How many gph pump for highbanker?

[Brehmdig]

My sluice is a 6" by 2 ft gold hog, scrubber/ UR combo... It needs to run fast... Just wondering how large of pump I should go for a custom conversion with PVC sprayers?

 

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[dredgeman]

With that mat and sluice I would use a 1250 gph or so pump. Keep in mind that the higher you go away from the pump the less water is actually delivered. I am waiting on the newest mat in April the Bedrock. It will make any aluminum sluice a drop riffle system.

 

[Brehmdig]

With that mat and sluice I would use a 1250 gph or so pump. Keep in mind that the higher you go away from the pump the less water is actually delivered. I am waiting on the newest mat in April the Bedrock. It will make any aluminum sluice a drop riffle system.

Ok, going to have to go electric for local laws to go year round... I made my sluice it's up in the sluice forum... Where is a good place to start shopping for pumps, new to all this lol.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

I have this one. I got it for $12 cheaper though. Runs good and will do land gredging If I convert it.
Amazon.com: DuroMax XP650WP 3-Inch Intake 7 HP OHV 4-Cycle 220-Gallon-Per-Minute Gas-Powered Portable Water Pump (CARB Compliant): Patio, Lawn & Garden
You will need the accessory hose kit too though
Amazon.com: Powermate PA0650201 Water Pump 2-Inch Hose Kit: Patio, Lawn & Garden

Remember to wrap your intake with either screen door screen or some other 1/8th inch screen to prevent clogs in your spray bar. I run my pump on mid throttle.

 

[Doitlaynstyle]

I didnt see that you were going to go electric. check this out,
Amazon.com: Intex 56633EG 2500-Gallon Filter Pump AC 110 to 120-Volt: Patio, Lawn & Garden
I pulled the filter out of this one and I run it for recirculating at home. It puts out 2500 gph at 3 foot of lift. Just remove the filter and screen the intake. the pump is rebuildable with a new impeller as it is essentially a trash pump.

 

[Brehmdig]

I didnt see that you were going to go electric. check this out,
Amazon.com: Intex 56633EG 2500-Gallon Filter Pump AC 110 to 120-Volt: Patio, Lawn & Garden
I pulled the filter out of this one and I run it for recirculating at home. It puts out 2500 gph at 3 foot of lift. Just remove the filter and screen the intake. the pump is rebuildable with a new impeller as it is essentially a trash pump.

YouTube Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEGGJfqWZ88&feature=share&list=PLQDcMoBVTKzkPU99pkMKqcORAszHI2DEJ

That runs on ac though doesn't it? I'm looking for something in the field riverside...

 

[Fabrication Specialists]

Good evening,

At 6" wide you'll probably need 1600-2000 gph to utilize the Gold Hog Matting properly. If your flow is too slow the mat will just fill up with material and not exchange properly. Now by electric I assume 12 volt and not 120? If you're going with 12 volt bilge type pump I recommend the Johnson/Mayfair pumps. I've had good luck with those in our recirculators and they hold up well. You should be able to go through Amazon and get a good price on a bilge pump, I want to say the 1600 gph runs about $60 and 2000-2200 will run about $80-$90. A 1250 gph pump works ok with an expanded mesh and traditional riffle sluice at 6" wide, but it's just not quite enough to get the Gold Hog mats working. Also remember when you get above about 1600 gph you need to run the 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" hose size or you wont get full flow out of your pump. If memory serves if you have a 2200gph pump running only 1 1/8" hose you really only get about 1800 gph and if you want the full 2200 you need to run the 1 1/2" hose so just remember that. Most pump come with 2 adapters an 1 1/8" and 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" to utilize full pump output.

Just the small things folks tend to forget about. I hope this helps,
Chris

 

[Brehmdig]

Good evening,

At 6" wide you'll probably need 1600-2000 gph to utilize the Gold Hog Matting properly. If your flow is too slow the mat will juts fill up with material and not exchange properly. Now by electric I assume 12 volt and not 120? If you're going with 12 volt bilge type pump I recommend the Johnson/Mayfair pumps. I've had good luck with those in our recirculators and they hold up well. You should be able to go through Amazon and get a good price on a bilge pump, I want to say the 1600 gph runs about $60 and 2000-2200 will run about $80-$90. A 1250 gph pump works ok with an expanded mesh and traditional riffle sluice at 6" wide, but it's just not quite enough to get the Gold Hog mats working. Also remember when you get above about 1600 gph you need to run the 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" hose size or you wont get full flow out of your pump. If memory serves if you have a 2200gph pump running only 1 1/8" hose you really only get about 1800 gph and if you want the full 2200 you need to run the 1 1/2" hose so just remember that. Most pump come wit 2 adapters an 1 1/8" and 1 1/4" or 1 1/2" to utilize full pump output.

Just the small things folks tend to forget about. I hope this helps,
Chris

That's some great info... I am running 1 inch PVC on the nozzle area, will that work? Below is a picture. I just put in an order for a 1500 gph pump too... Called the company in hopes of upping it.
Any pointers, this is my first attempt and will probably fail miserably...

 

[Fabrication Specialists]

Good evening,

If you get the 1500 gph you "should" be ok, if worst comes to worst just lower the end of the sluice a little to get the water speed up a little. The first thing I see is your 1" piping should be ok, but just realize when it's up that high on the hopper you're going to get muddy. The water will hit the dirt and rocks and spray everywhere. If you're plan is to recirculate and conserve water (or stay drier) I'd try to get the pvc a little lower in the hopper. If you're going to just highbank with it and water loss isn't a big issue that should be fine, just be prepared to get a bit muddy (which is half the fun anyway right!) If you end up getting some material or "slurry" running out the back and missing you sluice a piece of rubber from you hopper that sits in the back of your sluice box works wonders to keep the water and material headed down the sluice and not out the back and on the ground.

Let me know if you have any other questions,
Thanks, Chris

 

[Brehmdig]

Good evening,

If you get the 1500 gph you "should" be ok, if worst comes to worst just lower the end of the sluice a little to get the water speed up a little. The first thing I see is your 1" piping should be ok, but just realize when it's up that high on the hopper you're going to get muddy. The water will hit the dirt and rocks and spray everywhere. If you're plan is to recirculate and conserve water (or stay drier) I'd try to get the pvc a little lower in the hopper. If you're going to just highbank with it and water loss isn't a big issue that should be fine, just be prepared to get a bit muddy (which is half the fun anyway right!) If you end up getting some material or "slurry" running out the back and missing you sluice a piece of rubber from you hopper that sits in the back of your sluice box works wonders to keep the water and material headed down the sluice and not out the back and on the ground.

Let me know if you have any other questions,
Thanks, Chris

Muddy it will be! I totally was going to get a rubber piece but spaced at Home Depot, thanks for the reminder!
I was hoping I could angle the jets once I get my pump to maximize pressure and minimize losses with strategic drilling. I suppose I'll have to add a video when I get it up and running?

 

[Fabrication Specialists]

Good evening,

It will be a good start and I guarantee after the first trip you'll probably find 3 or 4 things you want to change. You just need to get out there and play with it and dial it in so it meets your needs. I'm sure it will do you just fine, projects always need fine tuning!

Have a great week, Chris

 

[Fabrication Specialists]

Good evening Brehmdig,

Also one other thing I forgot to mention. I was talking to Doc at Gold hog a while ago about my highbankers running 12 pumps and he suggested the Razorback Matting as it works better in lower flow sluices such as highbankers. I have had good success with the razorback and the scrubber, but I was running a 2200gph pump also. You may want to change the scrubber to razorback but ask around and see what other folks are doing. Doc sent me some of the new Bedrock mat a few weeks ago, but I haven't had a chance to get it installed and tried yet on my personal equipment so I'm not sure how that works with lower flow rates ( I don't even know if the public can buy the Bedrock yet). I'd check the Gold Hog site and forums for a better answer from folks, but for the desert and my highbankers I've had good results with razorback in the sluice.I need to try like a 1600 gph or so with the razorback and bedrock and if it works that's what I'll be running in all my highbankers from this point out instead of a traditional riffle system with the lower flow pumps (1600-1800 gph range). In the higher flow units (2200 and up gph) I'll run the scrubber, razorback and bedrock so the gold has 3 different mats to drop into.

I hope this helps,
Thanks, Chris

 

[Brehmdig]

Good evening Brehmdig,

Also one other thing I forgot to mention. I was talking to Doc at Gold hog a while ago about my highbankers running 12 pumps and he suggested the Razorback Matting as it works better in lower flow sluices such as highbankers. I have had good success with the razorback and the scrubber, but I was running a 2200gph pump also. You may want to change the scrubber to razorback but ask around and see what other folks are doing. Doc sent me some of the new Bedrock mat a few weeks ago, but I haven't had a chance to get it installed and tried yet on my personal equipment so I'm not sure how that works with lower flow rates ( I don't even know if the public can buy the Bedrock yet). I'd check the Gold Hog site and forums for a better answer from folks, but for the desert and my highbankers I've had good results with razorback in the sluice.I need to try like a 1600 gph or so with the razorback and bedrock and if it works that's what I'll be running in all my highbankers from this point out instead of a traditional riffle system with the lower flow pumps (1600-1800 gph range). In the higher flow units (2200 and up gph) I'll run the scrubber, razorback and bedrock so the gold has 3 different mats to drop into.

I hope this helps,
Thanks, Chris

I'm trying to change the pump I ordered to 2000gph+... Any idea on about how long it should be able to run on a battery?

 

[Fabrication Specialists]

Good evening,

Sorry I run my shop on a night shift (1800-0600 since my wife works nights) so I just climbed out of bed! I always tell people when they're buying a pump for the first time buy bigger than they think they need. This will allow for more options in the future such as Gold Hog matting and future expansions of your project (wider, longer, etc). The pump is one of the most expensive things for highbanking so do it right the first time as you can always slow down water flow if need be.
Now for your battery duration question there's no real solid answer on that. It will all depend on battery type (conventional or deep cycle) battery size and battery age. If you have a battery in "good" condition you should get a good day or two of usage with the bigger pumps (2000+ gph). The smaller pumps (500-1250 gph) I've seen go an entire weekend (two or three days) with moderate usage on a small lawn tractor type battery. Also if you have a small solar cell battery maintainer that will help for long weekends of use. If you have a small motorcycle battery the bigger pumps won't last real long (only a few hours). The reality of it is if you're going out for a day or two a standard car battery will treat you fine with typical usage.

Sorry I don't have a definitive "it will last this long" answer, but it truly depends on a few factors.

Thanks, Chris

 

[team sidewinder]

I have bee lurking on this topic and was going to ask some questions but looks like all my questions have been asked by others and answered by Fabrication Specialists.
Thanks FS for your willingness to share your invaluable input here.

 

[Sick4gold]

On a side note I love your home built box Brehmdig.
Using a garden spreader w/wheels already and adding grizzlies and a sluice- very cool.
I'm tossing you a random "like" for your creativity