• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Nancy Reading
  • Carla Burke
  • r ranson
  • John F Dean
  • paul wheaton
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • Jay Angler
  • Liv Smith
  • Leigh Tate
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • Timothy Norton
gardeners:
  • thomas rubino
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Maieshe Ljin

Solar power for water pump

 
Posts: 83
15
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I have a water pump connected to my IBC tanks to water my garden. For now I'm using an extension cord to connect it to an outlet in my garage.

I want to hook it up to a solar panel, or if that's too expensive, add an outdoor power outlet close to the pump.

Is there a way to figure out how much solar power (and which panel) I would need to use this pump once or twice a week for 1 hour?

This is the pump I have: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B002GQ99I0/ref=pe_3034960_236394800_TE_dp_1
 
Posts: 1510
110
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
it probably draws about 10 amps at 110 volts , I'm guessing,
so that would be 1100 watts. usually starting a motor draws more power so lets say it draws 2200 watts at motor start up.

so I'm no expert but seems like a 2500 watt inverter will cover what you need.

looking forward to experts chiming in as I'm on a quest to learn much more about offered solar setups.
 
Posts: 726
Location: Morocco
99
cat forest garden trees solar wood heat woodworking
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
A solar panel provides power when the sun shines on it ... whether you want to use the pump at that time or not. Not using it will waste the energy.

Rather than trying to add a battery and inverter to power this large pump, I would suggest getting a small 12V DC pump and hooking it up to a 50W solar panel. It will take time to water the garden, but over a day it should still get it done.
 
master steward
Posts: 6968
Location: southern Illinois, USA
2536
goat cat dog chicken composting toilet food preservation pig bee solar wood heat homestead
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
I agree with The information in Bruce’s post.  To add some perspective:

I would get a sine wave inverter.  That adds $$$.

Consider that you may wish to add to your usage.   That mean a somewhat larger inverter.

If you already have a grid connection, considering up front price only, it will be less expensive to run an electrical line.

Now, I can be more than a little strange. I if I had the $$$, I would go solar.
 
steward
Posts: 16058
Location: USDA Zone 8a
4272
dog hunting food preservation cooking bee greening the desert
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
If I am not mistaken, we use an old battery that we keep charged with a battery charger for our setup like yours.

For our electric fence (similar application), we use an old battery with a small solar panel.
 
pollinator
Posts: 3827
Location: Massachusetts, Zone:6/7 AHS:4 GDD:3000 Rainfall:48in even Soil:SandyLoam pH6 Flat
555
2
forest garden solar
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Option 1 Direct Solar
Solar Panel
DC Pump (connected directly to the solar panel)
note: only works when the sun is shining

Option 2
Solar Panel
Battery
DC Pump (connected to battery)
note: will work day/night

Option 3
Solar Panel
Battery
Inverter
AC Pump (connected to inverter)
note: will work with any pump day/night

Lets expand on option 3,
AC Pump (the one you have that is listed as 375W (1/2HP). Run time = twice weekly, 1hrs each time
Inverter 400W, but then we have to think about surge power required for motor, so maybe 1000W
Battery 2000WHr
Solar Panel  160W (12V) or a regular 250W (24V)

Clarifying Questions:
Can you check and report how much watts your pump uses, it will affect the rest of the system
 
You're not going crazy. You're going sane in a crazy world. Find comfort in this tiny ad:
turnkey permaculture paradise for zero monies
https://permies.com/t/267198/turnkey-permaculture-paradise-monies
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic