What’s Our One Solar Pump Tip Your Neighbor Won’t Know?

You don’t NEED batteries for your RPS solar system!

Our top solar pump tip might seem like a no-brainer, but we get asked a LOT about this. Do I need batteries? Should I get batteries?

The answer is no, batteries are not required with every solar pump setup. RPS systems run most efficiently using solar power alone. While it does make sense for some customers to add a battery bank (especially with low GPM wells and for household water pressure), whenever possible, our engineers do recommend pumping more water into a storage tank for overnight use rather than adding the expense and complication of batteries. Depending on your needs, you can run your system on solar alone which works just fine if you’re in a solar zone with a longer solar day or you only need a few hours of pumping each day to fill your troughs or tank. Let’s discuss a few more solar pumping tips for a battery-free solar setup!

Most Common Battery-Free Setups

#1 Solar Pumping from Livestock Well to Stock Tank

Most common livestock install in USA. Flexible black poly pipe is hose-clamped to an included stainless steel barb threaded onto the pump (C). Another threaded barb and a coupling to pass through the well seal. An elbow or tee allow for easy ‘open flow’ plumbing to the stock tank, keeping above the surface to avoid siphoning water back down the well. Without a check valve, water will drain back through pump at night making this good for cold climates. Included tank sensor turns off pump when tank is full (B), low water sensor if well runs dry (C) – both wire to controller. Solar Panels and controller are mounted and must be protected from cattle (A) somewhere south facing, ideally within 100 feet (talk to RPS Engineer if it must be more). SHOP all submersible pumps for Livestock applications on our website – we have 2″, 3″ and 3.9″ diameter pumps that can handle wells up to 1,000 feet or pump up to 225 GPM.

#2 Well to Faraway Tank (2,000 Feet!) Using a Pressure Shut Off

The RPS universal charge controller (B) is the brains of the operation. Solar power from the panels is routed through the controller to the pump using an MPPT for maximum efficiency. Sensors reacting to environmental conditions that turn the pump on or off for protection are also connected. We use a wet/dry tank full sensor wired directly to the controller. In the diagram there is a wet/dry sensor above the pump, shutting the system off to prevent damage from running dry. If a tank is significant distance away from the well and controller, a pressure shut off system is used instead of a tank full sensor at the top of the tank. Using a pressure shut off saves you the hassle and cost of trenching hundreds or even thousands of feet of wire. A check valve is attached directly off the pump to help build pressure in the line and maintain prime, a reverse action pressure switch (C), senses whether the mechanical float (A) is opening or closing the line. If the mechanical float has closed the pipeline it means the tank is full and the reverse action pressure switch sends a signal to the controller to turn the pump off. If the mechanical float has dropped and the pipeline is open, the reverse action pressure switch sense the drop in line pressure and tells the pump to turn on. As you can see, the reverse action pressure switch is hardwired and connected to the charge controller by two 18 gauge wires.

#2 Solar Transfer Pump from Spring Box, Pond, Cistern or Shallow Well

A popular alternative to a submersible pump is a surface transfer pump that will pull water out of a spring box, pond, shallow well or cistern using a foot valve (A). In this diagram we use the RPS Solar Transfer Pump. Water is banked in an elevated storage tank (B) and a tank full sensor prevents overflow while also shutting down the pump once the tank is full. The storage tank is elevated at least 100 feet so it can provide pressurized water with gravity at 45 psi 24 hours a day for household/drinking and irrigation applications (C). Don’t have usable elevation on your property, incorporate the popular Tankless Pressure Pump™ to pressurize water 24/7.


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Our Most Popular Battery-Free Systems

RPS 200

RPS 400

RPS 800

RPS 400N

RPS Kits Include…

RPS Controllers
Multiple Sensor Inputs
Tank & Well Low sensors
Variable Frequency Control
Cycling Protection Timer
Exterior Shut-off Switch

RPS Solar Panels
UL1703 Certified
Per Intertek ETL
Nationally Recognized to Hail, Wind Requirements
IEC 612512 / IEC 61646
*Comply fully with NRCS

2 Year Comprehensive Warranty
30 Day Money-Back Guarantee
Engineering Phone/Text Support

Includes the BEST step-by-step installation manual you’re ever used. Seriously. You’ll want to frame it. 22+ pages of full color to arm you with knowledge and give you a reference on the basic wiring, plumbing and mounting required.

RPS Motors
Slow Start/Stop
Brushless Motor Tech.
Permanent Magnet Efficiency
Rated for Continuous Operation

RPS Pump Ends
Serviceable in the Field
Helical & Centrifugal Technology
Lifetime Rotor Warranty
Stainless Steel Body

Plumbing connectors
Controller mounting hardware
Low-water & tank shut-off sensors
Waterproof splice/heatshrink kit

RPS Water Assurance Plan™

Ensure you have the right pump, parts, and tools for a fast and successful install.