tb4me Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 So I just recently picked up 2 1000 liter food grade totes. I have them hooked up to collect rainwater off my house. I want to install a pump and a garden hose for watering my garden. When i was a kid my grandpa had something similar in setup. I was a large tub full of rainwater with a pump and hose. What I cant figure out is that when you turned on the hose the pump automatically started and shut off with the squeeze of the handle. I would like to do this myself..Anyone here know how to do it? I cant seem to find any info online either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freshtrax Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 You want a pump that is high volume low pressure. The switch any old switch will work just have to run wire to it .... Only other way would be to use a pressure tank and pump when the pressure drops the pump kicks on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave524 Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 (edited) As a kid (50's 60's) , neighbour was a market gardener with a fairly large green house for starting plants. He collected rain water for green house use, it was all gravity fed, you wouldn't need the water tanks elevated very much over the height of the garden. Edit: I'm thinking drip irrigation and soaker hoses rather than sprinklers which would require more pressure and are less efficient. Edited April 22, 2016 by dave524 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanD Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 What you want is an on demand water pump. Its a pump that is switched through a pressure switch ; that when you turn the hose/tap on the low pressure is felt and that trips the switch, turning the pump on, RV's use them so that there is no pressure tank. You can get them in either 12VDC or 120VAC. I have an account with a wholesale RV parts supplier and can get a 12 volt dc for around $65. (List $117.) and a 120 volt ac for about $175. (List $316.) The 120 would pump 3 gmp @ 55psi. The 12 volt would pump 2 gpm @ 30 psi This is the 120 Volt pump; the 12 volt looks about the same. Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tb4me Posted April 22, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 What you want is an on demand water pump. Its a pump that is switched through a pressure switch ; that when you turn the hose/tap on the low pressure is felt and that trips the switch, turning the pump on, RV's use them so that there is no pressure tank. You can get them in either 12VDC or 120VAC. I have an account with a wholesale RV parts supplier and can get a 12 volt dc for around $65. (List $117.) and a 120 volt ac for about $175. (List $316.) The 120 would pump 3 gmp @ 55psi. The 12 volt would pump 2 gpm @ 30 psi This is the 120 Volt pump; the 12 volt looks about the same. Dan. This is exactly what I was looking for..Perfect. Im thinking 12 volt would be best that way I can run it off battery and solar panel.. dave524 I have plumbed in a dual outlet at the bottom of the tank..One for gravity drip irrigation and one for a pump for a watering wand..I cant wait to get my hands dirty..I already planted onion beats radish and peas in the soil..Cant wait to see what I get. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aplumma Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 yup you can also check out marine washdown pumps I have one on the boat and it is 12 volts. You also will need a place where the pump is protected from the weather they will short out if the motor gets wet. this is the one I have. http://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-marine--4-0-washdown-pump-kit--13997978 It has a filter as well as quick disconnect which makes it easy to bring inside after you are done. Art Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
misfish Posted April 22, 2016 Report Share Posted April 22, 2016 You can garb those pumps cheap at Princes Auto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Cliff Posted April 23, 2016 Report Share Posted April 23, 2016 This is exactly what I was looking for..Perfect. Im thinking 12 volt would be best that way I can run it off battery and solar panel.. dave524 I have plumbed in a dual outlet at the bottom of the tank..One for gravity drip irrigation and one for a pump for a watering wand..I cant wait to get my hands dirty..I already planted onion beats radish and peas in the soil..Cant wait to see what I get. onion beats radish and peas would probably be a good guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tb4me Posted April 25, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2016 onion beats radish and peas would probably be a good guess ha ha ha I was saying that hoping I dont get a pile of mushy greens from frost..Its ok I had it coming didnt I Big Cliff.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Cliff Posted April 25, 2016 Report Share Posted April 25, 2016 ha ha ha I was saying that hoping I dont get a pile of mushy greens from frost..Its ok I had it coming didnt I Big Cliff.... LOL, I hope you don't get a pile of mushy greens too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Freshtrax Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 What you want is an on demand water pump. Its a pump that is switched through a pressure switch ; that when you turn the hose/tap on the low pressure is felt and that trips the switch, turning the pump on, RV's use them so that there is no pressure tank. You can get them in either 12VDC or 120VAC. I have an account with a wholesale RV parts supplier and can get a 12 volt dc for around $65. (List $117.) and a 120 volt ac for about $175. (List $316.) The 120 would pump 3 gmp @ 55psi. The 12 volt would pump 2 gpm @ 30 psi This is the 120 Volt pump; the 12 volt looks about the same. Dan. Cool did not know these existed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoppy Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 Here I thought these setups were only for growing cannabis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillM Posted April 27, 2016 Report Share Posted April 27, 2016 I need to get a rain water collection setup done this year. Screw paying the city to water my grass, lol. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pics Posted April 28, 2016 Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 I had a similar set up when my wife and I had an off the grid cottage in Kinmount.. the pumps are the same as the ones in an RV. The best thing about them is that they are repairable!!.. I will be setting up a rain barrel high enough off the ground to give me room to fill a pail under it.... Gardens do very well with rain water.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayess Posted April 28, 2016 Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 Funny this thread should pop up, I'm in the process of building such a thing inspired by this video: Are the pumps at Princess Auto driven by a change in pressure? http://www.princessauto.com/en/detail/12v-marine-utility-pump/A-p8171118e Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanD Posted April 28, 2016 Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 No that is not an on demand pump; it would need to be manually turned on and off. Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tb4me Posted April 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 28, 2016 (edited) Get the on demand pumps on ebay cheap..I ordered mine on there..78 bucks cdn Edited April 28, 2016 by tb4me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jayess Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 Get the on demand pumps on ebay cheap..I ordered mine on there..78 bucks cdn Got a link? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tb4me Posted April 29, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 (edited) Got a link? http://www.ebay.ca/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_sacat=0&_nkw=on+demand+water+pump&_sop=15 http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Seaflo-3-3-gpm-AUTOMATIC-ON-DEMAND-WATER-PUMP-RV-BOAT-12V-/161850247649?hash=item25af06c9e1:g:upgAAOSw4HVWFIne&vxp=mtr Edited April 29, 2016 by tb4me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SylvanOwner Posted April 29, 2016 Report Share Posted April 29, 2016 This may also help someone in their build. Lee Valley item # XC609 - Gravity feed Water kit.....sorry, the actual link wouldn't "paste" in to this response. I have no experience with this kit, just happened to see it on the website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tb4me Posted April 30, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 30, 2016 This may also help someone in their build. Lee Valley item # XC609 - Gravity feed Water kit.....sorry, the actual link wouldn't "paste" in to this response. I have no experience with this kit, just happened to see it on the website. I bought the same kit from home depot this past winter on clearance for 20 bucks..lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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