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Webmaster
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| Subject: |
Ever have this problem?
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Date:
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7/5/2011 9:02:29 PM (updated 7/5/2011 9:04:58 PM)
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Ref: Irrigation system running off pump from lake
1) Power goes off while irrigation valve is in open position
2) Water pressure bleeds pump dry - looses prime
3) Power comes back on
4) Pump runs dry (for 36 hours in my case)
Is there any way to pipe this up so that the pump does not loose pressure or that the valves closes with power loss? I can't think of any.
Thankfully the pump seems to run fine.
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| Name: |
MrHodja
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| Subject: |
Ever have this problem?
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Date:
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7/5/2011 9:14:26 PM
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Backflow preventer valve...may not be the proper technical term but it allows only one way flow, thus preventing loss of prime. I have a weird septic system on my house in Montgomery (because of the prarie soil) that sprays the effluent on the back of the property...and it has such a valve between the pump and sprinklers.
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| Name: |
Astro
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Ever have this problem?
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7/5/2011 10:34:21 PM
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You should have a foot valve located in the water on the suction side of the pump. The foot valve will prevent the suction side from losing prime and also stop large pieces of debris from entering the pump.
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| Name: |
MartiniMan
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Never!
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Date:
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7/5/2011 10:45:50 PM
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Unless I am mistaken, water causes grass to grow faster. Faster grass causes the need for mowing. Mowing is work. Work is way overrated. Watering grass is therefore a bad thing.
Glad your pump is OK although I refer you to my logic string......which may or may not be logical :-)
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| Name: |
Webmaster
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| Subject: |
Ever have this problem?
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Date:
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7/5/2011 11:41:21 PM (updated 7/5/2011 11:42:29 PM)
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I do have a foot valve. The pressure is draining trough the sprinklers in my case. My pump is higher than my sprinklers.
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| Name: |
Webmaster
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Ever have this problem?
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Date:
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7/5/2011 11:48:50 PM
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After responding to Astro, it made me realize that my case may be more unusual than most. My pump is higher than the lines it feeds. Therefore it will always drain out. The foot valve is a backflow preventer of sorts, but my problem is upstream from the pump.
Thanks for the suggestions.
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| Name: |
muddauber
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Never!
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Date:
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7/6/2011 6:59:31 AM
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Makes great sense. Kinda like mine. The kids are hungry. They gonna be hungry by next mealtime., well really sooner that that. So just skip a meal. They still gonna be hungry. Upside, they grow slower, not so many new shoes, clothes, cheaper food bill. Can't understand why parents don't figure this out.
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| Name: |
Pontoonfisher
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Ever have this problem?
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Date:
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7/6/2011 7:32:43 AM
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Where is this valve you mention? If it is wired it should close on power loss. Apply power to the solenoid and the valve opens, remove power it closes. Not sure why the valve is not closing.
Another solution is to put a valve in on the outlet side of the pump. Wire it directly into the motor power circuit. If your pump is 220VAC you will obviously have to use a 220VAC solenoid on the valve. When the pump runs, valve opens. Pump goes off valve closes.
I also don't understand why your pump ran for 36 hours. Should it only run when your sprinkler system program is running?
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| Name: |
Old Diver
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Never!
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7/6/2011 8:06:35 AM
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One could install a float valve. It closes when there is water pressure. When the pressure drops, the valve opens to admit air thus stopping the siphohing of the priming water.
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| Name: |
lakngulf
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Ever have this problem?
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Date:
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7/6/2011 8:45:12 AM
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Are you saying you have "chit slinger"
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| Name: |
Lifer
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| Subject: |
Ever have this problem?
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Date:
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7/6/2011 5:14:50 PM
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Why not install a pressure tank on the system? You will use same amount of water but less electricity and would not be having the problems. But I agree that a back flow preventer would also most likely stop the problem if installed in the right location(s).
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| Name: |
Webmaster
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| Subject: |
Ever have this problem?
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Date:
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7/6/2011 6:41:15 PM
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Another member told me today about the valve closure when the power goes out. I did not know that. I will check to see if mine does that and if so, there may have been another faucet open when the power went out. I will not know for sure until it happens again. This happened two weeks ago so it is all a guess at this point.
Thanks for everyone's comments.
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| Name: |
lakegirl+3
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| Subject: |
Ever have this problem?
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Date:
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7/7/2011 7:43:00 PM
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An inline check valve,installed close to the pump(on the discharge side) will prevent water from running back through pump. A pump start relay wired to your irrigation controller would also prevent the pump from running.
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