Uphill water pump recommendations

It's time for Dan's daily knowledge request from Permies.com!!!

Can anyone recommend me a water pump to transfer water uphill?

I want to move water up about 35-40 vertical feet at a minimum and 55 feet if it is possible.

Cheaper the better. I don't want junk but this realistically would probably move less than 2000 gallons a year. Maybe 3000 tops.

A 12v pump would be ideal. Solar would be nice but I am concerned about cost.

Transfer rate is not an issue at all.

Garden hose connection would be a bonus, just because I already have a long enough one.


I have acquired some water tanks and would like to collect some spring water that makes its appearance well below where I can use most of it. It would beat using my 250ft well to water the garden. Unfortunately the artesian spring all but disappears as the summer drags on which is why I won't be pumping all that much water overall.

Hopefully someone out there is doing something similar?

I appreciate you,

Dan

Hi Dan,   If transfer rate is not an issue like you mentioned then have you considered a ram pump? Probably one of the cheapest ways to move water uphill although it does have some particular parameters that its needs to operate effectively. There is so much information about them, it would be best just to do a basic web search and see if it falls within your needs.

OK thanks, I will do that.

Gerry, that is a brilliant suggestion.  I had no idea such things existed, and 15 minutes after reading your post I must have one!

I guess my whole post about solar slo-pumps isn't happening today...

Eliot Mason wrote:Gerry, that is a brilliant suggestion.  I had no idea such things existed, and 15 minutes after reading your post I must have one!

I guess my whole post about solar slo-pumps isn't happening today...

I think your interest in the solar application may be re-invigorated after perusing this link on Ram Pump Parameters

Burl - thanks for the link!  That page has a LOT of useful info on it.  Its a shame that the university is no longer supporting dissemination of that information.

But I'm bit puzzled about why that page would rekindle interest in solar?  Sure, it lays out the limitations and makes it clear that there are a lot of considerations in design, but its all there to work through.  Its really a fairly simple engineering problem assuming you have enough available flow (gpm) to power the system.

As for slow-pumps, I'm referring to: http://www.dankoffsolarpumps.com/solar-slow-pump/.  There are similar options from other pump makers - see https://thesolarstore.com/submersible-pumps-c-53_62.html for some options. These are DC pumps that don't care about voltage variation - they just slow down when a cloud covers the solar panels.  For instance, the 24v model can be run at 12v and just produce 1/2 the volume.  A 60' head on the smallest pump gives about .5 gpm - which is still 700+ gpd and more than enough to get water for a small herd of cattle!

The complication of the slow pump is that my source of water is heavily shaded, so the p.v. panels would need to be at a considerable distance and the unique characteristics of a DC pump start to dissolve as DC power and distance really don't go together! The solution is to kick up the voltage (to 48v), push the amps down, run 12g wire and then even over 200' its only a loss .6v  Try the same run at 12v (4a) and you lose 2.5v volts.

Regardless, this solution requires a pump, wiring, panels, and some sort of controller at a minimum.  Batteries and other features can be added... but since the pumps alone are $600-$2000, this gets to be a pretty spendy solution quickly.  A ram pump is a small fraction of that cost.

update - Clemson has the info, its just moved to: https://lgpress.clemson.edu/publication/homemade-hydraulic-ram-pump-for-livestock-water/

Ram pumps are pretty neat! I may just try my hand at building one in the future. But the problem is adequate flow to run one. MY water source is quite variable so sizing is going to be a huge pain...

Eliot Mason wrote:Burl... I'm bit puzzled about why that page would rekindle interest in solar?  Sure, it lays out the limitations and makes it clear that there are a lot of considerations in design, but its all there to work through.  Its really a fairly simple engineering problem assuming you have enough available flow (gpm) to power the system.
... but since the (solar) pumps alone are $600-$2000, this gets to be a pretty spendy solution quickly.  A ram pump is a small fraction of that cost.

You make an admirable argument Eliot, that is compelling if everything were equal which they are not; some of us just want to plug it in and enjoy it's quiet efficiency:

Druce Batstone wrote:... I eventually replaced the ram pump with an electric pump because I had to clamber down the hill to manually start the pump when it stopped. My neighbour did not like the noise.

Dan Fish wrote:

I want to move water up about 35-40 vertical feet at a minimum and 55 feet if it is possible.

Cheaper the better. I don't want junk but this realistically would probably move less than 2000 gallons a year. Maybe 3000 tops.

A 12v pump would be ideal. Solar would be nice but I am concerned about cost.

https://www.amazon.com/12-volt-well-pump/s?k=12+volt+well+pump

Hey that looks perfect! Thanks Burl. I looked all over but pumps were either too nice ($$$) or too weak.

In my own application I find I have to channel the water flow to keep sand and leaves from collecting around the pump.
Even with filters on the pump I still have sand collecting in the filter up at the house

Tell us more about the source of the water.
If it is flowing, it will work.
There are charts for the minimal amount of flow needed because the ram only moves a small amount of the total flowing through the unit.

Do you have enough wind to use a windmill?

My question to you is...

Were is this water going to, once you pump it up the hill?

I use a pond pump in a rain barrel for watering the gardens.....the only problem i have, is there isnt enough psi to get most sprinklers to work correctly....

heres my pump...
https://www.thepondguy.com/product/pondmaster-magnetic-drive-utility-pumps/external-pond-pumps

2400 gph... expensive, but pumps water uphill. I got 100 plus feet up hill and water works up there, just not alot of psi to move regular type sprinklers...

I have a 1,500 gallon tank so a slow pump rate is not a problem but I will have less than 40 feet of lift, about 30 feet at the tower.  That little 24v solar pump may just be what I need.