"SteveB" wrote in message
news:9tY2f.15194$fE5.1355@fed1read06...
I want to lift water about 20 feet from my truck to the storage tank on
the
second floor of my cabin.

I used to be a commercial diver, and have used many types of "airlifts."
This is a device where a suction is created by venturi-ing air into a line
in the direction you want it to flow. In real underwater conditions, the
air expands as it rises, increasing the suction power. It really sucks up
whatever is in front of the nozzle.

I was playing with the idea of buying a pump that I could pump water from
my
truck tank up to the storage tank of the cabin. (This is just for winter
use. In the warm months, there is a water system.) I am running into the
problem that a lot of them just don't have a lot of head pressure. And
they
cost a lot. And they require special plumbing connectors. A small
compressor would not have to put out a lot of air to lift the water in a
1/2" line and get it to rise up. The bubbles will push the water up and
rise automatically.

Anyone else ever done this? Venturiing is a good way to make suction
devices for all manner of applications, and they are really safe because
they just use air or water.

You just need a pump which produces over 20 feet of head. I bet one of those
drill pumps would do it slowly, although initial lubrication might be an
issue. You would need to produce a pretty strong vacuum to draw water up 20
feet. I bet an RV water pump would work well. Other possibilities - used
pumps - sprinkler, spa, pool, household water, etc. Or, Pressurise the truck
tank with your compressor, if it can take the pressure.

Bob