How to Live WELL "Off Grid" Without Power or Help

 
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dcrane
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Post by dcrane » Wed. Dec. 18, 2013 9:40 am

warminmn wrote:DC, you don't need an expensive pump. Just a cheap cistern pump. Dont spend too much as I think new they are maybe $60 tops. They pump over 20 feet (static level of water) so you can run it upstairs if you want.

edit: also called a pitcher pump. heres what Im talking about. Cheaper too.
http://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/water-source-pitc ... 0000009152
yes thats perfect and I have one of those... but what I would like to be able to do is fill the pressurized tank next to the well in my photo. I need a hand pump that can be tied in to both the well and then have some type of adapter on the other end (not simply a wide open faucet mouth). I can then manually fill that pressurized tank and it would then flow upstairs to everything :dancing:


 
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Carbon12
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Post by Carbon12 » Wed. Dec. 18, 2013 10:16 am

I've been looking at those emergency well pumps too. Way too much $$$. During the
time before any major anticipated possible power outages, I fill a bunch of large, potable water containers. A couple of hundred gallons worth. Not as good as being able to access the well and pressurize the house system but very cheap. Would last a week or so for toilette flushing and basic bathing. Always have a couple of cases of bottled water on hand for cooking and drinking. Also a portable water filter/purifying device.

 
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carlherrnstein
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Post by carlherrnstein » Wed. Dec. 18, 2013 10:19 am

You are going to spend a lot of cash if you buy something. Check this out http://bisonpumps.com/ these are about $1,200 but they fit on your well casing.

I would do as warminmn alluded to and put a tank in a upstairs area and so the water drains down to the fixtures, but you will likely have just a trickle at the fixtures cause your plumbing is likely too small for a gravity feed system.

Your other option is to built a pump and if you do that you will understand why those pressurizing hand pumps are so expensive.

 
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Carbon12
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Post by Carbon12 » Wed. Dec. 18, 2013 11:46 am

Large holding tank, deep cycle battery with trickle charger and a 12 Volt R/V water pressure pump might work???

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Wed. Dec. 18, 2013 11:48 am

What happens when the battery goes dead-- ohhhh, you urban guys are killin me :clap: toothy

 
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Post by Carbon12 » Wed. Dec. 18, 2013 11:53 am

I'm thinking of one of these:

https://www.lehmans.com/p-1384-lehmans-own-galvan ... ucket.aspx

Or making one.

 
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freetown fred
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Post by freetown fred » Wed. Dec. 18, 2013 12:22 pm

Now,that's what I'm talkin about :)


 
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warminmn
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Post by warminmn » Wed. Dec. 18, 2013 5:05 pm

You can make one of those bucket things any diameter you want. Just use whatever, and put one of those well things (lets water thru but not back) on the bottom of it. Seal around it. I'd hate to use one long term but at least they do work.

DC, they make a different pump of similar design but higher priced that does what you want, I think. I have one I bought at auction but havent used it. They are cheap used but you may have to replace a leather in it. Look on ebay, maybe search for hand well pump.
Heres an example:
https://www.lehmans.com/p-1232-pressurized-sealed ... -pump.aspx

 
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Post by rberq » Wed. Dec. 18, 2013 5:29 pm

One of the neater water systems I have seen is a shallow well on ground higher than the house, with a standard foot (check) valve in the well, and an underground pipe leading into the cellar and connected directly to the indoor plumbing. If the water level is high enough in the well, it becomes self-priming (if that's the right term). If water drops lower in the well, then flow is still maintained via siphoning action. If water drops below the well's foot valve you are f*cked until it rises high enough to start feeding again. You need the right land, and pressure in the house is pretty low, but other than that it needs no electricity and no pumps of any sort.

 
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warminmn
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Post by warminmn » Wed. Dec. 18, 2013 6:05 pm

That does sound neat. Ive seen cisterns built up on hills higher than the house with gravity feed, but they had to pump those full. My county still has a few people doing these types of things, not counting Amish. They have electric, just not "running water". Ive seen rams too but never took the time to understand them.

 
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Post by oliver power » Thu. Dec. 19, 2013 6:46 pm

In the southern part of western New York, Amish are moving in all over the place. They are thriving. Some buy existing homes, then gut out all utilities. Most are building new homes, barns, etc.. They have drilled wells. The pumps are driven with small gasoline engines. A big tank is filled. When the water runs low, they fire up the little Briggs engine again. The engine will run for about 20-30 minutes(I never actually timed it), and someone will come along, and shut it off. They must have some kind of pressure release valve on the system, as the water is pressurized. We've used the garden hose, hooked to the hose bib. Lots of pressure. More than I have at my place..........

 
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Post by SMITTY » Thu. Dec. 19, 2013 7:05 pm

My cousin made one out of PVC - think it cost him all of $40 to build. Works in freezing temps, as no water remains in the unit when you stop pumping. It pumps water in both directions: on the UP stroke AND DOWN stroke. HUGE volume of water too. And, you can be real sloppy with the tolerances - it actually works better that way! He got the idea off Youtube. I'll see if I can find it ...

Here ya go:


 
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Post by Flyer5 » Thu. Dec. 19, 2013 8:51 pm

Made it to 12 min. :D Will save for later.

 
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Carbon12
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Post by Carbon12 » Thu. Dec. 19, 2013 9:22 pm

I watched the whole thing,.........Maybe $1000.00 for someone else to do it isn't so bad :o

 
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Post by KLook » Thu. Dec. 19, 2013 9:40 pm

watched it all.....just fantastic. Reminds we of my fathers lobster boat and the old leather and steel bilge bump he used. But it only pumped on the up stroke. Still, it would move a lot of water. I love simple but workable designs.

Kevin


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