Auto Start and Stop a Ram Pump

In this video I explore the posibility of starting and stopping a ram pump by way of digital timer. I am happy to say that it works! There are a very issues that you might want to consider. If the valve on the pump is in the closed position when the timer stops then the pump will not restart. Also the timer is only good for a 1/2" ram pump or smaller.

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[davebean]

Auto start can be important in some installations. In addition to the timer, other situations exist where the drive pipe flow may be intermittently interrupted. We have an irrigation ditch where the flow will vary based on other water use along the ditch - sometimes water is available in the ditch to run over or through the bank down to a ram pump and sometimes the water is not available. Would be really nice if the pump could run when water available.

Also, the example in the video where a tank could be filled until enough water is available and then a bell siphon automatically start and empty the tank until automatically stops and the process starts all over.

Somehow we need the irrigation water to cycle among destinations.
Thanks.

[ronaldcrowder]

So what if you put a weep hole so water would drain out of the valve allowing flap to open ? Just curious . Also wondered about having timer on inlet and outlet also with weep hole

[bubbaallred]

Although I don't use an auto timer, I do accomplish the same thing with a ball valve. My drive pipe is a siphon from a pond. Where the drive pipe goes over the dam, I have a ball valve installed. This allows me to stop the ram without going down in the ditch to the pump location ( which is in tall grass). For whatever reason, the valve on the pump must always stop in the right position, because it always auto starts when I reopen the ball valve.

[MultiOutdoorman]

If you drill a tiny weep hole it will drain off the water that holds the valve closed. If it is a small enough hole it won't affect ram performance.

[strangethings]

Would it hurt anything to have the timer at the house or where the water will be used end of the delivery line?

[pwrmx]

Idea....increase the size of your silt bucket to accomadate a float valve. Get one a size larger than the pipe going out so you're sure there's no restriction when runnuing. For someone who has low flow this might work if the float valve could be made to shut off the flow when water reached a set level. Some float valves seem to close slower than those irrigation water hose ones and the slower close might change the pump dynamics to increase the chances of the valve staying open.

[BloodBlight]

There is a fix for this. You use two timers, one as you have it, and a second that in in sync, but lagged by a few minutes. The second valve controls a second waste gate that drains the pump area and closes after a one minute.

[bar-branch]

I always enjoy your videos. Perhaps an industrial type diverter valve might work. It could be insyalled so when the water source is shut off iy would allow the pump side to purge and depressurize

[mollymolly]

Couldn't you make a tiny weep hole before the check valve so the pressure could bleed off and the valve swing back in the open position?

[vincegayle]

So get how that device works and see what ur talking about with size. But would it work if you put two in line. one on the drive pipe and one on pressure side and time them right to turn on.

[vincegayle]

The 2nd question is for the bigger size could you put servos to move the ball valves and get the same effect

[denispalmer]

add a small drain hole to allow the valve to oipen when it turns off

[nevermorefuzzy]

hall effect magnetic sensor connected to an ardino giving a veriable ohms resistance readout based on flap position into a basic logic AND gate will allow an out put when both recuirments are ment

[johngodwin]

Good video. You are the Ram Pump King!

[sambaaxe]

Have you ever tried to make it so a pump would auto start when water starts to run? I have a system where the water is only available when it is raining. The pump will be at the base of a 25 or 30 foot waterfall, so close to a vertical drop. The waterfall only flows when it is raining. I want to pump up to a reservoir when it is raining and would like to set it up so the pump auto starts when there is water flowing. Do you have any ideas on that? Cheers for the help!

[redstoner]

what if you use a larger electronic valve and, maybe have a smaller one that just pops open for a second to dump the pressure after you cut off the feed water?

[TheKittiwake]

Use a timer with a three way valve as self relieving to drain water in the tubing immediately after the timer when it's OFF. Or use a different timer as a switch to operate a separate, small solenoid operated three way valve functioning as self relieving for purposes of draining. If remote, can be powered by solar cell and battery.

[TheNimshew]

I have a comment. You need the outlet for the delivery pipe to be off of the pressure tank.. A aspirator below the check valve so that when the control shuts off a vacuum is created, which pulls open the impulse valve. That aspirator will also allow the air to release and prevent a air lock

[mnshp]

you could loosen the check valve so it slowly leaks and depressurizes

[suriyanji]

will a ram pump work if their is a float that regulates the water arrival in a drinking water tank for cows?