How To Make Your Own Solar Water Pump?
Water pumps have a wide range of uses in both domestic and commercial settings. But because some pumps require continuous running, you may want to use solar panels to power them and minimize electricity costs.
Making your own solar water pump isn’t that difficult after all. If you have experience working with electricity, or want to challenge yourself, this could be a good weekend project.
One crucial point before you begin: please take extreme care when working with electricity. Beyond protecting yourself, look after others nearby too — including pets and kids.
Collecting the Resources
Sourcing all the components of your solar water pump is more than just a trip to your local Bunnings. Different use cases require different water pumps, and different accessories to complement them.
Finding Your Pump
First, identify the pump you need. Depending on the use — whether for ponds, aquariums, or fountains — you’ll need a different pump head and flow rate to meet your pressure or water turnover requirements.
An aquarium, for example, requires a turnover of the entire water volume four times per hour. So if you have a 50-litre tank, you’ll need a 200-litre-per-hour pump.
The filter system is another factor to consider. Filter systems often have a specific flow rate requirement to work at their best efficiency, so double-check your chosen filter’s requirements before selecting your water pump.
Selecting Your Solar Panel
Once you’ve worked through these factors, you should have an ideal water pump in mind — and now you’ll need to look at its electrical requirements.
The voltage and current required by the pump will influence which solar panel you should choose. One thing to note: solar panels only list a “max” voltage and current, since actual output depends on the available light.
We recommend choosing solar panels rated 10-20% higher than the pump’s requirements, to account for overcast weather.
The material used in your solar panel is also an influential factor. Currently on the market, there are monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film amorphous solar panels, which differ in appearance and energy efficiency.
- Monocrystalline panels are the most efficient of the three, but come with a bigger price tag. They also look better, without color shift when viewed from different angles.
- Polycrystalline panels are a more affordable alternative, but their lower efficiency and color shift mean you’ll need a larger panel with a less subtle aesthetic.
- Thin-film amorphous panels are the least efficient of the three, but flexible. We generally don’t recommend using these.
Accessories for Your System
Now that you have a water pump and solar panels, it’s a good time to source the other accessories you’ll need.
This includes pipes for water transfer, wires to connect electricity, and an inverter or controller. You’ll also need structural components — wood boards or metal planks — to secure your solar panels.
If your pump needs to run 24/7, you might want a battery solution to store energy for nighttime use. Connecting to the main grid as a backup for insufficient sunlight is also worth considering.
If you’re new to DIY, you’ll want to grab the right tools too. We recommend getting an electrical work kit that keeps you grounded for safety.
Building Your Solar Water Pump
Selecting the right spot for your solar panels is crucial to your system’s performance. We recommend a location that receives bright sunlight at noon and isn’t affected by shadows in the morning or afternoon.
If structures like bushes or fences are nearby, we highly suggest raising your solar panels to avoid any loss of light — especially as the sun’s angle changes from summer to winter.
On that note, it’s best to face your solar panels straight toward the sun for maximum light-to-electricity conversion.
Once you’ve chosen your spot, you can plan the placement of wires and other components and start building.
We highly recommend consulting your local council before building your solar panel solution — just a preventive measure to avoid any disappointment.
What If I’m Lazy?
No need to worry — Water Pump Warehouse stocks a wide range of pumps for any use case.
We also offer a range of solar water pumps in complete packages for you to choose from. Simple installation, no more hassle.
