Well Pumphouse Progress at the 2024 PTJ

As part of the 2024 Permaculture Technology Jamboree, we attended to a number of completion tasks, issues and optimizations required to make this well pump provide reliable, 4-season water to all Lab frost-free hydrant locations.  

We:
- finished installing the umbrella for optimum soil insulation r-value and thermal mass
- designed and began fabrication of a thermal "drop ceiling" of dual-layer plastic, to lower the heat roof to about 18 inches below soil level
- installed 2 large rocks (about 700 lbs, combined) into the structure for thermal mass
- designed and ordered parts for a DC incandescent lightbulb/thermostat to run, warming the squishy bits and the boulders whenever the temperature drops below 42°F.
- Earthscaped the utility trench to shed water away from the uphill part of the structure, around each side and toward the adjacent catchment area.
- Trouble-shot the solar system and pump gear, start to finish
   - removed 1 out of 5 solar panels to avoid overloading the control module
   - attempting to reset module, which seems to have persisting issues that do not necessarily hinder its function
   - evaluated a non-functional pump, which seems to have exceeded its continuous run-time and is not currently pumping

Still to do:
- install DC thermostat & lightbulb, upon arrival (imperative prior to winter)
- source a replacement pump that will support longer running time to meet the demands of lab water usage (imperative, urgent)
- finish construction of thermal drop ceiling (high priority prior to winter)
- source a backup solar control module for when the current, partially fried unit eventually goes down (high priority, unknown urgency)
- landscape and prettify (as able)

Special thanks to everyone who helped out on this project, particularly PTJ attendees Mike & Jason, as well as Stephen, Brian, and Clay for counsel and support.  

Pictures follow.  Screenshots to come.

I'm told the DC thermostat arrived at Wheaton Labs!  It "looks like a digital clock with wires hanging off."

Brian (if you can see this), as we discussed, could you wire that up to batter terminals of the controler and rig up a nice sturdy incandescant fixture and bulb to shine on the boulders?  Bonus points for pictures.

Later I'll carve out a moment to describe the thermal drop ceiling bit, but one step at a time.

We haven't installed it just yet, but we might get Clay back to install it just for the love of it

Man, that would be fun.  

Yeah, I expect this one wouldn't happen until after the SKIP event - unless someone's hankering for some sort of a solar oddball bb.

I also advocated for 2 additions which I considered to be crucial prior to winter.
1. The addition of a layer of wool where the wall meets the ceiling to prevent draft and heat loss.
2. Completion of the removable drop ceiling, which we framed out.  This was to be stretched with canvas, and covered in wool-stuff burlap sacks prior to the onset of winter.  This seems like good practice, dropping the thermal envelope to below ground level, since the upper 3-5 inches of the wall have little to no earthen mass at the exterior due to settling and the shape of the berm.
Paul wished to forgo these, leaning into the experimental hypothesis: "The light bulb will be enough."  I pushed pretty hard against this, thinking that a. the light bulb would not be enough, particularly with the structure hemorrhaging heat through open gaps at the wall-ceiling juncture, and b. the stakes are high, considering the costliness of repair in the event of a freeze.