100acre
Adventurist
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago91.html
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Solar Jack Pump
- Thread starter 100acre
- Start date
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago91.html
jscusmcvet
Adventurist
Thanks for posting this. This is the one significant hitch we have if there is a grid down situation. We have begun to research solar and even bought one of the harbor freight 45w kits, so we can experiment and learn hands on. We have along way to go, but this helps a lot.
John
John
Malamute
Adventurist
I didnt read all the article, did they have an overall cost figure?
I built one cabin with solar, but used a 220v pump and generator for my well, and put a cistern in below the cabin. I could run the gen/well pump to fill the cistern then use 12/solar to pressure it up to use it. The deep well 12v pumps were about $2500 at the time, VS about $500 for a 220v pump.
I like the idea of having options for water. A hand pump would work fairly well on mine, its less than 100 ft.
I built one cabin with solar, but used a 220v pump and generator for my well, and put a cistern in below the cabin. I could run the gen/well pump to fill the cistern then use 12/solar to pressure it up to use it. The deep well 12v pumps were about $2500 at the time, VS about $500 for a 220v pump.
I like the idea of having options for water. A hand pump would work fairly well on mine, its less than 100 ft.
100acre
Adventurist
I am now contemplating installing a cistern to hold up to 1,500 gallons underground to keep it from freezing. Currently I'm collecting rainwater from the barn and numerous other sources and storing it all above ground where it's prone to freezing. Currently holding 3000 gallons in tanks and totes. (That's 24,000 lbs of useless ice). I could just bury all the totes and I have a couple of pitcher pumps I could move to the cisterns for emergency access to water when the power goes out for extended periods especially during winter months.
Malamute
Adventurist
I put the cistern under the cabin, I had them cast fittings into the top so I could run the plumbing plan I had, which included a pitcher pump for use on the kitchen sink, which was right above the cistern, I didn't end up setting it up, I never really had any trouble with solar to pressure up the cistern. It was a simple plan though, the pitcher pump on the cistern.
100acre
Adventurist
Malamute
Adventurist
Do you have gas powered pumps for the fire water?
Curious what your frost depth is. Would insulating the underground tanks with some cheap beadboard be worthwhile? (may be too late)
When living in cabins without running water, I kept a stockpot on the woodstove all the time to keep water warm for washing up or dishes. It wasn't a concerted effort to do water, it was always there ready for the most part, at least in winter.
Curious what your frost depth is. Would insulating the underground tanks with some cheap beadboard be worthwhile? (may be too late)
When living in cabins without running water, I kept a stockpot on the woodstove all the time to keep water warm for washing up or dishes. It wasn't a concerted effort to do water, it was always there ready for the most part, at least in winter.
100acre
Adventurist
100acre
Adventurist
I Wish I could change the title of this thread to Homestead Water Collective; Cisterns and Storage. Working with what you have....
When working on top of one of the tanks, the plastic cracked in a few places plus both tanks at one time had "Organic" Mulch Dye in them. So, I replaced them with two new bottles from other cages. I didn't have to remove the cages from the ground, thank God! They already had boards and backfill up against them. Here are some more pix of my system including the tower, top of the barn-my rain collector and the gutters. Gilligan and the Skipper would be proud of me for working with what I have. I'm gonna build a bamboo truck next....
100acre
Adventurist
I'm going to build a reinforced box over and around the in-ground tanks with a pitcher pump and sink. The tower poles are all in the ground 6' deep and whole structure is attached to the barn. I got a bunch of power poles from two different utility companies for free. I just had to load and haul them. That was interesting as some of them were 40+'. Tower is commo-wired to house for field phone usage.