Solar powered well systems

[poor_old_dad]

Does any one here have any first hand experience with solar powered well systems?

The local Episcopal Church diocese is going to try to help some schools, farmers and small villages in Haiti by putting in wells. These'll be off the grid for sure, down there there's not much "grid" anyway. They were thinking about going the traditional diesel generator with AC well pump etc. This was going to be very, very expensive because of the equipment cost and transporting it to Haiti, installation cost and partly because of the security against theft. Plus fuel and maintenance. I have proven to them that using direct solar powered pumping systems will be cheaper to buy, transport, and install. No fuel costs, almost no maintenance and less likely to be stolen.

They were planning or hoping to have at least one - maybe two systems on line next year. Because of the lower set-up costs and lower long term operating expense, it now looks like there'll be 9 systems. I've know about these systems for years, but I've never worked with one. I've volunteered and I'm going down there in 4 or 5 months to help get water to some folks who really need it. If any of ya'll have any knowledge you could share, it'd sure help. Thanks for any help.

Oh yeah, I also have them interested in Hydraulic Ram pumps, and the OLPC http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_Laptop_per_Child

Peace,
poor_old_dad

[12vman]

Check this out.. Might save some money..

http://www.handpumps.com/

[poor_old_dad]

Those are nice, but much seem to be much too small. We're thinking about something more like these:


http://www.solardyne.com/solsoldirwat.html
http://www.solardyne.com/solwatpumkit1.html

750 to 1250 gallons per day from 200 to 250 foot deep.

Peace,
poor_old_dad

[12vman]

These guys might be able to help..

http://www.bwsolar.com.au/

[poor_old_dad]

Do you know anyone who has installed a solar water system? I always like to talk to the done-it-themselfers.

Peace,
poor_old_dad

[12vman]

The only system that I have any experience on is my own. I just catch rain water and pressurize it through my house..

There's a company in Montana that sells/designs systems for ranchers in the western part of the U.S.

http://www.sunelco.com

Give them a call. They should be able to fix you up with some information..

[poor_old_dad]

Namaste

Thank you kindly for the great links and as much as anything thanks for responding. I'm currently on about 1/2 dozen forums looking for more info and you're the only person who has so far responded. I'm also using as a reference these two articles:

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago91.html
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago71.html

Since the start of this saga, I've been keeping track of all of this... maybe I should start submitting a series of articles.

Peace,
poor_old_dad

[12vman]

Have you posted at.. http://www.homesteadingtoday.com

Maybe someone there may be experienced in this. I know that there are many ranchers that post there..

Any documentation you compile would be great! This subject doesn't seem to be real popular because of the costs involved..

[SolarGary]

Hi,

Some links on how to figure out what kind of system you need, and some example systems:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterPumping/waterpumping.htm

Gary

[poor_old_dad]

Have you posted at.. http://www.homesteadingtoday.com

Maybe someone there may be experienced in this. I know that there are many ranchers that post there..

Any documentation you compile would be great! This subject doesn't seem to be real popular because of the costs involved..

WOW, thank you, I have posted at Homesteading Today, but it's been a while. Turns out I hadn't been there since 02/06/2005 !!! Some times poor_old_dad's poor_old_brain has a senior moment - but never that for long.

I'm currently compiling all the gathered info... so far mostly comparative costs analysis ... I'll try to post it here in a day or two.

Hi,

Some links on how to figure out what kind of system you need, and some example systems:
http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterPumping/waterpumping.htm

Gary
Gary, thanks for that link, it is truly a mother load of info.

Peace,
poor_old_dad

[Mike8623]

Dad.........I have installed a solar water pump system at a remote location in Montana for the critters.......it has been a learning experience, I've just about got it all figured out and working. What I did, I had an old well so I bought a 1/2 hp 110volt 15 amp submersible pump, hooked the pump up to a 2500 watt (5000 watt surge) inverter. The inverter is powered by a large rv battery charged by a small 1.5 watt solar panel. I used a 12 volt bilge pump float turned upside down for a on off switch. The whole thing worked fine at first.....then inverter just wouldn't turn on the pump. I found out, thru research, that I had two problems. The small solar panel just wouldn't charge the battery, it was too small and the battery just didn't have enought cranking amps to fully power the inverter............so I am looking for a larger solar panel.......60-100 watts (anyone have one....cheap???) and will buy two or three batteries wired in succession that will put out 1,0000 amps hours or so...........so that is what I have done........so far. When I first started out I used one of those cheap 12 volt electric vortec pumps......good for so many hours......but that really did not work........so I went to the larger nicer pump.....the whole thing has been a learning experience.........there is a lot to know. If someone out there has a 60+ watt panel that they could let go cheap I would certainly appreciate a holler.......hey it's for the animals