Autonomous diesel pump controller?

8 posts
Mon, 03/03/2014 - 11:53 #1

Member for

12 years 6 months
frisbie
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 09/23/2011 - 16:27

Autonomous diesel pump controller?

Hello,

I will soon need to change a diesel pump from manual operation to completely autonomous. It pumps water from a creek into a tank, from where I use a solar pump for drip irrigation. This all has to happen unatteneded.

The diesel pump is completely conventional: it has a key-operated electric starter, fuel tap, throttle and decompresison switch. All of these things need to be set to the proper position, and of course it has to be set throttle-off to stop.

I'm really hoping I don't have to make my own controller - too many other "projects". But I'm darned if I can find any commercial device for this purpose. I'd be really grateful if anybody could refer me to a product.

thanks

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Mon, 03/10/2014 - 18:09 #2
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi there,

Dealing with the drought here in SE Qld. so haven't been able to have the time to try and answer your question before now.

Unless you really must use the deisel pump you have already (the most economical way I guess) I have a suggestion. A friend has a solar pump on her bore to pump the water up the hill into the holding tank. The tank has a float valve on it which activates a cut off switch when the tank is full. There is a pipe going from the tank to the stock trough, which also has a float valve on it which opens the water cock valve to let the water flow in when the water in the trough drops below the level it has been set at. Pretty neat system really.  If you are interested in further info on it please let me know and I will ask her for further details on  exactly how it works and what is involved with the setting up.

Cheers,

Barb

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Mon, 03/10/2014 - 08:29 #3
frisbie
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 09/23/2011 - 16:27

Hi Barb,

I'd be interested to know more about the system - e.g. height of the lift, volume and of course how much it cost.

It is surely a much simpler solution. Also would not have to worry about the pump running out of fuel.

Colin

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Tue, 03/11/2014 - 19:59 #4
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi Frisbie,

o.k. I will ask my friend about it and get back to you within a week.

Cheers,

Barb

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Wed, 03/12/2014 - 21:11 #5
charlie
Last seen: 12/26/2018 - 09:21
Joined: 05/31/2011 - 09:44

Hi Frisbie,

There is a company called Instrotech that can pre build, supply and install automatic control boards for pumping applications. I'm unsure of what they charge, however they would be worth a phone call. Below is a link to the website.

http://www.instrotechpower.com/

Best contact for the company is dylan@instrotechpower.com or mobile 0447002678

Be sure to let us know how you get on and the cost of the solution you run with.

Regards,

Charlie

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Thu, 03/13/2014 - 17:59 #6
frisbie
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 09/23/2011 - 16:27

The more I think about it, the better a continuous-duty solar pump looks. It is technically far simpler than trying to adapt the diesel and fewer things to go wrong.

I did a quick review today and there are some pumps that have the technical specifications (pressure and volume), while requiring a manageable amount of current. But none of the sites had prices. That is not a good sign :(

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Mon, 03/31/2014 - 23:27 #7
barb
Last seen: 09/17/2019 - 18:07
Joined: 11/23/2011 - 09:38

Hi Colin,

sorry it's taken so long to get back to you, but I had to wait until I could contact my friend.

The set up for a solar system isn't cheap but here is what she told me. The Bore with the spear and the licence cost $2,000.00 The solar pump with auto switching system, float valve and solar array cost $3,500 installed. The Bore is 11.5 m deep. The height of the lift from the ground surface to the tank on top of the hill is 18.9 m over a distance of 200 m using poly pipe of 1 1/4". The tank which is approx 19,000 L took about a week to fill the first time. I believe the pump is called a Sureflow pump.

hope some of this is useful for you,

Barb

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Tue, 04/22/2014 - 09:31 #8
frisbie
Last seen: 03/08/2018 - 21:05
Joined: 09/23/2011 - 16:27

Hi Barb,

Thanks for that information - it helps a lot with my decision. The lift of your friend's system is about the same as mine so that gives me confidence. I will go ahead and start planning for a solar system. I've got until spring to get it working (thankfully ... so much to do).

As with most of my projects I will go the "DIY" path, so save money and have a system that I completely understand in case anything goes wrong. Clones of those Sureflow pumps are pretty cheap, although not necessarily reliable :( There's so many things to spend money on. Have to save wherever possible.

Sorry about slow acknowledgement of your post - I forgot my password and just had too many other things to do on the farm! I am in a struggle to the death with Tobacco bush.

Colin

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