Solar Pool Pumps

Make your splash with a solar swimming pool pump.

Solar Pool Pumps run more efficiently and last longer than conventional AC pumps. Practical information to help you choose the right solar pool pump for filtering and heating.

Maintain your swimming pool with solar energy.

solar pool pumps

More and more families are taking the plunge and switching to solar power for their swimming pools.

If you have a swimming pool - and since you're reading this we'll assume that you do - most likely your second biggest energy draw will be the AC pump that filters your pool water.

Replacing AC Pumps With Solar Pool Pumps

AC pumps are notoriously inefficient and use huge amounts of energy - one of the reasons your pool pumping tasks increase your energy bill to such high levels. Replacing your dinosaur AC pumping system with a solar pump can result in savings of up to $80.00 per month for a 20,000 gallon pool.

At that rate the switch to solar could be paid for in as few as 2 years, depending on how many months of the year you use the pool.

Additionally, solar pumps function best at peak demand periods. If you live in an area where energy costs are tiered, costs are often highest at mid day when neighborhood air conditioners are operating at warp speed. A solar pool pumping system will operate, free of operating cost, for several hours at mid day when grid power costs are the highest.

Also, your solar powered swimming pool will not be affected by rolling brownouts or blackouts if you live in an area where they are put into practice.

No matter how long it takes for your solar pump to pay for itself, there's always that day in the future when your pool filtering and heating will cost you nothing.

No matter how long you pay for your AC pool pumping system that is never going happen. The AC system will continue to cost you money as long as you own it.

Once the solar pool system is in place you'll not be affected by brownouts, blackouts and ever rising energy costs. Your swimming season will increase by weeks or even months. Since the cost of running a solar powered system is nothing, the pool can be used in the shoulder seasons without adding to your expense. While your neighbors wait for the magical date when they bite the bullet and fire up the swimming pool and start paying the enormous summertime power bill, your pool will have been in use for a month or more.

It is possible to power an AC pump with solar energy but because of their inefficiency they'll require more watts of solar panel to run them than a DC pump will. You'll also require an AC pump that's twice as powerful to get the same job done. (1/4 hp DC pump replaces a 1/2 hp AC pump). Also, because an AC pump uses 110V power the addition of an inverter is necessary which uses more power necessitating the addition of more watts of solar panel.

The money you'd spend on extra solar panels and an inverter to run an AC pump would be better spent on a solar pump (DC pump) that will last longer than the AC pump.

Not All Filter Types Are A Good Match With Solar Pool Pumps.

Because solar pumps are designed to be very energy efficient they typically generate a lower flow rate than conventional pumps. Also, solar pumps that are not backed up by batteries have variable flow rates according to the position and strength of the sunlight at any given time. Not all filtration systems function well with a low and/or variable flow rate.

Cartridge Type Filters are the best choice to use with a solar pool pump because of their tolerance for flow rates that are low or inconsistent.

A Sand Filtration System is the next best option for solar applications.

Sizing Solar Pool Pumps

Pool pumping systems are sized (on average) to circulate the entire contents of the pool every day - some circulate the pool contents one and a half times a day and others circulate the contents every day and a half.

Choosing a pump capable of exchanging the entire volume (or more) of your pool on your day of highest yield (clear, sunny, mid-summer) will ensure that the system functions adequately throughout the swimming season.

If you intend to buy components separately, size and buy the pump first then match the solar panel to the solar pool pump.

Sample calculations for a 20,000 gallon pool at 5 hours pumping per day.

5 hours times 60 minutes = 300 minutes
20,000 gallons divided by 300 minutes = 67 gallons per minute
In this case the pump would need to move 67 gallons per minute for 5 hours each day in order to filter the pool's entire contents daily.

Depending on the amount of sunshine in your area your calculations may be made for 6 or even 7 hours per day which will decrease the size of the pump you need.

Advantages of Solar Pool Pumps

Environmentally friendly.
High efficiency - To replace an AC pump with a solar model, choose a solar pump that's half the size. 1/2 hp solar pump replaces 1 hp AC pump, etc.
Long life.
Work well with solar panels.
Variety of sizes and flow rates.
Pays for itself over time.
Increases swimming season by months at no extra cost.