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Rickkrus
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# Posted: 18 Apr 2017 01:01am
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I currently have a 380ft well with a pump that is run by a generator. I would like to keep the pump but run it with solar power. Any recommendations on panel and battery bank sizing?
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old243
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# Posted: 18 Apr 2017 08:42am
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You would need to provide, more information. Pump voltage, amperage draw, how much the pump is expected to run. This would let us give you information on panel and battery sizing. Old243
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Rickkrus
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# Posted: 18 Apr 2017 07:20pm
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No idea about the pump. I have to run it with a four prong 125v generator outlet if that helps.
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cman47c
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# Posted: 19 Apr 2017 09:28am
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Most well pumps for deep wells like this are at least 1/2 HP, 230 VAC. It sounds like since your generator plug is 4 wire, you may be using 230 VAC power for pump. A 1/2 HP 110 VAC pump motor runs at 10 Amp and at 220 VAC uses 5 Amps. This is pretty much power for solar but if you must just occasionally pump to fill a water pressure tank system it might be possible. The inverter voltage output must match the pump voltage and be sized in watts(at least 3000 watts) to handle the pump start inrush and batteries can be sized for 12VDC or 24 VDC. If the pump runs a total of 2 hours per day(assuming 220VAC motor), a couple of deep cycle, 100 amp-hour batteries in parallel at 12 VDC will run this pump for days needing less than a 100Watt solar panel to recharge. If the system is continually in use for a lot of water, than more power would be needed.
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ICC
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# Posted: 19 Apr 2017 10:25am
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Without knowing the power requirements of the pump, volts, amps, the startup surge, everybody is guessing. For figuring the amount of solar needed we're all equally in the dark as we don't know where you are, how much sun you get, cloudy days, etc. Does this pump supply to a pressure tank and go on / off all day as water is used,or does it run a few hours a day to pump to a storage tank on ground?
If you don't have the pump model and specs and don't want to pull the pump you'll need to get some data from metering the generator output or somehow. How big is the generator? Does is labor to start the pump or not?
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old243
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# Posted: 19 Apr 2017 10:26pm
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Most submersible pumps have a contactor, capacitor, box possibly at the well head. They are usually matched to the pump. . Perhaps the info you need will be on the cover of the contactor.. old243
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Rickkrus
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# Posted: 20 Apr 2017 11:37am
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Sun isn't an issue. 300 plus days a year. The gunny is 6000w and it hesitates when the pump is turned on. Just runs a few hours to fill a 300 gallon storage tank and water horses.
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ICC
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# Posted: 20 Apr 2017 07:02pm - Edited by: ICC
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Quoting: Rickkrus The genny is 6000w and it hesitates when the pump is turned on
Ouch! So you would need an inverter setup that could supply whatever surge that genny is forced to do.
You still have not confirmed if that 4 prong plug / pump is a 240 volt connection. With 4 wires in play it almost certainly would be I think. Plugs and outlets have "L" numbers which can give a clue. Best is to see the labels on the power connection at the pump.
Things like pump motors really operate better on pure sine wave power. They run hot on modified sine wave; perhaps the redeeming factor could be that the pump and motor are submersed and cooled. Have you priced a large capacity 240 VAC inverter? Even a cheapy will run over $1K. But I'll say it again you need to nail down what the pump power specs are before guessing.
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ICC
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# Posted: 20 Apr 2017 07:10pm
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You may be better off to change the pump to one that can operate off direct DC from the panels. It would only run when it is sunny but that could keep a storage tank supplied that you can draw from. No batteries, no inverter.
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