Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Chatting => Design and Construction => Topic started by: savbo on July 05, 2012, 12:56

Title: Solar water pump
Post by: savbo on July 05, 2012, 12:56

Hi all

at work we're building a demo green roof and were thinking of having a solar pump to 'water' the roof periodically, showing how little runoff you get. The top of the roof will be about 1.7m off the floor, and we could have a reservoir from ground level up to about 1m. So we'd need a lift of at least 1m, and a timer would be a nice touch.

does anyone have any advice or recommendations?

sav

Title: Re: Solar water pump
Post by: B1GDAD on August 27, 2012, 13:34

Solar pumps do not normally have enough power for a high head (height water needs to be pumped up from base of pump).

You might be able to go with a 12v pump run from a caravan solar set up, but it would not be cheap (unless you cou flea bay?), plus not sure if the timer could work on a 12V or sloar system?

Pump with a float switch might work if set up on a run and catch system just under the roof?

would be interesting to see how you get on.

John

Title: Re: Solar water pump
Post by: jrko on August 27, 2012, 15:24

Irrigatia systems claim pumping 15ft above water source but its only a drip system - page 4 botom left http://irrigatia.com/docs/instruction-leaflets/sol-k12-setup-instructions.pdf?sfvrsn=6

A £10 12v bilge pump will do it. This one claims 2.5m head lift http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-350-GPH-Water-BILGE-PUMP-Submersible-Yacht-Boat-Marine-Sea-/400316857322?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_BoatEquipment_Accessories_SM&hash=item5d34be7bea#ht_761wt_1165

Title: Re: Solar water pump
Post by: Markw on August 27, 2012, 15:47

I have had quite a few off this lot, they have a lot of pumps you can chose from.
http://www.virtualvillage.co.uk/catalogsearch/result/?q=solar+water+pump
Just take it off a battery, you can keep the battery charged up with a small solar panal