volume to control the fire. In most cases the PTO pump gives lots of pressure but not much volume. The 12 volt electric pumps that I looked at just did not seem to pump enough to control an emergency. I do not have a genset so I also steered away from 120 volt pumps. Maintenacew on the gas pumps is pretty minimal -- making sure they are drained before winter is the biggest PITA
I usually also cut a line around the pile and wet it with a sprayer prior to starting the fire. Once the fire is going I use hand sprayers to control sparks.

I'm sure your gas pumps do well.

Generally PTO pumps, depending on how much you want to spend, can do 0 - 300 gpm; real firemen use these babies PTO Pumps, some of which can do 1500+ gpm.

Since the OP said he was using a 250 gal tank, I suggested something that wouldn't run it dry in less than a minute.

 

[hosspuller]

I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction.


* Preferably would use 120v or 12v electricity, instead of being a gas powered unit -- I'd rather hook this up to my existing gen set, or to a pair of batteries, than have to maintain yet another gas motor).

Then I'd say the simplest solution is a submersible well pump. A pressure switch will keep the pump from running when no draw is required. Yet your hose would be pressurized with water on tap instantly. Connect a hose and wire, drop it into the tank. Start your genset. If you had two tanks, you could easily switch to your back-up tank.