Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Hydrant Mechanical Timer

I want to install a mechanical timer on a hydrant that is connected to a deep well located at my pond to supplement water level in the summer. I purchased an Orbit 62056 programmable timer but I've found that the flow rate is VERY VERY slow. The pond is 1 acre and 16' deep so it needs a substantial flow rate to keep it full. The deep well is rated at 25gpm but the Orbit timer seems to be a whole lot less, maybe 2-3gpm. That does me little good. There is also another hydrant located at the pond's dock house. The deep well that services the hydrants is controlled on it's own dedicated pressure tank and switch. I need a mechanical timer on the hydrant servicing the pond so I can keep the handle open and still be able to run the other hydrant open/closed as needed. An electric timer on the well's electric panel won't work for my needed configuration.

It's my understanding that the government has placed recent restrictions on the maximum amount of water flow a mechanical timer can have. Does anyone know if this is true, and if so what is that max rate? If there is some way to "modify" a mechanical timer to increase it's flow I'll certainly look into that.

2-3gpm is about right for garden hoses, so that is what you will probably find at big box hardware stores.

Do you live at the pond?

Even 25gpm is not an outrageous rate to fill a pond.

Can't you just let it run with the valve full open overnight? If not, maybe pinch the valve closed a bit.

If you must have a mechanical timer, you may need to go to a rural irrigation store. (Like the guys that carry equipment for center pivot irrigation.) Most industrial things are controlled on the electrical side, rather than mechanical. But they might have something?

Finally, do you have "time of day" metering on your electricity? The electric charges are usually the highest cost item on a deep water well. If you have to run a lot during a drought, perhaps you can work a deal with your electrical provider for a reduced rate, if you only run the well continuously at night?

Good luck on your pond project!

I do live near the pond. In the spring I open the hydrant 24/7 to fill the pond from the winter draw down, which is usually about 2 ft or so, and it can take 3 or 4 weeks to fill the pond. Then I just like to run the well for maybe 6 to 8 hours at night to keep ahead of evaporation. Before I installed the pressure tank I would manually turn on the pump open and close the the fill hydrant in the evening and morning to maintain the water level. If I wanted to use the hydrant at the dock house I would have to run over to the wellhead turn on the pump go back to the dock house open the hydrant for use and then remember to go back and turn the well pump off. With a mechanical timer and the hydrants on a pressure tank I don't have to do that anymore since the timer will turn the fill hydrant off and on and I can use the dock hydrant as needed.

Pulling up an old thread. It sounds like well is dedicated to the pond and not a house. If so, bury 2"-3" pvc pipe from the well to the pond and put the well on a well pump timer(=or<40amp). The garden hose and hose timer is too restrictive. We use these at the ranch for stock tank dedicated well pumps.


Intermatic T104 Electromechanical Timer Switch

For greater amperage pumps you would need a contactor/magnetic motor starter.

Motor Starter