I have a solar powered off-grid cabin. I am using two 120 volt AC pumps (one for fresh water and one to pump the septic outflow up a hill to the drainage field). The previous owner put in a 3500 watt inverter, because each pump runs at about 1000 watts, and has a considerable start-up surge: if they come on at the same time the draw is considerable.
If I could figure out how to prevent the two pumps from running at the same time, I could use a smaller inverter. Does anyone have any suggestions on setting up a switching system that would give priority to the water pump, allowing it to interrupt the septic pump when the water pump's pressure switch activates? In other words, a setup that would allow only one pump to run at a time, with priority to the water pump?
If I could figure out how to prevent the two pumps from running at the same time, I could use a smaller inverter. Does anyone have any suggestions on setting up a switching system that would give priority to the water pump, allowing it to interrupt the septic pump when the water pump's pressure switch activates? In other words, a setup that would allow only one pump to run at a time, with priority to the water pump?