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Spec a Panel for my Fountain

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  • Spec a Panel for my Fountain

    Hello. I'm a complete novice when it comes to solar and electricity. I can change a light fixture, but leave it to the pros beyond that.
    Wondering if someone could spec out a panel for my home fountain/birdbath project. I have a 12v water pump that uses 3.8 amps. I just want to know how large a panel I'll need to run the pump when the sun is out. It doesn't need to run at night. I plan on connecting the panel directly to the pump, no battery in between, unless that will cause a problem. I have a spare 12v battery that I could use if necessary, don't know how to configure to shut it off at night.
    I'm more interested in getting this project installed and operational than I am about learning solar theory and configuring the electrical, if you know what I mean. Thanks.

  • #2
    I would locate a 12V panel (which will output 18V) that can supply twice the amps your pump needs, so look for a 8A panel.

    You are going to have a voltage mismatch with the 18v panel and your 12v pump. So you might look into a voltage regulator to protect the pump from overvoltage
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

    Comment


    • #3
      Originally posted by Mike90250 View Post
      I would locate a 12V panel (which will output 18V) that can supply twice the amps your pump needs, so look for a 8A panel.

      You are going to have a voltage mismatch with the 18v panel and your 12v pump. So you might look into a voltage regulator to protect the pump from overvoltage
      Thanks for the reply. Before seeing your post I ordered a 100w, 12v panel. I don't need the pump to run at full power.
      Don't know what 8A means. 8 amps?

      Comment


      • #4
        8A = 8 amps Common electrical shorthand. V = volts R=resistance ga= wire gauge
        Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
        || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
        || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

        solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
        gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by Mike90250 View Post
          8A = 8 amps Common electrical shorthand. V = volts R=resistance ga= wire gauge
          Wait. I'm confused. The pump is 3.8amps. Why do I need 8A. The one I ordered produces 5.5 amps. Will that work?
          Last edited by LarryJ; 06-30-2020, 12:51 PM.

          Comment


          • #6
            the panel puts out 5.5 amps under laboratory conditions. In real life, 80% is about right. Any cloud cover oor have and it drops right off and the pump will start, 8A gives you a better chance it will run more. But now try the 5.5 since that's whats coming
            Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
            || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
            || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

            solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
            gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by Mike90250 View Post
              the panel puts out 5.5 amps under laboratory conditions. In real life, 80% is about right. Any cloud cover oor have and it drops right off and the pump will start, 8A gives you a better chance it will run more. But now try the 5.5 since that's whats coming
              What type of connectors are these. They're on the GrapeSolar panel.
              Untitled

              Comment


              • #8
                FWIW I have a solar pumping project with a bilge pump rated for around 3 amps.The pump runs with a 20 year old 55 watt panel in full sun. The panel has definitely lost capacity over the years.I had a spare so I put one in parallel. Note the pump will draw what it needs to draw depending where on the pump curve its being asked to run on. My installation has high discharge pressure to make it up into my storage tank. Its running lots of psi and not a lot of GPM so my amp draw is lower than lots of flow and little discharge pressure. My guess is 100 watts is plenty.

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