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I need to power a 120V water pump that requires 8 Amps constant to run. I need solar to do it. Ideas?

Im trying to install a solar system to run a 120V 8 Amp draw Water pump. I want to use a Solar Array to run it. Can anyone suggest a setup including panels and an inverter that would work for this? I need a constant 1248 watts. I will be using a battery array also.

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    If you are going to run this pump continuously, the cost is prohibitive. A 12vdc 2a panel is about 2x4foot and cost between $150-350. You would need over 50 panels to run it (considering waste heat from the inverter.) Each panel puts out 26watts in full sun. In Phoenix, the average full sun hours is about 6hours/day. In Duluth, Mn, the average FSH is 4.5. I have built and ran a photovoltaic system for a home I lived in the 1980s. The biggest problem was battery storage. It turns out that one needs about 1.5months worth of storage. In your case you would roughly need over 10,000amphrs of 12v batteries. All those panels and batteries and accompanying inverter will allow you to run the pump 24hr/day, 365days/year. Several suggestions - run the pump during daylight and use an elevated tank for water/energy storage for dark hours - Get a smaller pump - Instead of one 120vac big pump, switch to several 12dc smaller pumps (ditch the inverter, I used all 12vdc lights and appliances, never bothered with an inverter). If you have extra know how, place the panels on trackers to follow the sun, you'd save a panel or two and maybe 1 or 2 batteries.

    Source(s): Experience first hand.
  • 1 decade ago

    That's asking a lot, especially if you mean it must run 24-7. Thats about 30 kWh a day And that doesn't give allowance for Winter, inefficiencies in the system, or reserve for cloudy days. It's not impossible, though, given enough money.

    Possibly you would want to look into using a DC pump, and only pumping when the sun shines. You would fill a tank, and then get your water usage from there at night.

    Your best bet would be to inquire at

    http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/forumdisplay.php?f...

    which specializes in solar water pumping.

  • Anonymous
    4 years ago

    this could by no ability be the main suitable answer. i've got faith you have 2 questions right here. you have a three/4 hp motor which will draw 13Amp on one hundred fifteen volts at 60 Hearts or Cycles and that is additionally under pressure out with the aid of adjusting the way it is related to entice 6.5 Amps at 230 volts on 60 Cycles. different question is approximately cord length appropriate to voltage drop over 500 ft of distance. look at Ohm's regulation even though it is going to no longer be used for customary a.c. motor and transformer circuits or a circuit containing any e.m.f or voltage different than the inspired voltage. (re all ref. - functional mandatory of electrical energy.) One mile of copper cord 1 / 4 of and inch diameter supplies a pair of million ohm resistance. . you may additionally question how many wires you may run on your cable; whether it is one white one black and one green protection floor or each and all the former and a pink besides . be conscious that the smaller the form of the cord, the bigger the size of the cord; that a huge type six cord is a lot thicker than a huge type sixteen and that the former supplies much less resistance. Getting an electrician to place all of those data at the same time and hook up your water pump will shop you in good stead with your coverage employer whether you be attentive to the thank you to do the activity your self besides as shop you from burning out your motor.

  • 4 years ago

    Homemade Solar Power Videos - http://solarpower.duebq.com/?Eug

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    Forget about solar and buy something like these.

    http://www.marineenginedigest.com/gensets/portable...

    If you have a "green" conscience, get one that will run on bio diesel.

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