Solar energy offers farmers and other livestock owners an affordable way to power their water pumping system for animal refreshment. Save money on electricity and provide free water to your animals, especially in harsh weather conditions. The direct coupling solar-powered water pumping system is ideal for areas that receive sunlight most of the year. Here are tips for the installation process of a solar water pumping system based on information from the University of Tennessee (UT) Agricultural Extension Service.
A solar-powered water pump can operate independently or in connection with a backup battery or electricity source. In this example, no backup source is used.
1. Choose a location for collecting solar energy that is not blocked from the sun by trees or other objects. Because you will make a sizable investment in photovoltaic cells and water equipment, you want to create ideal conditions for collecting sunlight.
2. Install the solar photovoltaic panels facing directly to the south for maximum exposure. Make sure that the panels are grounded to metal well casings or a driven ground rod, especially if you must locate your pump system on higher ground.
3. Use direct-burial wiring to run the wiring underground from the solar panels to the pump. Consult diagrams of similar projects for how to lay the wiring in the soil furrows where you will place the PVC piping.
4. Install the water delivery system. The combination of a standard pressure switch and a recharged pressure tank ensures that the water system will not constantly switch on and off when livestock drink from the tank that is near capacity.
5. Install the water pump in a freshwater source (i.e. a lake, river, or stream) to which you have watering rights. Ensure that your water source flows well enough to supply your livestock with water throughout the year.
6. For proper maintenance, monitor for sand and silt in the water pump, proper wiring connections and working junction boxes, properly mounted hardware, functioning switches, and clean photovoltaic panels.