Determining total dynamic head – Sun Pumps PCA-30M1D User Manual
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3.3 Well Measurements
Before installing the pump measure the depth of the well and static water level. The static water level is the
distance from the top of the well casing to the water level in the well. This information is necessary in
determining the pump setting (See Figure 1).
Figure 1 Solar Pump System Terms & Head Calculations
Determining Total Dynamic Head
Pumping Level
Pumping level is the vertical distance in feet from the discharge pipe at the well head to the water level
in the well while pumping at the specified flow rate.
Vertical Lift
Vertical lift is the vertical distance in feet from the discharge pipe at the well head to the discharge pipe
at the top of the water tank.
Friction Loss
Friction loss is the resistance to flow through a pipeline measured in PSI drop and converted to head
feet. The amount of loss depends on the diameter of the pipeline, the length of the pipeline, the flow rate,
the number and type of fittings and the coefficient of friction of the pipeline material. Refer to friction
loss tables for your specific application. (There is a Friction Loss Program on the SunPumps web site in
the engineering section at