Solar pumps for fountains and waterfalls

Solar pumps are an ideal way to get water circulating in your pond without having to install a 230 volt mains power point. At first solar may seem like an expensive option but compared to a 230 volt mains system, it can often work out a lot cheaper, depending on the distance you have to run a power cable. While 230 volt pumps are not that expensive, by the time you employ an electrician and install a power cable that has to be buried at least 600mm underground (legal requirement), solar ends up looking very economical. Solar systems provide a safe, economic alternative to running cable and they are very simple to install by the home user. We use commercial grade solar panels that utilise toughened glass encased in aluminium frames.

4 step installation
1. Click the pump into its mounting plate, push on the filter
2. Put the pump in the water
3. Put the solar panel in full sun
4. Plug the two together

Sit back and enjoy.

What is so special about our SXT pumps?

Solar photovoltaic modules (solar panels) are made of special semiconductors that generate electricity from sunlight. The energy that comes from these cells is DC (direct current) - the same type of power you get from batteries. The power that comes from the outlet in your house is AC (alternating current). Without getting too technical, alternating current can be used directly in an electric motor to produce a rotating field. Direct current (DC) can’t. A DC motor has to produce a rotating field by using brushes in conjunction with a commutator to produce the rotation. The problem with brushes is that they wear and when used in a pump that goes for hours at a time they don’t last long. Our SXT DC pumps do not have brushes. Instead they electronically produce a rotating field to turn the pump. The nominal running voltage is 12 volts DC – this can be supplied by a solar photovoltaic module (solar panel), your car’s 12 volt battery, or any other stable 12 volt DC supply. A standard fused plug is supplied with the pump.

Unlike other DC pumps, SXT pumps have been specifically designed to operate from the wide range of voltages that are generated by solar panels. This voltage typically ranges from 2.5 to 17 volts. Normal electric motors can burn out when run on too low a voltage, especially if they are not rotating. Our SXT pumps are also polarity protected, which means that if you wire them up the wrong way they are not damaged (provided the input voltage is not exceeded). The SXT pumps also incorporate very hard ceramic bearings so wear on rotating parts is minimal. Our original pump is still operating in our pond after 10 years.

We also have spare parts for the pumps so if something does go wrong it can be repaired.

All SXT pump kits include:

• 1 SXT solar pump
• 1 holder with suction feet
• 1 fountain head
• 1 filter
• 5 or 10 metre power cable depending on model

Please note.
The pump must always be in water when connected to any power source. The ceramic bearings use water as their lubricant and the motor will quickly burn out if it runs dry. You will void the warranty. If using the optional fountain head that is supplied with the kit, it is very important to make sure that in windy conditions the fountain has all the water falling back into the pond. If it does not, the pond will empty out over time and the pump will burn out. You also need to keep an eye on evaporation and make sure the pond is always topped up.

Solar panel selection

We offer a range of solar photovoltaic modules (solar panels). Solar panels are at their best in full sun. While there could be enough output in dull weather to slowly charge a battery it is not enough to drive a pump. The performance can be improved by having a larger panel on the pump so it will operate in bright cloudy weather for instance. If you are pumping to any sort of head (ie a waterfall) we would recommend a larger panel. Panels of the same type can be put in parallel to increase performance. We only use commercial grade monocrystalline (right) or polycrystalline photovoltaic modules. The cheaper amorphous panels are larger physically, have ordinary glass and their output tends to drop off after about 5 years. Amorphous modules are made for the cheap end of the market.

Solar panels vary in size depending on the brand of panel we are using at the time. However below is a guide as to approximate dimensions.

You can select your pump and then panel depending on the performance you want from the system. You may already have a solar panel, and as long as its output voltage is below 17.5 volts and the wattage is at least that recommended in our table, there is no problem using your own. The specifications of a panel are normally on the back.

FAQs

1. Will my pump operate in rainy weather?
   No. The solar panels need full sun to produce useful output. In summer the pump will still operate in very light cloud, but it will not pump with the same pressure. If using he fountain attachment you will see the fountain rise and fall in time with the clouds moving across the sky.
2. Can I have my pump run at night?
   You can achieve this by running the pump on a 12 volt battery (car battery). It is possible to add a battery to the system so it operates a lot longer, but in order for it to be charged properly the solar panel would have to be 3 times the recommended size. This is because the battery needs to be charged at the same time the pump is operating. The cost of the system would go up dramatically and it would not guarantee 24/7 operation.
3. How safe is the system?
   The maximum voltage is approximately 17 volts, so there is no possibility of electrocution.
4. Instead of purchasing a solar panel can I run the pump on a 12 volt DC power supply?
   Yes you can as long it is stable, can supply at least 2 amps, and does not exceed 17.5 volts DC. You could for instance have the power supply next to a 230 volt mains outlet and then run a low voltage cable to the pump. The low voltage cable does not have to be buried. However you need thicker cable because any voltage drop will affect the performance of the pump. Contact us if you want to do this.
5. Can I increase the distance between the pump and panel?
   Yes you can but as mentioned above any voltage drop will affect performance. However it is better to have a longer cable if this means the solar panel gets more sun.

Click here to display a printable instruction manual (PDF file 1.5Mb)

Solar SXT 500 pump kit $410.00.00
Postage and packaging NI $9.00 SI $12.00