Well Pump Duty Cycle

Hey all, coming up I have a need to pump a lot of water. I was thinking about rigging up a solenoid valve, timer, and float so that the pump could run and rest. Then when the tank is full and the solenoid comes on it wouldn’t pump because the float valve would be closed. Just curious what you think might be a good rotation of on/off duration to set up? I’m able to store about 1600 gallons.

What are tapping into? Household plumbing system with a garden house? Off a tap from a well house using 1.25”-2.0” faucet? Most submersible pumps can run for hours without ‘cycling off’, that’s what they are designed to do.

Our home well has a outstanding recovery rate, the driller noted did not lose volume in thirty minutes of well pumpdown test. Other well at barn is artesian where had to put a casing drain to keep the level down to a normal.

The house system is a variable speed constant pressure, control for that was a lot extra but will keep up with Laundry and three showers running full tilt then someone flushes toilet. Actually a more consistent pressure than a city service system. Was told by driller with a back flow check system could install a Cattle Waterer and not lose house pressure.
I was actually in my shop as guests were cleaning up and wife doing laundry, i was one to flush toilet. Watched the control system work as is inside the shop not the house.

Will be pumping out of my well that services the barn. I really have no idea what the recovery rate is. I will be getting the water out of a frost free hydrant and garden hose, storing it in a 1600 gallon tank. Use will be periodic for a while but very fast when I need it.

The well I think is only 1/2 HP pump. Rate out of the hydrant and hose ain’t much over 5 GPM, maybe 7 at most.

Realistically looking at over 5 hours to fill the tank, and will fill a few times. So, a float will stop it once full. I didn’t think 5 straight hours would be the best idea for the pump. I was thinking maybe 45 minutes on, 15 off or something like that. The barn itself will be demanding water while this happens.

Once I’ve got a tank full, I’ve got a good pump for moving lots of water, just no quick way of getting it out of the ground! And no access to any creek or pond or anything clean and reliably flowing.

What can I afford? A free lunch!

I thought my original post explained I was taking it out of my well. I called it well pump, but didn’t specifically say I was taking about my actual well. Sorry for the confusion.

Edited by Tbone95 - 06 Mar 2024 at 9:23am

Pump output of 5 GPM would probably be a shallow well pump/ motor not submerged.  With that, yes you are worried about heat buildup in the motor since it is not in the water.. Cycle time of 30 minute run, then cool off for 15 minutes MIGHT be a good idea.. I think i would monitor the motor temp while running for 30- 45 minutes and see that it stays below maybe 180 degrees.. ( new motor can go higher.. but old motor and long term operation would be BEST to be well below 200 deg).

Edited by steve(ill) - 06 Mar 2024 at 4:22pm

Being a water cooled pump, it should run forever... until you run out of water..

A 1/2 hp. submersible pump will push a lot more water than a 1/2 hp. jet pump will pull.

This will turn your pump off if water is low. FRANKLIN ELECTRIC Pumptec QD water well pump protection 1/3HP-1 HP 230V LOW YIELD WELLS - Amazon.com

Always easier to push fluid than pull it; no matter the medium.

  If it's a deep well pump, I have it on GOOD authority from two people that you can run it from now until the take our home electricity away from us to give to the places where yer gonna plug your new elec. car or truck in......