[Tfug] *Way* OT... :>

[Bexley Hall]

Hi, Phil,

--- On Mon, 7/7/08, euvitudo <euvitudo at gmail.com> wrote:

> >> Here's an example (ascii-art):
> >>      hhhhhhhh
> >> /-----h----\ h
> >> |     h    | h
> >> |     h    | h
> >> |     h    | h     hhhhh <----
> >> |wwwwwhwwww| h     h   h
> >> |     h    | h     h   h
> >> |     h    | hhhhhhh   h
> >> \----------/           hhhhhhhh
> >>
> >
> > But, doesn't the water have to get *above* the
> "first peak"
> > for it to start flowing?  Or, is there some other
> trick??
> 
> OK, so you would have to manually start it the first time.
> Once it has started, move the lower loop above the water
> level in the barrel.  The flow will stop.  Then move the
> loop below the water level in the barrel.  It will start
> back up.

Assuming I start it once, what criteria are there that govern
when I would need to restart it (manually)?  I.e., as long
as the leftmost end stays underwater?

E.g., could I set the "shut off level" to be 2" below the bottom
of my barrel and, as long as the inlet remains submerged in
those 2" of water, will it automatically restart when *additional*
water is added to the barrel?
 
> One way to start the flow without the risk of filling your
> mouth
> full of rainwater is to fill the part of the hose that will
> be inside
> the barrel.  Then lift it until the water starts flowing. 
> Do this
> repeatedly until water flows freely.  (It's like
> filling a cup
> sideways underwater.)

Yes.  I use a variant of this.  I put the inlet end of the hose
face up under water (so trapped air escapes and water flows in)
and gradually coil more hose into the barrel.  Once there's
enough water in it for a "head start", I can usually just
*lift* that coiled section out of the barrel.

It worksm but it requires me to be there to get things going.

If push comes to shove, I "charge" the hose with water from
the hose bibb to get a head start.
 
> > I.e., if I took an *empty* barrel and fabricated some
> > tubing in the shape indicated and let it sit in the
> rain,
> > would it prime itself *before* the barrel overflowed?
> > Or, does it rely on that to get it started?
> 
> As stated above, you'll need to start the flow.  Once
> the
> desired water level is reached, you can move the lower
> loop until it stops, and keep it there (attached to the
> side,
> or however you're going to do it).  Once the barrel
> fills
> past the height of the loop, water will flow (until the
> level
> in the barrel decreases back below the loop).

This suggests my "2 inch" scheme should work?
 
> So, when you go home tonight, just try it.  Otherwise, I
> can produce a video tonight (need to clean one of my
> aquaria) and send a link along.

Thanks for the offer but I'll sort it out.  If I know how to
make it work, I can fabricate a more permanent fixture to
do this (e.g., PVC pipe in the correct shape).  THen, just
leave one in each barrel and let them move the water for
me (instead of having to go out in the storm to do it!)

--don