Small Cabin

Small Cabin Forum
 - Forums - Register/Sign Up - Reply - Search - Statistics -

Small Cabin Forum / General Forum / Recommendations for garden hose and electric extension cord for winter use outside please!
Author Message
justins7
Member
# Posted: 15 Aug 2017 13:34
Reply 


This winter I will need to draw water from my pond to use in my cabin. (I can’t afford a well or below-frost system yet.) Last winter my girlfriend and I hauled many buckets back and forth, but since I have electricity I figured it can’t be too hard to do this with a pump, even just once for a weekend.

I am planning on getting an electric submersible pump and using it to fill up a 55-gallon drum in the house. The distance is about 150-200’. The cabin is below the hill that the pond is on, about 15-20' incline.

Any recommendations on a 3/4” garden hose that works well in freezing temps? This is going to need to be attached to the pump, and connected to the drum in the cabin (probably through the window) to fill it up, a distance of about 200'. Then rolled up and kept inside to avoid freezing.
(Probably two 100’ lengths connected with adapter. ?).

I am also looking for recommendations on electric extension cords that work well in freezing temps, please. (I will need to connect the pump to the cabin's outlet.) Same distance as hose.

Anyone do anything similar?

Thank you?

ICC
Member
# Posted: 15 Aug 2017 17:52
Reply 


How many amps at what voltage does the pump need for normal operation. That will determine the gauge of wire needed. I'd start with that so see what the cost of the wire would be.

Is the water source uphill, downhill, whatever from the cabin?

bobrok
Member
# Posted: 15 Aug 2017 18:02
Reply 


With respect to your garden hose question I'd recommend an all rubber hose. They're heavier but they don't kink. Sears had them on sale recently. Might check it out.

justins7
Member
# Posted: 15 Aug 2017 18:04
Reply 


I've been looking at a Wayne VIP50 1/2 HP Thermoplastic Portable Electric pump. It's 9.5 amps.

The water source is uphill and about 150-200' feet away (parts of the pond get completely frozen in winter, although the inlet at 200' feet usually doesn't freeze).

Thanks!

Wendigolake
Member
# Posted: 15 Aug 2017 18:05
Reply 


If your going to use the pump on a semi-regular basis I would recommend you run the proper size wire in a buried conduit and put a weather proof receptacle where you want to have your pump.

Greenland South
Member
# Posted: 15 Aug 2017 19:56
Reply 


If your water source is uphill, why not just start a siphon and let gravity do the work. After you're filled up, walk out the hose to drain it completely, roll it up till next time. I'm not an electrician and don't know the calculation to use but 200' of cable to run a 120 volt pump is probably going to run you a few bucks a foot.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 15 Aug 2017 23:43
Reply 


Quoting: justins7
Wayne VIP50 1/2 HP Thermoplastic Portable Electric pump. It's 9.5 amps.


Tokeep voltage drop to no more than the ideal 3% you would need 8 AWG wire. Going to a 6% drop 10 AWG would work. Too much drop means the motor works harder and can draw even more amps at the lower voltage. That is because of the direct relationship, Volts X Amps = Watts.... that is also Watts / Volts = amps.

The watts don't change, they are whatever power (watts) the motor was built for. As the volts drop below the design voltage that can increase the amp drawn.

One of the better 10 gauge wires would be the stuff they make RV and Marine shore connection cables from.

I bought some 10/3 SOOW a month or two back and IIRC I paid almost $2 a foot.

For the water, if there are no dips where water would get trapped I'd run 1" poly pipe. Comes in a roll of 100 ft or 500 ft where I shop. About $30 for 100ft. If that was carefully installed in a trench it would self drain if you provided disconnects at upper and lower ends. Then you'd just have to have short hoses at each end.

You could also opt for some direct burial wire and bury it along with the poly pipe. Have a receptacle and short cords at each end. No idea of the UG wire price anymore.

justins7
Member
# Posted: 16 Aug 2017 10:00
Reply 


Thank you for the replies.

The submersible pump idea is really a short-term solution for this winter (a few weekends a month). I currently have an artesian well system (poly tubes running up to to holding tanks which are fed by the spring/pond; this only works in warm weather.)

My neighbor has a spring-fed system and he's a plumber; he gave me a plan and estimate for making me a spring-fed system:
This would include a vertical culvert dug down below the frost line, to use a main reservoir, with a pump inside. Then a pipe would be trenched down to the house, with a pressure tank inside. Heated tape for the exposed pipe...
At $5500 it will have to wait until maybe next year.

In the meantime I am trying to find a simpler solution so I don't have to carry buckets from 200' away.

I also considered a small Honda gas water pump, so I wouldn't have to deal with the electric cable in the snow. Any thoughts on this versus electric submersible pump?

NorthRick
Member
# Posted: 16 Aug 2017 13:32
Reply 


What Greenland said. If it is down hill from the water to the barrel, siphon it and skip the pump. Especially if it is a temporary deal.

If for whatever reason that won't work, a small gas powered pump at the water source would be a better option in my opinion than a 1/2 hp submersible pump and 200' of extension cord.

You're only filling a 55-gal drum, downhill, you don't need much of a pump at all. A Little Giant submersible pump like this would work and be easier to power from a long extension cord.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Little-Giant-5-MSP-1-6-HP-Submersible-Utility-Pump-505176/ 205030754

razmichael
Member
# Posted: 16 Aug 2017 13:56
Reply 


Regarding the hose situation, I have somewhat the reverse issue in winter - getting water out to horse water trough. As ICC suggeted, I ran a 1" poly near the house, way up into a tree and then out to the field about 75' (added adapters and quick fit connectors to the house end). When filling in winter, I connect a 25' HD rubber hose to the exterior frost free tap and connect to the poly. Fill the trough and then disconnect everything. With a little assistance, the poly will self drain. The rubber hose I simply pass over a tree limb and pull it through twice to drain then leave it outside. Over the years I have only had it freeze up a couple of times - take it inside -only 25'. 200' of hose is a lot to take anywhere!

At our lake I picked a very small gas water pump and put on quick fittings for the 1" connections. Might be a much cheaper solution than trying to get all the wiring out 200' (as Northrick suggests)

fitzpatt
Member
# Posted: 16 Aug 2017 16:37 - Edited by: fitzpatt
Reply 


I bought an outdoor extension cord (100ft, 12gauge) from Costco a couple years ago specifically because it got great ratings for winter use. The box indicated that it would not freeze or kink at temperature up to -40C. It has been fantastic. They no longer carry it, but I found the same one at homedepot. I highly recommend it.

justins7
Member
# Posted: 16 Aug 2017 16:46
Reply 


Thanks, fitzpatt. I also just found this on Amazon, $72.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001KY03FC/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_25?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smi d=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Your reply
Bold Style  Italic Style  Underlined Style  Thumbnail Image Link  Large Image Link  URL Link           :) ;) :-( :confused: More smilies...

» Username  » Password 
Only registered users can post here. Please enter your login/password details before posting a message, or register here first.