Low-Cost Irrigation Pump Primer

Low-Cost Irrigation Pump Primer IRRIGATION Miscellaneous 25-3-13 When he couldn't find what he wanted on the market, Kelly Lenington, Fort Benton, Mont., built his own electric-operated irrigation pump primer out of an air conditioning compressor and an electric motor. "It works great for lifting water up out of a river or pond to your center pivot irrigation system," says Lenington. The pump primer consists of an electric motor and an air conditioning compressor that generates 20 to 25 lbs. of suction, along with a clear plastic bulb and a valve. It mounts next to your irrigation pump. You plumb a pipe from the primer into the top of the pump and also install a valve on the pump. Then you flip a switch to start the motor and open the valves on both the primer and pump. The primer sucks water out of the river or pond and delivers it through the pipe to the pump. As soon as the bulb fills with water, the pump is primed and you can shut off both valves and turn on the pump. "It sells for less than $600 compared to commercial vacuum-type models that sell for $1,300 to $1,500," says Lenington. "You can buy commercial hand primers for about $300, but they're a lot of work and take a long time to operate. I've built 10 models so far and am willing to build more. I can build them to operate off either single or 3-phase electricity." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kelly Lenington, Box 353, Fort Benton, Mont. 59442 (ph 406 622-3671 or 5084; E-mail: ckl@mcn.net).

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