Wells

[Lefty 21]

Anyone here on a well? If so, have you had your pump wired so that if the electricity goes out you can plug it in to the ginny? How much did it cost?

I am looking at doing this but don't want to spend a ton on it.

Thanks all.

[rhino]

Have you also considered a hand-powered pump?

[Ri22o]

Originally Posted by rhino

Have you also considered a hand-powered pump?

Even though I live in the middle of the ghetto, I'm lucky enough to be on a well. That was my plan.

[wolfman]

Originally Posted by rhino

Have you also considered a hand-powered pump?

Unless you have one of the old style long handle pumps -w- the pump kit installed down below the water line, hand powered pumps are not very pratical if your well is over 20' deep. Most wells use 1.5" pipe and the water in the pipe weighs in between 1.5 to 2 pounds per foot of pipe, so it takes a lot of suction to get it to the surface.

wolfman

[Glock21]

Originally Posted by Lefty 21

Anyone here on a well? If so, have you had your pump wired so that if the electricity goes out you can plug it in to the ginny? How much did it cost?

I am looking at doing this but don't want to spend a ton on it.

Thanks all.

Is the pump a submergible or a jet? Control box? 220 or 115?

Wiring it up is actually a pretty simple task for an electrician, just a matter of installing a 3-way switch box in line which will disconnect it from the fuse pannel and switch it over to your generator.

The real cheap way is put a power cut of switch in the power line going to the pressure switch. Then you just throw that switch to prevent a backfeed when the power comes on (or you being electrocuted during step two), and then have a power cord with one end left bare wires - you pop the cap off the switch and wire your two legs for 220 directly into the switch. Then just plug the other end in to the generator and away you go.

Many people simply wire in a cord from the generator to an empty breaker, which they just snap into the fuse pannel (after shutting off the main, and all of the panel breakers, of course.) The generator breaker powers up the fuse pannel, and then you just pick and choose which circuts you want to use. When you want lights, flip that one. When you want the freezer to run, flip that one. The well, flip that - etc... It works well for people who have a small generator which won't power the whole house.

A heavy guage extention cord and a double breaker should run you around $100, I'd guess. You may have to replace an end to match the generator output outlet.

And I'm not an electrician, so go forward with caution, lol.

[bwframe]

The property I moved to late last year has a well with an old hand pump. The former owner said it worked until just a few years ago when it "lost something" now it does not pump. Any idea what this might be?

[Glock21]

Originally Posted by bwframe

The property I moved to late last year has a well with an old hand pump. The former owner said it worked until just a few years ago when it "lost something" now it does not pump. Any idea what this might be?

The leather packings are probably worn out - you may be able to rebuild it. And not knowing the brand or age of it, you'll have to do some web searching for parts and prices.

[bwframe]

Originally Posted by Glock21

The leather packings are probably worn out - you may be able to rebuild it. And not knowing the brand or age of it, you'll have to do some web searching for parts and prices.

That would make since. This old hand pump had been "custom" converted to electric with an external motor and cammed larger pulley. They likely overworked the system that was designed to work by hand.

Would the packings be in the pump body or below ground level?

BTW- Thank you very much for the advice.

[Glock21]

Originally Posted by bwframe

That would make since. This old hand pump had been "custom" converted to electric with an external motor and cammed larger pulley. They likely overworked the system that was designed to work by hand.

Would the packings be in the pump body or below ground level?

BTW- Thank you very much for the advice.

Welcome!

The leathers are usually in a cylinder at the bottom of the drop pipe - depending on the type of pump.

Here's a link that shows a pretty standard type, like you would see in many forrest preserves in the midwest.

http://www.bakermonitor.com/domestic...and_pumps.html

[22rssix]

Since this topic is already going I though I would ask...

I just bought a house that once had a well. I am now on city water but the well pipe outside is still there. I want to hook it up for yard use and if the water is clean then possible backup drinking water.

I see that I could get a hand pump, which would work well for getting drinking/cooking water. but if I want enough pressure to water the lawn what would be needed?

Thanks,
James