Solar water pumps enable you to move water from its remote source to where you need it, without access to power lines. Solar pumping has three primary uses; domestic use for washing, cooking and drinking, livestock watering, and irrigation. The same basics are used for all three requirements, although domestic use may require additional capabilities. We’ll discuss domestic use for this blog. We’ll cover irrigation and livestock in a future blog post. Solar water pumps are different from regular AC powered pumps in more ways than the simple fact that they use DC power instead of AC. Most solar pumps are designed to be used in off-grid situations, and are designed to be extremely efficient. 

Solar water pumps are typically divided into two categories: submersible pump and surface pump. A submersible water pump is installed under water, usually in a well, but can also be in a pond or stream if raised off the bottom. A surface pump is installed above the water, with an intake hose feeding the pump from the water source, and the output hose feeding the tank. Pumps are able to push water out much higher than they are able to suck water in, so the they need to be close to the water source. Keep the head, or the height difference between the water and the pump,as low as possible.

Most of us need a boost to get going in the morning; a solar water pump is no different. Pumps generally require a high surge in current when starting up, but not a lot of voltage. As a result, when solar pumps are starting in the dim, morning light, it can sometimes have trouble getting started. A Linear Current Booster (LCB) is a device that can be installed between the solar panel array and the pump to increase the current output to get the pump going in lower light. It does so by dropping the voltage output, which doesn’t affect the water flow as much as current does. This will allow pumping to begin earlier in the day, and continue later in the afternoon as the sun is heading down – giving you more water pumped overall during the day.

A float switch can be connected to control when to turn the pump on or off based on the water level. A pump up switch will turn the pump on when the tank is low, and off when it is full. It is also known as a full tank shut off switch. A pump down float will turn on the pump when the tank is full, and off when it is empty. It is also known as an empty tank shut off switch. Some LCBs have the ability to connect a float switch input to it, rather than directly to the pump. Be sure to check the manual of the LCB, as the on/off behavior may change when using a float switch with certain LCBs. 

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