Solar pump troubleshooting and replacement after 14 years of continuous operation!
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Come along as we head back to the Robson Ranch to troubleshoot a very important solar well pump that waters 700 cows. #solar #wellpump #offgrid #homestead
Really happy to see you including more artistic content video. Like the river crossing, and driving through the ranch property. It makes for more interesting videos. Good job.
Yes sir us too! I’m learning!!!! I thought about that on the way to the job actual and said to myself, I need to slow down and do this! Thank you!!!!
Thanks for the video,, here's a trick I use to hear the pump very well,,, Use a screwdriver and put the handle in your ear and the tip to the casing ,, you will hear it as good as a Doctor listening to a heartbeat !!
Daaaaaang no way! Sweet I’m gonna give that a try! Thank you!!!!!!!! Thank you for watching!!!!
Snakes in most cases don't like noise and vibration. Your truck driving up close to your work area
has most likely chased them away from your truck vibration.
When I worked road service I carried a cordless weed eater. Machines always broke down in
high grass, leaf blowers come in handy for blowing away debris from your work area.
Carrying a shipping blanket from Harbor freight is good for laying on and laying tools on
so you don't loose tools.
I carried a propane torch to help loosen rusted pipe fitting, (mapp gas)
I live in Universal City outside of San Antonio. I just found your channel, Great information.
Great to see a Husband and Wife working together, reminds me of the good old days.
Man thank you!!!! Thank you for the tips! All good!!!!! Thank you for finding and liking our shows!!!!
I'm new to your channel, but I've watched most of your videos. I enjoy your work and commentary.
My only comment for now is: Quit disparaging yourself. You're no dummy and quit telling me you are.
Oh, and it's a spoonful of sugar that makes the medicine go down 😊
Man thank you! I needed to hear that! Thank you for the wisdom and the super kind words!!!! Thank you for watching and commenting!!!!!!
A fine company you two have.
I worked for a submersible pump company for about a year and there was not a single aluminum pipe wrench on any truck. A lot of fun installing 1000' of 1-1/2" steel pipe for my first well, blisters abound. I was not unhappy to find out that that pump lasted until after I moved on and so I didn't have to round trip it in a day. No way the owner would split it up between two days, just work on through until you are done. The first install took almost a full day to begin with so I can imagine what the redo was like. Of course the owner ran the rig and didn't touch one of those big Rigid wrenches. It was interesting work because we did all forms of work on farms, gins, and rigs, even gas stations.
Take care and be sure to have some fun every day,
jack
Thank you Jack! That’s crazy, 1000 ft!! We wouldn’t know where to start, and steel pipe wrenches too! Yikes. We have it good these days for sure! Thank you for watching and commenting! I love to hear the stories!
Hello from across the pond I stumbled onto your channel about 2 weeks ago and since then I have been watching it and really enjoy your videos.
Where at across the pond? I love hearing where people watch from! Thank you so much for finding us and sticking around!!!!!
@@OkieWindmiller Hi I live in Warrington, England
That’s awesome!!!!!!!!!😎
Good job sir!
Thank you!!!!!!!
Cool shots of the truck crossing the river. That thing putting in work. Stay safe y'all.
Thank you! We’re trying to spice it up a bit, and that place makes it easy! Thank you so much for watching!!!!
Great video! Thanks! Enjoyed it very much!
Thank you! We’re new but trying to learn it fast!!!! Thank you for watching!!!!!
Thanks for posting. You guys are fun to watch. A real team.
Man thank you for watching! I love our little team for sure!!!!!!
👊👊🤠🤠i like the shake up of diferent jobs. I see u are doing some new shot selections and combining the whole day in the videos. Thanks for the great scenery and what u 2 feel is worth showing us all. Remember, if u think it's pretty, beautiful, interesting, knowledgable, or just what u want show it all adds up to full featured video or blog if u will. Thank you both, enjoy.
PS: i understand it all takes time and extra work. Do what u can and not make it a hastle. Keep it fun KIDS hahaha.
Haha man I’m loving it and just had fun with different camera positions. That just got me started, all videos will have some of that mixed into them now, I hope! Thank you again for watching!!!!!
Windmill man done a good job.😊
Man yeah! Thank yin sooooo much!!!! Mama said windmill woman too!!🤣
A little tip on the C fitting, have all the wire nuts / marettes pointing up, condensation water runs downhill, the two connections pointing down will have water in them, many connectors have cheapend up, not always copper, this will cause rust / failure over time. I also give each connector a wrap of tape, this prevents the connector coming loose. I am a retired master electrician that worked in extreme conditions, gravel pits, foundries, overhead cranes, but specialized in large induction melting furnaces for my last 35 years.
Perfect! Will do! Even inside a box? I can do that!
@@OkieWindmiller Condensation happens even inside a box, a good example of crap, I installed copper handy strap on my water collection system pex-600 gallon capacity ,all those straps are rusting, obviously not real copper-
@@OkieWindmiller Consider the well produces moisture, that moisture will follow the wires through the PVC to the C fitting, if it goes below zero, any condensation in those connectors will cause it to fail, I found out the hard way, in a gravel pit, motor connections failed, luckily no damage.
Oh never considered that! Thank you for the heads up!
Ugh never fails!!!!!
Good job again, yall. I saw water 💧. I have windmill to be put up soon. Old one from 1939. They say it will run. Well is first. Middle Texas. Yall have a great day.
Man awesome!!!!!! We love seeing water! Get that thing up!!!!! Thank you for watching and have a great day also!!!!!
Really enjoy your content so very interesting I like how you explain the workings of these different pumps.👍👍
Man thank you! I’m trying to be as educational but fun at the same time. Thank you for watching!!
@@OkieWindmiller Your doing a awesome job👍👍
Thank you!!!!!
Do what you do,love your content.with you two all the way.
Aww man thank you!!! We’re gonna keep it up!!!!!
I sure like that truck/ be careful with those rattlers they will make you hurt yourself
Hahaha yep they will! I hope to never see one!!!!!😀 Thank you for liking the truck, it’s a good one for being a 2004 model!!!!!
I'm trying to watch this episode on Monday the 8th.
Damn Beryl keeps disturbing me.😂
Keep trying!!!!!!!! 🤪
I Think it's amazing and wonderful That such a small solar array can run such a large amount of water.Eleven gallons a minute is no joke! Sending love from Seattle.
Man yeah thank you! It’s pretty amazing for sure, waters 700 cows!!!!! Thank you so much way up in Seattle!!!!!!!!
Thanks for showing us the scenery. I know those shots of driving were extra work and made your video better. Good work.
Man thank you!!!!!!! Yep they weren’t too bad, mostly scared of crushing the camera lol, but super glad I did it!
Good one! Agree that the river crossing was a nice bonus. Thanks for taking us along. There's a lot of untapped material that you could add to these -- like 1) how long will it take to fill that first tank? 2) does the pump run all year? 3) what happens to the tank (and pipes) when the temperature is zero degrees? PS: wouldn't it be good customer service if you cleaned the solar panel before you leave?
Man all good questions. I will add those for sure! Only thing about the panels is you don’t clean them when they’re hot. I know it would be a nice gesture, but we don’t. We leave that up to the customer. They are instructed upon installation to do so late in the evening or early morning. We wait till they’re mid day hot when we service a well so we have enough voltage for testing.
FYI: To the best of my knowledge this design and type of pump is called a scroll pump.
We have a huge one acting as the pump in our liquid manure tanker which is used to both fill the tanker from a storage pit and pump the slurry out via a on-board nozzle spreader mounted on the chassis. They cope the best, compared to other pumps that pump fluids, with small solids such as sand and soil in the manure however they will not self prime without being fully immersed in the liquid. Dan
Yep bet you’re right! They’re a nice pump for sure! They call it a helical rotor, but I think that’s just engineering language. I like scroll pump!
It was neat to see the big wind turbines in contrast to the windmills you work on. The past and the future in a big circle of progress!
Thank you! I thought that was important to add!!!!! Thank you for watching!!!!
A helical coil water pump resembles an Archimedean screw pump which was originally designed to pump water from a low area field up to a higher area field in ancient times, as I recall.
That’s so awesome! That’s old technology that has made its way back around. I ever think DaVinci had a drawing of the same design as a pump. Thank you for reminding me!!!!!!
No repairing that m
Pump huh?
Enjoyed
Howdy there! Totally could, but parts are back ordered for 6 months! So customer said to replace it. Thank you for watching!!!!
IF there was a way taper the top of the well could make it easier to put on the cover or tape it on the outside YES!!?? Turn music down a bit. Great vid, Reminds me of the prairies, used to go to my brothers during harvest season to help as my a/c pass costs next to nothing to go
Man good idea! Thank you!!! Sorry about the music, I try to match it to our voices, but never comes out right. I will keep working on it! Thank you for watching!!!!!!!
You should carry a weed eater on the truck so you don't have to work in the high grass, and see the snakes. Great channel you guys are making.
Man good idea! Yeah and chiggers!!!!! 😀
awesome job when you are pulling pumps out it is safer to coil wire to the side so if it falls your not in the middle of it. On shallow wells it isn't as critical as deeper wells keep up the good work and stay safe
Thank you! I like living on the edge🤣! Thank you for the hint and for watching!!!!!!
That's the way God wants it
You got that right, and nobody has messed this place up yet! Thank you for watching!
Shane never worry and be jealous of anyone else brother. Your doing a great job and if truth be told they should be jealous of you. Your content is different and it will show when you hit 10k then onto 15k or 250k. Quick question/observation! I guess back in the day they used steel pipe then galvanized now PVC pipe. I would imagine that's for weight and longevity. But are there many differences other than those that would increase the suction or efficiency of the pump?? Again you sir are the expert and I just am loyal and ask questions that may or may not make any sense. And have you had people inquire about projects and repairs since you started building a bigger fan base? I'll have more Q&A once I get to the end of the video. #smileandwaveboys
Thank you! So yes steel is still available, but it’s outrageously high. Also, galvanizing these days is sub par. 10 years or so is the longevity. Plastic is the same longevity but less than half the cost. Also the plastic is plenty strong enough. All good questions!!!! Thank you for sticking with us as we grow!
So it's a worm gear pump instead of an impeller stack. Never knew that. I put in the first 3" jetsub in my area, maybe Florida. I had to sign papers, basically a non-disclosure agreement.
Yep! They’re pretty amazing and can move water from deep down! That’s cool about your jet sub. Is it still running or has it been replaced? Thank you for watching and commenting!!!!!
Enjoyed it again. Thanks for posting.
Man thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
That river is beautiful. Question, have you ever been to the Shattuck Oklahoma windmill museum?
Yes it is! No, we keep telling ourselves we need to go but still haven’t made it out there yet. Thank you for watching!!!!!
Timber Rattlesnakes? Now that would be an exciting (and scary) video😢😢😢
Haha yep! It’s crazy, we aren’t even in the timber, but I guess they’re there.
@@OkieWindmiller My grandfather always said if you hear the rattlesnake it's a good thing. It's when you don't hear them you are in trouble 😮😂😂
Hahah that’s true! Sure don’t want to sneak up on one!!!!!!!
That groundfos control box has a indicator on front that let you no if it on and pumping. Striped spline will cause most of the problems in your discrimination. 💯👍✌️
This isn’t a controller tho, it’s just the io101 disconnect. I wished it was the CU200 which does just what you’re saying. I love those.
@@OkieWindmiller the old style box. 🤣😉✌️
@@josephsaucedo8691 yep!
Saharan dust comes from sand swirling upward during a “Haboob” or tornado like motion up into the atmosphere. I’ve been in one where you couldn’t see your hand in your face or another vehicle down the road.
I was wondering how that happened!!!! Thank you!
@@OkieWindmiller The water screw first appeared in Egypt around 300BC+, the Greek philosopher “Archimedes” described it in during his lifetime and thereafter the device was enshrined in “Hellenistic” history. I personally didn’t see a papyrus paper depiction when I was in Egypt but, a search of the known and published archives should should what an Egyptian water pump might look like. Sorry, I’m being a show off here. Just some of the random crap floating in my head. I heard you struggling and wanted to give you the gifts that I received along a tortured existence in this world.
Man I love historical knowledge like that! Keep it up! I will read it!
Yes sir all over the world and I’m from 🇬🇧🏴 south east England Essex County
Man that’s amazing!!!! Thank you for watching all the way over there!!!!!!
Ya'll will be at 10K before ya know it!!!!!!!!!!!
Haha buddy I hope so!!!!!!
I always put the wire nuts facing up so any water will run off even on interior work, its a good practice. Pulled to many filled with water/corrosion from humidity, kinda the same idea as always crowning your cement even if its under ground, i'm old now and have seen allot of failures thru the years, little tips LOL
Man yeah thank you! I will take it all in. Makes since. Never thought of that! I guess I always have too much trust in the box, that it’s gonna keep it dry, but should know better! Thank you for watching!
When I was learning electrical, my boss said “wire nuts make better hats than buckets”.
That’s perfect!!!!!! I may have to use that if you don’t mind!
I was told my dealer that you had to buy the hole pump 3.000 for it I well call them Grundfos pump.
Yep. There are parts but you just can’t get them. It’s crazy. Luckily, this is the first one I’ve seen worn out, so they’re pretty good!
You could over come the solar problem with more panels each set being aimed for the different times of the year, panels are much cheaper than they used to be. Luv your vids.
Man thank you!! Yep I’ve thought about that. I’ve even thought putting them facing east and west, but I’ve never acted on it since the tanks are always full. Thank you so much for watching and supporting us!!!!!!!! Have a great day Sir!!!!
@@OkieWindmiller Got a good helper/boss... I'm just a workmen too...
Man I do! She is the best! She’s been training me for 30 years now!😀. Thank you, I will let her know!!!
@@OkieWindmillerno need to have panels at different angles. You are running a SQF at about 42 volts in direct sun under load. Add a third or fourth panel in series (same angle) and jump the voltage up. The pump will start sooner once sunlight hits the panels and pump more during and later into the day.
At
Yes sir! Our biggest problem is array size, nobody wants more than 2 panels. I would love to get to maximize a system one day! Thank you for the info and for watching!!!
Great job, but why wouldn't you just push the extra wire from the pump side back up the conduit into the well casing? no need to cut that short !
Have a great day
I would have to watch it again lol, but I don’t like a lot of wire bundled up really, especially on my installs. If it’s something. I’m just repairing, I leave it the way I find it. Just a personal preference. Thank you and you have a great day also!
I recently found your videos and really appreciate the level of detail you provide.
I have a windmill on my property that use to feed a pond. I'm down in the Southeast Piney woods of Texas and this windmill is a forest with little chance of wind getting to it. It doesn't work (leathers are worn I imagine) and I'd like to use solar but the well casing appears to only be 1" or 1 1/4 pipe.
Are you aware of a pump that would fit such a small casing?
Sounds like it may be a sand point. Is the pump above ground or underground? I ask because I have seen this setup on shallow sand points. I’ve also seen 2” pipe used in conjunction with a sand point and there will be a small pump(1-3/4 maybe) inside it. Post some pics on here if you can. I don’t know of any way to pump that, as the smallest solar pump i know of is 3” diameter.
@@OkieWindmiller thanks for the reply. Not sure how to post pics on here. I'm sure it's a shallow well. No pump above ground.
I wonder if Ty panels are producing AC or DC volts. DC is usually really hard to test with an inductive meter.
They are for sure DC. So since I’m not looking for a real number, I’m looking to see what the pump does between on and off. When I was trained on this, I was made aware that you can’t use this as a real DC current measurement with the AC meter, but can still see numbers move, which tells the story of what’s happening downhole. It’s a hard measurement since we’re not dealing with an exact voltage, so many variables. I hope I’m explaining this right, it’s the best I know. I would like to upgrade one day to the model that does measure DC amperage in the clamp like mine. One day! Thank you for watching!
What are looking at is the inductive pulse between on and off that tells you that the pump is getting and using current to run. They do make DC clamp-on ammeter, but they are pricey.
Exactly!!! Thank you, now I can explain it in real words!!!!! Yep I want one.
Your reading on the DC current with an AC meter will be inaccurate but it will read.
That being said my SQFlex motor to pump coupling came loose and wore out after 20 years down 450ft not fun to pull manually.
Man I bet that was fun to pull! Yeah I just use it as a gauge to show what’s happening down hole. I probably need to put that into a video so people will know what I’m doing, and that it’s not a true reading. I didn’t think anyone would even catch that. Thank you so much for watching and please keep doing it!!!
👍👍😎
Thank you sir!!!
140 ft not bad in middle tn deep wells about 400 ft
Wow that’s crazy! We are blessed here for sure. Deep water here is in the 150’ range. Thank you for watching and commenting!!!!!
@@OkieWindmiller It is great seeing where I grew up on your channel Grandparents lived in El Reno and my Grandfather onmoms side Harry Estep homestead at Richland community keep up good work
That is so awesome! We will be there next week sometime again. I love it out that side of OKC. We love hearing the stories about the places we get to visit. Thank you again!
Shout out to "mama" for being proper human body weight and NOT wearing spandex. If you have sister that is single I am 150 lb of pure lovability.
Signed Man with dirty nails, a sore back, and a smile on his face.
Cheers
Bahahaha that’s funny! She is amazing and NO spandex on the show!!! Ever!🤣 I agree with you 147%!!!
The clamp meter that you are using will only read AC current. You will need a model that can read DC current and select the correct mode. There are two models from Klein Tools that will do this as well as models from other brands. You don't need to remove the test leads to measure current with the clamp meter function. That will add wear and tear and isn't necessary. The motor could be heard operating so you should be suspicious when the meter does not display any current.
Man thank you! Correct. I should have said that I use it for a reference only, I wanted to see a change in amps when the switch was turned on vs running amps, even tho I know it’s not the correct reading. I need to buy the CL800, just haven’t yet. Thank you for the education. I will keep getting better and be more descriptive when making my videos. I think you’re the 3rd person so far to catch that! 🤣. Please keep watching even tho I’m not real smart!! 😀
@@OkieWindmiller
You guys did another fantastic job. I really enjoy the windmill videos also. It is really nice to have the crane on the service truck and a second person to operate it most of the time. I used to always use a Fluke multimeter. Lately I have had good service from Kaiweets products. I use an HT206D digital clamp meter almost daily for both DC and 480VAC industrial motors. They are kind of cheap and I have had battery contact issues if dropped but I was able to fix that. I try to handle it gently. These are on eBay. Amazon, and direct from Kaiweets. There is some price variations and models that are AC only. This one or the CL800 would be perfect for DC work with solar panels.
A little Vasoline on that rubber and it would go right in. And not hurt the rubber.😊
Hey good idea! Isn’t Vaseline petroleum jelly tho? I get all confused which lubricants can go with which rubbers.
Put a little oil on it
😀Good idea!!!!
Shaneman!!
Zaneman!!!!!
Is that AC panel feeding an inverter and pushing alternating current into the well pump? If not you won't get an accurate reading with an AC only current meter.
Man thank you! Lots of people have told me that. I’m no electrician. I’m looking into one that is the same as mine but for both ac and dc. I’ve never used it for a solar yet, but wanted to troubleshoot it the way we do ac pumps. Thank you for watching and hope I didn’t run you off with my stupidity. Always learning and I will correct it on the next one and let the world know how dumb I am. Please keep watching, I will get better!
I thought you were just going to replace the stator... whaz up?
Do you try to refurbish pump cylinders you have replaced? I have unsuccessfully tried to find an old one just to play with.
Oh yeah we try, but parts are unobtainable right now. I tried to get several of each part, rotors, stators, etc, but you can’t(at least through the distributors that we use). They all say the same thing. This ranch is as more than happy to replace it after 14 years. They kept the old house me just in case we can get parts. I don’t like scrapping solar pumps! 😀. Thank you for watching!
As for the cylinders, they have a few here for rebuilding when I get to it………
Is it better to replace the whole pump assembly than to just replace internal parts? What is a typical life span of the solar pumps?
If parts were more available, yes, I would have swapped the stator out and put it back in. Called and there is a 6 month lead time on parts, so the customer said nope, throw a new one in. This pumps date code shows to be 14 years old, which if you think about it, since it only isn’t pumping at night, that’s 7 years of constant pumping!!!!! If this was on a float switch, and ran when only needed to tip the tank off, I would be surprised if it didn’t make it 30 years or better! Thank you so much for watching!!!!
I missed something. Where did the well pipe connect to the field pipe?
There is a pitless adapter underground(about 2 feet down), and from there it exits the fence and splits to either a pond or metal tank. 😀. Thank you for watching!
For as much money as some of these jobs cost to repair/service you would think if you were going to go solar you would have it to where the panel rotated with the sun and stays with all day long till dark then the panel rotates back the other way till it finds the sunlight in the am. That way it would optimize the maximum amount of solar sun power as possible?! Idk maybe im clueless and not thinking clearly.
Nope you’re not clueless! They have trackers available, for quite a lot of money. These do the job well enough in the 12 hours per day they pump that the extra pumping isn’t necessary. Good question! Thank you for watching!!!!
I was wondering, can you add a wireless remote or control cable remote to your crane so you
can operate it when your wife is not with you?
Good question! I have on that it came stock with, but I’m having some issues that I’m trying to iron out. Thank you for watching!!!!!
How do you check that DC pump with your amp meter on AC amps
So I guess you don’t. 😀
@@OkieWindmiller No I check mine on ohms that's the way we do it in Blanchard lol
Sweet! I wasn’t testing bad wires because I could hear the pump running, I just wanted to show people there is a way to check amperage to help figure out what it was.
So when I first started doing this, I had to make a call to the pump manufacturer to help troubleshoot a pump not making water, and even then I did t have a DC clamp meter, the phone tech said I could still do it with the clamp meter I still have, but the reading wouldn’t show true amperage, don’t need to know true amperage, just a change in what is on the meter between starting and running amps. He must have been wrong. Thanks to this and all the awesome comments, I spent the money on a DC clamp meter now, even though this is the second time using it. Thank you for watching and please stick around!
YOUALL CAN THROW A. FIT ❤ 😂😂😂
Hahahaha thank ya!!!!
Half the video is driving there😢
Easy on me buddy, a lot of people say I don’t do enough travel/scenery shots! I have to mix it all in! 😀. Thank you for watching!!
Can't see what you're doing
Sorry need more cameras or an extra arm🤣!!!
10k subs and you shave the mustache ?????? hahahaha
Deal!!!!!!!! Haha if that would work I would be sooooooo happy!
Was, were, don,t worry about it. Most of us say the same thing. Unless they are YANKEES😏
Bahahahaha yep I have to watch myself because I get corrected quite often! I’m glad you get me!!! Thank you for watching!!!