I have a deep well on my property that goes down 240 feet and is currently powered by a 240v AC pump that has a flow rate of 10 gallons per minute. Right now, I'm relying on a generator to fill my 300-gallon IBC water reservoirs, but I want to transition to using solar power exclusively for this. Should I invest in a system that can run my existing 240v pump, or would it be wiser to install a smaller pump that operates on 120v or even one that can run directly off DC? I'm more than happy to provide additional details if needed!
2 Answers
If your setup is feeding a stock tank, there are plenty of DC pump options that can be installed down the well. But if you're looking for something for house supply or on-demand use, that makes the situation more complex. Could you provide some more details on that?
One solid option is to replace your existing pump with a solar-specific unit. Just search for 'solar well pump' to find some good options, but keep in mind they can be pricey. Alternatively, you could use your current pump with a battery inverter that's powerful enough to handle it along with any other appliances you might want to run. Make sure to account for the inverter's idle power consumption, which can range from 30 watts to over 100 depending on the size—Cheaper inverters often have higher idle power use, so be careful with that.
Yes, I'm indeed feeding a stock tank! Plus, I have a separate DC pump connected for the house supply to keep the well pump from having to handle all the on-demand needs.