Any help on this would be appreciated
Existing System: Well with 12gpm rated capacity, clean water, and trouble free operation when supplying home.
New Addition: Olive orchard with micro-drip/sprayer sprinkler system.
Problem: Activating sprinkler zone begins water flow from pressure tank, then pump kicks on and restores pressure tank to cut-out pressure...then repeats. I can run the pump/sprinkler system like this indefinitely. BUT since I don't want my pump to have to cycle so much, I estimated the number of zones that I can run and keep the pressure in the pressure tank from rising/falling. This, in theory, keeps the pump happily running along while maintaining pressure. HOWEVER, if I allow all zones to run one-after-another the pump shuts off after about 2 hours. Sometimes it trips a breaker, but sometimes not. However, I can just cycle the breakers and it seems to solve the problem.
Ideas:
1. I pulled the in-line "Y" filter screen out and it had some silt. The filter is just before the sprinkler valves. But even without the filter in, the pump still shuts down after continuous use.
2. Could the well be "drawing down" so that, even though it was rated at 12gpm, it can't sustain that flow for long periods? That might explain the pump shutting off due to no water!
3. How might I prevent the pump from cycling on/off but deliver less than the 12gpm rated flow (assuming there is a draw down problem)? I guess this is kind of like a variable output pump theory? This could keep the pump on continuously but not cause a draw down.
4. Or should I just go nuclear and drill another well, install a solar well pump, install a big storage tank, and take out a loan on my mother's pearls to cover it all?
Thanks in advance,
Loren
Existing System: Well with 12gpm rated capacity, clean water, and trouble free operation when supplying home.
New Addition: Olive orchard with micro-drip/sprayer sprinkler system.
Problem: Activating sprinkler zone begins water flow from pressure tank, then pump kicks on and restores pressure tank to cut-out pressure...then repeats. I can run the pump/sprinkler system like this indefinitely. BUT since I don't want my pump to have to cycle so much, I estimated the number of zones that I can run and keep the pressure in the pressure tank from rising/falling. This, in theory, keeps the pump happily running along while maintaining pressure. HOWEVER, if I allow all zones to run one-after-another the pump shuts off after about 2 hours. Sometimes it trips a breaker, but sometimes not. However, I can just cycle the breakers and it seems to solve the problem.
Ideas:
1. I pulled the in-line "Y" filter screen out and it had some silt. The filter is just before the sprinkler valves. But even without the filter in, the pump still shuts down after continuous use.
2. Could the well be "drawing down" so that, even though it was rated at 12gpm, it can't sustain that flow for long periods? That might explain the pump shutting off due to no water!
3. How might I prevent the pump from cycling on/off but deliver less than the 12gpm rated flow (assuming there is a draw down problem)? I guess this is kind of like a variable output pump theory? This could keep the pump on continuously but not cause a draw down.
4. Or should I just go nuclear and drill another well, install a solar well pump, install a big storage tank, and take out a loan on my mother's pearls to cover it all?
Thanks in advance,
Loren