So...I'm about to do Rainwater Harvesting

[Nestor]

59 minutes ago, Stu789 said:

Does anyone have experience of direct feed rainwater harvesting systems (no attic tank) with automatic plant watering systems & also using a pressure vessel to reduce pump cycling?  

 

The hydroforce pump manual has a note:
"Pressure-sensitive pumps are unsuitable for use with low flow applications such as drip feed irrigation systems. To be used on such a system a pressure vessel must be installed and charged to 2.1 bar (30 psi)."

 

No experience with auto watering systems but have the Hydroforce pump on our rainwater system.

 

Had a problem with the pump working intermittently and speaking to the technical team they suggested I might have a leaky cistern and recommended fitting a pressure vessel to alleviate any issues.

 

Comments below from tech support.

"The pumps have a programme installed in them that is designed to stop the pump from burning out and also a leak detection device.

 

The pumps like a good constant flow rate of water to operate at there best, if the flow of water is restricted then the pump will believe that there is enough pressure in the pipework and stop pumping, only there might still be a small amount of water being discharged and thus the pump fires up again. So if the flow of water at the eventual outlet is restricted the pump will continually stop/start and eventually cut out". 

 

In the end I replaced the Pressure switch, Hall switch and the Non return valve and working fine now.

But would fit a pressure vessel for low flow.

 

 

Edited 6 hours ago by Nestor