boat bilge pumps and float switch

[billi]

Hi

iam just installing a reed bed / plant filter for the kitchen sink (incl. washing and dishwasher machine )


All that water will be pree filtered (fine Mesh and Gravel in a manhole) and then drain in another manhole

to be pumped into a reed bed to gravity flow in a rainwater tank with automated irrigation  idea

i am thinking of using a bilge pump and a  designed float switch to pump the water pree filtered into the reed bed

Any bad experiencies with bilge Pumps ?

Thanks Billi

[camillitech]

Good morning Billi,

lots of experience here with bilge pumps and switches, none of them good  Over the years I've used all types of so called purpose made switches, sonic, magnetic, mercury and have yet to find one that is reliable. Having said that they do work in the most inhospitable of environments, wet, smelly, corrosive, full of decaying fish heads and weed. So in your proposed application It would probably work quite well.

As with everything these days there are probably inferior Chinese pumps on the market so I would go for a Rule or something similar with a built in switch.

http://www.powerboat-reports.com/sample/bilge.html This may help

Good Luck, Paul

[Billy]

Billi, Billy here,

What type of pump, what head?  The relatively cheap centrifugal ones do not last for ever and some don't seem to last long at all.  Diaphragm Whale Gushers are top grade and will last for ever but are hideously expensive but pump anything, I use them.

Metal ball float switches fail.  Switches that use the presence of water (reed?) suffer from scum keeping the sensing surface wet and need cleaning but are pretty reliable if mounted correctly, minimising the effects of bubbles and suds.

I find that all auto switches seem to have a mind of their own, failing to switch off or on for no apparent reason on the odd occasion.  In fact it happened only this morning on one of the shower pumps.

I did get some 240v submersible centrifugal pumps from Screwfix quite cheaply.  A lot of firms do them, MachineMart etc.  We use some quite old ones for keeping a boat afloat and have been very reliable.

Your servant sir,

Billy

 

[stephendv]

Hi Billi,

The stuff I've read about grey water systems strongly suggest that it's much simpler and easier to maintain if you don't try to filter and store the water, but rather use it immediately.  Once you start pumping and filtering in a reed bed you lose water through the filtering and make maintenance more difficult.   
A stocking on the end of the drain is all they use for filtering for the direct systems, then pipe the water directly to where irrigation system using a branched drain system.  Advantages:
- Simple, easy to maintain
- maximum use of water

Disadvantages: only works downhill
- can't store water for later use

[EccentricAnomaly]

The Earthship idea seems to be that the grey water goes straight into the planter beds with just a very coarse filter, if any.  You want to get all the yuky nutrients to your plants.  There are no clever filters, storage, pumps or anything at least until the water reaches the other end of the planter bed where it is taken back for toilet flushing.  I thought there were some detailed pictures on this blog:

  http://oscarlisabuild.blogspot.com/2009/03/hitch.html
  http://oscarlisabuild.blogspot.com/2009/04/unhitched.html

but can't find them now. 

Camillitech uses washing machine drums as filters for the microhydro systems he plays with.  Maybe they'd be applicable.  I'm thinking buried into the planter, with big gravel round it.

[billi]

thanks Lads  (paul ,billy, stephend, EccentricAnomaly )

unfortunately i have to pump first into the reed bed , and  got a bilge pump and a float switch from Rule

first Bilge pump from Rule an automated version -without float switch did not stop pumping  so changed and supplier took it back today (when i brought it back , he was sure that i am not able to  know how to connect + and-  ) so he assumed the pump was fine and i am an idiot    , and he cooked the pump while trying to show me how to wire + and- to a battery 

actually the full truth is that i do that in Lanzarote and i have no Spannish word (ok gettin there .... mas o menos means , nearly or close , claro means i understand ,

anyhow i try and somehow i find French is similar to Spanish (or the Spanish people ar just friendly to me )

So bilge pump in a chamber from the kitchen sink with a rule float switch

Will have to get rid of all the espresso powder ,tea , and other debrids  to make it work ok for a while ... to protect the pump before its pumped into here



Billi