Re: Water Butt Solar Pump

["Paul Bendall" <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks to all those who have replied.

I have found the Oase Solar Modules with associated battery and=20
fountain pump. However, at the price point of just the solar panel I=20
am thinking I could get more for less:

- Oase Solar Module 35, a 35 Watt Solar Panel at =A3490. However, I=20
can find 90W panels for slightly less

- Oase Solarsafe 41, a 41 AmpHour Battery at =A3390. Again, I can find=20
a deep cycle battery of 150+ AmpHours for the same price.

So here is my thought process. The water pump would be on for=20
relatively short periods 30mins maybe once a week. The 90W panel=20
charges at 5Amps, so even if I assume 50% efficiency for 10 hours=20
over 7 days, that would be around 150Ah?=20

I find a 12v pump and run for 30 mins and ensure I don't go below=20
50% battery charge. That would be 75Ah or 900 Watt Hours?

A lot of pumps seem to be around 350W so from the above could I run=20
a 12v version of one of these for 30 minutes from a battery that is=20
charged for 7 days by a 90W Solar Panel?

Paul

--- In ukha_d@xxxxxxx, "Simon Coates" <simon@...> wrote:
>
> Paul,
>=20
> A boat bilge pump will be too powerful - even a small one can pump=20
alot of water very quickly (but with quite low pressure).  You would=20
need an large/expensive solar panel to run it.
> Best thing would be to use something that is low flow with high=20
pressure - there are some small solar powered pond fountains that=20
might be suitable.  Might be worth adding a float switch so that the=20
pump  doesn't run dry - otherwise you'd have to find a self priming=20
pump.
>=20
> Regards
>=20
> Simon
>=20
>   ----- Original Message -----=20
>   From: Paul Bendall=20
>   To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx=20
>   Sent: 09 June 2008 22:47
>   Subject: [ukha_d] Water Butt Solar Pump
>=20
>=20
>   Evening all,
>=20
>   Looking for advice with regard to a continuing irrigation=20
project.=20
>   Currently I have a 600L water tank that collects water from one-
half=20
>   of the roof. I want to use this more effectively and possibly=20
add=20
>   another two small water butts at the top of the garden to drive=20
an=20
>   irrigation system.
>=20
>   From the current water butt to the top of the garden is around=20
an=20
>   uphill slop of 1m - 1.5m. Then from the top of the garden to the=20
>   front of the house is maybe a 2m fall.
>=20
>   Therefore, I am thinking of getting a solar powered pump to take=20
>   water from the large butt up to the small butts. No real head=20
because=20
>   the top of the large butt would probably be around the same=20
height as=20
>   the top of the small butts.
>=20
>   First point what sort of pump would be best for this task, maybe=20
a=20
>   12v bilge pump?=20
>=20
>   Then from the top of the garden the water will have three=20
funtions:
>   1. Feed a leaky hose irrigation system around a hedge and flower=20
bed,=20
>   leaky hose needs high volume low pressure so possibly will get=20
away=20
>   with just gravity?
>   2. Pop up sprinklers for the lawn, I assume these are going to=20
need=20
>   high pressure lower volume?
>   3. Run pipe to the front of the house to use as a source for=20
water=20
>   pressure cleaner and garden tap for miscellanous tasks. I guess=20
this=20
>   needs to be high pressure, high volume and achieve close to=20
mains=20
>   pressure at 1.5bar?
>=20
>   For point 2 and 3 I assume I may need a second pump, but again=20
what=20
>   type? I would like to use a solar panel to a battery array to=20
power=20
>   the pump.
>=20
>   Control for the setup would be via a solenoid array (three or=20
four)=20
>   and controlled by Idratek.
>=20
>   Cheers
>=20
>   Paul
>=20
>=20
>=20
>=20=20=20=20
>=20
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>



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