Gayflower: Spring 2025 Plan
Reference Photo:
0. Plywood backing
Get a fairly large piece of plywood to serve as backing for all the gear that is mounted on the rear wall here - the spider box, the control box, the electronic things, and, in the future, the plumbing stack for the pump outlet.
Shopping:
| Qty | Item | Vendor |
Notes |
| 1 | 3/4" Plywood 24" x 48" panels |
Home Depot in Reno |
They sell precut 24x48 pieces or buy 4'x8' pieces and cut in four
Consider buying an extra 14 to replace crappy shelves in Empire Fort |
| 20 | Wood-to-metal self-driving screws #10 diameter 1 1/2" |
Home Depot in Reno (link) |
We might have them in the tool fort |
1. IBC Tote Replacement
Replace all seven totes with new ones and completely replace all plumbing connecting them.
this plan assumed that the Aeromixer 1" hose had 1" NPT fittings. Unfortunately according to a comment on Amazon it actually has 1" NPSH fittings which are not tapered and not compatible. Need to redesign this accordingly.
Design considerations
- Use flexible hoses instead of PVC with glue, for easy replacement, more flexibity, and less likely to break
- Pump requires 1" diameter inflow
- Shutoff valves everywhere for safety and quick repairs
New plumbing configuration:
| A | IBC tote with 2" Camlock |
| B | 2" Camlock to 3/4" Male Garden Hose adapter |
| C | 3/4" Garden Hose Shutoff Valve (Male to Female) |
| D | 2' long 3/4" Garden Hose (get some 1' as well to minimize slop) |
| E |
3/4" GHT Female x 1" Male NPT adapter |
| F |
1" Female x 1" Female x 1" Male NPT branch tee (make sure to get actual NPT) |
| G |
5' Aeromixer Hose, 1" diameter (1" NPT male to female) |
| H |
1" NPT Ball Valve (Female x Male) |
| I / K |
50' Aeromixer Hose, 1" diameter (1" NPT male to female) |
| J / L |
Holes in floor |
| M |
To well pump |
Shopping:
| Qty | Item | Vendor |
Notes |
| 7 |
Rebottled or new IBC totes 330 gallon |
The Cary Company EST104097 |
To ship to Empire |
| 9 | 2" Camlock to 3/4" Male Garden Hose | The Cary Company or Amazon |
|
| 7 | Garden hose shutoff valve 3/4" male to 3/4" female |
Amazon | |
| 7 | 1" NPT Branch Tee (F-M-F) | Amazon | |
| 4 | 3/4" M-F garden hose extender: 1' | Amazon | |
| 6 | 3/4" M-F garden hose extender: 2' | Amazon | |
| 8 | 3/4" GHT Female x 1" Male NPT | Amazon | |
| 4 | 5' Aeromixer 1" hose | Aeromixer | |
| 2 | 50' Aeromixer 1" hose |
Aeromixer |
list incomplete
Because the intake for the pump wants 1", and each tote is constrained via a garden hose fitting to only 3/4 of an inch, we need to open at least two totes at a time to provide enough water flow.
2. Evaporative Cooler Supply Rerouting
The water supply line for the evaporative cooler should be rerouted so it does not interfere with that IBC tote. Also, it might be responsible for the leak at the top of the pump.
Shopping:
| 1 | 1/4 in. x 1/8 in. Evaporative Cooler Angle Needle Valve | Home Depot (link) | |
| 50 feet | 1/4 in. Evaporative Cooler Copper Tube | Home Depot (link) | |
| 1 | 3/4 in. Evaporative Cooler FGH x MGH Sill Cock | Home Depot (link) | |
| 1 | 1/4 in. x 1/8 in. Evaporative Cooler CC and MPT Male Union | Home Depot (link) | spare part |
| 1 | 1/4 in. Compression Brass Nut Fitting | Home Depot (link) | spare part |
| 1 | Mini Copper Tubing Cutter | Home Depot (link) | tool |
3. Rework plumbing above the pump
The main goal here is to make something that allows for quickly swapping out a failed pump, and eliminate the PVC+glue that is prone to leaks.
| A | Incoming 5' Aeromixer hose, bringing water from tanks. NPT 1" F connection on the pump. |
| B | Existing DRUMMOND 1 HP Stainless Steel Shallow Well Pump and Tank with Pressure Control Switch - 950 GPH |
| C | 1" x 1" Male NPT Sharkbite brass adapter U140LF |
| D |
1" diameter PEX-B. |
| E |
1" Sharkbite Tee (U374LF) |
| F |
1" diameter PEX-B |
| G |
1" Sharkbite Coupling (U020LF) |
| H |
Existing PVC pipe leading to |
| I |
1" to 3/4" Sharkbite Fitting Reducer (U724LF) |
| J |
3/4" diameter PEX-B |
| K |
Sharkbite 3/4" x 3/4" Hose Garden Valve (24623LF) Should be screwed onto plywood backing |
| L |
3/4" Garden Hose leading outside the truck to a manifold for additional water hookups |
| M |
Evaporative Cooler Hookup (parts described in section 2) |
| N |
Evaporative Cooler 1/4" Copper Tubing |
| O |
Additional 5' Aeromixer hose (1" diameter). NPT 1" F connection on the pump. This allows the pump to be moved around a bit, offset from the wall where everything is mounted, and quickly connected or disconnected. It also means that pump vibrations don't vibrate the plumbing. |
| P |
This section to be mounted on plywood at the wall |
| Q |
Sharkbite 1" Check Valve (U2020-0000LF) |