A Solar Powered Water Pump Makes Economic Sense
If you live in a remote area then you know the difficulty of operating a water pump. If the water source is far away from where the water is needed then a typical electric pump can cost you a lot of money to operate all day.
Using solar powered water pumps is a good way to save on the electricity bills. There are some problems that you will have with solar powered water pumps but in the long run these are ideal for you if you need a water pump to run everyday.
The Advantages
The main advantage of a solar powered water pump is that you use very little electricity. A pump of this kind is a low voltage DC pump, meaning that when you run a solar powered water pump you are using the least amount of electricity. The pump also only works when the sun is out. Thus, there is a natural switch, it turns off when the sun disappears or is hidden.
Slower Flow
One downside of using a solar powered water pump is that the flow is slightly slower than a typical water pump. You can expect about less than a gallon per minute with a pump on the small side. The advantage on the other hand is that this flow is more or less constant and you don't have to worry about it stalling. As long as the sun is out the pump will do its job. Usually the six or so hours of daily sunlight is enough to supply you with water for your daily needs. You will probably need a storage tank to store the water that is pumped through.
The Right Equipment
When you are looking at solar powered water pumps you want to make sure that you have all the right equipment. Talk the person supplying you with the pump on what is the best solar module to go with your pump. Buying the wrong solar modules will lead to inefficient pumping and make you want to go back to an electric pump.
For small pumps you should use 75-watt solar module, this will give you the best pumping action. Any less than that and you will be sure to have frustrating results. The bigger the pump the higher wattage your solar module must have. Some pumps may require you to have more than one solar module. Be very careful when buying pumps and modules.
