Checklist
Solar pump sizing checklist.
A pump cannot be sized from the size of the garden or the farm alone. Gather these before you ask anyone to size one, whether it will be solar, grid or engine powered.
The water
- Source type: borehole, well, river, dam or tank
- How deep the water is, and how far it drops while pumping
- How much the source can safely give, in litres per hour
- Water quality, including any sand, silt or iron
The lift and the distance
- Height from the water to the highest point to be irrigated
- Length and size of pipe from the source to the garden or field
- The pressure the sprinklers, rotors or drip lines need
The demand
- What is watered at one time: the lawns and beds on one zone, or the crop and area on one block
- How many hours a day the system must run, and when: gardens are often watered at night or before sunrise
- Whether a storage tank will hold water for cloudy periods and night-time watering
The site
- Open, unshaded space for solar panels, if solar is being considered
- On a hotel or estate, where the pump, tank and panels can sit out of sight
- Security against theft
- What powers the pump today, and whether a backup is needed
See landscape irrigationSee farm irrigation
Next step
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