PV Gap

Carrie Said:

I'm looking for a solar powered pump for a garden water feature can anyone help?

We Answered:

Perhaps this might work....

Sunjet 150

http://www.gardenwinds.com/servlet/Detai…

Javier Said:

Solar powered water pump for sprinkler?

We Answered:

This project may be very poorly considered.

Solar power is costly on a capital cost per watt basis. You would want to use that costly power to do things for you all year round, not just when your garden needs water.

For any pumping role, your solar panels will not provide good starting ability, particularly when the sun comes up. You will need battery power to build up some charge to start the motor under pumping load.
Your system then has to be designed not to try to start the pump when there is not enough charge. Late in the day, or when the sun wanes, you also need to have the pump stop running if the voltage drops too low. It just waits for the battery to regain charge,

You will get more water delivered in drip mode than via sprinkler, and with less sunlight. Sprinklers will waste at least 30% of the water and 45% of the energy.

If you use an inverter between battery and pump, you can use cheap ac pumping motors, but additionally you can use the power in your house.

If your only application of power is pumping, and you are far from neighbours, you might want to consider using a wind turbine, as it will give more kwh per dollar. But in the village, and powering household uses, solar is a good alternative.