PREP How to Make a "Water Ram" nonelectric off grid Water Pump - MrTeslonian

Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
Author claimed his home made ram pump is capable of pumping water 150 feet up hill without electricity. A ram pump is old school technology and is traditionally powered by falling water. He briefly explains some of the math needed to calculate the maximum height water can be pumped to given the initial length of the water fall. I have seen these in use on Amish farms. Ram pumps don't pump a lot of water at once. They pump a little water at a time and over time that can add up to a lot of water.

There is some interesting stuff on his channel if you are not already familiar with it. - OGM

Fair use:

How to Make a "Water Ram" off-grid Water Pump, requires no electricity
MrTeslonian
Published on Aug 6, 2014

This is how to build a Water Ram water pump from easy to find parts at any local hardware store. The Water Ram can pump water uphill hundreds of feet higher then the source delivering the water to the pump.


link to source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzaInlFVq0s

Run time 9:57
 
Last edited:

MtnGal

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Thanks, I have a good 40'-50' rise from spring to house. This should work just fine.
 

FreeSpace

Veteran Member
I can not ADD a tag like ram pump but i can search them.

It has always been impossible to add a tag for me. Guess I will tell an admin if they do not see this.

Love the ram pump idea! Seen them in use many times and it is just dang clever. Just imagine, they invented this with no cellphones or internet. They had a need and made it happen! I need a written book on ram pumps to put in my library. Yeah, I actually read paper books.

Sorry, pixxed at the nephew who said paper books are old and useless, not even for toilet paper.
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
I can not ADD a tag like ram pump but i can search them.

It has always been impossible to add a tag for me. Guess I will tell an admin if they do not see this.

Love the ram pump idea! Seen them in use many times and it is just dang clever. Just imagine, they invented this with no cellphones or internet. They had a need and made it happen! I need a written book on ram pumps to put in my library. Yeah, I actually read paper books.

Sorry, pixxed at the nephew who said paper books are old and useless, not even for toilet paper.

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=stripbooks&field-keywords=ram+pumps

https://www.amazon.com/Pumps-Hydrau...UTF8&qid=1507397123&sr=1-1&keywords=ram+pumps

Summerthyme
 

Shacknasty Shagrat

Has No Life - Lives on TB
I grew up with a ram suppling the house water.
The Romans had rams.
Dad kept ours going until the mid 1950s. Grandpa put the ram in during the 'teens. Later,we could not find anyone to do the brass/bronze work repaired.
The vibration causes wear over time.
You need the run and a drop and a holding tank.
SS
 

China Connection

TB Fanatic
$_20.JPG




Seller's description


Date Listed:
10/09/2015

Last Edited:
10/09/2015

Condition:
New

BILLABONG HYDRAULIC WATER RAMS (BHWRs) No. 3

(Ref.7277; 6437)

Do you want to pump water using only water? If the answer is “yes” than the Billabong Hydraulic Water Ram (BBHWR) is your answer!


This unique self-lubricating hydraulic Water Ram pump is capable of lifting water up to a height of 200 feet above a running water source (i.e. spring, creek) without the use of external power source. The Australian made and designed original Billabong Hydraulic Water Ram (BBHWR) was developed in 1855 (i.e. some 158 years ago) and has been significantly improved over the years. It is a field proven Water Ram operating in Australia and the Pacific Basin, with thousands of satisfied end users. It is one of the oldest Water Rams made anywhere in the world and certainly the oldest Water Ram pump operating in Australia.


The BHWRs have an established reputation and are considered an icon in the Australian water supply industry. In 2005, the BBHWRs celebrated their 150th anniversary.


The BBHWRs range consists of Ram sizes number 3 to No. 7, and Ram No. 10.


The BBHWRs operating mechanism relies on harvesting kinetic energy from water supplied under fall conditions to the unit. The operation does not rely on any external source of fuel (electricity, petrol, diesel, gas, steam etc.), and only uses the harvested kinetic energy of water flowing into the Ram for the water transfer / pumping operation. The BBHWRs full specification and performance capabilities—is available upon request.


The Billabong Hydraulic Water Rams have been manufactured and used in Australia for approximately 158 years, with hundreds of satisfied Australian and Overseas Customers enjoying continuous water supply at no cost to them. The Billabong Rams have proven technology with the units renowned for their longevity and reliability.


Features:

a) The Billabong Water Rams are the best known Rams in Australia and are one of the oldest operating Water Rams in the world (history overview available on request) – The Billabong Rams have been around for 158 years!

b) The Billabong Ram does not require electricity, fuel, gas or steam to operate

c) Simplicity of construction and operation – only 2 moving parts

d) The RAM is powered by the running water itself

e) Requires very minimal or no maintenance

f) Heavy duty cast iron base and dome, ensuring longevity

g) Renowned for its longevity (60+ years) and operation reliability

h) No plastic parts used

j) Capable of operating with head delivery of up to 200 feet, although in some instances the Billabong Ram delivered water in excess of 200 feet head.


The Ram represents the perfect (green) environmentally friendly pumping system, further it is pollution free, with very long lasting longevity, almost maintenance free and is the nearest thing to perpetual motion. The technology is well proven in field and on record with many Billabong Hydraulic Water Rams operating continuously for extremely long periods of time; such as in excess of 50 - 80 years plus. Water Rams have the capability to pump water to where it is needed, for free.


https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/rin...labong-hydraulic-water-rams-bhwrs-/1049269492
 

Publius

TB Fanatic
You need a certain amount of fall to make this work. The fall is the distance the water has to drop to get to the pump.
Mother Earth Magazine long ago did a few runs on articles of people using this device and all of them home made from PVC pipe and items bought from a local hardware store. Plans and shopping list were included.
The jack pump works but does not move a lot of water fast, but left going long enough it will fill a 5000 gallon cistern faster than your using it every day with a hand pump.
 

Old Gray Mare

TB Fanatic
Publius is right. Depending on how high and how far the water is being pumped it might not take that much of a fall.

The Amish in Lancaster county, PA use them. You might happen to see what looks like an up ended railroad container car sitting out in the middle of an Amish farm field. Down hill from it might be a small trickling stream with a log or thick board across it, near by what looks like a small spring house. It may be an old spring house or it may house a ram pump.
 

FarmerJohn

Has No Life - Lives on TB
As long as you have sufficient flow from spring, stream or whatever and far enough drop from the source to the ram location, you can make it work. Most of the water is wasted after the energy from it's fall is used to pump a small amount of water far uphill to your storage tank. I've seen the ram pump that fills the municipal water storage tank for a small town in western Virginia.
 

Fetz

Senior Member
What a nice simple system. The presenter did a really professional job of showing the parts and explaining the operation and height capabilities. Many times the mechanic/engineer cannot explain the system that he understands. Truly professional and enjoyable !!
 
I can not ADD a tag like ram pump but i can search them.

It has always been impossible to add a tag for me. Guess I will tell an admin if they do not see this.

Love the ram pump idea! Seen them in use many times and it is just dang clever. Just imagine, they invented this with no cellphones or internet. They had a need and made it happen! I need a written book on ram pumps to put in my library. Yeah, I actually read paper books.

Sorry, pixxed at the nephew who said paper books are old and useless, not even for toilet paper.

Explain to him those three forbidden letters, and the havoc they can wreak.
 
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