Ram jet supply pipe question

I have approx 400’ of pipe needed to run from ram jet up to planting area. Does anyone have experience of doing this on a tight budget? We’re working with 1/2”...some folks have used gas hose as a cheap alternative?

I think you mean hydraulic ram pump?

A ram pump uses the buildup of pressure in the pipe when the water flow is suddenly stopped. So you need a pipe that does not expand under pressure.

Sebastian Köln wrote:I think you mean hydraulic ram pump?

A ram pump uses the buildup of pressure in the pipe when the water flow is suddenly stopped. So you need a pipe that does not expand under pressure.

Yes, need an affordable 1/2” pipe for a 400’ run for the ram jet pump that I built.

Rams work because of the kinetic energy of water flowing down a pipe.
They will lift a small amount of the flow with each cycle.
I think you will need at least 11/2 inch delivery pipe.
build your own Ram pump

Wait ... lets pause.  The INTAKE pipe needs to be fat and the ram mechanism itself seems to be best with heavy steel or iron.  The OUTPUT from the pump to your field can be pretty much anything that is appropriate for the expected flow and pressure - which are pretty low (unless that's 400 VERTICAL feet!).

I can buy 1/2" black poly irrigation tubing for 10 cents a foot.  I don't think that can be beat on price.

My father put in a hydraulic ram from our spring in the '70s. He used 3/4" black poly supply for about 100' with 20' or so drop, and 600' or so of 1/2" black poly from there to the house. It worked fine as long as the ram didn't get stuck in the up position, in which case we would have to trudge through the snow across a ravine and start it again before we could wash up for school in the morning...