Advantage of 1/2 hp submersible for stock wells over all others!

1/2 hp submersibles are quite cheap for the ten to twenty years of reliable service. Many would say, I have no electricity at the site. Re: post on industrial grade inverter----with a 700 to 1000 watt solar panel, the inverter , you have all you need with the exception of two deep discharge 12 volt batteries. Compare costs of getting electrical power & monthly rates to solar, windmill and long term costs & reliability of the supply. I have known several farmers who have gone from solar back to 115 vac submersibles.

Windmill wheel repair

When installing new blades or blade sections , always use some kind of locking material on nuts. I use silicon rtv. Check them periodically. Check head oil level every 3 months!! Very important for long life!!

Cylinder update

Warning: do not install new cylinders without disassembling & checking all nuts for tightness. Most I have checked either rod, leathers, or end caps needed tightening. Also, don't use used cylinders even with new leathers if you have any doubt, go with new cylinder!!

Stock Watering ---Independent of Power Companies using 1/2 hp submersible

No windmills, no cylinder leather problems, no solar pumps requiring periodic filter cleaning, just a reliable supply of water. Submersible usually last for ten to twenty years. You will not get that reliability from any other approach!
Basic components:
1/2 hp pump--115 vac--no control box----$250
2400 watt, 24 vdc input, 120 vac output-----$600
2 12 volt deep discharge batteries -----$300
100 Watt solar panel--24vdc output---- $400 ( see buyers guide on this site)
Timer ---$100
Run pump 60 minutes for 400 gallon per day---ten minute segments --6 over day light hours to distribute load on battery. For less water per day, reduce run time accordingly. Pump output 7 gallon per minute.
For 200 gallon per day, run pump .5 hour. ( six 5 minute segments ) One hour run = 370 watt- hours discharge. 7 hours of solar output at 100 watts = 700 watt-hours input.

You have the flexibility of running for longer periods by utilizing a 1000 watt ac generator..

Solar Panel Buyers Guide

http://www.ata.org.au/wp-content/renew/101_solar_panel_buyers_guide.pdf

Flower

Flower

Metal cased wells

Many old wells pumped by windmills are rusting and decaying. Once casing collapses, the well is useless depending where the casing gives away. It is highly recommended all metal cased well have 3 or 4 inch plastic casing installed.

Drilling water well

Wells in this area vary from 40 feet to 200 feet depending on location. A six or 7 inch hole is drilled. The drilling rig pumps drill fluid down through a bit which rotates dislodging soil which rises to the surface moving into the mud pit. A drilling fluid ( containing bentonite) to provide better lifting ability than water and to stabilize the bore hole in unstable soils. Used for soils like sand to get the soil into the mud pit.
A water truck provides drilling water. Once the hole is down to proper depth, determined by depth of wells in area plus evaluation of material coming out of hole, 4 , 5, or 6 inch plastic casing in placed in hole. The lower 20 feet is slited about width of hacksaw blade. Joints glued together. Water then pumped through casing by rig , as water comes up through hole around outside of casing, small diameter gravel is placed around outside of casing. This flushes dirt from hole. When completed, a bucket is dropped to bottom of hole ( bucket Is a three inch pipe by 20 feet with valve in bottom) and pulled back to surface , dumped several times until water clears up. Pump is installed and run for several hours until well water clears up.


Rig has mud pump, Kelly, sliding table-- used for connecting drill stem, winch for lifting drill stem, casing, pump pipe, etc.
A Kelly is a junction device through which drill water flows from mud pump, and drill stem is connected that rotates during the drill process. It goes up & down during the process, during drilling ( going in hole), going up --coming out of hole.

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Drilling rig ---Failing 1500

Installing submersible pumps

They are installed on 1 inch black plastic, or 1 inch galvanized pipe, or 1 inch solid plastic in 21 foot joints. Those on one inch black plastic use safety rope attached to pump. Tape with electrical tape every 5 feet the wire & safety rope. The lower clamps should be taped also. Wires should be crimped with crimping tool and heat shrink tube applied over connection.

Submersible pump control boxes

Control boxes have a relay, capacitor, and a terminal board. Wires ( incoming) are attached to terminal board , other components mounted on cover with male connector pins, base mounted on (pole, wall)----assembly complete when cover placed on base--- male pins must be carefully mated. Check relay & capacitor with voltmeter continuity checker. Replace defective parts.

Submersible pumps, timers, control boxes, etc.

The first thing to check with a voltmeter, is the voltage at the meter. Next check voltage at the control box or timer. If no control box , check voltage where cable goes down to pump. If voltage at cable at top of well, check for open/ short on conductors at top of well, likely one or the other, if not check at motor on pump when pulled. Check pump for open/ short or for resistance/impedance. Likely open or short. If in doubt apply voltage to pump. If runs, check cable from pump to top and connections at pump. Voltage normally 230 vac. Occasionally, 115 vac. Timers problems, check voltage at timer. Check switch & motor voltage. Likely find discrepancy in one of previous items. Where a pressure tank exists, it is a 20/40 or 30/50---pressure (psi) on/off. Check pressure in tank --should be around the " cut on " pressure 18 or 28. Most problems are with pressure switch contacts ( replace PS ). Always check voltage at PS first.

Cylinder Update

When installing a new cylinder, you must check the rod / plunger interface to verify rod screwed in the proper distance & locknut tight. Also verify the nut that tightens leathers is tight. Do not ASSUME these are tight!!! Also in cold weather for instances where weep hole gets pluged, hook the rod to the rod from head with a 12 inch chain. This gives relief in case the rod coming from well is frozen.

Cylinders

I have used two inch to 2.5 inch brass & cast iron cylinders. Considering initial cost I believed brass ( 2 inch) was a better deal. Recently, I have installed 2.5 inch brass and have been pleased with their performance. For approximately 30 dollars more one can get the 2.5 inch rather than the 2 inch. The 2.5 pumps quite a bit more water per stroke. After reworking a number of cylinders, I have concluded that if you have any doubt about the condition of a cylinder, better just get a new one.

Tips on windmill operation

Tips on windmill operation

1.  Keep oiled, they all leak after a few month operation.

2.  Keep tail pulled in about 1/2 way-- no need to run wide open.  Wind may come up when you aren't around to shut it down.

3.  No pump reasons

     A ). Leak in pipe

     B).  Bad leathers, bad check valves , or plunger valve, or worn/ dirty cylinder

     C).  Not in water far enough, at least ten feet recommended .

      D) broken pump rod

      E) broken trolley ( rod out), broken trolley drive mechanism.

4.   In cold areas, weep hole important plus rod relief if weep hole stopped up and rod freezes --- prevents damage to tower rod or head.

5. Redundant check valve by installing cylinder( with good check valve ) with no plunger at end of active cylinder.  Good for dirty wells.

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Windmills & water wells

As owner of Martin Well Service in oakwood, okla., have extensive experience with drilling wells, repairing windmills, installing new /used mills, pulling/installing windmill cylinders, pulling/installing submergible pumps, repairing timers, control panels.

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Six foot Aeromotor

Windmill ----various types

http://www.rockridgewindmills.com/barginbarn/windmills_for_sale.pdf

Windmill /well used to supply water for stock

Windmills are used extensively in pumping water for stock.  Various cylinders are mounted on plastic or steel pipe with pump rod attached to cylinder plunger. Sent from my iPad