Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Rainwater irrigation with solar and battery powered pumps

Chris214Chris214 Posts: 6
in Problem solving

i am really interested to hear from anyone who collects rainwater and then uses battery/solar power to irrigate their garden or greenhouse as opposed to tap water

Posts

  • WelshonionWelshonion Posts: 3,114

    We collect rainwater and siphon it to a tank where we dip watering cans as required.  No mechanical parts to go wrong! There is very little in the garden which gets watered, and certainly not with tap water.

  • Chris214Chris214 Posts: 6

    I collect rain in water butts but am thinking of getting two large 1000 litre containers. I have an electronics/electrical background but am looking for others experiences using solar powered pumps, solar or wind recharging of 12v batteries etc to power a pump. I have purchased a small 12v pump to start on my greenhouse.

    My garden is a reasonable size and I am disabled from an accident and looking to make life easier as my mobility reduces.

    I have hozelock accessories and thinking maybe buy one of their pumps to water my greenhouse but interested in anything anyone on here, (with respect to extra low voltage 12-24v dc), has done to get ideas.

    I like the idea of solar powered pump for my frog pool but so far not seen anything of a reasonable quality.

    Thinking this will be a project for winter ready for next year.

    Any comments/suggestions welcome.

    Last edited: 28 August 2017 13:27:16

  • Chris214Chris214 Posts: 6

    Not contacted any manufacturers yet, trying to get the lay of the land first, think I'll surf on the web first to see what's around ?

  • EmerionEmerion Posts: 599
    Hello @Chris214, did you make any progress with this project? I want to install a solar-panel, leisure battery and 12v pump with my existing 1500 litre tank, to help irrigate a polytunnel in the middle of the night, and hence save water, and effort. I’m currently concerned about whether the pump that I’m looking at (800 litres/hour), would be too powerful, or indeed not powerful enough for quite a long run of drip-feed piping as it’s a big polytunnel. 
    Carmarthenshire (mild, wet, windy). Loam over shale, very slightly sloping, so free draining. Mildly acidic or neutral.


  • Chris214Chris214 Posts: 6
    Yes, I have made
    progress. I have installed two irrigatia solar powered units connected to two x 210l water bitts connected to a 1000l tank. Works really well. Looking to install the larger irrigatia system this winter, money permitting. Also bought a 12v pump and acquired some old motability scooter batteries that still hold their charge ok which gives me 150Ah power at 12v so will be experimenting with timers,
    pumps, sensors etc. hopefully over the winter as I have, in total, 2,400 l of rainwater storage. Intend to connect all my pots,
    raised beds, borders etc. Best thing about irrigatia is using seep hoses in my 8 raised beds made from pallet tops my water
    last for weeks not days and uses one self contained solar unit, have another one doing combination of
    greenhouse, potted  fruit trees and 4 large hydrangeas
Sign In or Register to comment.