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If I wanted to run my well and mini split off of solar?

Lil'John said:
Using the grid as a "battery" seems to fail completely when the power goes out. Am I missing something?
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If you're looking for power when the grid is down, then I think you're realistically need to add a battery subsystem. But OP didn't mention wanting to mitigate blackouts. In either case though, grid-tie is the way to go because once your local power needs and battery charge is satisfied, you export excess power to the grid and receive credit for it. Without the grid-tie, that excess power simply evaporates.
 
Lil'John said:
So basically any tank that would be used with a well would need something to keep it potable? My understanding is all storage tanks require a vent.

Also my understanding is that for outdoors, the black/green plastic type tanks are superior to white type because they provide resistence to light causing/growing bacteria/algae.

Last question for you... at what point temperature wise should a person be concerned with freezing issues with a storage tank? In my case, I'm at 3500' in Sierra foothills where I get three snow storms of about 18" each and a total accumulation of 3'. Sometimes several days below 32 degree.


Using the grid as a "battery" seems to fail completely when the power goes out. Am I missing something?
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Freezing? Snow? what's that? I live in the valley we haven't seen a hard freeze here in 30yrs (I'm 30yrs old).
I don't have any experience in your area but things that we (my Dad) did at the end of 1990 and 1991 was wrap the above ground pipes with heat tape on a timer and then insulate them with pipe foam. I don't think that you have to worry about the tank freezing but I would try to keep the snow off of it. It gets below 32° around here but is usually above that about the time that the sun comes out. The freezing problems that I have seen have been the ¼" lines going to pressure switches and causing the not to start or shut off the pump.
 
M92PV4U said:
Freezing? Snow? what's that? I live in the valley we haven't seen a hard freeze here in 30yrs (I'm 30yrs old).
I don't have any experience in your area but things that we (my Dad) did at the end of 1990 and 1991 was wrap the above ground pipes with heat tape on a timer and then insulate them with pipe foam. I don't think that you have to worry about the tank freezing but I would try to keep the snow off of it. It gets below 32° around here but is usually above that about the time that the sun comes out. The freezing problems that I have seen have been the ¼" lines going to pressure switches and causing the not to start or shut off the pump.
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I was actually referring to a storage tank and freezing ;) My current setup is just wrapped for the ~2 foot of pipe above the ground. You comment about the pressure switch does give me pause. My current pressure tank/switch is in the basement. But I've given thoughts to moving it to the well head since I'm replacing current pressure tank.

We can stay below 32 degrees for a few days at a time. I've got most of the pipes under the house with heat tape on a switched circuit.

Any comment on keeping water in storage tank potable? My understanding is that all tanks will have vents and your comment implied that any non-sealed tank must be 'chemically' hit due to that to keep it potable.
 
Lil'John said:
I was actually referring to a storage tank and freezing ;) My current setup is just wrapped for the ~2 foot of pipe above the ground. You comment about the pressure switch does give me pause. My current pressure tank/switch is in the basement. But I've given thoughts to moving it to the well head since I'm replacing current pressure tank.

We can stay below 32 degrees for a few days at a time. I've got most of the pipes under the house with heat tape on a switched circuit.

Any comment on keeping water in storage tank potable? My understanding is that all tanks will have vents and your comment implied that any non-sealed tank must be 'chemically' hit due to that to keep it potable.
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Yes any poly tank is vented that vent could be a potential source of contamination. We set up chlorine injection pumps on the one we service and recommend it a different alternative is UV filter to kill bacteria. Galvanized pressure tanks have sniffer valves between the pump and tank to keep a air pre charge the hole in it is small enough organic matter which would transfer the bacteria doesn't usually fit through it. But I've seen that be a source of contamination before. As for the poly tanks the vent hole are usually large enough to let bugs in which could cause contamination. You could always get a private lab (not the county) to do a Bacteriological test to see if you need to disinfect your system. Oh yea like I said I'm not sure about the tanks freezing I haven't seen it before. But the larger amount of water the harder it is to freeze it.
 
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M92PV4U said:
I don't think that you have to worry about the tank freezing but I would try to keep the snow off of it.
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snow is actually a great insulator
kinda funny had a barn fall down and the roof kept the snow off a section of the yard, I happened to bust up and burn the last of it just as the snow in the yard was melted and the frost heave where the roof had covered was a solid 8" higher than the rest of the yard, because it froze probably a few feet further into the ground without the snow cover
 
Lil'John said:
Last question for you... at what point temperature wise should a person be concerned with freezing issues with a storage tank? In my case, I'm at 3500' in Sierra foothills where I get three snow storms of about 18" each and a total accumulation of 3'. Sometimes several days below 32 degree.
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My neighbor has two plastic 2500 gallon above ground storage tanks that he uses as his main source of water. He treats them and filters them via RO prior to drinking it. We live at 7,700' elevation and have days to weeks at a time that it is below freezing and he has never had an issue with it freezing enough to hinder flow and supply. I also have a 2500 gallon above ground cistern that I mainly keep as an emergency firefighting supply. That has never gotten more than a crust of ice at the top and possibly the sides (I couldn't see it on the sides when I checked but can assume). The lowest I have seen it at my place personally was -23F and it didn't freeze solid during the roughly 1-2 days at around those temps. So take that for what's it's worth.



ETA, my neighbors tanks are black plastic and mine is a galvanized metal tank.
 
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Most folks run a 24 volt small solar pump in the well pumping to a large storage tank. Then use a 24 volt pump to run the water to the house under pressure.
 
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