Well pump suggestions?

alyaz
alyaz Solar Expert Posts: 114 ✭✭✭
in Energy Use & Conservation #1
We have a 230v well pump that when it kicks on shows a draw of about 90 amps (on our magnum remote display) for about eight minutes, until the three pressure tanks are full. As we are fully off-grid and the pump is apparently about ten years old, I would like to start doing some homework so it can be replaced by something more efficient, if possible.

The well is about 120 feet deep. The well is situated about 100 feet from where the pressure tanks are located, - with an approximate 20 foot rise to the pressure tanks, from the well.

A question first...why can a 230v pump draw that many amps? I would have thought that maybe when it first kicks on it would have a higher start up draw, but it seems to draw the same amps the whole time it is on. I would have also thought that 30 amps - give or take - would be the maximum draw you could get?

Are the newer 120v Grundfos pumps suitable for our situation? Or what would you suggest?

Thanks...
3.3 kW solar.  3 Midnite Solar controllers; 5 lightening suppressors.  Magnum’s inverter; auto gen start, BMK.  Davidson 2 v FLA’s - 24v bank.  Perkins diesel gen.
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #2
    Re: Well pump suggestions?

    WOW, what is the brand? My 3/4 240 V Goulde draws 4.5A per leg running, at 300 feet and static level varies from 100 to 200 feet.
    How deep is the static level?

    From what I know the G'foss pump have a soft start so don't have the massive surge which should be ~ 5 - 8 times the running amps.
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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  • alyaz
    alyaz Solar Expert Posts: 114 ✭✭✭
    #3
    Re: Well pump suggestions?

    It is a Gould pump. When we bought the home we did not get any literature or information about the pump or well, other than it being 120 feet deep. So in short I don't know the static water level / water table level. I know this information is needed to make a pump recommendation, however where do I start?
    3.3 kW solar.  3 Midnite Solar controllers; 5 lightening suppressors.  Magnum’s inverter; auto gen start, BMK.  Davidson 2 v FLA’s - 24v bank.  Perkins diesel gen.
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Re: Well pump suggestions?

    wait a minute, if it (90A) is at 24V that works out to 9A @ 240V +/- which would be ~ 4.5A per leg so it may well be doing OK, locally they recommend a service of the impeller portion at about 10 years or so... still have to pull the pump and go a few days without water...
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
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  • alyaz
    alyaz Solar Expert Posts: 114 ✭✭✭
    #5
    Re: Well pump suggestions?

    copy thanks...

    it's actually a Gould, Model 00054gp, 3/4 hp, 230v.
    3.3 kW solar.  3 Midnite Solar controllers; 5 lightening suppressors.  Magnum’s inverter; auto gen start, BMK.  Davidson 2 v FLA’s - 24v bank.  Perkins diesel gen.
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  • vtmaps
    vtmaps Solar Expert Posts: 3,741 ✭✭✭✭
    #6
    Re: Well pump suggestions?
    alyaz wrote: »
    As we are fully off-grid and the pump is apparently about ten years old, I would like to start doing some homework so it can be replaced by something more efficient, if possible.

    The most efficient system you can build will be a solar direct pump in the well, pumping to a holding tank near the house. When the sun shines the well pump fills the holding tank... no batteries. At the house, a 24 volt demand pump provides pressure from the water in the holding tank.

    --vtMaps
    4 X 235watt Samsung, Midnite ePanel, Outback VFX3524 FM60 & mate, 4 Interstate L16, trimetric, Honda eu2000i
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  • alyaz
    alyaz Solar Expert Posts: 114 ✭✭✭
    #7
    Re: Well pump suggestions?
    vtmaps wrote: »
    The most efficient system you can build will be a solar direct pump in the well, pumping to a holding tank near the house. When the sun shines the well pump fills the holding tank... no batteries. At the house, a 24 volt demand pump provides pressure from the water in the holding tank.

    --vtMaps

    Since we already have three pressure tanks, could we just do the solar direct pump in the well?
    3.3 kW solar.  3 Midnite Solar controllers; 5 lightening suppressors.  Magnum’s inverter; auto gen start, BMK.  Davidson 2 v FLA’s - 24v bank.  Perkins diesel gen.
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  • westbranch
    westbranch Solar Expert Posts: 5,183 ✭✭✭✭
    #8
    Re: Well pump suggestions?

    Well ! (pun intended) you are back to the static water depth and the specific model of pump, how high it can pump and the pressure you have your switch set at... then you can choose a pump...
     
    KID #51B  4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
    CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM 
    Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
    2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
    Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
    West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
    · Share on Twitter
  • vtmaps
    vtmaps Solar Expert Posts: 3,741 ✭✭✭✭
    #9
    Re: Well pump suggestions?
    alyaz wrote: »
    Since we already have three pressure tanks, could we just do the solar direct pump in the well?

    Sure... but do you have enough storage in those pressure tanks to go without sun for a few days? --vtMaps
    4 X 235watt Samsung, Midnite ePanel, Outback VFX3524 FM60 & mate, 4 Interstate L16, trimetric, Honda eu2000i
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