JaxFlaGardener
Jacksonville, FL
Zone 8b
May 10, 2008
3:42 PM | I looked through the forums and didn't see one for irrigation and pumps, so the Plumbing Forum seems about as close to topic as I can get.
I would like to know if an irrigation well needs the electrical pressure switch, or can the pump run continuously when turned on for irrigation. When the well drillers came out about 6 years ago, they installed the pump with a small (about 5 gal) air tank that worked with the electric pressure switch to cut the pump on and off as the pressure built up and decreased. I have gone through two of the pressure switches in the six years I've had the well, and I can get another one and install it. But I'm wondering if the pressure switch is really necessary. I had some electrical problems with the pump (found out it was nothing more than a short in the electrical line where I had not buried the line deep enough and had scraped off some of the wire insulation with a shovel or mower or something). The pump wasn't in use for about the past year (and I have about $2000 in paid water bills for city water to use for irrigation to prove it!). When I finally found time to see what the electrical problem might be, I just ran a 110 wire from a dedicated 20 AMP breaker directly to the pump. It cranked right up and the water was flowing. I didn't even need to prime it. When I want the irrigation pump on or off, I just flip the breaker switch.
My only concern with letting the pump run continuously (for hours at at time when I'm irrigating my 1/2 acre during our current dry season), is that I am concerned that running the pump motor continuously will cause the pump to overheat and burn up the motor.
The 5 gal air tank may have leaked out the air over the past 6 years, but I don't know what PSI of air I should have in there. The well driller didn't provide a gauge on the pump to check the pump pressure. When the pump was running with the electrical pressure switch, it was turning on and off within a few seconds, which didn't seem right.
Anyway, I would appreciate any suggestions you might have.
Thanks!
Jeremy |