powering pump with a genarator

Options
System
System Posts: 2,511 admin
in Solar Water Pumping #1
We have a dc powered cat pump for pumping from our catchment tank to a small reservoir up hill.
The system is set up so We can use some of the panels for the house system to power the pump direct dc.
The problem is that we need to pump more often at night or during heavy rains when we catch the water.
As it is now we are loosing a lot of good free water by pumping during sunny weather.
We have a 10kw Miller Bobcat generator that is used to power the house and charge batteries during bad weather.
The question is, since the welder produces dc power too would it be possible to use the generator to power the dc motor on the pump so we can pump at night or anytime?
Using the batteries to power the pump is not an option the way we are set up.:confused:
· Share on Twitter

Comments

  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #2
    Options
    Re: powering pump with a genarator

    Without knowing the power requirements of the pump motor nor the output ability of the gen set it is impossible to say. In any case, it would be necessary to have batteries to stabilize the DC voltage.
    · Share on Twitter
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #3
    Options
    Re: powering pump with a genarator

    If you have a close match with voltage and current, should be OK. What is:

    Pump Amps
    Pump Volts

    Generator Amps
    Generator Volts

    As long as the volts match 36V - 36V and the generator can supply more
    amps (55) than the motor (13) draws, you could do it.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

    · Share on Twitter
  • Dave Angelini
    Dave Angelini Solar Expert Posts: 6,746 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    #4
    Options
    Re: powering pump with a genarator

    Since you can buy some of the most amazingly cheap gas powered pumps out of China I would look at the 1.5 inch or 2 inch pumps at the link below or even on Amazon with free shipping. Around $200 for a knock-off of the Honda and you can pump 1500 gallons in 20 minutes or so.

    http://www.generatordepot.us/
    "we go where power lines don't" Sierra Nevada mountain area
       htps://offgridsolar1.com/
    E-mail offgridsolar@sti.net

    · Share on Twitter
  • dwh
    dwh Solar Expert Posts: 1,341 ✭✭✭
    #5
    Options
    Re: powering pump with a genarator

    Can't tell from the Bobcat 225 manual, but the Honda EU series generators specifically say that the 12v is to be use for *battery charging only* and NOT for 12v loads because it is unregulated.

    You need to ask Miller.
    · Share on Twitter
  • BB.
    BB. Super Moderators, Administrators Posts: 33,439 admin
    #6
    Options
    Re: powering pump with a genarator

    You will need to understand the DC output of the welder... DC welders typically are not very well regulated on voltage--they tend to regulate on current. And so it may not be a good choice to put other DC loads on the welder's output (can have "high voltage" when light load, then drop quite quickly as more current is drawn).

    In any case, if the load is less than 50% or so of the welder's output, the fuel efficiency will probably be pretty poor.

    -Bill
    Near San Francisco California: 3.5kWatt Grid Tied Solar power system+small backup genset
    · Share on Twitter
  • System2
    System2 Posts: 6,290 admin
    #7
    Options
    Re: powering pump with a genarator

    Okay. Well how about using a 48 volt battery charger??
    The dc motor is 48 volts 38 amps.
    · Share on Twitter
  • Cariboocoot
    Cariboocoot Banned Posts: 17,615 ✭✭✭
    #8
    Options
    Re: powering pump with a genarator
    Mahukaawe wrote: »
    Okay. Well how about using a 48 volt battery charger??
    The dc motor is 48 volts 38 amps.

    Not without the batteries: charger output is also "unstable". They're meant to have varying output because as a battery charges its current requirements change. To do this without batteries, you'd need a stable 48 V, 38 A power supply. That's about 2000 Watts worth. I won't say there isn't such a thing, but it'd probably be more expensive than 48 V worth of 'small' batteries and the (automatic) 48 V charger. Motors, especially on pumps, do not heve steady current draw: it varies according to the actual work they do.
    · Share on Twitter
  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    #9
    Options
    Re: powering pump with a genarator

    So that's 4, 12V deep cycle batteries, and a 48V charger. What's the run time of an
    average pump cycle, 5 minutes, or 50 minutes ? Or a gas pump you go out into the rain to stat up. Water is a pretty "heavy" load to move around.
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

    · Share on Twitter

Categories