How Many Solar Panels for a Water Pump?
Solar water pumping depends on pump wattage, lift height, daily runtime, storage tank size, and whether the pump runs directly from solar or from a battery-backed system.
Short answer: small DC pumps can run from a small array, while deep wells and irrigation pumps may need a larger dedicated system.
Inputs to Check
- Pump wattage and starting surge.
- Hours of pumping per day.
- Head pressure, pipe length, and flow target.
- Water tank storage versus battery storage.
Best Next Step
Estimate daily pump kWh, then use Panel Count. If the pump must run at night, check Battery Sizing.
Next step: size pump energy before choosing panels.