How would you guys do this
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CobyRupert
Super Member
As others have noted, a ballast tank will give you "stored" pressure so the pump doesn't run continuously.
But you still need to be able to pump up the ballast tank faster than you drain it, or eventually you just running at pump pressure/flow rate. (What is pressure washer GPM?)
Without a ballast tank your pump (working off a pressure switch) would cycle every time someone opened a faucet. Which may be OK, if it's 12VDC, temporary, & you want to save power. Might be bad for pump's lifespan though.
Or, without a ballast tank, you have a recirculation loop from pump back to tank through a pressure relief valve (PRV). That way, when all normal faucets are off, the pressure from the (always running) pump only builds until PRV opens and water is recirculated to bin. When someone opens a faucet, the pressure drop is low enough that PRV closes, and faucet gets pressure. Pump would run all the time that water system is pressurized.
....but, besides pressure washer, isn't a lot of your use going to be an RV trailer?
Doesn't this already have a storage tank, and a 12V pump that supplies water pressure to the faucets and shower? You should only need a little gravity to get water from the large bin to this storage tank, right?
But you still need to be able to pump up the ballast tank faster than you drain it, or eventually you just running at pump pressure/flow rate. (What is pressure washer GPM?)
Without a ballast tank your pump (working off a pressure switch) would cycle every time someone opened a faucet. Which may be OK, if it's 12VDC, temporary, & you want to save power. Might be bad for pump's lifespan though.
Or, without a ballast tank, you have a recirculation loop from pump back to tank through a pressure relief valve (PRV). That way, when all normal faucets are off, the pressure from the (always running) pump only builds until PRV opens and water is recirculated to bin. When someone opens a faucet, the pressure drop is low enough that PRV closes, and faucet gets pressure. Pump would run all the time that water system is pressurized.
....but, besides pressure washer, isn't a lot of your use going to be an RV trailer?
Doesn't this already have a storage tank, and a 12V pump that supplies water pressure to the faucets and shower? You should only need a little gravity to get water from the large bin to this storage tank, right?
WranglerX
Super Member
If you have a generator on site, maybe something like this unit below will work for you....
BURCAM manufactures shallow well and convertible jet pumps of 1/2 HP and 3/4 HP, made in thermoplastic, in stainless steel and in cast iron.
With a little plumbing magic you can pump into or out of your "storage" tank, so tank location (elevation not critical) ...
Or with with a conventional pump (pressure switch included) , you can use a large volume pressure tank and have maybe 30 to 40 gallons of water at pressure for your use, later you can plumb pressure tank in to your well system once its is drilled....
BURCAM official site. A CANADIAN manufacturer of a complete line of deep well pumps and jets pumps.
BURCAM manufactures shallow well and convertible jet pumps of 1/2 HP and 3/4 HP, made in thermoplastic, in stainless steel and in cast iron.
Not saying these products are what you should use but just to show what may be out there...
I have looked at all sorts of systems and have a 500 ft deep well and a submersible pump in well feeding a 20 gallon pressure tank for house use, also two 2500 gallon poly tanks for reserve and for fire prevention (Cali foothill fire danger), plumbed to hydrant (fire apparatus accessible) and also plumbed in to be accessible to house if well failure or power failure also a secondary pump (above ground) from reserve tanks to house pressure tank ... Also have generator and transfer switches to power well pump or above ground pump for reserve tanks to pressurize any system in case of power failure....
Does RV have generator???.... If so you have power to run small pump...
If you are going to develop property later with a well and residence I would really consider pressure tank system and large storage capacity (reserve system), and yes I understand you have to transport in water presently to have any storage capacity.... When we first filled our 5000 gallon reserve we had water transport people bring in first 3000 gallons and pump it into tanks to keep from stressing our well, modest fee of $175 for 3000 gallons did not break the bank ($0.058 a gallon) .... Filled remaining 2000 gallons over next month or so so we did not stress well to bring tanks up to full capacity....
Duracast 25 Gallon Water Tank
Stupid board seems to drop zeros in urls for some reason....
Also got lucky and picked up pump below, Honda WX15, for $40 at yard sale and when I looked it up I was surprised, it retails for $500, all it needed was about a hour of TLC to clean scum and corrosion out of carburetor...
Dale
BURCAM manufactures shallow well and convertible jet pumps of 1/2 HP and 3/4 HP, made in thermoplastic, in stainless steel and in cast iron.
With a little plumbing magic you can pump into or out of your "storage" tank, so tank location (elevation not critical) ...
Or with with a conventional pump (pressure switch included) , you can use a large volume pressure tank and have maybe 30 to 40 gallons of water at pressure for your use, later you can plumb pressure tank in to your well system once its is drilled....
BURCAM official site. A CANADIAN manufacturer of a complete line of deep well pumps and jets pumps.
BURCAM manufactures shallow well and convertible jet pumps of 1/2 HP and 3/4 HP, made in thermoplastic, in stainless steel and in cast iron.
Not saying these products are what you should use but just to show what may be out there...
I have looked at all sorts of systems and have a 500 ft deep well and a submersible pump in well feeding a 20 gallon pressure tank for house use, also two 2500 gallon poly tanks for reserve and for fire prevention (Cali foothill fire danger), plumbed to hydrant (fire apparatus accessible) and also plumbed in to be accessible to house if well failure or power failure also a secondary pump (above ground) from reserve tanks to house pressure tank ... Also have generator and transfer switches to power well pump or above ground pump for reserve tanks to pressurize any system in case of power failure....
Does RV have generator???.... If so you have power to run small pump...
If you are going to develop property later with a well and residence I would really consider pressure tank system and large storage capacity (reserve system), and yes I understand you have to transport in water presently to have any storage capacity.... When we first filled our 5000 gallon reserve we had water transport people bring in first 3000 gallons and pump it into tanks to keep from stressing our well, modest fee of $175 for 3000 gallons did not break the bank ($0.058 a gallon) .... Filled remaining 2000 gallons over next month or so so we did not stress well to bring tanks up to full capacity....
Duracast 25 Gallon Water Tank
Stupid board seems to drop zeros in urls for some reason....
Also got lucky and picked up pump below, Honda WX15, for $40 at yard sale and when I looked it up I was surprised, it retails for $500, all it needed was about a hour of TLC to clean scum and corrosion out of carburetor...
Dale
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rScotty
Super Member
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- Rural mountains - Colorado
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The size of the pressure tank (some call it a ballast tank) really doesn't matter much. 20 gallons is more than plenty; 10 is sufficient. All that happens when the pressure drops is that the pump comes on and runs until the tank is full - but if you are using water during that time what happens is that you are working directly off the pump and are just getting water at full pressure anyway. The pump needs to be able to provide at least 5 gallons/min at 50 psi. Ten gallons/minute is better.
newbury
Super Star Member
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First he needs to figure out how to stand his storage unit on end
Now - the critical question - How much do you want to invest?
Killing algae and bacteria is easy. But getting water potable and SAFE takes more.
I've had a tote outside a shed in Mississippi for
probably 8 years. Water runs off the roof, pours into the old pink cooler, which acts as a funnel to get the water into the hole on top of the tote. For filtration I've a piece of window screen, for algae and bacteria I occasionally throw in some chlorine. I set it up mainly to provide easy water for my little sawmill and rinsing stuff outside. When I "lost" running water to my restroom I started using the water for flushing the toilet (probably occurs about 60 times a year) carrying water in a 5 gallon bucket. But that became tiresome
(click on pic to reorient)
so a few years ago I put another tote about 6' up in my pallet rack. That provides plenty of head.SO - assuming your 40' storage container is NOT on end, but has a roof about 8' above ground level that should give plenty of water pressure for manual washing.
However since you just want the
radios1
Elite Member
remember this 275 gallon tank will weigh 2,293.5 pounds when full!. be sure what you put this on will safely take that weight!.
Diggin It
Super Star Member
How much rain do you get and how often? Parts of FL get a lot, parts not so much.
I have one set at the bottom of my hill where I have things planted too far away for a regular garden hose to be useful.
I made what amounts to a big funnel on top with a screen for debris. Rain so far this year has it overflowing. But I do have other sources up hill to gravity fill it if necessary.
I added a piece of pipe and hose to the provided outlet port and valve, but I don't need the pressure you're looking for.
I have one set at the bottom of my hill where I have things planted too far away for a regular garden hose to be useful.
I made what amounts to a big funnel on top with a screen for debris. Rain so far this year has it overflowing. But I do have other sources up hill to gravity fill it if necessary.
I added a piece of pipe and hose to the provided outlet port and valve, but I don't need the pressure you're looking for.
Egon
Epic Contributor
With on demand pump a pressure tank is not required.
rScotty
Super Member
- Joined
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- Messages
- 9,542
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- Rural mountains - Colorado
- Tractor
- Kubota M59, JD530, JD310SG. Restoring Yanmar YM165D
Good point, a pressure tank is a bit of convenience and reduces the stop/start cycles on the pump - but takes up space and is not a necessity. Boats and RVs often save room by not having a pressure tank, just a storage tank and a pump that runs on demand. The ones I've seen are usually low flow/low pressure applications. But they work.
rScotty
muddstopper
Veteran Member
Lots of expensive suggestions, I prefer the kiss approach. A 275 gal water tote on top of a storage container will provide plenty of gravity pressure for taking a shower/bath. You wont have the pressure of a pump, but you can soapup and rinse just fine. I have plenty of experience with a tank in a actic and those water tanks you hang in a tree for bathing while campingdo very well. For drinking water, just hook up a charcoal refrigerator icemaker filter in line and it will filter the water better than city water is filtered that comes thru your tap at home. As for using a pressure washer, the pump on the washer provides the pressure, gravity flow from you tote just provides water, it doent need to be pressurized before going to the pressure washer. You can see this is correct by just looking at the setup of those that advertise pressure washing. A big tank of water connected straight to their pressure washer. To prevent algae growth in the tank, just paint the tank or cover it to prevent sunlite. Water doesnt spoil, but bacterial can grow in it. A chlorine shock will take care of the bacteria. The charcoal filter will take care of the chlorine taste. So far you have spent maybe $20 for a filter plus what ever you spend on water lines. To fill the tank on top of the container, I would opt for a cheap gas powered water pump. You can take the pump with you to fill your transport tank , use it to fill from the transfer tank to the storage tank, or pump water from the storage tank when you need more than gravity pressure. https://www.amazon.com/XtremepowerU...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=01K371B91ZYGZKM63GYP
