Hey everyone! I'm a total newbie when it comes to solar setups, so excuse me if this is a simple question. I have a solar water heater for my pool and I'm interested in running it off solar power directly, without using a battery. Can someone help me understand the setup?
I've got a solar panel that's rated at 300W, 15A, and 600V, and my pump only needs about 30W and 0.5A, roughly 120V. I've also got a couple of solar panels just sitting in my shed that might be useful.
For the setup, I'm thinking it could be something like: Panel > Inverter > Pump? Is that all I need? Suggestions for inverters would also be super helpful since I'm not sure what to look for. Thanks in advance for any advice!
1 Answer
That's awesome that your pump only needs 30W! But given it’s such a low draw, have you thought about just keeping it plugged into grid power instead?
To answer your question: you’d want to set it up like this: Solar panel -> Solar charge controller -> Inverter -> then plug in the pump.
You can find all-in-one solar charge controller and inverter setups that might work well for what you need. Just make sure the inverter has the capability to automatically restart after losing power. Also, without a battery, keep in mind that heavy clouds or rain can cause your pump to stop running unexpectedly. If you really want to skip the battery, you could over-size your panels, but that’s a bit of an overkill!
Good point about the extension cord! I want to spare the kids any hazards. I guess if I can’t find a solar pump, I might have to reconsider going with a battery and a timer. Appreciate the insights!