What are solar water pumps?
A solar water pump system is essentially an electrical pump system in which the electricity is provided by solar panels. A typical solar powered pumping system consists of a solar panel array that powers an electric motor, which in turn powers a submersible or surface pump.
How long do they last?
Solar water pumping systems typically consist of:
- The solar panels
- The pump controllers which match the output power from the panels and input power to the pumps
- The pumps
The solar panels that power the pumps typically last for around 25 years and cost around 80% of the pumping system.
The controllers have an expected lifetime of about ten years.
The pumps as such have varying life expectancy, depending on the motor chosen to drive the pumps. Since the solar panels have a life expectancy of more than 25 years, high efficient AC or DC motors that last for around 15-20 years are usually chosen for the water pumps. However, there are also manufacturers of motors who are able to quote a lifetime of more than 25 years. But of course; this comes at higher costs than the others.
The pumps, whether they are of the submersible or surface type, typically last for around 15- 20 years.
So all in all, if solar panels are the highest value item, and the motors the next most valuable, we can say that the solar water pumping systems are designed to last for a period of about 20 years. However some components of the system such as the controllers may have to be replaced within this period.
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