Solar Water Well ?

[Spike56]

I looked online and found several examples of band and other types of clamps that could be used on a 6 inch well casing to hold a post or posts for a solar panel. This would obviate some sort of scheme where a hole is drilled into the clay for a post or posts. And then, as another poster suggested, a piece of culvert could be used to protect the electronics from curious cows. I have a 6 inch steel well casing for my well and it is certainly stout enough to support a couple of 2 inch steel pipes that would then support a solar panel. My well casing is at least 1/4 inch wall thickness and I know it extends about 45 feet into the ground. Of course I don't know what the OP's situation is but I would be really surprised if the well casing is less than 1/4 wall thickness and if it didn't extend at least 20 feet into the ground just because of the well seal. Where I live the well seal is made from bentonite clay and must extend down at least 12 feet from the surface and there must be at least 8 feet of well casing extending down from the seal for stability. Texas may be different but I doubt the well casing thickness is much thinner and I can't see a well casing extending less that ten feet underground. But I know nothing about Texas laws so I could be completely off base.
Eric

Thanks Eric. The casing is schedule 80 (pretty sure) plastic pipe. How far down it goes is anyones guess. This was an oil company temporary well.

 

[Spike56]

Good video. I agree piston, diaphragm, and ball type pumps wear quickly and need replacing often. As the video states centrifugal impeller pumps are best for many reasons. But with solar they can't build much head because they need close to max speed to do so. Solar only runs as fast as the sun is bright. Even with lots of panels solar pumps only work at max speed for the brightest hour or two a day. The rest of the time they are spinning too slowly to produce much head.

Helical shafts have been around for generations. In the 60's there was what we called the Peerless wigletail, which looked exactly the same except with an AC motor. The helical shaft doesn't run smoothly like a cylindrical shaft, and vibration would take out the top motor bearing. They would also build incredible pressure if/when the pressure switch failed to shut the pump off, and would blow pressure tanks through the roof of well houses. But at low RPM vibration is not too bad and with the use of a pressure relief valve is fairly safe from high pressures.

For these reasons a regular AC pump is best if grid power is available. But out on the ranch just about any solar pump is better than working on a windmill. Ugg! RPS been around a while and seems like a good company.

Wish I could go A/C powered; which is 2 poles away. BUT, they charge about 1500 per pole, then you have to buy the meter loop, wire... AND THEN, they charge you around $25 / month for the meter, every month FOREVER. Just can't do it, already get that charge on my shop.
Got PLENTY of sun here, so.... When / IF I do this is still up in the air so to speak. Still in the research phase.

 

[etpm]

Thanks Eric. The casing is schedule 80 (pretty sure) plastic pipe. How far down it goes is anyones guess. This was an oil company temporary well.

I just assumed it was steel. One more example of how assumptions can lead one astray. I have no idea if even schedule 80 plastic pipe could support solar panels in perpetuity.
Eric