[Homestead] Unpreparedness
EarthNSky
erthnsky at bellsouth.net
Mon Feb 5 17:57:45 EST 2007
G'D'Evening Bill,
You are talking over my head, but I can sense your excitement and pride,
so I am excited for you..congrats! It's always rewarding to find a
cheaper way or an ingenious way to do something, and it seems you have
done both, from what I understand.
Kudos,
Bev
Bill Jones wrote:
>
> I can't resist telling folks more about my new water system. The other
> day I realized that I can make it perfectly seamless with my existing
> electric well pump. The next time the need arises to spend $500 on
> another one of the Man's delicate impeller pumps, I'll switch to my own
> system.
>
> The basic pumping unit, if you recall, is just a cylinder with a pair of
> one-way valves attached to the bottom. Compressed air is injected into
> the top. Today I'm working on the very simple control circuit that
> senses when the pump chamber is empty, and turns off the flow of air
> through a solenoid valve long enough for the chamber to refill.
>
> The other day I realized that with one more (< $30) solenoid valve, this
> one controlled by my existing pressure switch, the whole system can be
> as automatic as it is now. This valve would serve as the master control
> valve that turns on air from the compressor.
>
> So even if I just go out and buy a small compressor, which I can use for
> many other purposes, the whole cost won't be over $300. The pump with
> its one-way valves is about $80, two solenoid valves are about $60 (but
> my buddy Orlando has an abundance of solenoid valves salvaged from old
> mills), I've spent under $30 on transistors and relays and such, and the
> compressor is around $100. I guess I also need a long air hose too.
> The only things to remember are that the compressor has to match or
> exceed the pressure output of my present pump, and its power rating has
> to be match or exceed it as well.
>
> Here's the best part of all. If I rig up my own T-connector (possibly
> requiring some one-way valves) so that air from a separate, wind-powered
> compressor (any old piston engine with one good cylinder will do) is
> injected into the storage tank of the electric one, then it won't come
> on as long as there's enough wind blowing. So it's possible to smoothly
> make the transition from the grid to home power. If you just can't put
> air back into the compressor tank, it may be necessary to have one's own
> "receiver" tank.
>
> It's really funny how things come together. If I had never moved here
> and seen Orlando's pneumatic-controlled sawmill, or if I'd never studied
> electronics, I probably wouldn't have the confidence to put it all together.
>
> Bill
> S. Oregon coast
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--
Bevanron of EarthNSky Farm Sleep well tonight, for somewhere in the
ocean's depths, MY son is protecting YOUR freedom.
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