Okay, so yesterday I was able to score the fitting I need for the new well pump. I sealed it into place as storm clouds arrived and we got some heavy rain.
This morning the clouds dissipated at dawn, and though a bit breezy and cool it’s really a very pleasant day. So let’s get this show on the road.
I brought the pump, tools and shrink tubing to the pump house. Touching the wires to the connections on the charge controller, the pump whirred merrily away! So I crimped the leads to the main cable and proceeded to try sealing the shrink tubing.
Unfortunately even inside the pump house there was too much breeze to get the job done with my Zippo. I went to Landlady’s place and rummaged around the barn for a propane torch. There was even a little gas in the bottle! The water gods are with me!
One small tube on each lead and then a big one over the whole shebang, being careful that the sealant melts and thoroughly coats the connections. This thing is going ‘way down a well filled with nasty corrosive stuff.
And by the way, looking at the old crimp connections I’m surprised we didn’t have a problem before this. The hot lead was corroded all the way through – came apart in my hand.
After lunch I’ll go up the ridge with a teapot full of hot water to soften the flexible pipe, install it on the pump outlet, and then I’ll be ready to schedule a date with Neighbor D to lower this heavy, unwieldy mess down the well casing. There will be running water soon!
Even without the breeze, the torch seems like a better idea than the zippo. It was very interesting to see how that pump setup works. I spent an hour exploring on the manufacturer’s website.
Water is good. Joel, for future reference (and you might already know this) there is a great product made from thick sticky silicone tape that seals to itself. I sealed some radio coaxial cable connectors and after ten years in the elements they were still dry inside. 3M brand if I remember rightly..
That would be what we call “self-amalgamating rubber tape”. Some call it “self-vulcanising” (incorrectly).
You stretch it as you wind it around whatever you want sealed to activate the curing/amalgamating process. It does get hot as it cures, so be careful, but it does a wonderful job. Just like the shrink tubing, you will be cutting it to get it off.
I find it great for when I don’t have enough room to get shrink tube around the conductor, but far enough away so that it doesn’t start shrinking due to the heat from soldering. (Oh, and for when I forget to put the tube on first. 🙂 )