How Many Solar Panels for a Solar Water Pump?
A standard 1 HP (horsepower) water pump typically requires between 800 to 1200 watts of solar panels. This usually translates to three 400W panels or twelve 100W panels.
First, you need to know the pump's power requirement, which is typically measured in watts (W). Divide the pump's wattage by the average peak sunlight hours your location receives daily. For example, if your pump requires 1500W and you get 5 sunlight hours per day, you would need at least a 300W solar panel.
Example for a Small 12V Fountain: A small 12V water fountain pump might only need a 20-watt solar panel. Example for a Deep Well: To run a powerful 1 HP well pump, you might need an array of 1,500 watts (1.5 kW) of solar panels. Stop guessing.
After figuring out the solar array size, pick the right pump. Look at your water needs and the pressure. Choose a pump that can handle your daily water use and fits with the solar array. The number of solar panels needed to run a 1 hp water pump changes with the system's details. A solar pump design calculation excel tool can give you a rough idea.
Here's some estimates on solar power for an AC pump – this varies depending on what kind of system you get but its a start! For a 1/2 horsepower pump, you'll need about eight solar panels or 800 watts of power.
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