Pool pump connected to solar power

[Acogs91]

I am having trouble finding much information. I live in Arizona where I can take advantage of the abundance of sun. I was thinking of replacing my old pool pump and considering going to solar powered way.

I have a 10,000 gallon inground pool with in-floor pop-ups. What is my best option if I am wanting to go solar powered? I currently have a 1.5HP AO smith pump and pentair superflo wet pump. I don’t have any water features and have a cartridge filter setup. I also have a pool heater that I never use!

Am I better off sticking with my solar plan or just getting a VS pump instead? Do I need to stick with a 1.5 HP pump? I have maybe 30 feet from my filter to my pool.
Thanks guys

 

[mas985]

Welcome to the forum!

I have found that solar powered pumps are not very cost effective. Payback is decades in the future. Longer than the life of the pump. You would be better off getting whole house solar and running a conventional pump off of it.

 

[Acogs91]

Welcome to the forum!

I have found that solar powered pumps are not very cost effective. Payback is decades in the future. Longer than the life of the pump. You would be better off getting whole house solar and running a conventional pump off of it.

That’s good to know! Thanks for the input. Should I stay at 1.5HP and get a VS pump? If so, anyone have personal recommendations on what to get?

 

[Rossterman]

Currently, due to the covid slowdown, you can buy (not lease) a top rated (samsung panels, enphase microinverer) system installed with a 25 year parts and labor warranty for $2.77 a kw. Additionally the solar tax credits are disappearing and as such dropped from 30% to 26% this year. They go down even more in 2021 and are phased out entirely in just a few years. If you are considering solar, better to act sooner rather than later. Depending on your situation (electrical use and cost) , you may be able to recoup your investment cost in as little as 6 years meaning 21 years of savings in your pocket totaling 10s ot thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the panels.

I spent a long time researching designs, mfg, and negotiating with vendors and have a 9kw system being installed as we speak. My system has a RoR of 7.2 years at current electrical pricing. I live in Northern California with PG&E and they are already charging twice what they did 5 years ago. No telling how high it will go in the future.

 

[mas985]

That’s good to know! Thanks for the input. Should I stay at 1.5HP and get a VS pump? If so, anyone have personal recommendations on what to get?

A VS or two speed would be a good investment as they both would reduce your power bills.

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

Should I stay at 1.5HP and get a VS pump? If so, anyone have personal recommendations on what to get?

When I got solar photovoltaic panels in late 2012, the solar installers insisted I replace my single-speed pump with a VSP. Otherwise, I'd be wasting my generated power. On their recommendation, I got a Pentair Intelliflo, and it's been great. I need at least 3 speeds, for pool, spa, and thermal solar, so VSP was the way to go, as I can fine-tune it for each mode.

 

[Acogs91]

Currently, due to the covid slowdown, you can buy (not lease) a top rated (samsung panels, enphase microinverer) system installed with a 25 year parts and labor warranty for $2.77 a kw. Additionally the solar tax credits are disappearing and as such dropped from 30% to 26% this year. They go down even more in 2021 and are phased out entirely in just a few years. If you are considering solar, better to act sooner rather than later. Depending on your situation (electrical use and cost) , you may be able to recoup your investment cost in as little as 6 years meaning 21 years of savings in your pocket totaling 10s ot thousands of dollars over the lifetime of the panels.

I spent a long time researching designs, mfg, and negotiating with vendors and have a 9kw system being installed as we speak. My system has a RoR of 7.2 years at current electrical pricing. I live in Northern California with PG&E and they are already charging twice what they did 5 years ago. No telling how high it will go in the future.

I’m not considering whole home solar. Just 2-3 panels to powers the pump through the day.

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

I’m not considering whole home solar. Just 2-3 panels to powers the pump through the day.

How is the pump going to run on a cloudy day? (Or don't you get those where you live?)