solar water pump

[PhilS]

Originally Posted by BB.

Others can probably help you more--As "Moderators", Niel and I are here pretty much for Spam control...

Mobile homes frequently have limitations that make installing gas appliances more more difficult---Bill

1. Most definitely agree!! You guys do great at deleting the occasional spam posts, and keeping the rest of us in line! You deserve more than your regular salary.

2. I disagree. I live in a mobile, and decades ago I ran a propane line so I could install a gas dryer. It was easy. No foundation, easy access under the home, thin floors to drill through, etc. Later I added another gas line to supply propane fridges. Also VERY easy.

The thread is asking about water pumps but... the purpose of the thread was to find ways to reduce the electric bill. I understand pumps. My well has a Grundfos that feeds a 1000 gal cistern, and a 120V jet pump pressurizes a couple of bladder tanks from that. There is also a 12V Flojet pump as a backup for pressure. Other than wind power, electricity is necessary to pump water. For practical purposes, the power to pump a given amount of water will be the same whether it is 240V, 120V or 12V, as Bill has suggested.

The preceding posts mention correctly that you (Bryan) might try and use gas/propane whenever possible for heat, whether it's a water heater or an oven or a range or a clothes dryer or all of the above plus heat (if you ever would need it). If propane is available, you might give some consideration to changing "heat" appliances over to it, maybe one by one. Heating anything by electricity is inefficient, IMO.

I'm biased here: cooking with gas is better. Tune in to the Food Channel or the Cooking Channel and observe how many times you see people cooking with electric. We've had both but will never go back to electric.

And if you've ever considered a backup generator (for those power outages) propane beats gas or diesel as far as convenience... people deliver propane to you. No hauling and storing cans of fuel.

Phil

[Cariboocoot]

Bryan J;

As per your PM to me, yes the Shurflo 9300 with suitable controller and panel(s) would suit, as would the SunPumps SDS-Q-128 - based on what little I know of your pumping needs. To be certain, you should talk to the people at NAWS about these pumps. You really need to know the depth to the water, how fast the well recovers, size of casing, et cetera. Lots of details need to be checked.

If you knew what pump you've already got it might help. Then again it might be over-sized for the job. The smaller, solar-driven pumps work on a basis of pumping when the sun shines and storing in a large tank for when it doesn't. Their output varies with the power available, whereas the standard utility-fed pumps run full-out as needed when needed.

If the pump is still working I wouldn't be pulling it out just yet, but it is good to start planning for its inevitable failure.

Just two weeks ago I changed out a pump that quit suddenly. Nothing on sale when you need it, of course. The week after a different distributor had a different pump that would do for $50 less!

[BB.]

Regarding Gas appliances and Mobile Homes--I was referring to building code and appliance restrictions (need a water heater that is rated for use in mobile home, etc.)--as I understand it...

I do agree that working on a mobile home can be much easier than my old home with the concrete slab floor. Although, that home was much quieter with kids running around.

-Bill

[mike90045]

Water Pumping.
You can only suction lift water about 24' at sea level, 70F. After that, the pump cavitates and cannot suction, regardless of the motor size. A 10HP motor with 25' suction will cavitate, and not collect water.
Many of the solar, need an expensive DC pump, and a new, expensive controller to drive the pump. That's why I went with a conventional pump, carefully sized to meet my water needs, running off a 240VAC circuit. (higher voltage needs less starting surge amps). And hopefuly, any pump tech can repair it at midnight if i'm not there to do it.
In your list of loads, I did not see (or recall) air conditioning. Electric cooking will sure eat a lot of power though.

Mike