Hey,
I was wondering if I could hook up my 220 volt , 4HP submersible water pump to solar. Thoughts?

Dave
Grand Ridge, FL

Need more information to give any advice. Do you currently have a functioning solar syatem, and if so: what is the total AHr rating of your batteries; wattage output and number of PV panels/wind/hydro; do you have a 220 VAC power inveter of high enough capacity; distance of wiring run from inverter to pump location, including well/sump depth; is your system grid-tied/stand-alone; is the pump motor start-up/running watts/amps known; seasonal weather conditions in your area such as sunlight hours per day (average); any other conditions which may have an effect on system performance.

Many variables need to be considered, and 220 VAC wiring can be a problem for the novice electrician. Please resubmit with as much information as you can and I'll let you know where I would go from there. Note: manufacturer/model of equipment won't help me without looking up the specs on that equipment. 220VAC inverters are on the market, as well as 12/24 (possibly 48) VDC pumps.

Bill, I just found these sites today offerring a variety of pump systems: www.solar4power.com/solar-power-water-pump.html; www.windsun.com/water/solar_water_pumping.htm; www.solarhome.org.

Dave, you may want to check this site out. It's for DIYer's: www.builditsolar.com/Projects/WaterPumping/waterpumping.htm.

Hope these help you.

Eric,

Thanks. Good sites. My problem is the well depth is just under 500ft. I will look, but for household use the DC pumps may not be able to handle that depth and provide enough water. But I still have time to figure it out and maybe some new tech to come along.

Bill

Bill,

It will take extra juice and equipment, but you may be able to use an in-line booster pump on the surface if you can just lift the water to (or near) the top of your well. The booster pump should handle the rest. I'm thinking of a pump in the medium-to-high lift range with med/low pressure, running simultaneously with your well pump controller. Something designed more for water transfer. You may need to add a check valve on inlet to the surface pump to avoid cavitation of the pump, as any air in the well tubing will likely cause problems with the booster. Though a check valve would cause freeze-up problems in winter (I live in Wyoming where we do get 4 seasons, but the warm one's are SHORT). Just some thoughts...may not be a sure thing but worth looking into.

No matter what, don't ever give up! Good luck --- let me know if more ?'s/thoughts to toss.

Eric

Eric,

You may be able to make that work. But it may be more effective/efficient to use standard AC pumps and use a power convertor. It's one thing if you are off-grid and need to rely soley on solar. On the grid, you have it as a backup to your solar and you have equipment that is adapted to it if you need to go direct to the grid.

I am pretty practical and entend to minimize my reliance on commercial power, but there are trade-offs and right now I think this is one of them. But at the same time, I think we are not to far off from having to design our systems to be less reliant on the grid due to increased costs. I feel the government will have to raise the cost of power to get people to move green. But that is a discussion for another forum.

Bill