Special VFC’s for Constant Pressure Systems

For sometime now, we have been involved with one of our suppliers selling a Variable Frequency Controller with several special features for running a "Stand-Alone" system to ran a pump for constant pressure.

This VFC has built-in PID for pressure regulation and also has a built-in “Sleep Mode”.  What Sleep Mode does is when the system requirements are met and there is no need to pump water, the VFC simply shuts down and waits for the system to call for pressure again.  The drive then wakes up and starts delivering water into the system again.  This is not necessarily unique.  A few other drive manufacturers offer this as well, but they do not have the flexibility that we have for setting on and off pressures and an unsurpassed PID function.  We also have special ramp capabilities that we can program in for special pump considerations.

Another thing we do is that we can drive the control signal with the built-in 24 VDC power supply on board the drive.  This makes it so you only need to add a 2-wire pressure transducer to the drive and you have all you need to make the system work.

We have done this for many customers.  Farmers particularly like this system, as no matter how many sections of either hand-line or wheel-line they connect up to the water source, the drive will maintain constant pressure through the system for even water distribution up to the systems maximum rating.  And do to the sleep mode function, there is no need to run to the well and shut it off.  The VFC is always ready in sleep mode waiting for a call for water.  Just open a valve located on the main system line and the VFC comes to life and produces water from the source.

We have a well at our house, which is our only source of water.  We have been running a drive on it for the past 8 years and it is wonderful.  We used to set out a sprinkler to water the lawn and it would go up and down with the pressure, as the pump would turn on and off to meet the demand.  Now, it is just like being hooked up to the city water only better because I’m in control.

In our area, to develop property for almost any use you need to secure the water rights that come along with the property for secondary irrigation.  We have installed many units just for this need with great success.  Many a subdivision, apartment complex and townhouse village is being irrigated by one or more of our drives.

The single phase input units are used quite extensively in these applications, as most areas do not have three-phase power available.  Most of these units we build-up in a NEMA 3R Enclosure with a fused disconnect, input line reactor and a DV/DT filter so as not to disturb the lines in the area do to harmonic issues caused by the drive.  This is especially needed in a residential application and works very well.

Some of our customers that have used this are mostly pump installers such as Widdison Turbine Service, Zimmerman Well Service, Nickerson Pump Company and many others.  If you have a need for something like this or know someone who may benefit from this type of system, give us a call.

Scott Gordon

Late February Early March News

In one week it will be the first week in March.  This brings the thoughts of spring, warmer weather and water.  What?  Water?  Yes!  The first week in March is the Rural Water Association of Utah's annual meeting in St. George at the Dixie Center for training, meetings and the yearly show for all us vendors.

The show is not closed to the public, but is expensive to gain access to if you are not part of the RWAU.  This is mainly for all the members to come to and attend courses on various subjects relating to water and the associated issues in pumping, moving, handling and testing and treating it properly and safely.

During two days of the week, vendors will have booths setup in the Dixie Centers expo area for members to walk-thru at their leisure when they are not in class or attending a discussion.  That's where we come in.  We will have a booth (as we have had in the past) in the expo center showing various products we have to offer these folks.  This is always a great show for us or at least for me because I get to see a lot of people that I know and have done projects for over the years.  It just turns into a great time to catch up with folks and learn what's going on with them.

Also as I told you previously, I had some shoulder surgery a few weeks back but as you may be able to tell, I am getting along fine at this juncture.  Currently,  I am typing this with both hands and am able to use the arm to some degree but the doctor will not let me lift anything for a minimum of eight weeks.  By the way, me typing with both hands is just double the chance of making a mistake for those of you that follow along regularly.

The "Salt Project" is at a stand still as we have been busy building a couple of big projects in the shop.  One just picked up today is going to Roosevelt to a Sewer Lift Station, and the other is for another Lift Station here in the valley for Granger-Hunter Improvement District.  We have also built several small items in-between all of this so we have been rather busy and lost a bit of focus on the bike at the moment.

Next month brings not only the RWAU show but we will be traveling to Las Vegas for meetings on our new product line we are introducing.  These items are mostly pump related and are controllers for pumps which will be sold exclusively through outside representation.  That's the reason for the meeting in Vegas, it is with the Rep firm.  This is exciting for us as some serious interest has been shown in these products and we are a bit anxious to get this ball rolling!

Our hope is that all is going well with all of you and that this year is a good one for all of us.  Here comes the Water and Aggregate season and we are all hoping for a better year than last.

I still haven't heard from anyone about the Jazz issue.  Nobody have an opinion but me?  I'm waiting.....

Check out our website in the coming weeks as we will be adding the new products to it as soon as possible.  We are also putting together a brochure on these products and hope to have this ready in the next several weeks for distribution.  Until then, if you would like more information you know where to get in-touch with me.

Later,

Scott

February News

Well, I haven't posted much lately due to having shoulder surgery.  So far, so good with that and I am able to be sling free right now but the darn thing is not working very well and it will take some time I am told.

As some of you know, we have season tickets for the Utah Jazz games.  Today coach Jerry Sloan and his assistant coach, Phil Johnson, both stepped down following the loss to the Bulls last night.  It is being reported that Deron Williams got into it with coach Sloan at halftime of last nights game.  No one told me that D-will was running the Jazz organization but I guess he thinks he does!  What a brave one, to get into it and want to go blows with a 68-year old who just happens to be YOUR BOSS Stupid!  

In my humble opinion, get rid of him!  I know that quite a number of you like having the tickets to a game now and then but I feel it's time to stop supporting these over-paid babies and contributing to their extravegant lifestyles all the while inflating their ego's!  No?  Am I wrong?

Let me know what you think, please.  I may change my mind if I hear from you or if the Jazz get rid of the cancer in a timely manner.  But for now, I know what I will probably will do.

Scott