Engine Driven Generator Sets in the Treasure Hunting World of ours is mostly used to provide electrical power for lighting, powering Jackhammers,Electric Drills and Submersible Pumps. Portable Engine Driven Generator Sets are used on the field where no local power is available, can be driven by gasoline or diesel fuel engines. When purchasing one, be aware of the Rated output, expressed in Watts, for an example, Stanley Generator Set, 8,000 Watt-10,000 Surge Watt, 15 HP Engine.The 8,000 watts rated capacity is for Continuous Load while the Surge Watts of 10,000 is momentary overload that it can handle, like a Submersible pump starting, for an Electric Motor will draw more power when starting. Running the Genset more than its normal rated capacity can cause burnout generator windings and it is not cheap to get a rewind job.
Submersible Pumps is rated in HP, take note of the Specifications, example; HP-2, Ph-1, GPM-195, Max. solid intake-1.1 ", Max Head-42 Ft., Port NPT-3", Volts-AC@60HZ-230 V, Starting Amps and Running amps. Submersible Pumps can be categorized as Trash Pumps like the example stated or just for Clean Water and I suggest you get a Sewage or Trash Pump for a half inch rock suck in will play havoc on your pump impeller if you have a pump only for clean water. Max Head or TDH is how high your pump can discharge the water in vertical feet . Better get an over rated Pump as it will cost you less in the long run. Just because the water in your dig site is 35 feet and you will get that 35 feet Max Head, when you are digging , it gets deeper and soon you will exceed your max head, then you will need another pump. If the Max Head is exceeded, the 1st pump can discharge to a CONTAINER, place the 2nd pump in that container to pump out the water and you can keep doing this, depending on how much load your Genset can carry. Know the Starting Amps and the Running Amps as it plays an important role on your Genset. Starting Amps can be as much as 4 or more times your Running Amps, depending on Voltage and you do not want to Exceed your Surge Watts on your Generator. When Volts and Power are known,FOR SINGLE PHASE, Power(watts)=Volts x Amperes and if Kilovolt-ampere is known .Amperes= KVA x 1000
e(VOLTS)
Engine Driven Centrifugal Pumps is preferred if you have shallow pits or holes as they are Self-Driven, no need for a Generator but they cannot be lowered or run in a confined space as the exhaust from the engine produces Carbon Monoxide, a fatal tasteless, odorless and colorless gas that has lead to a lot of fatalities in the TH community. Suggest that you install a Check Valve or Foot Valve at the suction end to prevent the water from running out when the pump is idle, saves you on fuel or repetitive Priming of the pump.