Sprinkler Pump

This is off of another thread and i thought it would get a more knowledgable response in here.....
I have a shallow well for irrigation (water at 18.5'). Would a 1 hp wayne Sprinkler pump work for me or am i better off with a shallow well jet pump. I've read about issues with the sprinkler pump not being able to draw enough. thanks


Gary,
I'm not a pump expert by any means, but I believe you must determine how many gpm of water you need to operate the sprinklers then get a pump that will supply that much, probably with a little extra just to be sure. Sprinkler head wear and get a larger diameter thereby putting out more gpm than originally rated, you may add to the zones, and it's nice to have a reserve so you're not always maxed out. Something like have a little more HP in you car than you really need. Some of the pump experts might have some additional thoughts.



Thanks Gary, my needs are max 7 GPM. most zones are 5-6 GPM. I'm more concerned about the "sprinkler" pump vs a shallow well jet pump. Ideally i need a 3/4hp pump but 1hp would do and i have access to one for a decent price. If anyone knows of a 3/4hp shallow well jet pump used or whatever for a good price PM me. thanks

I don't like PM's but I have a 1/2hp jet pump (NEW) for $257.04. It's a quality pump, not a Wayne. You certainly don't need a self priming centrifugal for 5 - 6 gpm. A jet is what you want. This 1/2hp pump will give you 6 gpm at 40 psi with a ten foot lift.

bob...

mcgyver, you can't be running many sprinkler heads with only 7 gpg but listen to Bob.

The Wayne "Lawn Sprinkler Pump" belongs in a time warp, when sprinkler heads were all-brass popup sprays, that only needed about 15 to 20 psi to operate.

Thanks guys. My well can only produce 8-10 gpm therefore i'm limited in the # of heads per zone. I think 1/2hp might be pushing it for a 18-20ft draw and 6gpm thanks

Are you saying that your water level is at 18.5 feet? In other words you will have an 18.5' lift to the pump?

bob...

mcgyver said:

Thanks guys. My well can only produce 8-10 gpm therefore i'm limited in the # of heads per zone. I think 1/2hp might be pushing it for a 18-20ft draw and 6gpm thanks

Click to expand...

Is that a true pump output test or the recovery rate of the well? If it is from the pump, and you can't feed enough heads, you need a larger pump.

If it is the recovery rate gpm, what diameter well do you have? A 6" gives you storage of 1.47 gal/foot of water above the pump's inlet.

Yes Bob, water level is 18.5', not sure what drawdown is. Wellpoint is 1.25". I can "pull" 8gpm for at least an hour with an old 3/4hp jedjacket that i had

The well will probably do better since that's about all the 3/4hp could do from that depth.

bob...