- Have you toyed with pedal powered water pumps to reduce wear on 12 volt pumps and power consumption on PV systems - primarily used to fill gravity hydro systems?
- Todd
With respect to pumping water, I haven't found a good water pump to use yet. I have
considered using two of the $3 drill motor (Harbor Freight tools) garden hose type rubber
impeller type pumps. This could be mounted shaft facing shaft with one or more stiff
rubber hoses over the shaft. A steel cylinder sleeve with a hole for the shaft and set
screws at each end would be a better alternative. The resulting pump assembly could be
held with a spring to a tire of a bicycle. Estimated results: I consider the turning torque of
these units to be rather high and inefficient. Also the lifetime of the shaft seal is not that
long. One would need to try it to see if it lasts.
Offered by Mike.