The number of solar panels needed for a 1 HP motor depends on the phase type, solar panel watts and age of pump! A brand new RPS 1 HP, three phase pump utilizes twelve 100W panels, a total of 1200W. You could potentially use larger solar panels like 300W, meaning fewer overall panels but about the same square footage. But if the pump is single phase, expect to use more panels since three phase is more efficient than single phase. And if the pump is old, 10-15 years or older, again expect to use more panels as pumps decrease in efficiency over time and require greater power upon startup.

Pro Volume and Deep Systems

The diagram above shows how all twelve 100W panels are connected in series for a Pro1000 pump kit. You can choose between a ProV, higher volume lower head, or ProD, lower volume high head up to 1000 feet. We supply solar powered pump kits up to 5 HP, which require twenty 310W panels!

Single vs. Three Phase

Our Pro Series line of pumps are all fed DC power through our Pro Controller which outputs 220V three phase to operate the pump, but we carry Conversion Kits and Watersecure Kits can transition existing single phase pumps over to solar using varying numbers of panels. Operation of a single phase pump requires more panels because of lesser power transmitting efficiency when compared to three phase.