Solar powered pool pump

[DaveR]

This is gonna be a long shot I know.
But
Has anyone gone down the road of swapping a pool pump and fitting a solar powered unit?
That is, a pool pump which is low voltage and powered directly from its own panels.

I'm about to do it, and was wondering if anyone has?
I have collected a fair bit of info on this, and if I do it, will share it in the elec section perhaps.
Here is a link for the type that I'll possibly need, it is a 900 watt, most of you will need the 500 or 600 watt models.

http://commodoreaustralia.com.au/product/900w-solar-pool-pump/

[Annieandandy]

Great idea, have wondered if this could be done. Keen to see how it goes.

[DaveR]

With the numbers I have done on $$$$. This will pay for itself inside 2 years if I do it. Then save about $1000 a year after.
The fact that I almost need a new pump of about $800, it is near death with a flogged out bearing housing, basically cancels out that cost of the solar powered pump.
Some time ago someone brought into Aus a Chinese brand which lasted weeks before the impella was destroyed.
The model I have the link for is constructed the same as a typical Poolrite brand pump, just a DC motor on it.

[speewa158]

They don't work at night you know                                 

[DaveR]

They don't work at night you know                                 

Really?? Hows that?   

The recommended installation with these is to have them in parallel with the existing 240 volt pump, there will be a random time it is needed. Mine mostly runs in the day as we have my home made solar pool heater which has allowed us to be the 1st in the street swimming once again.

[UIZ733]

Mine mostly runs in the day as we have my home made solar pool heater which has allowed us to be the 1st in the street swimming once again.

Interesting project. I presume you will be adding dedicated solar panels to power the pump? Any information (pics) on your home made and designed heating system?

[michaelh]

there are a few out there have a google for  DC pool pump, they are around $1500 for a kit

http://commodoreaustralia.com.au/product/900w-solar-pool-pump/


Michael

[UIZ733]

Oops, I have now realised that it is an all inclusive kit.

[DaveR]

The pump I need will require 6 x panels of 225w watt each.
Smaller pumps need just 4 x 190w panels.

Here is the heating.
The roof has 800 meters of 25mm blue stripe polly pipe. There is the 40mm pressure line, then 6 lines come off, the right side is 4 x 125 m long lengths, the left is 2 x 150 m lengths.





Now for my complex control system.... 

The outlet from the sand filter is diverted up onto the roof or not. A blue handled valve is for this purpose.





The more the flow up onto the roof, the more the load against the pump (and therefore power consumption is up) also, the less temp gain the water has. I send about 30 - 40 % up and the load on the motor is not that much more, but the temp gain is a lot which when mixed with the by-passed water still gives a good temp gain in the pool.
I hope that makes sense.

[DaveR]

I should add, that solar heating cost me just below $1,000, including hire scaffold to support the patio roof whilst I was on top.

[DaveR]

Oops, I have now realised that it is an all inclusive kit.

I'm getting the pump only for $1450.
I am looking into panels from someone else who I'll be getting a partial off grid system from, 500 amp/hr batteries, panels, 70 amp controller, and seinwave inverter to run my tank water pump (which is about $300 a year or more) and lots of other home stuff.

[UIZ733]

Thanks. Looks like a well thought out system. 

[wetduck]

not a pool pump but a solar powered bore pump. Hasn't missed a beat in 3 years. Lifts water 130m and then pushes it up a further 3m. Grundfos variable speed pump, just add more panels for more flow.

[DaveR]

What make is it?

[Bird]

Grundfos variable speed pump

I think its a Grundfos variable speed pump

[DaveR]

opppps?
I should have asked the model.
I hang thy head in shame

[Bird]

opppps?
I should have asked the model.
I hang thy head in shame

[1302toby]

From someone in the pool and pump industry the grundfos pumps are the best option at the moment. A lot of the poolrites/hurlcons etc are like imported campers, good on the outside but cheap Chinese bearings etc. when they crap themselves it's bin and replace rather than rebuild. And DaveR you can get a three way valve for your setup with a temperature input to automatically control your valve rather than adjusting your blue handled valve.

[DaveR]

From someone in the pool and pump industry the grundfos pumps are the best option at the moment.

Sadly, I'm not finding anything in low voltage for a home swimming pool, be happy if you know of something.
I have seen there pumps keep working in the worst of conditions, certainly lead the pack alright.

And DaveR you can get a three way valve for your setup with a temperature input to automatically control your valve rather than adjusting your blue handled valve.

I was building one at work for my kind of price, which would have been liberated at some point, company went broke before I got my grotty hands on it. No budget for that sort of flash gear, besides, no need for an actuated valve, its only every few weeks I need to adjust it.

[DaveR]

I should add that the solar heating system has been used for cooling the water after it was baked by the sun and still days. Just had to run it at night, the breeze across the roof cooled it down nicely.
Now, it goes without saying the solar pump can't do this job. 

[JGM]

Dave R
Some of the shearers quarters out West Queensland use the poly on the roof for their hot water systems.  Works well!

I rigged up a similar under a house (a house on 3 foot stumps) out at Mitchell to keep the water cool.  If too many people line up for showers, the bore water gets too hot and you cant get under the shower!

Havn't tried a solar pool pump though!

Cheers
JGM

[gronk]

My normal pump (which runs during the night ) uses approx $40 a 1/4 . A pool pump can be bought for less than $300.

Am I missing something, or am I looking at it too simply ?

[DaveR]

My normal pump (which runs during the night ) uses approx $40 a 1/4 . A pool pump can be bought for less than $300.

Am I missing something, or am I looking at it too simply ?

No Gronk, your not missing anything.
Although the $40 is very surprising to me.
I need a bigger pump, therefore more power consumption. In my view there is no point to the pool if it can't be used, our pool is on the south side of a 3.2m high patio which covers the entire pool for 2 months in winter. We were waiting for end of Nov before we could swim.
So I upsized the pump by 100%, built the solar heat system and presto, we can swim earlier.
A cheap .5 hp pump for $300 can't do the job.
The knock on effect to this is running costs which have doubled inside 3 years. And as I want the sun, offpeak tariff can not be used.
I have looked into this once before and gave up due to extreme costs, now that that has come down, it is something I am looking at more closely.
The South Africans have made big ground in this area with local companies retro fitting DC motors to quality pump housings. This is something else I am looking at.

[Johnnos3003]

Hey Dave,

I understand you need to up grade pump regardless but have you crunched the numbers on a grid connect solar system instead?

As Gronk suggested I would not have thought the running cost would be enough to bring this option into a reasonable payback period?

 

[DaveR]

I have looked into the sell solar to grid option, but seen as the goal posts have been moved now with this and the buy back tarrif has dropped , plus, I don't know where the goal posts will be moved to next, I am thinking why not a stand alone unit.
I'm paying between $800 and $900 a year to run the pool pump and Cell.
It could be that the sell back option is still good, but I was turned off by the way the rules changed.
I am working this so I get the rebate for the panel install, even though it is a stand alone system, it still qualifies apparently.

Something interesting I have found, the link I give in the 1st post has plagiarized info from the competitors web site and user manual...... Opps, and umm, I may have been the one who inadvertently said to someone on the phone "yer mate, I seen that helpful guide on another site"

Here is a video I found which explains the setup I am aiming for well, this is for a 500 watt motor which most sensible folk will need.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SGQdu5t-l8&list=UUprz1oEZWAT6AqmJft5q0ew