Xref: kermit rec.ponds:147083

Here is a link to some pics. of the waterfall

http://public.fotki.com/Nikkiekoala/our_garden/

I am assuming that it is plugged into a 220 outlet. The previous owner had
the pump plugged into a regular outdoor outlet by the back door. That plug
ended up catching on fire! So he had to have a specially wired box with the
right voltage. The previous owner is a Contractor for underground utilities
(sewer and water) so again I am assuming he knows how large a pump is needed
but than again he may have been going for the awe factor to which we have
grown to really like. If there is a smaller pump that draws less electricity
without losing that 'awe factor' we are game. Just can't do that this season
Will have to save up for that.
Please take a look at the pictures and let me know if a smaller pump will
accomplish the same result.
From what I know about the pond, the incline in which the water has to be
pumped (pond to top of falls) is about 14 feet. The pond is about 800-1000
gallons (a guesstimate). I may go out later today and get a rough estimate
of the dimensions.
Thanks!


"George" wrote in message
...

"GoldLexus" wrote in message
...
We have pond with a waterfall. The water fall is at a 14 ft. incline
with a
submersible pump.
We run the waterfall only during the spring and summer and shut it off
in
the fall/winter. We haven't
turned it on yet this season due to some leaking issues. Anyway when the
fall is running our electric bill
triples! We run it 24/7 but we would like to shut it off during the
night.
Where can I get a timer for this purpose?
Would it hurt the pump turning it on and off everyday? It is a big pump
and
runs on I believe 220 power.

Wow. I can see why your electric bill triples. Are you sure you need
this
large a pump?

Sorry,
I don't know much about this we 'inherited' the pond/waterfall when we
bought the house and no very little about it. Last year was
our first year with it and it was very expensive to run. Just need to
find
out how we can lower our electric bill thought a timer would
help a bit.


I would think a 220 volt pump (which I assume is three phase) would
produce a
prodigeous waterfall. How many amperes does it use? I don't know the
dimensions of your system or the pond, but if you are concerned about
electric
costs, and can do without such a showy waterfall, you could always buy a
smaller
pump, one that runs on 120 volts, single phase, that uses less amperes.
Of
course, it will reduce the amount of water that flow over the falls. But
if the
system can handle a smaller pump, and you can tolerate it, and can afford
to buy
one, and rewire your outlet to 120 volts, I would think a smaller pump
would be
at least as effective as using a timer. In fact, it could save you much
more
money than a timer would. I have no idea where you would get a timer for
a 220
volt circuit, although I have no doubt that there is an industrial grade
timer
out there made specificially for 220. Look in the phone book in your area
for
an industrial electric equipment supply company. I would contact a
company like
that and ask them if they have timers for 220 volt circuits.