Hey everyone! I'm diving into the world of solar energy and could really use some guidance. My dad, who's 73, is managing some cattle in a pretty remote area of Mexico. Right now, he uses a gas-powered water pump to get water for his cows, but it's becoming quite a hassle for him to lug around the 20L gas canister. After watching some videos, I found a battery-less water pump kit that runs directly off solar panels, but it's not available in Mexico, unfortunately. I got excited and decided to buy a 200W 12V water pump for him and a 610W 48V solar panel. However, I realized I might have messed up because the voltage of the panel doesn't match the pump, and I'm worried about damaging the pump. I'm looking for advice on how to get this all working without breaking the bank. Should I just save up and buy a different solar panel or is there a way to make this setup work?
4 Answers
If you’re looking for a quick fix, any buck converter that can handle the voltage drop should suffice, but I still think buffering with a battery is your best bet. It’ll help maintain a steady power supply for your pump when needed.
I’d recommend getting a 12V battery to act as a buffer and using a proper 12V solar charger. The battery size you’ll need depends on how long you want the pump to run after dark. If you only want it for about an hour, a 12V 100Ah battery should do the trick when the panel is in direct sunlight.
For a basic setup, any standard 12V battery should work. Just look for those 100Ah options, and they shouldn’t be too pricey.
For the best efficiency, consider getting an MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) controller to properly convert the solar energy for battery charging. A standard car battery would be sufficient for your pump setup. I found this MPPT from Victron: [Victron MPPT](https://www.amazon.com.mx/SmartSolar-MPPT-100-20A-Retail/dp/B075NPQHQK/ref=sr_1_5). This way, your pump can run off the battery rather than directly from the panel.
You'll need a "buck converter" to lower the 48V from your panel to 12V for the pump. They're usually pretty inexpensive. Here’s a link to one that might help: [Buck Converter](https://www.amazon.ca/Converter-Voltage-Regulator-Waterproof-Transformer/dp/B07V8J6BJQ/ref=asc_df_B07V8J6BJQ?tag=bingshopdesk-20). Just be mindful of the amperage needed – that pump draws around 17 amps at 12V!
Thanks for the warning about the amps! I didn’t realize it pulled that much.
What would you suggest for a cheap battery and charger? I'm totally new to this, but eager to learn.