Lead Acid circulatory air pump

[Lazy-Ferret]

Originally Posted by macabethiel

I had one of the last Hy-Flo Pumps before they stopped production it was a double piston model it was mostly brass with a black plastic / ceramic cylinders. It was a work of art in itself watching the flywheel run. Sold it on e-bay about 10 years ago for more than it cost.

I have 2 earlier ones, one has the double piston, with 2 outlets on each, and one is the single piston one. The good thing about them being earlier ones, is the whole piston and cylinder are brass. I got rid of my fish tank a few years back, but just can't bear to part with the pumps.

[macabethiel]

Originally Posted by Lazy-Ferret

I have 2 earlier ones, one has the double piston, with 2 outlets on each, and one is the single piston one. The good thing about them being earlier ones, is the whole piston and cylinder are brass. I got rid of my fish tank a few years back, but just can't bear to part with the pumps.

It's a shame they were power hungry and lacked depth pressure. I was mesmerised as a nine year old child when a long gone store named Ratcliffes / Hutchinsons ? on Cockpit Hill in Derby had a pet section. They had one supplying the air to about 8 tanks.

About 30 years later I bought my own, I contacted the manufacturers for some spares many years later, they had a semi-retired employee who was in charge of the parts for Hy-Flo who worked out of a shed. Sadly when he fully retired they wound up the production & parts supply. One of my cylinders had a small crack in the wall (plastic type) and no parts were available. Still sold it with a declared fault as it did not seem to affect its function the bronze painted magnet housing was as new. As I recall the flywheel would get quite hot due to the inducted magnetic field.

[solarman216]

Got 12 of these little fellas, delivered yesterday, so now got to make up a mounting board, plumb and wire em up, Rick

[Wallace]

Is that 12 x 2v cell setup in a vehicle?

[solarman216]

Nah it weighs over half a tonne, Rick

[Wallace]

Originally Posted by solarman216

Nah it weighs over half a tonne, Rick

That's a fair old lump, is it for off grid solar power? I'm intrigued!

[solarman216]

Originally Posted by Wallace

That's a fair old lump, is it for off grid solar power? I'm intrigued!

Yes mate been off grid for over 12 years, this pump set up is for the newer bank about 2 years old but they are deep cells so need to gas lots to mix the electrolyte but in the interest of economy mixing it with little pumps should prove beneficial, the original bank now 10 years old and still going strong do not have so much of this problem as they are around half the height but larger foot print, Rick

[Wallace]

That's really cool. I have always fancied doing something similar for low voltage house lighting inspired by someone I met as a young lad. Have you ever heard of Captain Maurice Seddon? My Father and I bumped into him while looking at his BSA B33 parked up in Slough around 1980. This bike had an amazing setup for the electrically heated clothing he made and sold but also for cooking and tea making in the panniers and top box among other things while he rode. The heated clothing development was initially for relief from the Reynaud's disease he suffered with, to keep warm at home he had submarine batteries and would plug himself in from room to room. A fascinating chap who sadly died in 2014.

[solarman216]

No not heard of him but sounds like he was an interesting guy, but so am I as you will see as we converse, we have good solar here for electric and hot water, also had a 10 ft overshot water wheel but the water dried up, not completely but wheel no longer turns, our drinking water is drawn from a spring, pumped into an 8000 ltr holding tank after being filtered, best water you will ever get, nearest neighbour is more than 500 mts away, we love it, Rick

[Wallace]

500m, I'm jealous already!

[Banshee]

Originally Posted by solarman216

No not heard of him but sounds like he was an interesting guy, but so am I as you will see as we converse, we have good solar here for electric and hot water, also had a 10 ft overshot water wheel but the water dried up, not completely but wheel no longer turns, our drinking water is drawn from a spring, pumped into an 8000 ltr holding tank after being filtered, best water you will ever get, nearest neighbour is more than 500 mts away, we love it, Rick

I need some of that water Rick!!!!!

[solarman216]

Finally got the pumps working today, results look good, after about 3 hours charging the readings were 1140, 10 mins after starting the pumps they were 1180 so yes a result, i now need to make up a 12 power supply capable of delivering a good 4 amps and put it on a timer as do not need to run the pumps continuously, I chose to draw acid from 50mm of the bottom of the cells and return it to the top rather than pump air into the bottom as I did not feel the acid would be mixed very evenly, time will tell if any of the tubing suffers from the acid, this is how the set up looks, I can tidy the tubing once it has all proven itself as I need to put an insulating cover over the whole lot as these batteries are designed to run at 30 deg C, lower temps mean less capacity, Rick

[macabethiel]

Originally Posted by solarman216

Yes mate been off grid for over 12 years, this pump set up is for the newer bank about 2 years old but they are deep cells so need to gas lots to mix the electrolyte but in the interest of economy mixing it with little pumps should prove beneficial, the original bank now 10 years old and still going strong do not have so much of this problem as they are around half the height but larger foot print, Rick

Off Grid & your own water supply that sounds like a recipe for low overheads & cheap rates I guess.

What do you use for winter heating then wood, coal or Calor ?

[Blocky10]

Originally Posted by macabethiel

Off Grid & your own water supply that sounds like a recipe for low overheads & cheap rates I guess.

What do you use for winter heating then wood, coal or Calor ?

Scotch and body heat at a guess

[solarman216]

Originally Posted by macabethiel

Off Grid & your own water supply that sounds like a recipe for low overheads & cheap rates I guess.

What do you use for winter heating then wood, coal or Calor ?

Low overheads yes, rates no and they do not even collect my rubbish, and all the other things they are supposed to supply, I am sick of them, as for heat we have a wood burner and plenty of wood, solar for hot water and solar PV to top up batteries when the sun shines, this time of year is the most expensive as gen run time is at its worst for 4 reasons (1) little or no sun, (2) most times need tumble drier to dry clothes, (3) lights need to be on longer, (4) low temperatures mean batteries are not at their best, but would not change it for the world, Rick