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**csa** · 08-06-2015, 10:09 PM

I'm looking for a small battery (like AA, D, etc.) to pump water out of my 100-gal tank. Right now it takes almost 30 minutes to empty it. If I could find a small battery pump to speed it up, that would be a big help.

Rupert, as a plumber, any ideas? Just a little cheap one would be ideal. If I could cut the time down to about 1/2 (15 min.) that's what I need.

Auzzie-Phoenix · 08-07-2015, 01:15 AM

Did you try looking at the pumps for bailing out fishing boats? Most of them run on a small motorcycle battery. Not cheap. Of course I don't think anything running on AA's or D's will drain a 100 gal tank in any appreciable time. Maybe something that works on 6v lantern batteries might (AA's and D's will drain their batteries- and your wallet to replace the batt's, faster than they'll drain that tank). Think there are also manual pumps that use bicycle type pedals with a high flow rate.

Tom S. · 08-07-2015, 02:57 AM

There are small battery pumps available for gas/kerosene etc. that use "C" or "D" size batteries, but they are pretty slow, pumping 1.5 gallons per minute.

Sample here

Too bad you can't have a 2 or 3 inch drain added to the bottom of the tank and run outside.

**gaweidert** · 08-07-2015, 03:44 AM

Do you need to raise the water up higher of is the storage tank lower? If you are trying to raise it a small battery powered pump will not do he job. If the place you are moving it to is lower, a spigot on the bottom of the tank would work fine.

Harbor Freight as a 12Vdc transfer pump on sale for $39.99 right now. You connect it to your car battery. They also have a small gasoline powered pump for $135.00.

stormtech · 08-07-2015, 05:08 AM

A battery powered water pump isn't going to pump much at all and eat up batteries like crazy.

I second the idea of a 12V pump.

12 Volt Marine Utility Water Pump

This one says it will pump 260 gph (at 0' head I assume) - an important factor is how much head (how high are you pumping the water from the tank?).

Since your tank is in the back of your Suburban I doubt the cable connections would be long enough. But it wouldn't be too much to have your mechanic run a good sized cable from your battery to the back of the suburban - or make a longer cable using a cheap pair of jumper cables.

stormtech · 08-07-2015, 06:49 AM

After thinking some more on this - what are you currently using to pump the water out of the tank? Or is it by gravity fed?

If gravity fed a pump isn't going to help. What size hose are you using? The easiest and logical way to speed up the water transfer if being gravity fed is simply a larger hose.

**csa** · 08-07-2015, 07:05 AM

Thanks everyone. I don't want to use a car battery or 12v battery. It was just an idea. Right now I empty it by gravity. Putting a larger hose on; would that do any good when the spigot on the tank is still smaller?

**csa** · 08-07-2015, 07:07 AM

Originally posted by gaweidert

If the place you are moving it to is lower, a spigot on the bottom of the tank would work fine.

The existing spigot is already almost at the bottom of the tank. It really couldn't go any lower. Yes, I'm draining by gravity to a lower storage tank.

Parallax · 08-07-2015, 07:45 AM

Originally posted by csa

Putting a larger hose on; would that do any good when the spigot on the tank is still smaller?

No, it wouldn't help. There are only 2 ways to increase the flow; increase the size of the orifice or increase the pressure. (or both)
Could you put an additional spigot on? That would double the flow.

vonBaloney · 08-07-2015, 07:48 AM

Seems like it should drain faster -- I have a 50gal rain barrel with a spigot on the bottom -- it gushes out. You need bigger or more holes sounds like...

**csa** · 08-07-2015, 07:52 AM

Thanks Jim, that's what I thought. Putting another spigot on; wouldn't I also need another hose going into the storage tank? If both spigots drained into the one hose, it still would be confined by that hose's diameter, wouldn't it?

**csa** · 08-07-2015, 07:54 AM

Originally posted by vonBaloney

Seems like it should drain faster -- I have a 50gal rain barrel with a spigot on the bottom -- it gushes out. You need bigger or more holes sounds like...

If I would just open the spigot, yes it would gush out. But I'm draining it into a hose connected to pvc pipe directly into a 400 gal storage tank.

Tom S. · 08-07-2015, 08:04 AM

Originally posted by csa

If I would just open the spigot, yes it would gush out. But I'm draining it into a hose connected to pvc pipe directly into a 400 gal storage tank.

Now we're getting somewhere, what size hose? If it's a garden hose, they come in different diameters, and increasing size of the hose would decrease the drainage time - until you met the max output of the valve. However you could also have a larger spigot installed. Is the tank plastic or steel?

stormtech · 08-07-2015, 08:09 AM

Originally posted by Tom S.

Now we're getting somewhere, what size hose? If it's a garden hose, they come in different diameters, and increasing size of the hose would decrease the drainage time - until you met the max output of the valve. However you could also have a larger spigot installed. Is the tank plastic or steel?

Exactly - it sounds to me like the tank might have a 1" or larger opening on the valve and it is being choked down to a garden hose size.

vonBaloney · 08-07-2015, 08:13 AM

Originally posted by csa

If I would just open the spigot, yes it would gush out. But I'm draining it into a hose connected to pvc pipe directly into a 400 gal storage tank.

Unless you're choking it with a hose smaller than the diameter of the spigot, would that matter? (As long it was a fairly short downward distance.)

08-06-2015, 10:09 PM	#1
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133	Battery water pump I'm looking for a small battery (like AA, D, etc.) to pump water out of my 100-gal tank. Right now it takes almost 30 minutes to empty it. If I could find a small battery pump to speed it up, that would be a big help. Rupert, as a plumber, any ideas? Just a little cheap one would be ideal. If I could cut the time down to about 1/2 (15 min.) that's what I need.

08-07-2015, 02:57 AM	#3
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	There are small battery pumps available for gas/kerosene etc. that use "C" or "D" size batteries, but they are pretty slow, pumping 1.5 gallons per minute. Sample here Too bad you can't have a 2 or 3 inch drain added to the bottom of the tank and run outside. Last edited by Tom S.; 08-07-2015 at 05:14 AM.

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08-07-2015, 01:15 AM	#2
Auzzie-Phoenix Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Photos: Albums Posts: 1,020	Did you try looking at the pumps for bailing out fishing boats? Most of them run on a small motorcycle battery. Not cheap. Of course I don't think anything running on AA's or D's will drain a 100 gal tank in any appreciable time. Maybe something that works on 6v lantern batteries might (AA's and D's will drain their batteries- and your wallet to replace the batt's, faster than they'll drain that tank). Think there are also manual pumps that use bicycle type pedals with a high flow rate.

08-07-2015, 03:44 AM	#4
gaweidert Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Rochester, NY Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,327	Do you need to raise the water up higher of is the storage tank lower? If you are trying to raise it a small battery powered pump will not do he job. If the place you are moving it to is lower, a spigot on the bottom of the tank would work fine. Harbor Freight as a 12Vdc transfer pump on sale for $39.99 right now. You connect it to your car battery. They also have a small gasoline powered pump for $135.00.

08-07-2015, 05:08 AM	#5
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	A battery powered water pump isn't going to pump much at all and eat up batteries like crazy. I second the idea of a 12V pump. 12 Volt Marine Utility Water Pump This one says it will pump 260 gph (at 0' head I assume) - an important factor is how much head (how high are you pumping the water from the tank?). Since your tank is in the back of your Suburban I doubt the cable connections would be long enough. But it wouldn't be too much to have your mechanic run a good sized cable from your battery to the back of the suburban - or make a longer cable using a cheap pair of jumper cables.

08-07-2015, 06:49 AM	#6
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	After thinking some more on this - what are you currently using to pump the water out of the tank? Or is it by gravity fed? If gravity fed a pump isn't going to help. What size hose are you using? The easiest and logical way to speed up the water transfer if being gravity fed is simply a larger hose.

08-07-2015, 07:05 AM	#7
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133 Original Poster	Thanks everyone. I don't want to use a car battery or 12v battery. It was just an idea. Right now I empty it by gravity. Putting a larger hose on; would that do any good when the spigot on the tank is still smaller?

08-07-2015, 07:07 AM	#8
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133 Original Poster	Originally posted by gaweidert If the place you are moving it to is lower, a spigot on the bottom of the tank would work fine. The existing spigot is already almost at the bottom of the tank. It really couldn't go any lower. Yes, I'm draining by gravity to a lower storage tank.

08-07-2015, 07:45 AM	#9
Parallax Senior Moderator Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: South Dakota Photos: Gallery Posts: 19,333	Originally posted by csa Putting a larger hose on; would that do any good when the spigot on the tank is still smaller? No, it wouldn't help. There are only 2 ways to increase the flow; increase the size of the orifice or increase the pressure. (or both) Could you put an additional spigot on? That would double the flow.

08-07-2015, 07:48 AM	#10
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Seems like it should drain faster -- I have a 50gal rain barrel with a spigot on the bottom -- it gushes out. You need bigger or more holes sounds like...

08-07-2015, 07:52 AM	#11
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133 Original Poster	Thanks Jim, that's what I thought. Putting another spigot on; wouldn't I also need another hose going into the storage tank? If both spigots drained into the one hose, it still would be confined by that hose's diameter, wouldn't it?

08-07-2015, 07:54 AM	#12
csa Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Montana mountains Posts: 10,133 Original Poster	Originally posted by vonBaloney Seems like it should drain faster -- I have a 50gal rain barrel with a spigot on the bottom -- it gushes out. You need bigger or more holes sounds like... If I would just open the spigot, yes it would gush out. But I'm draining it into a hose connected to pvc pipe directly into a 400 gal storage tank.

08-07-2015, 08:04 AM	#13
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Originally posted by csa If I would just open the spigot, yes it would gush out. But I'm draining it into a hose connected to pvc pipe directly into a 400 gal storage tank. Now we're getting somewhere, what size hose? If it's a garden hose, they come in different diameters, and increasing size of the hose would decrease the drainage time - until you met the max output of the valve. However you could also have a larger spigot installed. Is the tank plastic or steel?

08-07-2015, 08:09 AM	#14
stormtech Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: In the boonies (NW Penna) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,744	Originally posted by Tom S. Now we're getting somewhere, what size hose? If it's a garden hose, they come in different diameters, and increasing size of the hose would decrease the drainage time - until you met the max output of the valve. However you could also have a larger spigot installed. Is the tank plastic or steel? Exactly - it sounds to me like the tank might have a 1" or larger opening on the valve and it is being choked down to a garden hose size.

08-07-2015, 08:13 AM	#15
vonBaloney Pentaxian Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Albuquerque, NM Posts: 6,029	Originally posted by csa If I would just open the spigot, yes it would gush out. But I'm draining it into a hose connected to pvc pipe directly into a 400 gal storage tank. Unless you're choking it with a hose smaller than the diameter of the spigot, would that matter? (As long it was a fairly short downward distance.)

Battery water pump

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