PV Gap

Melanie Said:

where can i get a small solar panel to power an outdoor water pump?

We Answered:

You will need more than a small solar panel to run a pump continuously, unless you don't mind that the pump only comes on during the day while the sun is out.

1st you need to know what the power demands are of the pump in question. Not only do you need to know the rate of the power draw from the pump, but you will also have to calculate how much power the pump will draw from your solar system every day. You will have to factor in that the sun doesn't shine brightly every day, & of course there's also night, so you will need a storage battery, & charging system to go along with your solar panel.
Now most pumps like the one you described are 120vac. Most solar panels, the batteries, & the chargers are 12vdc.
In order to get 120vac you will need an inverter. Once again, you will have to make sure that the inverter you get can handle the demands of the pump.
A solar system that actually works for you takes some carefull planning, & it's not something that you can just hang from a tree.

None of what I just descibed will be inexpensive by my definition, so if it were me, I'd dig a trench across the driveway, & install some direct bury cable on a GFCI circuit out of my main power panel & save a bundle.