Solar water pump

mechanic · 08-23-15, 02:25 PM

Built a solar water system a few days ago to replace my old homemade windmill which was unreliable, trouble prone, and didn't pump much. Bought a 150w solar panel ($310) and a Morningstar charge controller ($85). Hooked it up to an old battery someone dropped off for a core and mounted a shurflo sprayer pump I had sitting on the shelf. Ordered a $7 12v timer from amazon but for now I'm just turning the pump on in the morning and shutting it off at night. So far the battery indicator has stayed on full. It's pumping about 30gal an hour with a 20' rise and 200 yard run. Very happy with it so far! Wish I would of done this a long time ago....
Fabbed a adjustable tilt bracket with some square tubing and angle iron and mounted it to a couple old 2x6's

Mounted it about 5' from my well

Built a cover for the electronics and mounted a small screen in the pump intake and a swing valve on the output

Pumps through 3/4 sprinkle line to my 1250 gal rain barrel. A pressure system with another larger screen/filter on the barrel feeds the yard sprinklers and garden hoses

where2 · 08-23-15, 03:39 PM

If you've got access to battery cores, keep your eye out for a deep cycle. I see your present battery says "Starting".

I need to set up a similar system to water our vegetable patch at the farm.

How hot does that Shurflow get running continuous duty? Looks like it says it's a diaphragm pump. I'll have to look up the specs if I can make out the model number. I've got a Jabsco Water Puppy (Nitrile impeller) I've used to pump out my rain barrels, but it gets very hot running.

Thanks for posting.

mechanic · 08-24-15, 09:06 AM

It gets warm but not too hot to touch or anything. The battery is supposed to be a deep cycle marine battery...

I fixed a small air leak on the suction side and it's pumping way more, close to 100g an hr which is it's free flow rating

stevehull · 08-24-15, 02:27 PM

How deep is the well - more specifically, how deep to the water surface in the well. How much head in feet are you pumping up from.

This is quite good!

Steve

mechanic · 08-24-15, 02:32 PM

Water surface is about 8' below the pump? it's pumping 20' above the pump over a hill then the tank is about 6' down from the hilltop.

Daox · 10-07-15, 11:41 AM

How has this setup been working for you?

mechanic · 10-07-15, 12:12 PM

Great! I ordered some $7 12v timers from China when I started the project and they finally just showed up now but it's time to blow the lines out as its starting to freeze some nights so I'll try them next year... I just walked out and turned it on for the day when my tank was low for this summer and it was supplying my irrigation just fine, very happy with it.

mechanic · 11-07-16, 01:41 PM

Thought I'd put an update on here, the pump setup is still working great (Well actually it's a second pump as I broke the first one trying to pull the hose off to winterize it), but the setup overall is good, have the timer set to run a few hours in the afternoon and it supplies all the water I need.

08-23-15, 02:25 PM	#1
mechanic Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 117 Thanks: 10 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	Solar water pump Built a solar water system a few days ago to replace my old homemade windmill which was unreliable, trouble prone, and didn't pump much. Bought a 150w solar panel ($310) and a Morningstar charge controller ($85). Hooked it up to an old battery someone dropped off for a core and mounted a shurflo sprayer pump I had sitting on the shelf. Ordered a $7 12v timer from amazon but for now I'm just turning the pump on in the morning and shutting it off at night. So far the battery indicator has stayed on full. It's pumping about 30gal an hour with a 20' rise and 200 yard run. Very happy with it so far! Wish I would of done this a long time ago.... Fabbed a adjustable tilt bracket with some square tubing and angle iron and mounted it to a couple old 2x6's Mounted it about 5' from my well Built a cover for the electronics and mounted a small screen in the pump intake and a swing valve on the output Pumps through 3/4 sprinkle line to my 1250 gal rain barrel. A pressure system with another larger screen/filter on the barrel feeds the yard sprinklers and garden hoses

08-24-15, 02:27 PM	#4
stevehull Steve Hull Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: hilly, tree covered Arcadia, OK USA Posts: 826 Thanks: 241 Thanked 165 Times in 123 Posts	How deep is the well - more specifically, how deep to the water surface in the well. How much head in feet are you pumping up from. This is quite good! Steve __________________ consulting on geothermal heating/cooling & rational energy use since 1990

10-07-15, 11:41 AM	#6
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	How has this setup been working for you? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

08-23-15, 03:39 PM	#2
where2 DIY Geek Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Sunny Florida Posts: 401 Thanks: 74 Thanked 83 Times in 73 Posts	If you've got access to battery cores, keep your eye out for a deep cycle. I see your present battery says "Starting". I need to set up a similar system to water our vegetable patch at the farm. How hot does that Shurflow get running continuous duty? Looks like it says it's a diaphragm pump. I'll have to look up the specs if I can make out the model number. I've got a Jabsco Water Puppy (Nitrile impeller) I've used to pump out my rain barrels, but it gets very hot running. Thanks for posting.

08-24-15, 09:06 AM	#3
mechanic Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 117 Thanks: 10 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	It gets warm but not too hot to touch or anything. The battery is supposed to be a deep cycle marine battery... I fixed a small air leak on the suction side and it's pumping way more, close to 100g an hr which is it's free flow rating

08-24-15, 02:32 PM	#5
mechanic Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 117 Thanks: 10 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	Water surface is about 8' below the pump? it's pumping 20' above the pump over a hill then the tank is about 6' down from the hilltop.

10-07-15, 12:12 PM	#7
mechanic Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 117 Thanks: 10 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	Great! I ordered some $7 12v timers from China when I started the project and they finally just showed up now but it's time to blow the lines out as its starting to freeze some nights so I'll try them next year... I just walked out and turned it on for the day when my tank was low for this summer and it was supplying my irrigation just fine, very happy with it.

11-07-16, 01:41 PM	#8
mechanic Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Saskatchewan, Canada Posts: 117 Thanks: 10 Thanked 16 Times in 12 Posts	Thought I'd put an update on here, the pump setup is still working great (Well actually it's a second pump as I broke the first one trying to pull the hose off to winterize it), but the setup overall is good, have the timer set to run a few hours in the afternoon and it supplies all the water I need.