Autotransformer to run Well Pump? - Page 10

 On Mon, 2 Apr 2007 15:43:41 -0700, "Ulysses"



Don't forget to check the idle current specs, especially if you're
going to leave both inverters on all the time (that's how we run our
SWs, but the FX logic may be different). I think it's about 20W each
for the FX, 5 in search mode.

Wayne

  This response is out of sequence because I'm using Outlook Express and all
that's showing up right now is my posts and very little else.

In any case, back to the well pump.  I placed my new 650 gallon tank on top
of my hill yesterday and filled it up.  It took approximately 42 minutes.
That's about 15.5 gpm which is about what I expected.  I'm also getting
about 30 psi and that's a little more than I expected so it's a little
higher than I thought.

I still have not found my pump info but I'm still looking.  I'm sure it's 2
HP.

 

According to my invoice from my well pump installation I have:

Berkeley Pump Model #220P4FMGS-03
              Motor Model #2243009203

I was unable to find it on Berkeley's web site.  I also have not yet come
across other information such as the current draw rating etc.  It's
somewhere.

They are calling it a 1 1/2 HP 230 volt 1 phase 20 GPM pump.  My warranty
info states that it is either a MGS Series or ValuSub 4" pump but I think
it's probably the MGS assuming it's the more expensive model.

According to my notes my pump is installed at 106 feet and not 120 feet as I
had thought.  The difference in elevation between the lowest and highest
parts of my land is 144 feet according to my parcel maps and this was
confirmed with an altimeter.  The fill pipe at the top of my storage tank is
about equal to the highest point on my land and the well is very near the
lowest part but perhaps about 3 feet higher.  I'm guessing that the water
level in the well is currently around 15 feet below ground level.

So, the height to which it is pumping is approximately 141 feet and it is
pumping from 106 feet giving us a total of 247 feet.  If you only count from
the water level then this is, of course, less.

I filled my tank when it was completely empty (650 gallon tank) and it took
about 42 minutes but I had stopped and restarted it a couple of times
(someone turned on a load and the well pump shut down) so this number is not
precise.  I again filled it from almost empty (about 3 inches of water in
it) and it took 38 minutes.  That's roughly 625 gallons so that would be
just under 16.5 gallons/minutes.  So far the lowest flow rate I've
calculated was about 15.5 gpm.

For the last several days (no float switch installed yet) I've been looking
in the tank and estimating how much water is missing and dividing that by 17
gpm and running my generator accordingly and it's been coming out very close
to full.

So does 15.5 gpm seem like a flow rate you would expect in my situation?

I tried to email this but it looks like it's not set up.

 



Pretty reasonable for a 1-1/2 hp pump which is only pumping a bit over
100 feet (how much you are pumping is basically a function of where the
water level in the well is, not where the pump is). Furthermore, you
have measured it, so that's what you are getting - can't be more basic
than that.

--
Cats, coffee, chocolate...vices to live by

 

On Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:16:50 -0700, "Ulysses"



You'll find full motor specs here
http://www.franklin-electric.com/Manual/AIM_13.htm . (224300 series)
About 10A at 230V.


Most submersible output curves are similar for the same hp and gpm.
There are a few like the Flint and Walling Deep Set series for example
that are different since they're optimized for higher pressure.


That's less than half the initial specs, which accounts for the
confusion about projected versus actual flows. Your pump won't get to
be in the Guinness book after all.  :-)


15 plus 138 = 153' (plus friction losses) normal head. It could be as
much as 106 plus 138 = 244' max head if the water level draws down to
the pump.


According to my Berkeley curves, which as it happens are for MGS
Trimline series, a 1.5hp 20gpm should do 26.4gpm at 150' head, and
16.4 at 250' head. So now your flows seem *less* than expected. New
pumps usually outperform their curves, so your results indicate about
300' actual head. Perhaps your static level is lower than you think,
or maybe it draws down substantially during the run. Throw in some
friction loss and/or low generator output and it fits. Your pump
shouldn't be run with less than 80' of head, so another possibility is
that the installer included a flow reducer to allow the pump to be
operated without the extra lift up the hill. If he restricted the
flow, expect to see current draws lower than spec. And of course
there's always the chance that what's down the hole doesn't match the
paperwork.

Regardless, those delivery rates are great for whenever you use a
generator as running times will be as short as possible. I've
personally run a 1.5hp pump from a single Outback FX and a
transformer, so I know that combination should work for you as well if
you decide to go that way.

Your lifts are very close to ours - about 80+100 to start, maximum
225+100 if we draw it all the way down to the pump.
http://www.citlink.net/~wmbjk/07solar_power.htm . We planned for
running off the inverters concurrent with some much larger loads, so
our pump is a 1/2hp-5 (less than half the current of your 1.5hp).
Output starts off at about 7gpm and drops to about 5 at max lift.


Don't forget to take the "remove" out of the address.

Wayne