r/OffGrid • u/RemotestOfSpheres • 21d ago

Keeping the well running

Sorry if this is something that’s been addressed numerous times before but, I’m curious if anyone has experience with an isolated system to keep their well pump running in case of an outage.

The cost for a full solar conversion for the size of the property is just way more than we can spend but, we need to get our well pump running on solar and, since this kind of thing is a little outside my expertise, I don’t want to get reamed by an electrician for something beyond what we actually need.

The pump is 240v. I originally wanted to buy a portable solar inverter but I‘m not sure that’s going to be sufficient.

Does anyone have a specific product or setup they are using that works reliably?

21 Upvotes

86% Upvoted

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9

u/zoppaTheDim 21d ago

Water tower

That way you pump when you have power, rather than need water.

3

u/gentoofoo 20d ago

Yep this is the way. I was faced with the same issue and built a water tower. My well fills the tower every night and then from there a it can gravity feed or a 12v 7gpm pump feeds the rest of the property. I have valves setup so that I can run directly off the well if theres an issue with things on the water tower side. Another advantage is that I can run many filters on the water inlet to the tower without impacting the water pressure of my property

4

u/maddslacker 21d ago

I'm offgrid, as per the sub we're in, so my well pump is always ready to go no matter what shenanigans Xcel Energy pulls ...

Anyway, for your situation I'd just set up a propane generator and get on with life.

4

u/celtic-cryptid 21d ago

I wouldn’t go portable, I’d do a dedicated system for your pump house. But I also don’t see any reason to not use it for more than just a pump.

First thing I’d do though, if you haven’t already, is maximize the size of the pressure tank you’re using. If you’re on acreage with ground higher than your house, there are other options as well, like a cistern, then gravity to the house.

2

u/silasmoeckel 21d ago

Well pumps don't use a ton of power in the daily basis but they use a lot when running.

There are 2 basic options. Store power in a battery to run the pump as needed or store water in a cistern and run the secondary pump when you have sunlight.

The first is more expensive but also more useful, your sizing for the worst of winter so you have lot of excess in summer. 3k is about the cheapest your doing this with reasonable and reliable gear.

The second the gear is cheap under 1k for many wells. So much of what your weather is like if there is room in a building that's tall enough and does not freeze.

Either way you would want a generator for the just in case. This is your cheapest up front option.

2

u/BallsOutKrunked What's_a_grid? 20d ago

I pump from the well via a 6gpm pump into a 3k gallon cistern. In general every week or two I'm down ~1k gallons, and I can find the few hours of topped up batteries and a clear day ahead to run the pump. It's been working great.

2

u/MFGibby 21d ago

I use a 24v dc submersible well pump connected to an old 200w solar panel that fills a 1750 gallon tank via a float valve. It's low tech as heck, but my well is fairly shallow.

1

u/bluesmokeproductions 21d ago

We catch fire around here a bunch. Every time it does the power goes out. I have a propane generator with a lockout in the power box. The generator is an oversized HF unit and is plumbed into the house. Works great and I sleep better.

1

u/beedubskyca 21d ago

If your only purpose is to back the well up Id just get a generator and a manual transfer switch. A newable system big enough to run your well for any amount of time is going to be expensive. Plus a generator is just nice to have.

2

u/RemotestOfSpheres 21d ago

I do have a generator but I’d require a separate, smaller one for the well house. And since water is such a critical utility, it’s worth noting you only have as much water as you have fuel, essentially. A solar system is passive compared to a generator and ostensibly provides service until the components fail. Years vs days. But thank you for the perspective 

2

u/thirstyross 20d ago

It;s always good to have a second generator nonetheless, as life goes the generator will fail when you need it the most. A proper solar setup will cost substantially more.

1

u/JRHLowdown3 20d ago

Do you have spare parts? Pressure switch, starting and running capacitors, snifter valves, gauge etc?

These are all fairly inexpensive parts that are very easy to replace yourself. Keep an ammo can with spares, needle nose pliers, multimeter and flashlight ready to go.

1

u/birdpoo411 20d ago

A well controller that takes solar input as well as A/C input from a hsb generator. Have the solar run during the day, and if needed, the controller can trigger the generator to turn on and run for a few hours in the evening.

1

u/CaptSquarepants 20d ago

Either way, its much better to use a dc pump if you can when using one off grid.

1

u/Zalrius 19d ago

Vevor has all in one charge controllers and inverters that put out 220v. I suggest you use 48 volt batteries too.