OK, all of the fittings were just fine. After pulling the pump it was obvious that there was a total failure of the Grundfos SQFlex 3SQF-2 pump head, both the rotor and the check valve. Water just pours through it in reverse with no pressure. On the last test in place it would not produce more than 75psi running on 240VAC deadheaded. This pump is only 10 years old and only served a two person household with minimal water use on AC power, so it did not run anywhere near as many hours as a solar pump. 100psi head. I'd buy a different pump if I could come up with a method of control. Float switch is 1200 ft away (half AWG#16 and half AWG#14) and a second SQFlex pump in the other well so I'd have to figure out how to control both pumps. I do switch from one to the other; they do not run at the same time. Remember that these float switches are reverse, close on high water.
Back when I sold these, the pump head was not available separate from the motor, anyone know if that is still true? Anyone have a good source for these? I'll look of course, but first hand knowledge from anyone here is good. I do also have a backward leaky check valve in the pump house which will be a lot of work to replace. I have a problem with cheap unions leaking also, but they do come in handy in cases like this. I might just cut through one of the pipes and put in a union. Otherwise I have to disassemble a lot of plumbing. Living in the country... Thanks, Brad Bassett On Mon, May 27, 2024 at 10:09 AM Ray Walters <r...@solarray.com> wrote: > Sorry Brad, > > It's been a long time since I did well work, and now, I can't find a > supplier of the fittings. The pics I sent earlier were just > representative, but not exactly what I used in the past. What I had used > were bronze compression fittings similar to liquid tite conduit male > adapters. I have no idea who made them, or where I got them from. The > closest I can find now are for poly gas line, and they're over $100/ > fitting at Grainger. > > [image: Main product photo] I use PEX and Shark bite fittings for any > plumbing I'm doing now. Never had a leak, super fast, and reversible. > > Ray > On 5/26/2024 12:36 PM, Bradley Bassett wrote: > > Ray, > > Do you have a US supplier for either of these fittings? The Jentro fitting > looks great, the Blueseal16 does not look like it would have much of a > pressure rating. I did not find a specification. > > What do you all use for drop pipes for well pumps? I have a 260ft deep > well with galv, but the first batch corroded through, must have been a > really bad batch. The second batch has been fine for many years. I can't > bring myself to use PVC which is most common, I just have seen too many > issues with it. Stainless is really expensive and hard to find threaded > lengths, so I used very high pressure Poly. When it's rated for 300psi it > has a very thick wall and is hard to get onto fittings, but is light weight > and moderately flexible. > > Brad > > On Sun, May 26, 2024 at 11:17 AM Ray Walters via RE-wrenches < > re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote: > >> Hi Brad; >> >> I've seen a lot of leaks with barb fittings on poly pipe. I just replace >> most of the poly plumbing at my place, because I just couldn't get it to >> stop leaking. Black poly pipe is the lowest cost per foot, but not quite >> bomb proof. Barb fittings are really more suited for irrigation under 40 >> psi, where leaks are just part of the irrigation system. Also, if the pipe >> is exposed to sunlight, it can degrade and split open. Your described setup >> would have sections above 100 psi, and that will really drive leaks. There >> are compression fittings for the poly pipe, which are better. Here are >> some examples: >> >> >> Barb fittings would probably be fine towards the top at the storage >> tanks, where the pressure is much lower, but at the pump, and top of the >> well, where the pressure is over 100 psi, I'd be using something better. >> >> Good Luck, >> >> Ray Walters >> >
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