How to power a well pump without power...
 

My getaway spot is a place in the mountain. It has an electric pump for the well water.

I realy want to have water if / when there's no power. I can store it in jugs or buy some of those water bags listed elsewhere.

However, I want to be able to go long term.

I know that there will be several sugestions about having a hand pump installed, but I'm not sure how much that'll cost up front (I know - a small price for the long term).

Does anyone have plans, ideas, suggestions for powering a pump when we lose power?

I have an extra bicycle that I've even considered using the chain to perhaps power a small voltage generator.

I asked this question elsewhere and it was suggested that this would make a good thread, as others may be thinking the same thing.

I'd also welcome any suggestions or comments concerning putting in a manual pump. Is it that hard?

Re: How to power a well pump without power...
 

Here are a few possibilities...

http://www.lehmans.com/store/Water__..._all=&sort_by=

Re: How to power a well pump without power...
 

How about a manual hand pump?

Re: How to power a well pump without power...
 

I just pump my well water through a buried line into a buried cistern uphill from the cabin using a diesel generator to run the 2HP well pump. I only do this every few weeks and the rest of the time it gravity flows out of the cistern to the cabin without running a pump.
this is the best method, IMO.
If you don't have enough hill to bury a cistern that can gravity flow you can use a Shurflo 12 VDC pump at the cistern to pump water to the house.

Re: How to power a well pump without power...
 

What is wrong with a generator, get a little one and throw it in the bed of your truck. I tow one down to the well, hook it up and leave it for about 6-7 hours, pumps it up to a 5000 gal.water tank on the hill, then is gravity fed to the house, lasts me about 4 months. If I conserve it will last longer.

Re: How to power a well pump without power...
 

Re: How to power a well pump without power...
 

There are a lot of ways to do it.
Not knowing your place I can�t say.
Look into a �Jack Pump� it did work for me for what I needed but may not for you.

Re: How to power a well pump without power...
 

Can you get away with a syphon?

An air powered pump could probably be found. Filling a compressor by hand is a little bit easier than generating electricity.

I imagine you could get a couple PSI by lowering an empty tank to the bottom of a lake with a hose and opening then closing a ball valve on the hose. The pressure will equalize to fill the low pressure of the tank, then you can close the valve, & pull the tank back to the surface.

Re: How to power a well pump without power...
 

Manual pumps:

simple pump
http://www.simplepump.com/

costs: between 900 and 1500 depending on depth. Can be installed alongside submerged pump.

bison pumps
http://www.bisonpumps.com/
cost about the same as simple pump.

Solar Pumps:

I think the best bet though is to consider replacing the pump with a 12 or 24v low flow pump. These can be had for less than 500 bucks and can be paired with a few solar panels and a storage tank for fairly low cost.



The only real options for powering a large electric well pump are generators or very large inverters and battery banks. For a 220v inverter setup that could run a well, you are talking 3000 plus for inverter and batteries.

Re: How to power a well pump without power...
 

A couple of easy, pratical ideas:

Is the well pump 220V?

1) Get at lease 2 identical generators + spare parts + skills to service them + fuel reserves......this is the easiest method in my opinion.

2) Check on 220V inverters......or 110V if that is your pump......you can drive these off automotive batteries and car alternator. My old pick-up has a 140A alternator....thats over 2000W ....nearly 3 HP of electric.

I figure you plan on driving to your place - so you should have at least 1 operable vehicle.

3) Battery / Solar Powered......I made muself a 5 HP + 140A Alternator charger for rapid battery charge in remote camping......to recharge my 3 deep cycle batteries on my camper (that has inverter)....that way I don't have to run a generator all the dman time....

Most battery chargers are like 15A - 30A....I'm kicking out 140A....10X the charge rate of a typical charger!

I'm surprised that there is not more conversation here about big gasoline driven power alternators....there are a lot of guys with solar and battery banks.....sometimes the sun don't shine......as far as I can tell - you can buy a several HP alternator - like you can a generator......I've looked...had to make my own.

4) Manual type pumps.

I prefer the idea of back-up electric.

Re: How to power a well pump without power...
 

There is no manual pump better than the Bison

Re: How to power a well pump without power...
 

I have the type of setup you want. An 11Kw propane generator to power the house and a marine battery charger. A battery bank of six golf-cart batteries from Sam's Club and a 6Kw inverter. A 120v:240v 1.5Kw transformer. And a mechanical transfer switch to switch the well over to batteries as desired. The generator can recharge the batteries in 4 hours. The batteries power the inverter, which feeds the transformer, which runs the well. All on batteries. Come spring I want to buy a 2Kw solar panel to recharge the batteries if the SHTF. But for now it's propane...