Questions about Windmills

[cwbrown]

The property I hunt has a old aeromoter windmill on thats in good shape. But hasn't been used in a long time. It pulls water from a old hand dug well.

Q1:How do I go about figuring out how much water I can pull from this well per hour?

There is a decent size tank close to the windmill and I would like to get it going to keep the tank full.

Q2: Are there ways for the windmill to slow itself in high winds? Also could I rig up a float at the tank to shut off the windmill once the tank is full?

[Dspivey]

You could do a 5gal bucket test for one minute then times that time 60. That would give you a GPH. Most wells are clocked at GPM's.

[Shane]

Flow rate depends on wind speed.

Sounds like you need an electric pump to do what you're wanting to do instead of a windmill.

[tex4k]

You'd need someone that knows what they're doing to check the mill to see if it's operational, windmills have a break mechanism in the tail fin for over speed protection in high winds. I remember we used 10 wt oil in them and had to check the oil ring for wear and tracking, but that's about it.

[tex4k]

You'll also have to check and more than likely replace all the down hole equipment. It took me 2 post, it's been 30+ years.

[Dudley]

There is probably a reason it hasn't been used in years, and you won't know until you get a wind miller to pull it and check it out. Could be caved in and non-functional. Or could be fairly minor and need new leathers and greasing. Will cost you some money to find out and more money to get it running.

[cwbrown]

Coop has easement for highline and another for regular service poles. Closest power to well is about 60 yards so I would just need the coop to come hang a transformer. I was just trying to think of the cheapest route to accomplish this. I don't know how much per month in electric it would cost.

There is a old pump and pressure tank by the well. Haven't dug around there to much. The service for that has been long removed.

As for my first question I was asking about what GPH the well could support.

["DOC"]

A lot of those old west Texas mills would only pump about 1-3 gpm..the well itself may be capable of more??
If there is an old pressure tank there then the mill is probably no good at all.
A LOT of unknowns here.
Contact the water well man there in Brady, he is probably very familiar with your well and all the others down there.
Good Luck.......