Gavin Posted January 20, 2010 Report Posted January 20, 2010 Hi Guys, Don't mean to post tons of questions. this will be the last for a while I promise. Just wondering how I can run my pump on solar? are there any kits out there? Thanks. Quote
quantumchromodynamics Posted January 20, 2010 Report Posted January 20, 2010 If you want to use solar for electric, then you should get special equipment that connects to the power company equipment that will allow the solar to work with the power company supply. When the panels are generating less power than your house needs, the power company supplies the rest. When the panels are making more than your house needs, then the power will be used by the power company. Excess power generated will actually make your meter go backwards and the power company will give you credit for the power. Trying to use solar for a single piece of equipment would not generally be cost effective. http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/35297.pdf Quote
Gavin Posted January 20, 2010 Author Report Posted January 20, 2010 If you want to use solar for electric, then you should get special equipment that connects to the power company equipment that will allow the solar to work with the power company supply. When the panels are generating less power than your house needs, the power company supplies the rest. When the panels are making more than your house needs, then the power will be used by the power company. Excess power generated will actually make your meter go backwards and the power company will give you credit for the power. Trying to use solar for a single piece of equipment would not generally be cost effective. http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/35297.pdf Thanks Quantum. actually I'm in the Caribbean and the power company doesn't give credit. we are a bit behind the times...or they are greedy. I see a company here that supplies a kit for $7,000 but it also can supply some power for lights and other things around the house. more panels can be added on later. But $7,000 is kinda a lot to just power a pool pump 8 hrs a day. sure I would be able to power some other items but I just want to power the pool pump for right now. Quote
don pool Posted January 21, 2010 Report Posted January 21, 2010 Sunray Engineering out of Florida manufactures and sells solar powered swimming pool pumps. A german company also makes the Badu top 12 solar powered swimming pool pump. I have used these my self on projects and they work quite well. You can buy everything that you need to make the system work for about $3600 Quote
E2Grunt Posted January 21, 2010 Report Posted January 21, 2010 Would something like this: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=90599 When Combined with this: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/disp...temnumber=97047 Would the two of these, maybe with a storage battery work? If so you could do it for less than $400! Quote
Gavin Posted January 21, 2010 Author Report Posted January 21, 2010 @ E2...thats cheap. I think most residential pool pump motors would need 2,000w (continues) inverter to be safe. Don...I met with the solar guys today but the system using a 2,000w inverter and a 260w panel would run $8,000+ installed. That would take 5yrs+ to pay for it over here in the Caribbean. I like your suggestion and it seems cheaper. Quote
Anthony81 Posted January 26, 2010 Report Posted January 26, 2010 You may want to check out the pentair variable speed pumps. They're not solar but are very efficient. Go to penair website to use their energy calculator Quote
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