Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

I was looking for a small diesel generater to just power my deep well sub-pump. Didn't want to have to store gas,main use was long term access to clean water from my 200' well if power grid fails. I ran across this downloadable catalog. On page 17 is a submersible pump that can be run directly from a solar panel or 24 hours a day with a battery bank.

In my case I could draw about 600 gallons per day. I would be able to run other small electrical items also with the battery bank setup. If it works as stated I would be able to do so silently without the upfront cost and hassle of storing gas or deisel. Wouldn't have to rely on hit or miss quality of china diesel genset or the cost thereof. This setup with PV panel would cost about $1500- $2000.

http://www.thesustainablevillage.com...ogs/index.html

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

Page 28 has emergency pumps to hand pump water out of your deep well.Might get one of the "Simple Pump" variations.

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

LD:

Most of the solar setups are 600 gallon a day UNPRESSURIZED.

This will not get the water into your home. If you wish to do so, then you would need a very large holding tank that would hold 24 hours worth of water, and a small jet pump to pressurize water into your home during normal day to day operations.

I have been looking at this setup as well, and honestly, I am looking at a magnasine prosine 240volt ac inverter and a decent battery bank. This will keep my setup simple, and still allow backup power for both the well, the septic, my freezer, as well as compact florescent task lighting. My well setup would stay the same. I could also take this setup with me if the need arises.

The magnasine cost around 2000k.

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

hope you ment 2k?

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

Yeah....2k.

http://www.partsonsale.com/magnum.html

http://www.partsonsale.com/sinewavemag2.gif

Nice thing about these is that you do not have to have 2 units to generate 240v.

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

Where I live there are a lot of solar water pumps in use watering livestock. All the reports I've heard from people who have them are positive and they seem to work well. Below is some information on the pumps and systems they are using in this area.

http://www.genproenergy.com/lorentz_solar_pumps.html

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

Thanks to all for the interesting solar pump information. :applause_

A recommendation if I may? On the http://www.genproenergy.com/lorentz_solar_pumps.html URL, Mozilla would NOT open it, so use IE 6.0 or greater to see its contents. (No, I didn't try Netscape.)

:15_1_70v:

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

Beef steak I don't know much about computers or what you just said but I hope others are able to take a look at this site because these are good pumps and systems from the reports I've heard. Thanks for the help on this:15_1_70v:

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

I have an old abandoned well head (and pump). Have not tested the pump yet (I'm on county water too). I would invest but the payback would be slow to nill considering I'm spending less than $15 a month right now for water.

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

Techguy......I have a 3/4 hp 240vac submersible well pump now. The breaker is rated 15amp 240vac.Water level is 68'. How big of a solar panel would I need and how many batteries would I need in the battery bank and which inverter would I need for just being able to run the pump on a limited daily basis? Your input would be much appreciated.

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

You wouldn't happen to have the docs that came with the pump would you? Startup wattage and running wattage are what we need to know in order to figure out what you would need.

On a side to your question.... You have to step up to the large inverters to get 240v ac. The smallest I have seen is 4000 watts with 6000 watt surge. This should handle a 3/4 pump with no issue.

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

You're welcome, Tumbleweed. Just trying to help others who might be frustrated in trying to see that valuable URL you posted earlier. I happen to "hate" Microsoft's Internet Explorer, ANY VERSION. However, when I click on a link, and it brings up a page which is majorly blank, I'm pretty sure it isn't my computer who is having the problem, but the website builder who only knows how to manipulate and code within IE's perameters.

Yes, I found several interesting things in that website, once I was able to see it. Again, my thanks.

:bull-smile:

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

TechGuy....

The information on the Franklin Electric submersible motor control panel would be all that I would have. It shows 3/4hp rpm3450 volts230 amp 6.4 kw.55

S.F.1.5 SF max amp 8.0 Could you link to the inverter on that page of inverters? Also if I was to use deep cylce marine bateries ....how may would I need . And what size solar panel. Where do you get your solar panels? Hey..thanks alot.

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

I will write more later but in the meantime, I would highly suggest buying a subscription to homepower magazine before jumping off into anything like this. Read what their systems look like, listed to the pros.

www.homepower.com

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

Basically it looks like the pump would need at least 8 amps starting, 6.4 running amps. 8x230=1840watts. I'm just looking for some kind of formula to figure how many batteries to run pump for maybe 15-30min at a time, or even less..just to fill a barrel. and then what size panel to get for that size of battery bank. Just looking for rough estimate for pricing estimate so I know if it is doable or way out of the ballpark.

I don't want to run my whole house with this ...just looking to access water from my well to drink and cook with and dump into the toilet tank. My septic is gravity flow. Thanks again! found these panels

http://www.solarhome.org/solarpanelscenter.html

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

never want torun your batteries below 50% preferably. to run that setup
for an hour is probably going to run you 160 amp hours 80 amp hours
for a half hour so in theory 160 amp hours of battery storage will do it for short runs

BUT when you draw such high loads from a battery bank the amp hour rating
is considerably reduced also as the battery bank gets older it becomes less
efficient and you can have gassing problems so it is wise to go much larger
at the get go. 400 ah min i would prefer 800 ah

how often you are going to need this pumping and your location will dictate what solar panels you will need.

quick price guestimate 500 dollars minimun for batteries
500 to 1000 for an inverter
500 + for panels depending on your usage
probably another 200 for cable regulators etc

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

I think you have the ticket. Sorry about not posting more, been at work all day doing Cisco Unity upgrades along with Vmware ESX upgrades. Been a fun day.

try here:

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

Little 40 pound 1000 watt rated made in china 2 cycle 2 HP generator I picked up last winter at deep discount for $89 will run an 8 amp pump just fine. Something to think about and maybe have on hand until you get together the big bucks for that fancy solar rig.


This little guy is nothing to laugh about. Only 65 db and will run 10 hours on a gallon of mix. Plus I could backpack it a few miles if I had to.

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

I was thinking of going that way but I need 230volts ac for pump. I was even looking at something called "The Simple Pump" ....you can hand pump from your deep well with the old pump still in place.

http://www.simplepump.com/residential.html

Thanks again Tech guy...sounds like you need to unwind after a hard days work!

Also Damoc...didn't see you post there....thank you also!

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

Why not go with a soft start Grundfos pump and a cheap inverter ?

Would be a lot cheaper.

Re: Solar Submersible Water Pump!
 

You are right it probably would be. We have 230volt pumps around here though. The hardness in the water calcifies the pump rotor and it needs more torque at startup to break it loose. I have the origional submersible pump now for 19 years.