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Forum Index : Other Stuff : Hydraulic Ram Pumps
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| archerpalms Newbie  Joined: 25/02/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 11 |
Hi All, I have a good flowing creek, it does not have much of a fall. I ran a 5 meter length of 2 poly in it last night to check what sort of a flow it had, and i would estimate it would be over 20ltrs+ a minute from the poly pipe. However i can run a larger length of 2 poly pipe a further 20mtr upstream to extend the pressure. My current setup is to use a Davey fire fighter pump into a 2 poly pipe to pump the water up hill, to my tanks which are about 500mtrs away from the creek, i can run the pump at 1/2 speed when the water level is low and the pump can still easily push the water up the hill. My thoughts were could i use a 3 poly pipe to feed a 3 inlet on a ram pump and then fed it into the 2 poly that i already have in place, i dont really want to replace the existing outlet pipe, as we are in North Qld and it runs thru the rain forest, and is quite dense. The area where i pump from flows all year,but can go under water several time a year, the pump would be placed in a spot well to the side to avoid the strongest flowing water and possible debris. |
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Gizmo Admin Group  Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Yeah you can use a bigger feed pipe, no problems. You would have a 3 inch feed pipe to a standing pipe, then the 2 inch pipe to the ram. Any idea on how high the inlet would be, relative to the pump? The more height, the more water the ram pump can pump. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| archerpalms Newbie Joined: 25/02/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 11 |
HI Glenn, There may be a meter to meter and a half between where the inlet would go and the pump. Unfortunately i can not really go any higher in height with the inlet pipe.The only place i can run it is directly in the creek,but if i take it further upstream i will get a better flow from the pipe. The creek does have a good flow and a reasonable fall/slope. Just out of interest, would the pump still work efficiently if the supply pipe was the same diameter? |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
A bigger supply pump would keep the standing pipe full. As water runs down the feed pipe to the ram, you need to keep the standing pipe topped up, any drop in its water height means you drop your water head, and therefore pump less water. The feed pipe to the ram should be made of a stiff material, they recommend steel pipe, I've used high pressure PVC pipe. Your 2inch poly will work ok, but not as good as steel or PVC. I would start with a 6 meter length of 2 inch steel pipe if you can. Little things like using steel pipe, etc, make a difference in how much water is pumped every day. 1.5 meters of head is OK. I have about 1.8 meters on my ram, but only enough flow for a 40mm pipe. It can lift 500 litres a day to my house about 300 meters away. Ram pumps are a bit of a black art, and need a few adjustments and modifications to get them working their best. But they pump day and night, and use no fuel or electricity. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| archerpalms Newbie Joined: 25/02/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 11 |
I will try to take a pic of the location tonight, so you get a better picture. The bulk of the feed pipe will be submerged in water, and up here is quite a harsh environment, and things tend to rust rather quick.Even galvanized can rust pretty quick, due to the heat,humidity and the amount of rain we receive. Also, gal tends to fuse to other metals after a while ( i stuck a gal fitting on my water pump, and tried to remove it to change locations, but it had fused to the pump housing) Is yours a home made Ram? can you upload a pic of it? |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
http://www.thebackshed.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=5199&KW=ram+pump&PN=0&TPN=1 Also my head was 1.2m, not 1.8m Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| archerpalms Newbie Joined: 25/02/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 11 |
Also has anyone had any experience using the Plastic (philmac) or Pvc type check valves? are they worthwhile? or do they not last? |
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| archerpalms Newbie Joined: 25/02/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 11 |
These are from the location where i want to install the Ram Pump, the concrete drive acts a a small dam for the water.Basically the only place i can run the feed pipe is through the concrete pipe. (in the first pic it looks green and blends in, but that area is concrete either side of the main pipe) 
 
Here is a quick video of the flow from the pipe,i only had 22 seconds left on my card and the battery was going flat. https://youtu.be/g4hGTtzKsGE |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Pictures didn't show, check the link. I've used the PVC check valves, worked fine. Glenn The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| archerpalms Newbie Joined: 25/02/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 11 |
The pictures did not seem to work, so i have re done them. Looking upstream at stream level. 
Same location,standing up 
On the concrete looking toward the Possible pump location. 
They are not the best pictures, as th location is hard to capture, as it is in the forest. |
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| archerpalms Newbie Joined: 25/02/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 11 |
I have my eye on some 100mm PVC drain pipe, my neighbour has about 4 lengths sitting his dump, i will have to check it out tonight to see if they are any good.I might be able to use them for a feed pipe. |
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| Gizmo Admin Group Joined: 05/06/2004 Location: AustraliaPosts: 5078 |
Can you partly block the pipe under the road, to raise the water lever a few inches. Every bit helps. Supply pipe diameter, bigger the better. The drive pipe to the ram needs to be rock hard, which is why they recommend heavy duty PVC or steel. When the waste valve slams shut, you get a pulse of 30 plus PSI in the pipe, the higher the better. If the drive pipe expands under this pressure, you loose pressure, and pump less water. The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago, the second best time is right now. JAQ |
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| archerpalms Newbie Joined: 25/02/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 11 |
I can block the pipe somewhat,but have to be careful as it does get a huge volume of water through there at times.. This is in my back yard now, be good if it were this simple! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwCRZ0Q_TTo&ab_channel=archerpalms1 |
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| archerpalms Newbie Joined: 25/02/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 11 |
Another question...... I ordered 50mm check valves and the company sent me 65mm check valves instead, now can i use 1 65mm vale and then reduce it into the second check valve (50mm)? Or can i use the 2 65mm check valves and just use reducing fittings from 65m-50mm? I still have 50mm check vales coming. |
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Downwind Guru  Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
The bigger the check valve the lower the losses, so the 65mm valve reduced to 50mm pipe size is a big gain to yourself at little cost. Forget the 50mm valve and use the 65mm valve. Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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| Jarbar Senior Member  Joined: 03/02/2008 Location: AustraliaPosts: 224 |
Can you extend the pipe to go through the under road pipe (just lay it in the bottom) and create a pen-stock if needed on the other side. This way you'll gain more head without blocking the existing pipe. Anthony. "Creativity is detirmined by the way you hold your tounge".My Father "Your generation will have to correct the problems made by mine".My Grandfather. |
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| archerpalms Newbie Joined: 25/02/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 11 |
Thanks for the advice Downwind. Jarbar, i plan to run the feed pipe at least a further 10 meters up stream from where the driveway pipe is.I have a large tree that has fallen across the stream there, so it has made a deep spot on one side and the other side of the fallen tree stays relatively calm when it floods. It will also give me something to anchor my feed pipe to. This is what the area turns into sometimes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8R-_ZCybRY&ab_channel=archerpalms1 I would not leave the ram Pump in the creek at this time of year for that reason |
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| Downwind Guru Joined: 09/09/2009 Location: AustraliaPosts: 2333 |
You really need to use the forum tools when you insert a web link, as the forum inserts false characters to the link making it broken, this is done to prevent spam on the forum. Use the ............ 
Which is the forth button to the right on the top tool bar, It will ask you 2 questions just post the link to both questions. Pete. Sometimes it just works |
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| archerpalms Newbie Joined: 25/02/2016 Location: AustraliaPosts: 11 |
See if that works... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PwCRZ0Q_TTo&ab_channel=archerpalms1 |
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