Make a remote controlled garden pump. Automation for submersible pumps and types of control units. Features of modern submersible pumps

Spending the weekend and part of the vacation at the dacha, in addition to matters of rest in the summer, there are responsibilities for watering the planted plants. Under the vigilant control of the beds, it is necessary to water only with warm water from rain barrels. Probably, there is some truth in this, because before, when there was no electricity, we kept butter in a bucket lowered into a well (there water is about + 12 ° in July), and even now we cool drinks there that do not fit in the refrigerator ... In short, plants do not grow well when they are watered with ice water. Well, it is necessary to water, of course, dragging water from barrels with watering cans. To facilitate this work, a three-cube barrel was installed on supports in the last century. From where the heated water could be drained through a hose by gravity. I noticed that depending on the financial situation, with a decent income, the number of plantings is reduced to a minimum, and, conversely, with a decrease in living standards, the "sown area" grows. In one of the periods of financial prosperity, in addition to the reduction of the area of the beds and global lawnification, there was demolished and this barrel. In 2010, the area of the beds grew slightly and watering with watering cans from barrels in a dry summer began to tire. I wanted to somehow shorten the time spent on summer cottage bodybuilding and mechanize this process. Now the shops sell radio sockets controlled from the remote control. Also in the trash, a beautiful twisted hose with adapters, a universal nozzle and threadless connectors was found presented to someone for some reason. My ingenuity suggested, but what if you connect all this with your own hands with a pump lowered into a barrel, and you don't have to run around the garden back and forth with a watering can.

How to make a radio controlled pump

The pump is taken the cheapest, type "trickle". We attach a piece of hose to the pump with a clamp, about 1.2 meters long. Since the adapter has a 3/4 thread on a beautiful imported hose, before going to the store I rummaged through the trash from repairs and found a tap adapter for washing machines and dishwashers. The tap just has a 3/4 thread at the outlet, at the same time, to protect the sprayer from debris, I installed a mechanical filter, and screwed a fitting to connect the pump hose to the filter. FUM tape and tow was used to seal all metal threaded joints. The adapter turned out, it can be cumbersome, but it was assembled in 15 minutes and did not require an hour's trip to the nearest store.

Radio socket

The pump is the heart of the system, the automation is its brain. The launch will not happen on its own: either it will have to be done personally, or the care will be shifted to smart devices. As for the installation of the simplest automation with your own hands, there is nothing complicated about it: the components are on sale, instructions are attached to them - it remains to mount the automation for the borehole pump according to the scheme, that is, it is banal to connect the parts.

If you can turn on the external pump yourself, water the garden, fill the barrel and turn it off, with the borehole pump it is different: the installation of automation is necessary - this is the stage of arranging the well. Devices are not bought in advance, but chosen together with the pump: you need to know which protective circuits are already integrated into the equipment (protection against dry running, overheating in modern models is already there; as a rule, a float is attached).

Installation diagram of automation for a borehole pump

Like any electronics, automation can be of several generations (so far three), but the principle of its operation is the same. The generation is chosen based on the tasks. The simplest automation provides timely switching on / off of equipment depending on the pressure in the storage tank and emergency shutdown (in case of lack of water in the source). Modern electronic devices not only protect the pump, control its start-up, but also optimize the operation of the entire system, dispensing with a hydraulic accumulator.

The first generation of automation

The first generation of automation is the simplest devices that automate the water supply and protect the borehole pump:

dry running blocker,
float switch,
pressure switch.

The dry-running interlock is simple: if there is no liquid, it shuts down the equipment. A float that responds to a drop in water level plays almost the same role. The devices are simple, but the pump is well protected.

Dry run protection connected to relay

The pressure switch is installed on the storage tank (without it, the 1st generation automation does not make sense). Relays come with a pressure gauge (if not, then a pressure gauge will also be needed).

The hydroaccumulator is a component of the pumping station. It is in it that the required pressure is injected, which is distributed to the entire system. The pressure level is monitored by a relay.

The principle is simple. When opening the tap:

water leaves the tank,
the pressure decreases,
the relay starts the pump,
water enters the tank and the pressure rises,
when the set value is reached, the relay turns off the equipment.

When configuring the relay, two threshold values are set - minimum and maximum. As soon as the pressure reaches a minimum, the relay turns on the pump, when it reaches the maximum, it turns off.

The first generation of automation is mainly used in shallow well construction. With great depth, everything is more serious.

Second generation of automation

Generation II control unit is an electronic device that receives signals from sensors and gives appropriate commands. Automation sensors are installed on the borehole pump and in the pipeline, which makes it possible to exclude the storage tank from the system.

The system works in real time. When opening the tap:

water leaves the pipeline;
pressure decreases;
the sensor registers the drop in level, sends information to the microcircuit;
the control unit turns on the pump;
water enters the pipeline;
when the maximum pressure is reached, the sensor gives a signal to the microcircuit;
the block shuts down the equipment.

Although the system is more perfect, the principle of its operation is the same: reaching the minimum pressure level - turning on the pump, reaching the maximum - turning it off.

In addition to the traditional set of functions, the 2nd generation automation is equipped with the following options:

temperature control,
emergency shutdown,
dry run blocking (not needed if available in the pump),
liquid level monitoring,
restart.

If the simplest automation is cheap, then here prices are already rising, and this can be attributed to the disadvantages (more expensive than I, but does not reach the III generation, which somewhat reduces the feasibility of acquiring a BU due to only the refusal of a hydraulic accumulator).

Third generation of automation

Generation III devices are used to assemble powerful, reliable, energy-efficient automation systems for borehole pumps. Despite the preservation of the fundamental principle, the difference between traditional simple and modern devices is solid. The cost of the latter is also solid, but they work out the invested funds 100%, including significantly increasing the service life of the pump and creating serious energy savings due to fine tuning.

Downhole pumps are equipped with standard motors. When turned on, they begin to pump water at full power, consuming the specified maximum of electricity. It is unrealistic to adjust the engine with your own hands, since there is a constant difference in values: a different amount of water is required, depending on the intake - it is not possible to reconfigure the borehole pump (located at a depth) each time. Generation III automatics perform this function easily - the engine is supplied with just as much energy as is required to achieve a given pressure: to replenish a small flow, the system turns on the equipment at low speeds.

Control unit installation diagram (cut off the watermark)

In addition to fine adjustment of the voltage supplied to the engine, the III generation automatic equipment is equipped with all standard options and advanced protective ones: it protects the device from voltage surges, overheating, dry running, etc. The system can be configured to work in different modes, which allows you to organize water supply according to a non-standard, but optimal scheme for a particular house, replete with nuances. The storage tank is not required: the sensors are installed directly in the pipeline, equipment and other places. The data received from the sensors is processed by the control unit.

Installation of automation for a borehole pump

It is quite possible to install the simplest automation for a borehole pump with your own hands: installation does not cause difficulties. A float, a dry-running interlock is mostly already in the devices (if there is no interlock, it can be installed).

Pressure switch installation diagram

In addition, you only need to purchase a hydraulic accumulator, a pressure switch, a check valve that prevents pressure loss due to the outflow of fluid. The relay is installed on a tank or on a manifold. Cleaning filters are also mounted on the pipe through which water enters the accumulator. A check valve is placed on the pump (most often).

Connection comes down to simple steps:

System assembly.
Installation of a hydraulic accumulator.
Installation of a pressure switch.
Power supply (if needed).
Setting the upper pressure threshold (by turning the nut).
Setting the lower pressure threshold.
Commissioning: test and, if necessary, additional adjustment.

The pressure in the accumulator is pumped up with a simple pump. This is the role of a person (nothing else is required - then the system works by itself).

Do-it-yourself installation of II and III generation automation is not recommended. Fine tuning of the control unit, correct placement of sensors is the sphere of activity of specialists. The devices are complex and require specific knowledge and skills. It is better to pay for the installation of automation once, than to disable an expensive electronic control unit with your own hands. As for the choice, either the first or the third generation should be taken: the installation of the second devices as equipment of the well with automatic equipment does not seem advisable.

The choice of automation for the pump

The owner himself is in the garden and needs to organize watering. With the help of the keychain, you can control the submersible pump, turn on watering, collect water in the bath, turn on the fountain.

Using wireless control in the country.

The convenience of wireless light control is obvious. Now you do not need to look for the switch, groping along the walls in the dark, illuminating them with your cell phone.

You can turn on the lighting from anywhere in the house or area, and even on the outskirts of the cottage. There are several options for using the wireless control of a country house.

The main ones.

Wireless control of the pump (on and off) using the remote control.

The owner himself is at this time in his personal plot and he needs to organize watering. This mode is especially convenient if the nearest well with a submersible pump is located at a certain distance from the house and plot (100-150 m or a little more in the line of sight). Having this system, you can work on the site without leaving it, while you can get as much water as you need. The pump is controlled by radio. The declared range is 200-250 m, but obstacles in the form of brick and concrete walls, as well as interference from power lines and cellular antennas can reduce it.

Example of use from a company Zamel (Poland).

Remote + wireless relay.

A waterproof box is provided for outdoor installation.

Additionally, you can program the automatic shutdown of irrigation, a timer is provided in the relay. For example, if we set the value to 30 minutes, watering will stop after half an hour.

Irrigation and pump control kits.

Wireless control of electrical appliances can be carried out at various frequencies - 433 MHz, 866 MHz and 2400 MHz. Relatively recently, the standard signal transmission frequency was 433 MHz, but recently, more and more often, preference is given to consoles operating at 868 MHz.

Let's list the main advantages of working in this range:

It is less used so there is less interference and “false alarms”, which often happens at 433 MHz;
Up to 32 transmitters can be connected to one receiver, so the remotes can be distributed to all family members;
Increased range (200 m in line of sight);
No permission to use is required;
Transmitters operating at 868 MHz consume much less power than their higher frequency counterparts.

Regardless of the depth, flow rate, water intake intensity, the well and the installed equipment for water supply needs additional protection. There is no way to visually control the level, purity, water pressure, compliance of the power grid indicators with the reference ones. Correctly selected, installed and configured automation for a borehole pump is the protection of electrical equipment, which significantly increases the service life of water supply devices.

Optimization of energy consumption: the pump is turned on for the time required to collect a certain amount of water into the tank.
Ensuring sufficient constant pressure in the water supply system.
Protection of the borehole walls from shattering as a result of the pump motor operation at low flow rates.
Protection of equipment from damage due to dry running, ingress of mechanical particles.
Monitoring the state of the engine: shutdown when the maximum temperature, voltage, pressure are exceeded.

Pumping equipment with automatic protection

Automatic well protection: types of systems

The automation in the well equipment is selected depending on the type and power of the pumps used: submersible devices require the selection of special compact sealed elements, relays are used for external systems, sensors for indoor installation.

The schemes for installing sensors, relays for systems using a hydraulic accumulator tank and water pipelines connected directly to the well are radically different.

Layout of the protection system and well accumulator

Arrangement of wells with pumping equipment and automation is carried out simultaneously. Consider:

Type of pumping devices, power.
Source performance and usage.
Required level of protection: it is possible to use complex multi-level automated systems.

Float protection: level control

The simplest automation system for a home or country well that can be assembled with your own hands is a float one with level control. The principle of protection operation: the pump motor is forcibly disconnected from the network after exceeding the maximum permissible level in the tank: expansion or storage tank. The motor automatically turns on when the level falls below the minimum allowable.

Simple float system

There are 2 different types of sensors used:

Plastic container for external tanks.
Sealed, small-diameter float elements for submersion into the well - when used in conjunction with a submersible pump outside the reservoir.

The main advantage of float protection is low cost and ease of installation. Another reason for using level control: the engine is running in a clear mode. The system is protected against frequent switching on, short periods of operation, which adversely affect the life of the pump. Water is drawn into the tank to a certain level, and the next start of the engine occurs only after using most of the volume of the tank.

As an additional protection for the water intake with a small tank, a simple float circuit is supplemented by monitoring the operating pressure by installing sensors and relays.

Added protection relay, float sensors are built into the tank

Pressure control system: pump protection

Automatic units for monitoring pressure parameters use:

As protection for domestic water intake systems using submersible equipment: the relay is mounted on the pipeline.
When arranging individual water supply using a membrane tank (tank) with an external or downhole pump.

Ready-made automatic modules with relay and pressure gauge

The principle of operation of automation for a borehole pump with pressure control and regulation is simple. Minimum and maximum pressure values are set. When the indicator falls to the lower parameter, the motor is automatically turned on. The motor shuts down after reaching the upper preset allowable limit. In fact, the engine only operates within a certain operating pressure range.

A spring-loaded relay is used. The setting of the minimum and maximum working pressure is done manually. The compression ratio of the metal spring determines the upper indicator, the minimum permissible level is adjusted with an additional nut.

The main disadvantage of budget devices is the complexity of the setup. We have to use a pressure gauge, but it is impossible to achieve fine adjustment. In addition, household relays do not have sufficient reliability, quickly fail and do not protect the pump from idle operation.

Special industrial relays are produced with built-in pressure gauges, regulators brought to the surface, which allow for accurate setting of parameters, and additional sensors for protection against dry operation.

Automatic press control unit

Flow devices: maximum control and fine tuning

Manufacturers of equipment and automation for wells produce multifunctional electronic components that comprehensively protect pumping stations.

According to the complexity of the circuits and the principle of operation, industrial automatic units can be conditionally divided into 3 categories:

Do-it-yourself well equipment with automation: instruction

The complexity of equipping a well with a pump and automation is in the need for accurate calculations of the power of electric pumps, material compatibility, adherence to technology and installation rules. The durability of the equipment, the uninterrupted water supply, and the service life of the well depend on how correct the calculations are when planning the water supply scheme. Self-installation is allowed only when elements of equal capacity from one manufacturer are selected, designed for installation in a single system.

The classic scheme for the installation of automation for an individual borehole pump in a country house, which can be done by hand

Preparing materials and choosing a place for installation

The place for installing the equipment is chosen based on the type of pump: for the outside, additional sound insulation is required. In any case, electrical equipment must be placed in a room protected from water and frost. Basements, basements, caissons, insulated from the weather, are suitable.

To create a simple automated system, you will need:

Pressure switch, dry running sensor, pressure gauge.
Shut-off valves: taps (valves).
Pipes of a suitable diameter.
Connecting elements, adapters, tees, splitters.
Insulating tape for sealing joints.

Elements of automation and related materials

Installation diagram and configuration of the protective system

The relay is installed directly on the pipe in front of the entrance to the battery tank. In front of the pressure regulator, installs a dry-running protection sensor. The connection of the elements on the tee is carefully insulated, it is imperative to check the tightness. There are relay blocks that are installed on the tank body.

Relay box connection procedure

After the initial installation, it is necessary to check the contact group, connect the power wire. Be sure to route the grounding cable. The assembled unit is connected to the pump and connected to the network.

Relay ready to connect

Adjustment and adjustment must be carried out after checking the functionality of the connected devices.

Set the permissible operating pressure values

Video: assembly and connection of pumping equipment

It is ideal if all work, from choosing a location for a well to starting a water supply system, is carried out by professionals. The foremen take into account the characteristics of the well and its productivity. Taking into account all the parameters, the optimal filtration scheme and the type of pumping device are selected. Comprehensively planning the use of a suitable automatic protection system. In this case, the possibility of an error in the selection or installation is excluded.

It is also impossible to save on automation: the price of a damaged pump, the cost of dismantling and installing new equipment significantly exceeds the cost of a reliable unit. Modern systems can be equipped with means of remote monitoring and control.

A country house, ideally, should have a level of arrangement no worse than in an ordinary city apartment. And in order to equip a country estate with your own hands without the involvement of specialists, you need to carefully plan everything and work hard.

The big problem is the creation of a decentralized one. But even when the necessary water supply system is ready, the problem remains to create an automatic mechanism for its operation, in particular at the level of the pumping system. Let's consider an example of how automation is created for a submersible pump.

1 Types of modern submersible units

Before proceeding directly to the consideration of automation, you need to understand the popular types of pumps. There are two types of submersible pumps in total:

Centrifugal.

It must be understood that any of the above automatic submersible pump is installed exclusively in the liquid that it pumps. Although the name "submersible" speaks about this, but this simple truth is not clear to everyone.

Among other things, many buyers mistakenly think that surface models are better, but this is by no means the case. The specificity of the operation of these two types of pumps is the same, but the mechanism of operation is different, as are the conditions in which they are used.

Submersible pumps, for example, are used in wells with great depths, where it is necessary to achieve an increase in water pressure in the pump to be able to pump it up.

But it must be remembered that submersible pumps are capable of operating at a well depth of up to ten meters, while for deeper values of submersion, more highly specialized pumping systems are needed. Surface models are incapable of pumping water from such relatively great depths.

With regard to exclusively submersible pumps, the most popular and popular vibration pumps used to work on water wells, while centrifugal pumps are used extremely rarely for such purposes or to create water supply in the agricultural sector.

In vibration devices, the main structural element is the membrane. Under the action of a vibration mechanism, it is deformed, which subsequently leads to a pressure difference, the final effect of which is to pump water in the desired direction. Pumps operating on this principle have three brands most popular in the CIS countries:

2 What automation is applicable for submersible pumps?

In total, there are three main types of automation for submersible pumps. They are presented like this:

Automation unit in the form of a control panel;
Press control;
Control unit with a mechanism for maintaining a stable water pressure in the entire system.

The first option is the simplest automation unit, which is able to protect the pump from possible voltage surges and short circuits so frequent during the operation of the pumping device. To ensure fully automatic operation, an automation unit of this type must be connected either to a pressure switch or to a level switch.

In some cases, connection to a float switch is possible. The price for such an automation unit does not exceed 4000 rubles on average. But there is a nuance here. The fact is that without a pressure switch and special additional protection of the pump against possible dry running, the automation unit is practically useless.

And this is an additional cost of money, which obviously will not cost 4000 rubles. There is, however, a unit with built-in listed systems, such as, for example, "Aquarius 4000", but its cost is more than 4000 rubles and reaches the mark of 10 thousand rubles. This unit is easy to install with your own hands, even without consulting a specialist.

The second option, the so-called "press control", has built-in systems for pump automation and passive dry-running protection. Control in such a device is based on several parameters, among which the level of water pressure and water flow is taken into account.

For example, if the water flow rate in the device exceeds the mark of 50 l / min, then the device in the current mode, naturally under the correction of press control, works continuously. In the event of a decrease in water flow or an increase in pressure, the press control after a specified time interval (up to 10 seconds) turns off the pump, which is a dry-running protection system.

In cases of an increase or the flow rate of liquid in the system, which does not exceed the mark of 50 l / min, the device starts up when the pressure in the entire system decreases to 1.5 atmospheres.

This function is most important for conditions of a sharp increase in pressure, where it is necessary to reduce the number of switching off and on of the pump with minimal water flow rates.

This, moreover, has a positive effect on the operation of the accumulator. For conditions of a sharp and powerful increase in the pressure of the water pressure in the device, up to 10 atmospheres, an automatic shutdown of the device is provided.

The most successful examples of press control devices are the BRIO-2000M model, the price of which is not more than 4000 rubles, and the Vodoley brand devices, the price of which is from 4000 rubles to 10 thousand.

The price of a backup accumulator for devices of the "Vodoley" and "BRIO" brands of this type does not exceed 4000 rubles. When purchasing this type of automation (both the Vodoley and BRIO brands), you should take into account that it is somewhat more difficult to install it with your own hands than the previous version.

The third option, and also the last one, is a control unit with a mechanism for maintaining a stable water pressure in the entire system. This mechanism is primarily needed where a sharp increase in pressure cannot be allowed. And this is necessary because in cases of a constant increase in pressure, the power consumption increases and the efficiency of the pump as such decreases.

The absence of a sharp increase in pressure and constancy of the liquid pumping system is achieved due to the rotation of the rotor of the electric motor of the device, while the rotation speed is automatically controlled. Control units of this type are represented by the brands "Aquarius" and "".

The relatively low cost of automation for pumps and the ease of installing them with their own hands attracts the buyer, and they immediately undertake to install everything themselves. But few people know that automation installed on deep diving equipment needs an electronic kit.