A solar water pump is a system through which water can be pumped by solar energy. There are several types of solar pumps: solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and domestic hot water.
Reviews of the Best Solar Pond Pumps
Want to improve the water aeration and appearance of your garden pond? Then look no further than the Sunnydaze Solar Water Pump. This pump kit comes with everything you need to set up a beautiful water feature powered by the sun.
The kit comes with a 12V pump that can move 105 GPH and has a 55″ lift. It comes with LED lights and multiple nozzles so you can customize the look of your fountain. Speaking of customization, your solar fountain is easy to control via the included remote control. You can change the flow rate and lights with the push of a button.
Most solar pumps only work when the sun is shining, but this kit includes a battery backup that runs for four hours after the sun disappears, so you can enjoy your water feature even after dark.
Going solar often means saving money, and that’s definitely the case with the Lewisia 10W solar water pump. This pump is budget friendly and quite powerful. It can move up to 357 GPH and has a maximum water height of 6.5 feet. You won’t have any problems setting up a pleasant fountain with this solar pump.
The 16.4 foot cable that connects the pump to the 17V solar panel allows you to place the panel in the sunniest of places, even if it is some sight distance from the pump. The cables and all the wiring are straightforward, so even those who have never used a solar pump before should have no problem setting it up.
If there is clear sunshine, this pump will start working the moment it is plugged in, so make sure you have the pump in place before you connect the cables to the solar panel. This kit does not come with a backup battery so it will automatically shut off once the sun is gone.
If you want something a little faster, check out the Solariver Solar Pump Kit. This pump has a head of up to 900 GPH and a 10 foot lift. This pump is great for fountains, ponds, and even animal troughs. It’s non-toxic and has a pre-filter at the inlet to stop small fish from being pulled in.
The pump itself is fully submersible and has a brushless magnetic motor that is designed to last for over 20,000 hours. The solar panels come with a sturdy frame and stakes to hold them in place. The kit comes with a 16-foot cable for connecting the solar panels to the pump. If that’s not long enough for your project, Solariver also sells extension cords for this model.
The pump is easy to install and once attached to the solar panel, it will be ready to run in sunlight. The pump is lightweight, but durable and comes with a 100% money back guarantee as well as a 1 year warranty.
If you’re looking for a super user-friendly solar water pump, then the AEO solar water pump may be the one for you. This model from AEO requires no wiring, simply plug in the connector and you’re good to go.The 12-24V brushless motor is 100% oil-free, which means you don’t have to worry about it contaminating your pond. It’s compatible with both fresh and salt water.
The kit comes with a durable 10W solar panel that has an aluminum frame and stakes for mounting.The 16-foot connector cable provides easy maneuverability for the solar panel.
This fully submersible motor is designed to pass 20,000 hours of continuous use and is backed by a 1-year warranty. If this sounds like a style that will work for you, but you need something a little larger, AEO offers other sizes of pumps to fit your water feature needs.
ECO-WORTHY Solar Deep Well Pump System,24V Water Pump + 100W 18V Solar Panel Monocrystalline + 20A Controller for Irrigation, Camping
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Sometimes, a small water pump simply isn’t up to the job. If you’re looking for something heavier duty, then check out the Eco-Worthy Solar Water Pump. This magnetic motor is designed for 420 GPH and has a water lift of 260 feet. It can dive up to 100 feet underwater, so you can even use it to pump water from a well.
The pump has an anti-corrosion design that helps the pump maintain its integrity even after long periods of use underwater. It also has a stainless steel strainer around the inlet, which helps prevent clogging and motor damage.
Whether you’re designing a large water feature or just want to irrigate your land, this solar pump can do it all. It’s powered by a 100W monocrystalline solar panel, and there’s a pair of 16.4-foot cables that connect the panels to the pump. The unit also comes with a 20A PWM charge controller with an LCD screen. While this kit doesn’t come with a battery, it is compatible and you should have to connect a solar panel.
How to choose a solar water pump and what to consider before purchasing one?
Due to the great variety of solar water pumps on the market, it is necessary to have clear beforehand what needs we have and what we want it for. You have to take into account several factors such as versatility, size or dimensions, available functions, the material it is made of since they can be submersible or be outdoors, the design and even the brand and price. There are pumps that are only good for one function, such as submerged, but there are others that are good for different jobs. This is important when choosing our purchase. The size of the pump is also important. Many times, the size has to be reduced due to the place where it will be located.
What is a solar water pump?
It is a pumping system that transforms the solar energy, which it receives from the solar panels, into mechanical energy to move the water from one point to another. As the water energy increases, there is usually an increase in pressure, speed or height, hence they are used in ornamental uses or fountains. Water pumps are used to move water or fluid from a lower pressure or altitude area to a higher pressure or altitude area. The solar water pumps stand out for being cheap, easy to install and for the zero energy cost in their work. They are available in many sizes, prices and types and are usually used mainly for domestic use.
How does it work and what is it for?
There are several types of solar pumps but the most common are: the solar photovoltaic, the solar thermal and the sanitary hot water. In addition, they are usually submersible and in all cases work with sunlight, so their energy cost is zero. The operation of a solar water pump is very similar to that of the rest of the traditional water pumps. They can be used for domestic use but also for irrigation in the countryside, to pump water from a well or to bring hot water to a shower, in a campsite, for example.
In addition to all this there are the submersible and surface pumps:
- Submersible solar water pumps: these are to be placed under the ground and are used to draw water from a well or a cistern. Depending on the volume of water to be extracted and the depth, we will need more or less pumping capacity.
- Surface pumps: they are installed on the surface and are used mainly to increase the water pressure where the supply does not reach well. They are typical in the field, for irrigation.
The solar water pumps are machines that work through an electric motor whose energy comes from photovoltaic cells and solar panels. They are connected to a reservoir that feeds a mini-grid of water or fountains. Photovoltaic cells are of vital importance in this whole system. They are made of silicon, whose purity and state is very important for the performance and also the price. The higher the purity, the higher the efficiency. Also important are the types of motors: direct or alternating current.
What happens if there is not enough solar energy? There are two types of solutions to end the problem:
- There is a battery-powered pump system, in which surplus solar energy is stored.
- The “pump system with parallel displacement to the sun” through which the pump is connected to a tank that acts as a reserve.
For a solar water pump to work properly, all its gears have to perform in a synchronized way, all its parts are important. The power supply is just as important as the motor and the pipes for moving the water.
How do you install a solar water pump?
There are pumps that are easy to install and others that are more complex. It is necessary to have some technical notions and therefore, before the need to install a water pump, it is always advisable to ask for the help of an expert in the matter.
The difficulty of the installation is always going to depend on where we need the installation but in addition we will have to take into account:
- Importance of the battery: it will give us more or less quality of pumping when the solar light is not enough.
- The solar panels: there are of different qualities and prices. The better the solar panels are, the more energy our pump will have and therefore the more efficient it will be.
- Electrical installation and wiring.
Types of solar water pumps
Depending on the needs we have, we will have to use one type or another. There are several types of solar water pumps:
- Submersible pump: they are ideal for emptying pools, septic tanks or flooded areas. They are also called drainage or sink pumps.
- Surface pump: for example they are used to extract water from a well but not more than 10 meters deep. The pump is always placed on the surface and ‘sucks’ the water through a suction hose. The water extracted can be used for filling swimming pools, irrigation and more…
- Domestic hot water pumps: these are used to bring water at a certain temperature, not suitable for consumption, to places such as bathrooms or irrigation areas.
- Photovoltaic water pumps: they stand out for their zero cost and efficiency. Their main source of energy is sunlight and they are fed by it thanks to their photovoltaic cells. The quality of these cells is fundamental for their efficiency.
What are the advantages of solar water pumps?
If there is something that makes a solar water pump stand out, it is its simplicity, but going into detail, its great advantages are
- Ease of installation. The only important thing that it requires is to place the solar panel in a place where it gives the sun the greater number of hours possible. There are installations for domestic use of no more than 5 minutes.
- They are ecological: its use neither contaminates nor has a cost due to the sunlight.
- With some exceptions, its operation could be inexhaustible since it works with sunlight. Even so, the most complete ones are equipped with batteries that store solar energy and use it when there is no sun.
- Due to their size and portability, they can pump water in isolated places.
Tips for better use
Using a water pump is easy, but you have to understand how it works. The most important thing is that you have enough water so that the pump can stay completely underwater. In addition, the pump should always be cleaned from time to time to prevent it from becoming clogged with dirt, which is very common.