CountryByNet.com Forums :: Re: Solar Water Pump

Shawn, I recommend "Home Power" magazine. They have had many writeups about off grid solar water pumping. Water pumping is a good match to solar since for stock watering and irrigation yo don't have to have a lot of pressure, just flow, and it is OK to only pump when the sun shines.

You need to size your systems water storage (pond, tank, trough, whatever) to hold enough water to get by during the longest reasonably expected period of heavy overcast weather in the worst season you want water pumped.

You need to size the solar array and pump so that it will pump enough water for your needs. The good news is that you don't need a battery in this application. There are advertisers in "home Power" who would be happy to recommend system components to you .

You need to supply them with good input info. How deep is your well (worst case distance from highest point you want to lift the water to the surface of the water in the well at its lowest. How many gallons per week do you need? Gallons per day? This is not the same info! If you have a large enough container you can pump water when the sun is plentiful and last through long dark spells using a smaller pump. If you have a small container (trough) then you need to be able to refill it under less than optimum solar conditions which increases the size of your PV array by so much that you will faint when you see the cost figures.

I assume you want to design the most economical system capable of meeting your requirements. I suggest that a larger water storage capability will save you significant $ in solar cells (PV) and in the size of the pump you need. A small pump running most days to wharehouse water is cheaper than a larger pump to do the job quicker when needed.

Solar pumping can be quite practical in off-grid applications and is used in several third world countries for irrigation and drinking water.

Pat

"I'm not from your planet, monkey boy!"

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