Running a 240v 600w pump off solar

[The Ruminant]

I’m an no electrician, so.... what do I need to run a 240v 600w water pump off solar panels? I vaguely know of power inverters and power controllers(?) but don’t know what rating of each to get, nor how many solar panels, nor what brands are reliable or what suppliers are reliable.

Can anyone help with recommendations, links etc? I’m even open to someone putting a kit together for me with a little mark-up, depending on cost.... it would save me electrocuting myself!
thanks

 

[Exfarmer]

You need to get the right equipment if this is off grid, running a standard water pump would burn it out very quickly when the sun was not shining.
could be done with panels batteries inverters etc.
there is no way to guarantee any number of panels will generate sufficient power in inclement weather

 

[f0ster]

the trouble with solar is on overcast days the output drops off a cliff, on a 4kw system producing 3kw on a good day it can drop to just a couple of hundred watts on an overcast day, I was dealing with a system that had a victron inverter charging batteries from solar, the property ran off the batteries, if there was excess battery drain the victron inverter had the ability to close a contact that can be used to trigger a standby generator,

 

[The Ruminant]

You need to get the right equipment if this is off grid, running a standard water pump would burn it out very quickly when the sun was not shining.
could be done with panels batteries inverters etc.
there is no way to guarantee any number of panels will generate sufficient power in inclement weather

Is there any way to switch it off if electricity generation fell below a preset level?

 

[Kiwi Pete]

How many hours a day will your pump run?

 

[rogeriko]

Its extremely difficult to run a 240v pump from solar. You need a dedicated pump that runs directly from the panels. Output depends on sunshine. I used to install these in Greece, they work very well.

LORENTZ

www.lorentz.de

Submersible Pumps

Pumps designed to provide water supplies in isolated locations, with no long cables to bury or electricity bills to pay.For most drilled wells the water level will be below the suction limit of any pump, so the pump needs to be sited actually in the well itself. The best way to do this is with a...

www.windandsun.co.uk

 

[The Ruminant]

How many hours a day will your pump run?

I won’t need to run it at night and won’t need to run it in the winter, so just summer daylight hours, say 8 or 10 hours per day max

 

[Exfarmer]

Is there any way to switch it off if electricity generation fell below a preset level?

You really need to speak to an expert. There are pumps which can run straight off panels , it very much depends on the output you need.
pumping water is a matterof two factors, flow and head.
I would be surprised if any Standard 240 volt pump could achieve a guaranteed regular supply off solar, without a very considerable investment in panels batteries and inverters.
most of the solar pumps advertised will have a very limited lift.

 

[The Ruminant]

You really need to speak to an expert. There are pumps which can run straight off panels , it very much depends on the output you need.
pumping water is a matterof two factors, flow and head.
I would be surprised if any Standard 240 volt pump could achieve a guaranteed regular supply off solar, without a very considerable investment in panels batteries and inverters.
most of the solar pumps advertised will have a very limited lift.

I was rather hoping there would be an expert on here.....

 

[Exfarmer]

these guys seem to know a thing or two

Solar Powered Water Pump - Can I use a solar water pump for irrigation in the UK and other FAQs - 3P Technik UK Ltd

Can I use a solar powered water pump for irrigation in the UK and other FAQs about off-grid water supply using solar energy.

www.3ptechnik.co.uk

 

[WullieG]

I was rather hoping there would be an expert on here.....

Rogeriko is.....(post#6 above)

 

[Highland Mule]

600W is a fairly hefty pump to power from panels - could you get away with less power?

Unsure what the pump duty is, but I'd consider a smaller 12V pump and a header tank, if you can. Panels to charge some batteries, pump running 12V from them and keep it simple. Having to up and down on voltage from battery to pump will reduce efficiency too.

 

[dairyrow]

http://www.solarpumpsolutions.com/
Haven't used them I must add. But have had look to see if we can do paddocks with sheep and get water to them using these.

 

[Scholsey]

wind and sun are experts at this http://www.windandsun.co.uk/

 

[Green Grass]

Its extremely difficult to run a 240v pump from solar. You need a dedicated pump that runs directly from the panels. Output depends on sunshine. I used to install these in Greece, they work very well.

LORENTZ

www.lorentz.de

Submersible Pumps

Pumps designed to provide water supplies in isolated locations, with no long cables to bury or electricity bills to pay.For most drilled wells the water level will be below the suction limit of any pump, so the pump needs to be sited actually in the well itself. The best way to do this is with a...

www.windandsun.co.uk

I installed one of these system on some off ground two years ago being faultless. Filled up 4500l header tank in 40 mins in April lifting 10 m. Seems like quality gear so far. PS 150 pump.

 

[blackisleboy]

Really need to know

• what the suction lift is ( the height between sump water level and the pump )
• what the desired daily quantity of water, and how much storage there is
• what the peak flowrate is
• what the head is ( height between sump water level and outlet is)
• what the friction losses are ( need to know if thereis there any in line filtration, pipe size, and length of run)

With those details it should be possible to come up with an idea of pump selection, power requirement and whether the job is possible with a reasonable budget!

 

[Zetor]

I’m an no electrician, so.... what do I need to run a 240v 600w water pump off solar panels? I vaguely know of power inverters and power controllers(?) but don’t know what rating of each to get, nor how many solar panels, nor what brands are reliable or what suppliers are reliable.

Can anyone help with recommendations, links etc? I’m even open to someone putting a kit together for me with a little mark-up, depending on cost.... it would save me electrocuting myself!
thanks

Can you explain what exactly you’re trying to achieve with the water and we’ll advise, I would stay with 12v pumps to simplify the system multiple 12v pumps may needed to achieve the same flow/pressure

 

[The Ruminant]

Really need to know

• what the suction lift is ( the height between sump water level and the pump )
• what the desired daily quantity of water, and how much storage there is
• what the peak flowrate is
• what the head is ( height between sump water level and outlet is)
• what the friction losses are ( need to know if thereis there any in line filtration, pipe size, and length of run)

With those details it should be possible to come up with an idea of pump selection, power requirement and whether the job is possible with a reasonable budget!

Can you explain what exactly you’re trying to achieve with the water and we’ll advise, I would stay with 12v pumps to simplify the system multiple 12v pumps may needed to achieve the same flow/pressure

I want to pump water through a rain gun to irrigate some land in the summer. Up to 20 cu.m per day during summer months and it’s fine if it’s only during daylight hours.

2m suction lift
25m head
1000m
No inline filtration. Pipe size 25mm or 32mm

Hope this helps

 

[Exfarmer]

I want to pump water through a rain gun to irrigate some land in the summer. Up to 20 cu.m per day during summer months and it’s fine if it’s only during daylight hours.

2m suction lift
25m head
1000m
No inline filtration. Pipe size 25mm or 32mm

Hope this helps

Be aware, the limit of 20cu .m without a licence, does not apply to spray irrigation, just saying.

 

[blackisleboy]

I want to pump water through a rain gun to irrigate some land in the summer. Up to 20 cu.m per day during summer months and it’s fine if it’s only during daylight hours.

2m suction lift
25m head
1000m
No inline filtration. Pipe size 25mm or 32mm

Hope this helps

20cu.m per day is an average of 13 l/minute. If pipe run is 1000m then as a minimum use 32mm pipe as friction loss will be too high otherwise ( 6m for 32 mm versus 25m for 25mm - see https://www.plasticpipeshop.co.uk/Flow-and-Headloss-Calculator_ep_60-1.html)

To pump that flow of water the 27m total head, plus friction of 6m, you would need a pump of 300w minimum ( I am unclear if your head of 25m given was only to nozzle tip, or did that include pressure to spray?). Finding a small 12v pump at that rating with a 100% duty cycle run time will be difficult.

A bank of smaller pumps with more than one feed line might be a better option....you then have a redundancy factored in.