Pool Pump on Solar

[Iiceman]

Hi All

needing some advise here...so as the title says, im looking move  my pool pump onto Solar power exclusively.

My pool pump is a variable speed  Speck Eco Touch 16, which has 3 settings, low;medium and high and the specs on paper is either 0.40(L);0.70(M) or 1.05 kW (H) power consumption, however i have recently started using an Ellis Effergy power monitor device at my home and the pool pump consumes either 0.30(L);0.40(M) or 0.50 kW(H)  with the Kreepy connected. (So im not sure if the specs on the pool pump is incorrect or the effergy is under reading), but i want to move this "load" to solar power.

What would be the most cost effective way of achieving this?

Looking forward to you reply..

Iiceman

[Jaco De Jongh]

41 minutes ago, Iiceman said:

needing some advise here...so as the title says, im looking move  my pool pump onto Solar power exclusively.

Hi, may I ask how long this pool pump runs in the day? 

Effectively you will need something like this:

 or  

To spend that on a Pool pump, just doesn't seem right. I would rather install a small inveter and some panels on the house and set the pool pump timer for to match the times with nice sunshine. That way the consumption will be covered by Solar power, and when the pump is not running, the solar power doesn't go to waste, its used for other loads in your home, reducing your electrical bill.  

[Iiceman]

currently the pump runs for about 8 hours a day..

however i do understand that on solar i will probably need to run it for about 6 hours, when the sunshine is optimal.

so would installing 2x400w panels and a 1000 watt sine wave inverter work?

 

[Jaco De Jongh]

1 hour ago, Iiceman said:

would installing 2x400w panels and a 1000 watt sine wave inverter work?

On your current draw and assuming that the VSD offers a Soft start, it might. But on full DOL starting I dont think the inverter would be happy. You are also cutting it a bit tight as you can only expect to get 600 wh after all the losses, so with a few  clouds in the sky, the panels wont give enough power to keep the motor going. 

What do you plan to use to stabilize the PV voltage, you would need something like a charge controller and even a battery to give the reference voltage to the system. 

[Wilfred]

Hi all,

I am running my pool pump 3 hours a day from 11:00 to 14:00 from my existing system. No problems so far. My pool ain’t massive, I would guess nothing more than 20k liters. 3 hours a day is a bit short, but I don’t have any problems keeping it clean, been almost a month now.

[Dex_]

2 hours ago, Wilfred said:

Hi all,

I am running my pool pump 3 hours a day from 11:00 to 14:00 from my existing system. No problems so far. My pool ain’t massive, I would guess nothing more than 20k liters. 3 hours a day is a bit short, but I don’t have any problems keeping it clean, been almost a month now.

mine is about 55kl and i run for 4hrs a day and the pool is looking great for its age, there is this common perception that 8hrs is needed but from my experience it isn't always, i run it at the peak sun time of the day which is also what is recommended.

if you take the claim that a 0.75kW motor can move up to 16000lt/h you can see that even with losses and pipe restrictions etc you can easily achieve a full turnover rate in less time.

[phil.g00]

2 hours ago, Dex_ said:

if you take the claim that a 0.75kW motor can move up to 16000lt/h you can see that even with losses and pipe restrictions etc you can easily achieve a full turnover rate in less time.

If I look at typical 0.75kW pool pump curves and the googled typical dynamic head of an inground swimming pool of 50-60 (feet) or say, 15-18m the flow rate is typically next to nothing.

So I'd have to question your statement?

 

[Johandup]

I would look at ways to minimise pool cleaning. 

This should be far more affordable than looking at solar electricity options.

I opened my pool cover after the winter (4 1/2 months) and it was totally clean. In this time I had the pump running for one hour per week.

I have solar heating and thus would always have a bubble blanket on when not swimming. I have also filled the filter with Clinobrite which helps against algae. In the last swimming season It did not get green algae once.

if the water is warm enough we switch the pump off. I prefer the temperature to be around 29 Celsius.

Things like this minimise the time one needs to run the pump.

I am sure a thing like the black solar panels require a stronger pump.

Edited September 29, 2019 by Johandup

[Dex_]

9 hours ago, phil.g00 said:

If I look at typical 0.75kW pool pump curves and the googled typical dynamic head of an inground swimming pool of 50-60 (feet) or say, 15-18m the flow rate is typically next to nothing.

So I'd have to question your statement?

 

I mean you can come look at my pool if you want - that's all the proof i need?

And even if i am not right which i don't doubt i beg to differ that it is "next to nothing"

[phil.g00]

I accept the argument that bumblebees can't fly in theory.

 

[DeepBass9]

On 2019/09/25 at 10:45 AM, Iiceman said:

 

My pool pump is a variable speed  Speck Eco Touch 16, which has 3 settings, low;medium and high and the specs on paper is either 0.40(L);0.70(M) or 1.05 kW (H) power consumption, however i have recently started using an Ellis Effergy power monitor device at my home and the pool pump consumes either 0.30(L);0.40(M) or 0.50 kW(H)  with the Kreepy connected. (So im not sure if the specs on the pool pump is incorrect or the effergy is under reading), 

It is not under reading, that is the power consumed in pushing the water through your pipes and filter. Stick a bung in the outlet pipe and listen to the pump labour, then you will get the full rated power consumption and more until the pump burns out.