I'm looking for information on solar powered water pumps. I've found lots of places that sell them, but I don't know anyone who has any experience with them. Anybody have any first (or second, I guess) hand experience with one?

I am looking for one which will lift water a mere twenty-five feet, but which will supply a fairly large volume of water. The more the better..

In the catalogs I've perused, there seems to be a great deal of variabilty in performance, reliability, and ease of service. I will be pumping from a pond, so pump doesn't need go down a well casing.

I appreciate very much any advice I can get.

-- malcolm drake (jumpoff@echoweb.net), June 14, 1999

Answers

The one I installed in my well can also be installed in a pond. It produces about 4 gallons a minute on a sunny day.

I purchased it from solarextreme.com. It wasn't cheap, but it is high-quality.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), June 14, 1999.

I encourage you to look into getting a hand pump that has a form of windmill attached to the top of the pump that will pump your water with wind power (even in the dark).

-- John (rappahannock@hotmail.com), June 14, 1999.

I'm in the process of finishing my solar-powered well pump. I should be able to assist you. E-mail me, since I don't get here everyday, and the messages scroll into oblivion so quickly.

I set up a system that pumps water from 100 feet deep, stores it in a 55-gal drum holding tank, and pressurizes the small 5 gallon pressure tank - have normal household water pressure. Have battery bank and 4 solar panels.

In the interim, try checking out www.windsun.com or www.mrsolar.com

They are both reliable sources of equipment and advice. www.windsun is usually cheaper, but it pays to shop around.

-- Bill (billclo@msgbox.com), June 15, 1999.

Thanks for the responses, you three. I'm surprised there aren't more responses. Aren't there any more people using solar pumps?

Dog Gone,I'll check out that site. Thanks. What model pump did you get? Is it working well for you?

John, you must live in a windier area than I do.I mostly get my wind in the winter, with only a very gentle and itermittent breeze some days in the summer. While we get LOTS of clouds and rain in the winter, we get LOTS of sunshine in summer, when we need to most water. But thanks for the suggestion. I may end up getting wind and solar pumps, if I win the Lottery :)

-- malcolm drake (jumpoff@echoweb.net), June 15, 1999.

I believe it was model 5625, but it was the only type offered at that site I recommended. The pump works great, and it even works a little bit in low light. Good luck.

-- Dog Gone (layinglow@rollover.now), June 16, 1999.

I didn't know such a thing existed. Are they expensive???Sounds like it!

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), June 16, 1999.

You can also do what I did, install a battery bank and inverter and run your well off a 120V pump. You will get water day and night at greater flow rates as well as being able to see after dark. I can run my home sans AC completely.

Regards,

Will

-- Will Huett (willhuett@usa.net), June 16, 1999.

Will,

What size inverter are you using?????????????????????????

-- Moore Dinty moore (not@thistime.com), June 16, 1999.