'lucky Star' Deep Well Pump

[LoveDaBlues]

I'm thinking of installing a 'Lucky Star' brand deep water well pump system. With this system no large storage tank is needed. The well (bore hole) will be 30 meters deep and have a 2" pipe. Inside the pipe are 2 smaller pipes for water pickup. Anyway that's the diagram I was given. This system works using air pressure and I've seen a working version and it seems to work okay.

My question: anyone here have a setup of this kind or something similar? I've only found one other company that makes this type of pump with the hookup necessary for the 2 tubes inside the larger tube; that was Hitachi.

Who makes Lucky Star? Chinese I suspect or maybe Thai made? It comes with a 7 year warranty; I was wondering if it will be reliable.

Any input on this appreciated. I put this under the General section but only one reply so far.

Thanks.

[Maizefarmer]

"Luck Star" is Chinese - like all electro/mechanical stuff made in China and Taiwan I have a personal sceptisism about long term reliability, but I also know that if you keep an eye on the product (whatever it is - pump, motor, welder ect ect....), maintain it and sort problems out as soon as they show themeselves, Chinese and Taiwanese made products can turn out to be good value in the long run - so, I'd say go for it.

Do they work? - yes, but they flow rates will be quite low and I think you should in any event install a water tank, if not now then sometime in the future. It has to be the way to go as one day you'll need to pump and for some or other reason it won't start and you'll be stuck without water till you can get the problem sorted - unless you have some in storage.

[LoveDaBlues]

MF, I'm installing this in the in-laws place in the village. They currently have village water but the pressure most of the time is laughable. In the event the pump fails we can simply use the village water system until the pump is fixed. I'm really torn between the Lucky Star and Hitachi model. In my mind the Hitachi has to be better overall quality but the Lucky Star seems to put out more pressure (according to the specs).

There don't seem to be any other choices as these pumps have the double hook up required for the twin pipe jet pump deep well system. I didn't see any Mitsubishi pumps that were plumbed right for this type of application.

[Maizefarmer]

Still, personaly I'd be inclined to invest in a raised tank and a small booster pump - but whichever way you do it, don't forget to plumb a one way valve into water mains supply else when you switch it on the neighbours will also be benefiting from your "upgrade"!

30m is a fair way to lift water however you look at it, and there are several practical (by practical I mean: relatively cheap, easily installed and relaible) systems that can be adopted.

You have said the birehole will be 30meters deep - does this mean it has yet to be bored?

... and the bore hole pipe - you say 2", why 2" - is this pipe already in or are you going to install it?

... and what is the bore hole diameter, or what is it going to be?

Edited March 19, 2008 by Maizefarmer

[LoveDaBlues]

MF, I'm not in the village currently but have been told the bore hole is drilled, the 2" PVC casing is in place, and the 2 smaller jet pipes are installed. They are only waiting for the pump. Here is a link someone sent me that shows some different systems; our system will be the double drop jet-pump system.

2" seems awful small to me; I *think* the wife may have been confused when she told me this. Anyway, the guy doing the drilling and installation has done a number of these in the local villages and the one I saw was exactly like what he's doing for me. I was very impressed by the pressure created although I don't have a true figure. This application will be for a single story house and nothing of a commercial usage. I think it will work fine as we're basically just copying what's already been done.

http://www.envisupply.com/pumps/water_well_pumping.htm

[Naam]

if you have to pump from a depth of 30m a jet pump is much less efficient than a submersible pump. however if your borehole has a width of only 2" a jet pump is the only solution. the advantage of a surface mounted jet pump is that it can be serviced without any problems.

[LoveDaBlues]

if you have to pump from a depth of 30m a jet pump is much less efficient than a submersible pump. however if your borehole has a width of only 2" a jet pump is the only solution. the advantage of a surface mounted jet pump is that it can be serviced without any problems.

I'm not sure why the local driller prefers the jet pump; perhaps it's what he knows. When I meet the guy doing the work I'll ask him why he doesn't use a submersible. I think you're on the right track, easy to service/repair. It's quite puzzling, I saw plenty of submersible pumps in stock at Global House. Somebody out there is using them.

[Maizefarmer]

if you have to pump from a depth of 30m a jet pump is much less efficient than a submersible pump. however if your borehole has a width of only 2" a jet pump is the only solution. the advantage of a surface mounted jet pump is that it can be serviced without any problems.

LoveDaBLues

.........ahhhh, so you was not around when the work was being done, were you????

That was my take on it as well .... 2" diameter is awful tight for a 30m bore - it is not the way it should have being done (in my humble opinon) and before you spend any additional funds on hardware, I would advise you to go check it out and see exactly what the score is with the bore - in particular what type of ground was it sunk into as a 2" diameter hole down 30m in certain ground stands a good chance of not lasting more than a couple seasons.

With tubing in it you have a 1 2/3 diameter left to work with - drop into it 2 more tubes of say 3/4" each (or one of 1" and another of 1/2" - which is pretty much all you will be able to fit), and you will be left with an absolute max of 3/4" (but more like 1/2" internal diameter) left to flow water through - and verticaly over 30m you may find it ... how shall I put it - frustrating, and regret not getting it bored wider before purchasing any pump equipment.

No prob's with the equipment you have in mind, but I think you should check it out before spedning hard earned money, Love DaBlues. The option to widen the bore should be used now rather than later.

[LoveDaBlues]

Well my wife tells me the hole is finished to 30m. The 2 internal tubes are in place. Just waiting on me to get the pump and bring it to the village (not too far, about 90k). I've seen one in action which was done by the same guy. When I turned on the tap that was the closest to the pump I'd estimate the pressure at (+/-) 25 psi. Now, that doesn't seem like a lot by Western standards but the pump will be a few meters from the back of the single-story house and I think (hope) it will be sufficient. Currently the village water system doesn't supply enough water to take a proper shower at peak times (the water dribbles out). And, if I'm taking a shower when there is enough water volume and someone decides to turn on the washer then the water again just dribbles out.

I will probably get the pump today or tomorrow and take it to the village. I'll post the results (fingers crossed lol) after it's hooked up.

[Naam]

Well my wife tells me the hole is finished to 30m. The 2 internal tubes are in place. Just waiting on me to get the pump and bring it to the village (not too far, about 90k). I've seen one in action which was done by the same guy. When I turned on the tap that was the closest to the pump I'd estimate the pressure at (+/-) 25 psi. Now, that doesn't seem like a lot by Western standards but the pump will be a few meters from the back of the single-story house and I think (hope) it will be sufficient. Currently the village water system doesn't supply enough water to take a proper shower at peak times (the water dribbles out). And, if I'm taking a shower when there is enough water volume and someone decides to turn on the washer then the water again just dribbles out.

I will probably get the pump today or tomorrow and take it to the village. I'll post the results (fingers crossed lol) after it's hooked up.

have you thought of adding a pressure tank between pump and house to avoid that the pump is cycling on/off?

[LoveDaBlues]

Well my wife tells me the hole is finished to 30m. The 2 internal tubes are in place. Just waiting on me to get the pump and bring it to the village (not too far, about 90k). I've seen one in action which was done by the same guy. When I turned on the tap that was the closest to the pump I'd estimate the pressure at (+/-) 25 psi. Now, that doesn't seem like a lot by Western standards but the pump will be a few meters from the back of the single-story house and I think (hope) it will be sufficient. Currently the village water system doesn't supply enough water to take a proper shower at peak times (the water dribbles out). And, if I'm taking a shower when there is enough water volume and someone decides to turn on the washer then the water again just dribbles out.

I will probably get the pump today or tomorrow and take it to the village. I'll post the results (fingers crossed lol) after it's hooked up.

have you thought of adding a pressure tank between pump and house to avoid that the pump is cycling on/off?

This setup contains a pressure tank. I'm not sure what the cut-in/cut-out pressures are but for something like flushing a toilet I doubt the pump would cycle on. The water is pulled up by a combination of the impeller and the draw created by the falling water in one of the jet tubes (the water actually runs in a circle). At the same time air pressure is created in the tank for pushing the water throughout the house. This is how it's been explained to me; seems to be a pretty cool system. If it works I get the savings of NOT having to buy a storage tank and any additional pump.

My best guess is this type of system was designed for the exact application I'm using it for. Single-family residential where the water source is down deep. The guy drilling the well tells me he normally hits water at the 12m depth in this area. So by going to 30m hopefully we'll have a decent water source for a long time.

I've tried to educate myself somewhat on this but really I don't know crap....just flying by the seat of my pants.

[Maizefarmer]

25psi (just 3psi below 2bar!) from 30 m with your setup will be very good indeed and will be plenty plenty sufficient - even by Western standards.

Go for it and let us know how it works out.