Solar-powered water supply

[TnAndy]

These were made to do exactly what you want. Will work directly off a solar panel(s) using their controller....no battery needed. 40-100w of panel will get you 1/2gal-4gal/min (depends on model) if you have less than 20' from pump to water source. They can pump over 500' height, at reduced rates.

Dankoff Slowpump 13�3-24 24VDC SURFACE PUMP | altE

Click on the "Documents" tab for PDF's on how to install.

 

[rd_macgregor]

These were made to do exactly what you want. Will work directly off a solar panel(s) using their controller....no battery needed. 40-100w of panel will get you 1/2gal-4gal/min (depends on model) if you have less than 20' from pump to water source. They can pump over 500' height, at reduced rates.

Dankoff Slowpump 13�3-24 24VDC SURFACE PUMP | altE

Click on the "Documents" tab for PDF's on how to install.

Except for the price (!), that is pretty close to what I was thinking of. The price doesn't include the solar panels, either.
I think I'll try a cheap 12V pump with battery and solar trickle charger...but I'll do some rough power usage calculations first before I decide on wattage of the charger.
Thanks, all, for the comments and suggestions.

 

[cdaigle430]

I'm working to fence in some new pasture for horses, but it is nowhere near a power supply or well. I'd like to pump water into a water tank (about 150gal) from a stream and am thinking of setting up a solar-charged battery system to run a marine bilge pump (I'd need less than 2m of head). Ideally, I'd alter the switching so it pumps when the water level is down, rather than up (as in a bilge), but I'm hoping for insights about the pitfalls of doing this water supply the way I'm envisioning it.
Any special advice, caveats, etc.??
Thanks.

How about a hydraulic ram? I have seen them work well in Brazil where there isn't any electrical and sometime rains for a month.

The Ram Company, Pumping Water without Electricity.

 

[rd_macgregor]

How about a hydraulic ram? I have seen them work well in Brazil where there isn't any electrical and sometime rains for a month.

The Ram Company, Pumping Water without Electricity.

There isn't really enough head to operate a ram pump well; it would be challenging to go far enough upstream to pipe even 3 or 4 ft of head down to a pump. It is too bad; ram pumps can operate continuously for a long time, and continuous flow into/through my water tank wouldn't be an issue...in fact, it would help keep the water fresh and cool.