Drip Irrigation Water Pump

The drip irrigation water pump is part of the drip irrigation system. It’s purpose is to maintain adequate water pressure for drip irrigation.

ToDo: put water pump image here. Include the power outlet in the shot.

Powering the pump

The water pump runs on 110v AC. It is plugged into a switched power outlet in a two-gang electrical outlet box near the pump. Whether that outlet is on/off is controlled by home assistant automation associated with the Shelly electronic switch installed inside that outlet. Two of the four sockets in that box — the right-most two — are electronically and independently switched. The left two are not switched.

Maintaining water pressure

The water pump has an internal pressure sensor that turn’s the pump on if the pressure on the sink (outlet) port reaches a low threshold, and off when it reaches a high threshold. The high pressure threshold can easily be adjusted, within the limits of the pumps capabilities, of course, with a screwdriver. The low threshold is set relative to the high threshold. As far as I know, the difference between the thresholds cannot be adjusted.

Preventing damage to the pump

To prevent the pump from being damaged by pumping dry for an extended period, the electronic switch is turned off if the east catchment tank water depth it too low. It is turned on when the level is high enough. The too-low and high-enough water levels are defined in home assistant.

Preventing disturbing noise

The pump is turned off between 9pm and 7am to prevent disturbing people at night in unit A. The pump is quite loud, and because it is mounted directly to the wall, much of the noise can be easily heard in unit A.