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Solar panel and pump power

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  • 05-06-2021 2:39pm
    #1
    housedweller
    Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭


    I have a 32watt pond pump and a new 100w solar panel. I bought a controller to control the power flow.

    I also bought a battery- a portable solar generator power station. Its stats are:
    200wh capacity
    Rated power: 200w
    Ac output: 220v-240v 50hz
    Solar charge input 12-18v 5a

    What am I missing. It doesn’t work right- the battery drains quickly and then takes ages to recharge. The pump comes on for a few minutes and the battery drains quickly again.
    Maybe I need to send the battery back and get a better one? Any suggestions?

    The links are- solar panel into controller, controller to dc input into battery to charge. The pond pump is plugged in with normal 3pin plug to battery 240v plug.


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    #2
    freddyuk
    Registered Users Posts: 1,110 ✭✭✭freddyuk


    It's a tiny battery (16 amp hours) with less usable power as controller will switch off at maybe 11 volts.
    You are converting DC into AC thus losing 20% power through losses.
    Your solar panel will likely be outputting around 30 watts on an average day so will not be keeping up with the power drain.
    I would get a DC pump and a 200ah lead acid battery with 200w of solar with a timer. Also get a multi meter to check the real voltage/amperage in the system and adjust the timer accordingly.


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    #3
    housedweller
    Registered Users Posts: 20 ✭housedweller


    I have changed my setup and now have:

    2 x 100w solar panels

    3 x batteries (10ah + 10ah + 30ah)- 50ah

    A controller

    any recommendations in a dc pump which will work with this setup- and given the Irish climate would work in real-world situations!!

    I have an old dc pump from another pond but it’s just too powerful to run most of the day- it blasts for about 10 mins and then cuts out for hours.

    I'm looking for a nice fountain feature which would run continuously on sunny days- hopefully the panels and batteries are enough for this now? Thanks.



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