[jggibbs]

We live in an area that can loose power in the winter for several days. We are installing a water storage tank on a high point on our property. The tank is about 1,800 feet from the pump controls. After reading some of the discussions it sound like controlling the pump via a float switch is the way to go. Is there a float switch that will be able to send the signal to the pump controls 1,800 feet away? If so, what would you recommend and what wire size and number of conduits should we run. The tanks will be buried and vented. Total tank capacity of about 3,000 gallons. The tanks are about 5 feet in depth.

[hkstroud]

That sounds like it is going to be a rather complex water system.

Deep well pump switches are usually 240 volt switches. You are probably going to have to switch out the pump pressure switch out for a 120V double throw relay to avoid running the pump amperage through the float switch. Running a 240 circuit to and from the float switch would require 4 wire cable. The sixe of the wire will depend on the amperage of the circuit.

A small, double throw relay, the relay itself pulling less than 1/2 amp but capable of passing probably 20 amps of the pump circuit would require 14/2 cable from the well head to the reservoir tank.