Earth Energy Unlimited

Solar Water Pumping

Providing Environmentally Friendly Alternative Power

Sources for Residential and Commercial Use.

Solar Water Pumping

Solar Water Pumping:
Using Solar to Power your Well Pump

How does it work?

Can I use the sun to power a pump?
Any renewable energy source can make the electricity you need to power appliances, including pumps.  Solar electric cells convert sunlight into DC electricity that can be routed directly to DC appliances, or can be stored in batteries for use when the sun is not shining, or can be inverted into AC electricity to power AC appliances.

Solar well pumping generally refers to the use of sunlight to power pumps, while the sun is shining.   These are simple systems that do not incorporate batteries for storing electricity.  In essence, the water tank or cistern acts as storage.  If you can pump water fast enough and your cistern is big enough, then you do not need to pump during the night or during cloudy days.

Batteries are generally not necessary in remote water pumping situations, as long as your system is sized properly and you have enough water flow from the water source.

Is solar water pumping economically feasible?

The reliability and economy of solar electric power make it an excellent choice for powering remote water pumping.  Cattle ranchers all over the world are enthusiastic solar pump users.  Their water sources are often spread over many miles of rangeland where utility power is not accessible and where refueling and maintenance costs are high for generator use.

If your water source is more than 1/3 mile from utility power, solar is a favorable economic choice.  This fact is substantiated by a number of rural electric cooperatives across the U.S.  These co-ops actively promote use of solar pumps because the cost to extend new power lines is prohibitive.

Where do solar pumping systems work?

Solar panels should be located in a sunny spot where no shading occurs.  Altitude is not a factor, but height off the ground will affect whether or not you are able to keep them clear of snow.

Panels should be angled optimally for solar gain, particularly during the shorter winter days.  If your site is in the northern hemisphere you should point your panels to true south.  The reverse is true for places in the southern hemisphere.  For many locations there is quite a difference between magnetic south and true south, so you should consult a declination map before setting your mounting structure.

The solar panels should be tiled up from horizontal to get a better angle at the sun and to help shed rain and snow.  For best year round power output, with the least amount of maintenance, you should face the solar panel(s) true south at a tilt angle equal to your latitude with respect to the horizontal position.

• Latitude minus 15 degrees in the summer
• Latitude in the spring/fall
• Latitude plus 15 degrees in the winter

Sizing a Solar Water

Earth Energy Unlimited’s sales technicians can help you size your system.  We will need very specific information before we can begin to help you.  There are two ways to get us this information.

You can email this Pump Sizing Questionnaire to us at earthenergyunlimited@gmail.com.  Call us at 210-370-7801 to confirm that we have received it and to chat with us a bit about your pump needs.

Three Basic Questions to Get Started

In order for us to help you find the right size pump, we will need your help with three basic questions:

• What flow rate is required?
• What is the total lift water has to travel (vertical distance)?
• What is the water source?

Other helpful information:

• Where is the pump going to be located (city, state)?
• Do you want to have an AC Power Source?
• What is the recovery rate of the water source?
• Do you want a float switch if pumping into a storage tank?
• How do you want to mount the solar panels? (Pole mounts are generally used.)
• What type of application will you be using your pump for, i.e. water system for home, irrigation, livestock, pond or other?

Basic Facts About Pump

We carry surface pumps and submersible pumps. Here are some basic facts:

Surface Pumps:

• The suction lift for surface pumps is no more than 20 feet. To figure out the suction lift, subtract a foot for every thousand feet you rise in elevation.
• Surface pumps include a dry run switch as well for protection if water source dries up.
• Pressure/booster pumps are a type of surface pump that need a pressure tank in series in order to run.
• All surface pumps require a filter.

Submersible Pumps

There are two types of submersible pumps--Diaphragm and Helical Rotor/Centrifugal:

Diaphragm Pumps:

Diaphragm pumps are cheaper, but require maintenance every two to four years and are generally not as powerful.

Helical Rotor/Centrifugal (HR/C) Pumps:

The Helical Rotor/Centrifugal (HR/C) pumps are the best quality and most expensive. These are the pumps that we will always recommend and include in our quotes that have wells.

1. HC/R pumps can be used in other water sources, i.e. ponds, springs. They can take some dirt, but the more dirt, the faster they degrade.
2. They can be hooked up to AC sources, generator/inverter - just need to add the right controller.
3. DC voltage - PV or batteries... Grundfos is 30-300VDC. Lorentz is 12-24,48-72,72-96, depending on mode.
4. Water pipe can range anywhere between 1/2" to 4". The smaller the water pipe, the more lift due to friction is present.

Note: Our submersible pumps will not provide enough pressure for water home usage. You almost always need to pump into a holding tank. If a pressure system is needed for a home, you need a booster pump and a pressure tank going from the holding tank.

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210-370-7801 - 512-961-6262 - 832-713-8577

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