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7.2 Machine Installation
Water well pumps can be installed by hand in
shallow water sources and in remote areas
that are not accessible to a pump service
truck. Hand installation is generally performed
using rolled flexible POLYETHYLENE (PE)
drop pipe rather than rigid pipe. In North
America, most professional pump contractors
do NOT have the equipment to pull flexible
pipe. Their equipment is designed for rigid
pipe in 21-foot pieces. Do not use flexible pipe
unless you are committed to safely handling
its total weight (full of water) IN THE FUTURE
when the pump must be removed. For
installations that are deeper than about 50
feet (15m), please consider the following
warnings and cautions.
We do not encourage hand installation except
in shallow-water situations. Installation and
removal should never be performed by hand
without an adequate number of workers. If
you have any doubts about the feasibility,
safety and economy of installation AND future
removal, hire a professional pump service
contractor.
Before considering installation or removal by
hand, estimate the weight of the system and
consider the number of people necessary to
install the pump AND to remove it in the future
(with water in the pipe). To estimate the total
weight, add the following:
1. Cable weight — #10 submersible cable (3-
wire + ground) weighs approximately 25 lbs.
per 100 ft. (40 kg per 100m). Each larger size
(smaller AWG#) weighs approximately 30%
more.
2. Water in the pipe (lbs.) = pipe inside
diameter (inches)
2
X 0.34 X length (feet).
Example: Water in 100 feet of 1" pipe weighs
about 34 lbs.
3. The pump weighs approximately 25 lbs.
(11.5 kg.).
7.3 Hand Installation
If you are professionally equipped to install
conventional AC submersible pumps, you can
use the same equipment and methods for
our pumps. PS-Pumps have no special pipe
requirements. You can use any suitable rigid
or flexible pipe. The only exception is to
consider reducing the pipe size in cases of
high sand concentration (to increase flow
velocity). See Section 6.2 Drop Pipe, and
Section 13.2 Water Pipe Sizing Chart.
WARNING Hand
installation and
removal is
potentially
hazardous.
WARNING DO
NOT USE A
VEHICLE to
install or remove
a pump. During
removal, the
pump can catch
on joints or edges
in the well casing.
Damage or loss of
the pump can
occur before the
vehicle operator
can react.
CAUTIONS for polyethylene
pipe (PE, rolled pipe)
1. Do not exceed the pressure
rating of the pipe. The most
common PE pipe is type SIDR-
15. It has a pressure rating of 100 PSI (7 bar).
This is equal to 230 feet (70m) of total vertical
lift. Types SDR-9 and SIDR-7 have a pressure
rating of 200 PSI (14 bar), equal to 460 feet
(140m). They is available from local suppliers
in some areas, or from your Solar pump
supplier. Special compression connectors are
made for this pipe.
2. Use only pipe connectors that are designed
for the pipe you choose. Do not use galva-
nized steel adapters. They will rust through.
3. Do not use any sealing compound in PE
pipe connections.
4. If you use insert connectors with hose
clamps, use TWO clamps at each adapter.
Tighten them with a wrench. Use “all stain-
less” hose clamps. Automotive clamps have
carbon steel screws that will rust and fail.
5. Have extra hose clamps on hand in case
you damage or lose one.
6. Have an extra coupling on hand in case
you bend the pipe too sharply (kink it) and
make a weak spot.
7. PE pipe will stretch about 1%. Make the
electrical cable and safety rope about 1.5%
longer than the pipe so when the pipe
stretches, the cable and splice will not be
stressed.
8. If you plan to bury PE pipe in the ground,
contact the pipe manufacturer for additional
instructions.
WARNING DO
NOT USE A
ROPE WINCH to
install or remove
a pump in a
drilled well
casing
(borehole).
If you use a winch
to pull the pump
by pulling the
safety rope, the
electrical cable
can slip down the
pipe and/or the
pipe can collapse.
If the pipe or
cable jams and
gets wedged in
the casing, you
can lose your
equipment and
even permanently
block the well!
Some installers
use a winch with
a reel of about 3
feet (1m) diam-
eter or larger, to
pull flexible pipe.
This is ideal if you
have the equip-
ment and experi-
ence to do the job
safely.
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