Cheapest Way To Rig Temp. Shower?

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Jimbo (old forum transfer)
Posted - 04/20/2002 : 16:18:56

Wg,

At my building site, it's going to be several months before I can hook into county water system. I'd like to pull water from a nearby stream and run it into a 10 gal water heater, for shower, dishwashing. (i;ll have a temp power pole soon.)

Total lift, to top of shower head, would be about 20-22' and stream is 110' from camp site. I would hope to have pump at camp site, rather than by stream.

I've already run 1/2" pvc to stream, cuz I wanted to at least SEE if the little Shurflo RV pump I had would do it, but it couldn't make the pull up to the 14-16' level.

So, what do I need?

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Jimbo
Posted - 04/20/2002 : 16:35:55

I just found a website that listed a Shurflo fairly comparable to mine, I think. It mentioned that the pump could self-prime to 10', and lift to 100'.

So, does that mean that if I put this pump down close to the stream, it might work? And maybe use an inexpensive transformer, so I could use 115 AC?

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Wgoodrich
Posted - 04/20/2002 : 16:53:16

You would need a float and a screen in the stream. The float to keep you intake above the bottom mud and in clean water area. The screen to keep anything floating by from entering your system. 1/2" line going a 100' would cause you some concern. If you are going to use that small intake then you probably would be better to push the water rather than pull it.

Where it said self priming to 10' it meant that the pump would suck water 10' to prim itself without external priming.

The 100' lift says it should lift water out of the ground 100'.

What your are doing is no different than pulling water from a well straight up other than in this case you are pulling water more horizontally. Same principles apply.

If I were you I would change that 1/2" to a 3/4" intake line. If you don't you won't get much of a shower. Also without a bladder tank you pump will be running anytime you need water to flow. If it were me I would install a check valve in the line and leave the shower running and shut the pump off or install a pressure switch. Either way I would install the check valve on the intake to keep the pump from having to prime it every time you start you pump. If you don't install a pressure switch that is fine just don't forget to shut down the pump when the water is shut off or you will blow some seals.

Let us know how your temp water supply works.

Wg

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Jimbo
Posted - 04/20/2002 : 19:08:40

OK, I tested the little Shurflo, and it will self-prime @ 10'. You wouldn't want to try to put out a major fire with it, but it'll be OK for a short term.

Now the question is: where can I find a good price on a transformer, and what kind of wire to use? Pump is 7 amps @12vdc; what size transformer do I need?

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Wgoodrich
Posted - 04/21/2002 : 16:08:24

12 volts DC @ 7 amps equals 84 Volt amps.

84 Volts amps = 7 tenths of one amp @ 120 volts.

This says you would need a 120 volt imput 1 amp primary input to a 120 volt AC / 12 volt DC transformer to a secondary 7 amps or 85 watt or 85 volt amps.

What we are talking of is a converter from 120 volts AC to 12 volts DC with a 12 volt output capacity of at least 85 to 90 Va. or watts.

You should be able to find these readily at any electronics store.

You said that you have 120/240 volt temporary utility power pole to be connected. If you use this then you should install a 120 volt extension cord down to the pump then plug in your converter to convert to DC 12 volts and connect to your pump.

You also should be able to obtain a deep cycle 12 volt battery especially if you have a fishing boat with a trolling motor. You may use this deep cycle battery to power your temporary shower pump.

If you want more power by battery then connect to 12 volt batteries in parallel to create a 12 volt parallel output to power you shower pump for longer periods. If you chose this battery option then you can use your normal car battery to recharge your batteries powered from your Utility temporary pole.

You also could increase your shower output by using a normal sump pump powered by 120 volts. Just remember to keep the sump pump motor out of the water and the bottom of the sump pump in a 5 gallon bucket to keep out the mud from being picked up.

Let us know how clean you get. Ha Ha.

Just for fun you can pick up a push mower and tell your kids to mow the grass while you are eating dinner that you wife and neighbors brought at noon. Then your wife and neighbors can wash dishes in the shower before they help you build your house for the afternoon. Only way you can do this though is if you get a hammock hanging between two trees and a battery operated TV so you can watch the noon news on TV while they wash the dishes. Then back to building you home. A man needs time for his rest ya know ! Ha Ha.

Oh' yes one more thing you will need satellite for your internet connection for us to give you suggestions on the job site and then watch satellite TV during the noon news hour.

I think you can skip the satellite mobile phone for now though !

Just a few extra thoughts for you to get into trouble with and spend you money. We all need to keep the economy going ya know.

Are we having fun yet?

Wg

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Jimbo
Posted - 04/21/2002 : 16:29:21

I'm printing that first part about transformer to take to the Radio Shack guy; he saw the 7 amp (DC) rating on the pump and was trying to sell me a way over-powered transformer. But I'm beginning to wonder if I shouldn't just buy a 120v pump.

As for rest: hey, this is Oregon water, which contains no mud or other impurities. It's routinely bottled for the space station, it's so pure.

If my kids weren't full grown ingrates, I'd have them at work clearing brush, but maybe I can find some neighborhood kids to work cheap so I can relax in hammock; good idea.

And you may be right about satellite internet. I should create a website with a web cam trained to pan building site every 10 minutes. Then everyone who visits this site can help correct all the things I do wrong, from foundation through shingles. What'dya think? Maybe some neighbor has a pretty wife who could sun bathe in the background, just to keep guys' attention, or would their attention be of the wrong kind?

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Wgoodrich
Posted - 04/21/2002 : 17:28:41

If you have a deep cycle battery and recharge it periodically you should have what you need for you 12 volt bump.

Don't discount the sump pump idea. It probably would put out about twice the water your 12 volt pump is doing and you can use the sump pump in your home when you get done with it. Just shield it from the rain till then.

You might want to be careful with a normal water pump unless you install a pressure switch to ensure you don't blow it's seals with too much pressure.

I think the rest of the last two post is along the line of we are both dreaming. As for the guy and the pretty girl sun bathing, I suspect everyone will be in the hospital removing fingernails from mashed fingers due to having all eyes looking at that wrong subject while swinging a hammer.

You don't know maybe you kids will have a change of heart and want to work like slaves in building your home. Everyone changes sometime good or bad. You do have hope no matter how slim.

Let us know how you pump idea works out for the next guy going in the rough with a little water pressure desired.

Good Luck

Wg

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Jimbo
Posted - 04/21/2002 : 18:24:40

OK, and by the way, I have a friend who sawed a nice slot in the web between thumb and forefinger with a hand saw, because a pretty girl walked by and he was eyeing her instead of his work. Ouch.

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Wgoodrich
Posted - 04/21/2002 : 20:12:09

See what I mean, we just can't protect ourselves from those kind of hazards in the construction field. I know how he feels. Just before I turned 20 years old I was mopping a flat roof and the same view popped up across the road in a neighbors yard where I was working. I SORT OF FOUND MYSELF IN THE BUSHES BELOW WHEN I BACKED OFF THE ROOF. Amazing how those roof edges change when you are not looking where you are supposed to be looking. Thank goodness for those bushes. She saw me fall and obviously knew why, my pride was hurt worse than my posterior! Problem is we don't seem to get smarter as we get older, just slower in reaction ability.

Good Luck on your project.

Wg

[Anonymous]

Posted by: Jimbo
Posted - 05/04/2002 : 22:55:02

Ok, WG, reporting back as requested.

I got a 4.5GPM Flojet pump, with built in 40psi pressure switch, from pumpworld.com, for $120, including an inline filter to protect diaphram. (Good place to buy from.) Salesman said I should have used 3/4" pipe. Sound familiar?

And he recommended an "accumulator" (or pressure tank) to even things out and protect pump. $30.

I got it hooked up this afternoon. The pump is probably 4' above water source; height of shower head above water source is 20-24'; total run of 1/2" PVC is about 110'.

Guess what? The pressure at the shower feels almost as strong as in a regular city-water bath! I was worried it would be anemic, but it's not at all.

I tested the pump using my little 1800w generator. Next week I get temporary power pole, so I can fire up the 12 gal WH and take a nice hot, natural shower.

Cheers.