Living off-grid is an adventure.

Living off-grid is an adventure.  Perhaps the most precious requirement is water and last fall we dug a shallow well.  The well is 15' deep and we used a 3' ABS pipe 15' long to be the well casing.  There are a number of small springs here that water the pasture so we dug in the path of the underground water.  The path was visible due to the growth pattern of grass.

Once the hole was being dug we could see the source of water flowing out of the wall of the hole.  We dug further toward the source and began to see a heavier water flow.  In the path from the water source we put down washed gravel to create a path for the water to flow into the basin we had dug.

Once the gravel was in place and the pipe standing on end, we back filled around the pipe.  Within a few hours there was 7' of water in the pipe and it was amazingly clear.  In an attempt to help develop the water flow we pumped water out of the well a few times allowing it to recover each time before pumping again.  The well was then left untouched for a few weeks.

I ordered a 12 v pump from http://nemosolar.com/ as well as a low-voltage disconnect.  

Using a solar panel I had from a prior project (190 watt, 60 cell) and a very old deep-cycle battery we setup the power source.  I also purchased a 20 amp solar charge controller to support the system.

Originally I had planned on using the system without a battery meaning that we could only run the pump when there was enough solar energy but I soon discovered that without a battery to "balance" the system it simply did not work.  Other components included check valves and a pressure switch.  

I explained all of that because a few days ago the water stopped being available.  The possible problem items were the pump and the pressure switch.  Since there were probably less than 50 hours on the pump it was not likely to be the problem.  I got a young man to assist and we removed the cover for the well.  The cover is where the solar panel and the controls are mounted (but not the pressure switch).

A quick check at the pressure switch indicated that power was at the terminals from the battery but not getting to the pump. I did not realize just how much moisture was present in the well and the switch appeared as if it had been in service for years not a few months.  We cleaned the terminals, lubricated the movement and placed it back in service.  Having water flowing again is a relief.

Clearly, the pressure switch will not survive long being inside of the well casing.  I looked for a vapor-proof switch and nothing was readily available.  Now I have decided to move the pressure switch out of the well and place it close to the rest of the controls.  This week we will buy some 1/4" flexible tubing and the connectors to extend the pressure switch away from the well.  The flexible pipe can be run through the wall of the well a few inches below grade and up to the switch itself.

My concern is that water may eventually displace the air in the 1/4" tubing causing it to freeze in the winter.  So for this summer I will use the tubing and external pressure switch while I search for a solution that prevents water from displacing the air in the tubing.  

For now we have water again!