Will A Solar Pumps Still Run When It Is Cloudy Outside | Q&A With The Solar Water Pump Experts

Hey there, Mike here from RPS Solar Pumps! 

A lot of times people ask us, “What happens when it’s cloudy outside? Will I still have access to water with a solar-powered pump?”

The short answer is – absolutely, yes! Let’s break down how you can keep your water flowing, even on the cloudiest days.

You may have heard from the neighbor that solar pumps will shut off if there’s even a cloud in the sky – that’s actually a myth. We’ll be publishing a video soon on this, but these RPS Solar Pumps will operate under cloudy conditions without any outside help from backup power. Even if the weather is rainy and overcast, the system will still operate, just at decreased power. So if on a normal rainy day the pump is rated to pump 5 gallons per minute, maybe you should expect 2-3 gallons per minute under cloudy conditions, depending on the severity of clouds.

First and foremost we always advocate for water storage. By storing 3 to 5 days worth of water, you can ensure you have enough supply to tide you over should you have some cloud cover. This stored water could be in a tank, cistern, or any other storage option that suits your needs. Remember, a little forward planning goes a long way in securing your water supply.

The second approach involves making the most of the abundant sunlight when it’s available. The majority of our RPS systems come with a battery backup. These batteries soak up and store extra solar power on sunny days and come in handy when clouds cover the sky. So, whether it’s a rainy day or nighttime, the battery backup keeps your pump working smoothly, delivering water when you need it. One caveat with batteries – once the batteries are drained of power, you’ll have to wait a few hours for them to charge back up. That’s why for people who plan on pumping water all day long from sun up to sun down, the water storage option is a better fit as you’ll store up extra water when there’s sun and use a bit of the reserve when there’s clouds.

And finally, we’ve also got AC grid/generator power input available on most of our systems. This can be directly utilized or converted to DC using a converter, powering your pumps and ensuring water availability anytime.

So, there you have it. A few dreary days don’t have to mean no water. With our RPS solar pumps, you’re always covered!

I hope this post addresses your concerns about solar pump efficiency during cloudy weather. If you have any more solar-related questions, drop them in the comments below. We’d love to answer them here or even feature them in a future video!

Stay sunny and hydrated! Until next time, this is Mike from RPS Solar Pumps, signing off.