solar powered water pump

[nellynelly]

i want to install a small pump to lift water ~20' to an upper storage tank. anyone have luck using a solar powered pump? most i have seen are either small (fountain) or large (well) any product recomendations? ideally, the pump would include a float.

thank you

 

[refamat]

i want to install a small pump to lift water ~20' to an upper storage tank. anyone have luck using a solar powered pump? most i have seen are either small (fountain) or large (well) any product recomendations? ideally, the pump would include a float.

thank you

Might look into solar powered recirculating pumps
you may need "foot valves" with weaker pumps

 

[Arielle]

Nelly nelly-- love how you think! I"ve been thinking the same thing, only my well id 330 feet. I do remember in third world countries a pump driven by a childrens playground item--- a platform that turns and the kids jump on. ANyways . . hoping to see more ideas posted.

 

[escape]

Check out this article:
http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago91.html

I use a shurflo (DC) pump and a 180 watt solar panel to pump water about 9 feet up and then a 200 foot run. I have it direct wired so it runs when the sun is out and shuts down when the sun isn't.

You can also add batteries to store power.
You could also add a converter that would enable you to use a regular AC pump.

But, the simplest solution is a DC pump wired directly to a solar panel that has enough volts to do the work.

 

[Arielle]

You bring up some very good points.

Our well is 330 feet deep, and the pump is at the bottom. Meaning the electricity would need to run to that depth and still have enough umph to run the pump.

Looks like a good design needs to consist of all parts selected to work together BEFORE going solar.

 

[escape]

Actually, my solar panel is 100 feet from my pump. The pump sits next to the river (in the woods). The solar panel is about 100 feet away in the sun.

Check out the shurflo site for more info on submersible pumps. And check out http://www.backwoodssolar.com/ for even more information about solar water pumping. I have purchased several times from backwoodssolar.com and have been happy with their service (and knwledge).

You can learn a lot from reading their "articles" section.

 

[Arielle]

Actually, my solar panel is 100 feet from my pump. The pump sits next to the river (in the woods). The solar panel is about 100 feet away in the sun.

Check out the shurflo site for more info on submersible pumps. And check out http://www.backwoodssolar.com/ for even more information about solar water pumping. I have purchased several times from backwoodssolar.com and have been happy with their service (and knwledge).

You can learn a lot from reading their "articles" section.

THis is exciting-- will definitely make time to read this. THank you for sharing. One step to a long process. Do you have any info on solar panels for homes? I have a south facing roof just not he $30K to install-- but haven't given up.

 

[nellynelly]

Thank you for the insight. I have some HW to do.

 

[escape]

Arielle, so far I have only delved into small solar applications (like pumping water and storing a small amount in batteries) I don't know much about larger applications. But, I learn more all the time.

Start slow. Once you get a few things under your belt, you will be ready for bigger things....

(My next experiment may be a solar set up complete with storage for the roof of my chicken coop. I am thinking I may put a solar panel on the roof, mount a box on the side of the coop for batteries, charge controller and an inverter. I'd like to be able to run a couple of lights off it. If I am happy with that, I may be ready for bigger applications.)

 

[Arielle]

Arielle, so far I have only delved into small solar applications (like pumping water and storing a small amount in batteries) I don't know much about larger applications. But, I learn more all the time.

Start slow. Once you get a few things under your belt, you will be ready for bigger things....

(My next experiment may be a solar set up complete with storage for the roof of my chicken coop. I am thinking I may put a solar panel on the roof, mount a box on the side of the coop for batteries, charge controller and an inverter. I'd like to be able to run a couple of lights off it. If I am happy with that, I may be ready for bigger applications.)

THanks for the encouragement.

Sorry op for the side tracking.