DIY pump station: wiring diagrams and installation rules

The pumping station is an excellent equipment that allows you to automate the process of taking water from a well. A set of technical devices activates the launch of the system when it is necessary to replenish stocks and disconnects the units at the right time. The degree of comfort will increase incredibly. Indeed, even outside the city it is necessary to enjoy the achievements of civilization, agree?

However, incredibly useful equipment is not enough just to buy, you need to know how to install and connect. We suggest you read the article, in the smallest details covering all the issues. This information will be useful to all owners of suburban housing, it does not matter if the pump station is connected by hand or if hired workers are invited to install it.

In our article you will get acquainted with the varieties of pumps used in groundwater intake systems. Also here are all possible options for the location of equipment and connections to an autonomous water supply. Information is supported by diagrams, photo materials and videos.

Purpose and arrangement of the pumping station

The pumping equipment station performs two functions at once - it supplies water to the water supply system of the house and automatically maintains the set pressure in it.

This allows you to lay an extensive network of water supply and connect household appliances to it - a shower cabin, a boiler, a dishwasher and a washing machine.

A typical station design includes:

• Pump;
• Accumulator;
• Automation unit;
• Inlet strainer - necessary to prevent particles of impurities and possible contaminants from entering the system;
• Pipelines, hoses and necessary fittings.

In order to prevent the outflow of fluid from the system when the pump stops or the pressure drops, a non-return valve is installed in the water intake zone. A source of water intake is also needed. To do this, arrange a well or well.

It is possible to use a reservoir (pool) with imported water and open water, if the characteristics of the unit allow the pumping of contaminated liquid.

If the fence is carried out from a natural reservoir (pond, river, lake), water is used only for household needs and irrigation.

If water is extracted from a well or well, an analysis is required. According to the results of the study, the belonging of water to a drinking or economic category is determined.

The pumping station is a compact and at the same time functional equipment that provides stable water supply to a private house

You can read more about the device and the principle of operation of the pumping station in our other article.

Types of pumps used

Ready pumping stations - These are installations with a surface pump, which draws fluid from the well due to rarefaction. The design of the pump itself can be included ejector, or be remote - in this case, it is placed in the well.

However, when assembling and installing the pump station with your own hands, you can also use a submersible or borehole pump, especially if it is already available.

Most often, they use ready-made pumping stations in which all the main elements are already assembled with each other and configured. When installing, it is enough to connect the power cable, water intake and pressure pipes

Models with internal ejector

Installations with a built-in ejector are capable of lifting water only from a shallow depth of up to 8 m. But at the same time they provide a powerful head exceeding 40 m

They are not afraid of air ingress, therefore it is not necessary to fill the system with water before starting work - the station first pumps air and then starts to supply water.

They are distinguished by good performance and reliability. The disadvantage is the high noise level, in connection with which they are mounted in the house only in the presence of auxiliary soundproofed rooms.

When installing a station with a surface ejector pump, it is necessary to take into account not only the depth of the water mirror, but also the horizontal section of the supply pipe

Models with an external ejector

Stations with a remote ejector equip, if necessary, liquid intake from a great depth - 20 ... 50 m. In this case, the ejector is lowered into the well (well) as part of the intake unit. Two hoses from the installation are brought to it - pressure and vacuum (suction).

The first fluid is fed into the ejector and forms a vacuum region in the suction chamber, the second - raises water from the well. Such units are characterized by low noise. They do not consume a lot of electricity, but their efficiency reaches only 30-40%.

Using an external ejector allows you to create the pressure necessary for transporting water in the water supply pipe and significantly increase the depth of its intake

Submersible Pump Type

Systems with a submersible (borehole) pump practically do not produce noise, water can be taken from any depth and with a sufficient distance from the well or well from the building. Not afraid of small leaks in the pipeline and air leaks.

However, submersible pumps are quite expensive. They require clean water - installing a powerful filtration system solves the problem, but in this case you will need to clean it regularly. Repair and maintenance are complicated by the need to lift the unit to the surface.

Not suitable for sources with impurities in water more than 2 g per 1 m3 - filters quickly clog and the pump stops functioning (+)

The device and principle of operation of the accumulator

The starting current of the pump exceeds the working one by 3-5 times and has a destructive effect on its design. Therefore, the pump resource depends on the number of starts. To reduce them, a membrane must be installed in the system. accumulator.

In the water supply system of the house, it performs the following functions:

• Protects the pump from wear and increases its service life - due to the supply of liquid in the membrane compartment, the number of unit starts is significantly reduced.
• Maintains constant pressure in the water supply and protects against pressure drops.
• Eliminates the appearance of water hammer in the systemdamaging to connected devices and pipe fittings.
• Provides some water in case of power failure.

The device is a sealed vessel, the internal volume of which is divided by an elastic membrane into two containers. One of them is filled with air, and the second is designed to pump water.

The pressurized air in the hydraulic tank squeezes water and maintains pressure for some time even in the absence of electricity

The hydraulic tank works as follows. Water is pumped into an elastic container until the upper pressure threshold is reached. Then the pump shuts off.

The pressure in the system is maintained by the air gap in the accumulator, the compressed air plays the role of a damper. When the volume of water decreases (consumed by consumers), and the pressure reaches the lower set limit, the pump switches on again and fills the hydraulic tank with water.

A hydraulic accumulator is selected based on calculations that take into account the number of residents, the number of water consumption points, the maximum allowable number of pump starts and its power, and the required pressure in the system.

Insufficient working volume of the tank will lead to a constant inclusion of the pump and its wear. A tank with a reserve threatens stagnation of water and a decrease in its quality, a harmful effect on the inner surface of the membrane.

Pump station control unit

A standard set of control devices for a pumping station consists of a fitting, pressure switch and pressure gauge and installed on the pressure pipe.

The pressure gauge serves to control the current pressure in the system, and the relay is the most important control element of the pumping station. It controls the water supply to the pressure tank according to the set parameters and provides an automatic pump operation mode, turning it on and off.

The main working elements of the relay are the minimum and maximum pressure springs, which are triggered when the pressure in the network reaches the value specified by the settings. At low pressure, the spring opens and closes the contact that turns on the pump motor.

Excess pressure compresses it, and when the maximum threshold is reached, the contact opens. The pump turns off and the water supply stops.

The automation unit is a more complex device with advanced features. In addition to switching electrical circuits in response to increasing and decreasing pressure, the automation unit protects the system from dry running.

When choosing a control device for stations pumping water from shallow workings, it is better to give preference to the option with protection against dry running.

It will protect the pump from overheating and turn it off if for some reason (dirt has entered, the liquid level in the source has dropped below the intake unit), the water has stopped flowing into the system.

The sensitive elements of the pressure switch are two springs. Larger set to minimum pressure, small - the difference between the minimum and maximum

The pump station operates in cycles, each of which can be divided into two stages:

1. The pump turns on and picks up water from the source. It fills the system and hydraulic tank until the pressure exceeds the upper threshold. After that, the pressure switch turns off the pump motor and the water supply is interrupted. The pump station goes into sleep mode.
2. When consumers are turned on (opening cranes, using water-consuming equipment), water flows from the tank of the accumulator.The fluid flow from the hydraulic tank is carried out until the pressure drops to the lower threshold. This causes a new pump start and water rise.

The number of cycles per hour should not exceed the limit on the maximum number of starts allowed for the pump used.

Advantages of using a pumping station

An autonomous water supply device in your home provides independence and comfort.

The pump station provides the following benefits:

• Increases the efficiency of the water supply system.
• Increases the safety of operation of equipment and pipelines.
• It provides a certain (depending on the capacity of the hydraulic tank) water supply and its supply even when the power supply is turned off.
• Maintains constant pressure and stability of water pressure.
• Increases the durability of appliances and household appliances connected to the water supply system.
• Automatic operation mode (timely switching on and off of the pump unit) reduces equipment wear and energy costs.
• Ability to choose the installation location of the unit.
• It has compact overall dimensions and light weight.
• Easy to mount.

In rural areas, cottage and summer cottage villages, communication water supply networks often sin with low pressure and unstable pressure.

In this case, the pumping station can be connected to an existing main water supply system - this will solve the problems with pressure drop and lack of pressure in the water supply system.

The use of a pumping station in an autonomous water supply scheme will not only significantly increase the comfort level of living conditions, but also significantly increase the working life of devices installed in the water supply

Pump installation technology

Before proceeding with the installation work, it is necessary to determine the location of the pumping equipment.

Step # 1 - choosing a location

When planning the placement of the unit, it should be borne in mind that:

• The location of the pumping station in the immediate vicinity of the water source ensures stable suction and smooth operation of the equipment.
• The installation location should be dry and warm, well ventilated.
• Equipment must not touch walls.
• It is necessary to provide free access for repair work and routine inspections.

The installation option of a pumping station with a surface pumping unit, especially with an internal ejector, should be carefully considered, since such a system has a high noise level.

There are several installation options. Let's analyze them in more detail.

Option # 1 - in the house

The most optimal place for the correct functioning of the station is a heated room. Ideally, if the house has a soundproof boiler room.

The last option is the installation of equipment in common rooms (corridor, bathroom, hallway, pantry). But in this case, it is placed away from the bedrooms and provide sound insulation - for example, make a casing or cabinet.

The best option for the construction of a pumping station is its installation in a separate room in a house with a well drilled right under the building

Option # 2 - in the basement

Quite often, a pumping station is equipped in the basement or basement. However, care must be taken to create optimal conditions for the installation of the installation - the room must be sound-, heat- and waterproofed.

You can arrange a special box in the underground, with access to equipment through the hatch.

A warm, well-equipped basement with good hydro and sound insulation and ventilation is ideal for installing pumping equipment

Option # 3 - in the well

The pump station is installed on a specially arranged platform in the well. The depth of the installation surface should be such that all equipment is below freezing. The well itself is insulated from above.

The disadvantage of this scheme is the difficult access to equipment.

With sufficient width and depth of the well, as well as pump power, the station can be installed in the well on a special bracket or platform

Option # 4 - in the caisson

Around the well, a room is arranged sufficient for subsequent maintenance of the width, buried below the level of freezing of the soil. At the surface of the earth, the caisson is closed and insulated, leaving only a small hatch for maintenance.

The device of the pit will allow the use of a pump with a built-in ejector in the case when the depth of the water mirror from the earth's surface is 9-11 meters.

Installation of the unit in the well box provides protection against freezing of equipment and complete noise isolation

Option # 5 - in a separate building or extension

In this case, there will be no noise in the house. However, simply warming such a room will not be enough, it will also require heating. This leads to additional costs for electricity and heating system.

When installing a station with submersible pump there is no problem with sound insulation. All elements of the system, except for the pump itself, are installed in any heated room of the house.

Installation of a pumping station in a pavilion arranged on the street will protect from the main drawback of this type of equipment - noise during operation

Having decided on the installation site of the pumping equipment station, proceed to its installation.

Step # 2 - preparatory work

A solid base is prepared for the pumping unit - concrete brick or wood, the surface for the installation is leveled. You can use a special metal bracket.

Since the pump vibrates quite strongly during operation, backlash is formed in the pipe joints and leaks appear. To reduce vibration, as well as its destructive effect, rubber pads or a mat are placed under the pump supports, and the installation itself is reliably fixed - the legs are screwed with anchor bolts.

The main condition for the uninterrupted operation of the pumping equipment station is the unhindered flow of fluid from the source.

The main problem that needs to be solved with year-round water supply is frost protection. Therefore, they dig a trench under the pipeline - from the foundation to the well or the caisson (pit) of the well.

The trench should be straight in plan, preferably without turns and bends, so as not to reduce pressure. To exclude the influence of negative temperatures on the pipes, they are buried below the level of soil freezing in the area.

When forming a trench, it is necessary to take into account a slope of 0.03 towards the water intake for draining the liquid from the pipeline during the conservation period.

With closely located groundwater, the water supply is laid above a critical level, but in this case it is insulated and an additional heating cable is used. Also, serious thermal insulation and heating will be required if the water supply is removed above ground level.

If the pipeline passes through the air, or lies shallow, then heating and serious insulation are necessary

Step # 3 - assembly of the intake unit

The water intake unit depends on the type of pump used.

• With a standard wiring diagram - a station with a surface pump and an integrated ejector is a non-return valve with a strainer connected to a polypropylene pipe through a sleeve.
• Installation with an external ejector. A check valve with a strainer is screwed onto the suction compartment of the ejector; two pipes are connected from above.
• When using a submersible (downhole) pump, a coarse filter is included in its design. Therefore, a check valve and a pipe are connected to the unit. The pump has a decent weight, so it is suspended on a strong cable.

Lower the unit to the required depth, given that the minimum distance from it to the bottom of the source is 1 m when using surface pumps and 0.5 m for submersible (downhole).

It should also be borne in mind that the level of the water mirror changes throughout the year - in the summer it decreases. If the suction depth is on the verge, then during this period you can completely lose water supply.

Depending on the diameter of the well, the design of the ejector unit varies. Water circulation occurs either through two pipes, or by the principle of pipe in pipe

Step # 4 - installation of surface elements of the station

Fundamentally, the pumping station installation schemes will vary depending on which pumping unit is used.

The basic rule: any additional device is installed through ball valves with an American and check valves. This will remove the devices for replacement or repair without having to drain all the water from the system.

The possibility of draining water from the system should also be provided - for this, a branch is formed in the pipeline by installing a tee to which a drain valve is connected.

It is desirable to install a coarse filter on the supply pipe. On pressure (in a line leading to consumers) - fine filter.

Installation of the finished surface-type station is not difficult, since the main elements of the system are already connected to each other. It is a hydraulic accumulator with an electric pump and a control unit installed on it.

In addition to the main valves, a device is installed in such a system for filling it with water before the first start-up. Like a drain device, a tee with a connected ball valve and funnel is introduced into the pipeline.

When assembling the pipeline, all connections should be sealed with linen, FUM tape or sealing paste to prevent air leaks into the system

For more information about the features of choosing a pumping station and the rating of the best offers on the market, according to the opinion of the equipment owners, you can see in this article.

In other cases, the elements of the system are mounted independently. When installing a surface station, a pipeline (or two pipelines, if a remote ejector is used) from the well is connected to the pump.

Next, install the accumulator and the control unit. For a station with a borehole pump, these will be all the main surface elements in the circuit. It is most convenient to use a 5-pin fitting for this, which is mounted in a pressure pipe in a convenient location. A pressure switch and a manometer are screwed into it.

A hydraulic accumulator is connected to the side inlet of the fitting. For ease of maintenance, it is connected via an American ball valve and a drain is arranged.

Connect consumers to the pumping station. Most often, the first element is a cold water distribution manifold.

Such a system is less sensitive to air, but all joints must be airtight.

Step # 5 - first launch of the station

The electric motor of the pump has high power, so it is better to provide the pumping equipment station with its own power line, arrange grounding and install a voltage regulator.

Check the pressure of the air chamber of the accumulator. It should be 10% less than the pump start pressure. However, such a setting is made in the operating mode. Previously, it is necessary to achieve the following values: for a hydraulic tank with a capacity of 20-30 l - 1.4 ... 1.7 bar, with a capacity of 50-100 l - 1.7 ... 1.9 bar.

Before the first start-up of the installation with a surface pump, the working part of the system is filled with water. To do this, unscrew the plug from the filler hole located in the upper part of the pump.

If a filling funnel is provided in the pipeline, it is better to use it. Pour liquid until it is completely filled until it begins to pour out. Then the hole (valve) is tightly closed.

When filling the system with liquid through the filling hole of the pump, it is convenient to use a conventional funnel

Startup Sequence:

1. The pump is connected to the mains.
2. The valve of the inlet funnel of the pipeline with the surface pump is slightly opened to remove the remnants of air trapped in the system.
3. Turn on the unit - within 2-3 minutes, water should flow from the outlet of the pressure pipe (or open tap of the water supply).
4. If the fluid does not flow, the pumping equipment is turned off, add water to the system and turn it on again.

After a successful start, the equipment should be “run-in” and, if necessary, adjusted the valve body and pressure switch settings.

Basic rules of operation

After putting the pump station into operation, it is periodically serviced. It is necessary to timely clean the coarse filter. Without this, the performance of the installation gradually decreases, the water runs jerkily, and a completely clogged filter will lead to a dry mode and shutdown of the system.

The frequency of purification depends on the content of impurities in the pumped water.

You can read information about frequently encountered breakdowns of the pumping station and how to eliminate them. in the next article.

Once a month, or after prolonged downtime, winter conservation or repair work, check the pressure in the air compartment of the accumulator. If necessary, pump air.

When using the station only in the summer, it is necessary to drain all water from the system before frost.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The basic rules for connecting a pumping station will be demonstrated by the video:

Roller instruction for setting up and operating a pumping station:

How to make a pumping station based on a submersible pump:

Proper installation of the pumping station provides a private house with water supply with parameters that are not inferior to a city apartment - constant pressure and sufficient pressure.

In order for the system to work as efficiently as possible, before choosing and installing equipment, you should seek the advice of a specialist and perform an estimated calculation.

If you have experience in self-assembly and installation of a pumping station, please share your knowledge in the comments to this article. If you have any questions after reading the material, do not hesitate to ask them in the comments below.