DIY Battery Operated Water Pump for Rain Barrel Irrigation, with Solar Charging
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 มิ.ย. 2024
- Complete How To DIY Build instructions for a battery operated on demand water pump setup for your rain barrel system, using solar power to recharge the battery.
Interested in keeping chickens or building your own chicken coop? Be sure to check out our other channel Lonestar Coops: / @lonestarcoops6889
Here is the pump used in this project: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...
Fuses for the pump and solar here. Wire these inline using 10amp slow blow fuses. www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01...
Solar Charge Controller: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07...
Battery is a 12V 12a,p hour SLA type: www.batteriesplus.com/product...
I noticed you struggled just a little when using the hole saw. If you’re drilling plastic or even very thin metal with a hole saw like that, run it in reverse and it’ll work much smoother. Thanks for the video. I’m watching tons of them to compare to the build I’m working on. No criticism here, great job. It’s simple and works for your application. 👍🏻
Thanks for the tip!
Great job on making and posting your video. Good information to get it all set up. Thank you for posting!! 👍
Agreed
Great video ! Very well presented.
Not seeing a link for the solar panel itself
Love your video! Thanks a bunch!
Thank you very much for putting this helpful video together!
Thanks for your input. This is exactly what i am looking for.
You have an awesome way of sharing your setup. Thanks for posting.
I do appreciate your effort. Thanks!
Well done. Thank you for sharing!!
Very informative and video laid out where it was easy to follow, thanks will be checking your channel all out from here on.
Thanks for time and to give me some ideas to build a solar pump system !!!
Great video cheers from London England 👍🏴
Love those raised beds.
one of the best videos hands down.
No music! Perfect. Thanks for sharing.
I highly appreciate you’re video. Very informative. It is exactly what I was looking. Thank YOU 🙏.
I would be lost without this info. Thank you for making this video. Soon my small backyard nursery will have automated irrigation.
Great video! I subscribed to your channel. All of your videos have given me great ideas and direction. Thanks for sharing!
One of the best diy videos I’ve seen. Thanks for thoroughly explaining.
thanks very informative , im going to build it for my rain barrel
This was helpful thanks. I put in a similar build bit with a splitter before the timer so I can use it for hand watering also (super handy) plus put in a float switch in the water butt to prevent it from running dry.
Sick. Exactly what I was looking for today. THANK. YOU.
excellent and informative video...thank you
This is a great video! Thanks for making it. I’m gathering ideas for my rotating barrel composters, I’d like to make a system with a motor, chain& gears so I can have them turn on a timer all run off solar.
Best wishes from England
Many thx for this.
Good video 👍🏻 thanks for the ideas
Please show links to all your rain barrel builds. This is great stuff sir. God bless
Great idea! I would have an additional tote within the larger one for all the electronics though. If a hose ever cracks, the last thing you want is a live-current 12 V solar system swimming near your work area.
I think 12V systems are considered safe, thats why most outdoor lighting and such is usually 12V, but if anyone has more info on this I am always open to discussion.
Nice. Good work. Looks clean too.
Some updates coming on this after two years or so at work. Watch for an upcoming video on minor modifications.
Nice video shot, well done, thanks for sharing it :)
Good idea on using a tote instead of building an enclosure.
Great project nicely explained. Just a note about battery safety with flying leads. At 6:40 you have flying leads connected to your battery with unconnected stripped ends. They get very close to each other when you are offering them up to the control box. If they touch each other you're going to get a large flash, burnt wires and burnt fingers minimum. Take care to connect the battery (or whatever power source) last when wiring up. 👍
Except with solar panels. You always connect the solar panels after the battery is connected to the charge controller, or you'll ruin the charge controller.
Tony: Last week I finished putting together my system. I used everything you did, even the tote! The only difference is that I am powering 2 sprayers on risers that covers my 8x40 garden. I also used some of the info on building the solar panel bracket. This was all great stuff and I really appreciate you making this video. I have gotten a lot of comments on my system already....and we love using the rain barrel versus city water.
Ron Mele Thats awesome, how many barrels did you go with? I’m going to add some more during winter break.
And what’s the sprayer setup look like?
@@TexasOrganicGardening I just picked up twelve 30 gal screw top white food grade barrels for $20 each. They look brand new. I’m going to build a few into the ran collection system like yours. I’m putting in a rebased bed garden this summer. I’v got an ancient DerectTV dish on the wall in the back of the house. I can use the mounting arm for the solar panel.
You need to provide drip loops at the tote wire penetrations. Don’t want to mix rain water and electrics. I’d seal off the controller hose hole as well. Keep the tote dry!
So easy thank you 💪🏾my man
Thanks for the detailled explanation!
Thanks for the great video - I'm working on plans for something similar, and have a few questions for you.
Have you found the size of the battery to be enough to support your system? I was considering a deep cell RV battery, but would love to consider something cheaper.
I also noticed you don't have a fuse on the pump line - any reason to add one?
How many watts is the solar panel - does your battery remain well charged all year?
How long of an irrigation system? I have to water 7 4x4 boxes - would the PSI on the pump be enough to reach the end of my line? Thanks again for the great video!
Great video! Where are you placing fuses? After controller or between panel and controller?
Also do you have any setting to do to solar controller? Watts & Amps?
Great video. It took me quite a while to find what I was looking for. I am going to set up a system like this for our school garden. I have a question. What is the longest you suggest letting that pump run before you run into overheating issues? Thanks.
Juat came across your video ..great video, just what i was looking dor.. what was the amp for the charge controller used and the watt for the solar panel pls.. ?
Exceelent video... Can obe convert a normal electric water pump into a dc solar water pump line yours, as i am struggling to find a dc solar water pump .. thanks
Thanks for the video! Any idea on whether the pump draws power (or how much) when on standby mode?
Very little to none. I think it only switches on when it detects water flow on the output side (ie timer valve comes on).
This isn't normal water pump it is a autoclave pump. turn on when running water true pump. good project thank.
I'm late to the table 😄 very informative vid-clip and enormously helpful. One question: why AC and not DC pump? Quite impressive controller/inverter.
It is a DC pump, run from small battery.
Please advise all the parts and tools used. I especially like your stripper. What make and model pump? Can you please put links for the battery and the parts for the solar panel bracket? Please put a link for the stripper. Thanks.
Helllo, nice video! I would like to ask you how is the irrigation automat connected with rest of the elelctric installation? Thank you
Please check the other videos in the playlist for more details.
Thanks for the video. Do you have a pressure regulator after the timer?
Good question, yes, its a 25 PSI Low Flow Pressure Regulator. I'll be sure to mention it in the upcoming update video.
Does the head pressure of the rain barrels affect the pump at all?
How does the timer hook up to the pump to turn the pump on and off? And what timer did you use? And this is a great video good information! Thank you with any help!
The pump has a built in pressure switch and only runs when there is a demand.
Hey Tony. This video and the one about the solar panel are great and I’ll be using this to build my system. I have some pieces and parts around the house and was curious if you know the inner diameter of the clear plastic hose you attached to the pump? (I’m prepping some parts and such before I start buying stuff.)
Also, I cannot find the link to your sight gauge build.
Thanks again for the great stuff!
Ron Mele Its 1/2” ID 3/4” OD from Home Depot
th-cam.com/video/r-kJbgX6ZoY/w-d-xo.html
Hi Tony. I built a similar system but am having issues with my motor pulsing. Do you have a vacuum break in the line after the timer? Wondering if that might fix my issue. Thanks
can I use Booster pump instead of that pump? thank you
would this pump allow you to use a hose to water the garden or is it only strong enough for drip feeding? Thanks for the video. I liked it very much and have subscribed. Looking forward to checking out your other vids
Yes the pump puts out as much pressure as from the house. You could easily use a water hose.
@@TexasOrganicGardening Maybe I missed this in your video, but did you have to install a pressure reducing valve on the output side or is the pressure not strong enough to blow off the irrigation drip heads?
Thank you for sharing! I’m going to build it like this. Does the battery charging keep up with the pump or does the battery deplete after a while?
Amsterdam Tinus Yes since the pump is only running 15-30 minutes a day the charging can easily keep the battery topped off. The battery could probably run the pump about 2 hours before being depleted if it wasn’t being charged.
@@tdenarobackup thanx!
How long can the pump run continuesly with that battery setup?
Great video, thanks. I built an exact replica system. I keep running into the charge controller flashing the load icon. According to the manual this requires a reset. No matter what I do I run into this problem. When this is happening the timer doesn't turn the pump on. I have to manually turn the pump on through the controller. Any advice is welcome.
Are you connecting the pump to the load connections on the charge controller or wired right to the battery? I have two similar systems, but I replaced the charge controllers with something more robust. From what I understand, the load connections on the charge controller aren't really designed for higher loads. They're more for low voltage lighting or monitors. I wired mine directly to the battery (with a 10 amp fuse in between the pump and the battery on the + side). I previously had them wired to the load connections on the charge controller and one of them started smoking. I took it apart and part of the PCB was burned up. Just before, I was having the same issue you mention. Unfortunately, now in hotter temps, I'm running into thermal protection turning off the pump after about 10 minutes of watering. According to Pentair, these pumps are not designed for continuous use, just short term and intermittent use.
First, let me say cool project, I am making my own. I put in 3 barrels this summer and quickly got tired of lugging the watering can around. I bought the exact pump you used, and I thought the barb adapters came with the pump, and I had no idea the bafflement it caused the poor plumbing dept guy at Lowes. I wasted $2 as he gave me some fitting that had hose thread on it....since we are using the flex hose, is there a reason why the swivel barb adapter is needed? Will it leak with a regular barb adapter?
I put my guy at Home Depot through hell finding something that worked.
I want to do something similar but backwards: We have no guttering on our rented house but our yard floods like a lake when it rains. I want water to be pumped from the ground into a barrel when it rains, then passively drip into beds right next to the barrel. I've no idea how to do this.
Hello . I live in Georgia and I'm on a well. I am trying to figure out how to get water from my rain barrels just to fill the toilet when the power goes out. do you think this set up would work to get the water up through the window ?
What are those things you attached to the solar panel bracket and what do they do?
Hi, would this system work with a well? The well is about 6 to 8 feet deep.
Where do the fuses come into play?
Hi can you recommend a powerful on demand water pump of at list 2hp..pls
Tony, great video - thanks for posting. I was wondering if you could comment on temperature and weather tolerance for the motor (and/or the system as a whole). Would this type of setup have issues in hot/humid climates such as in the Southeast US?
Jason W. I am in Austin, TX. Only issue is running out of water in the barrels. One good rain fills them all up, but its so hot here (already 99 degrees) 220 gallons of water doesn’t always last until the next rain. Haven’t had any issues with the pump.
Lonestar Worms Great, thanks for sharing! I’m in Houston, TX I figure the experience will be pretty similar, but in any case I look forward to trying.
Jason W. Good luck and let me know if you have any more questions. I think I’ll be adding more barrels over the winter season.
@@zenbrother If it is to hot you could run your hoses to the pump under your home in the crawl space. The floor insulation would probably maintain ground temps under there.
What kind of wire is that and where can I get it?
Do you need a flow regulator so you don't blow out your dripper lines in your garden beds???
Depending on the pump you use, possibly yes. Most drip irrigation work best at about 25 PSI if i am not mistaken but check the specs of the drip lines and emitters you are using,
What type of solar panel is needed? Thank you for the good video!
Check out our other video on the solar panel build, it has the panel details in the video description!
How about just a item list on what you have where you purchased it and cost
Why does the load output keep turning itself off? Kinda like it times out and shuts off. I keep having to open the crate and hit the button to turn the load port on to use the pump.
I bought a pump from harbor freight that allows me to connect it to a car battery. Now i just need to figure out how to connect a solar power to charge the battery. Any suggestions?
I’m wondering if you’d be able to share a link for a water pump with an outlet plug that you’d recommend? I’ve loved your videos and am thinking of doing a slight modification with a power inverter so I can run my chicken coop heaters off it in the winter too.
It’s should be in the video description, if not in this video then in one of the others in the Rainbarrel system Playlist
Google search for on demand water pumps. There are usually AC and DV versions of each pump. I chose to go with the DC (12V) just because I wanted to do a solar project and learn. Nothing wrong with use a plug in version.
Tony, I think you said on your other video that you needed to get a pump because the timer requires pressure to operate. Are you aware that there are no pressure timers (battery operated) that open and close the valves? Would this type of timer avoid the need for a pump?
Hi Mark, no I was not aware of zero pressure timers (but I just googled one). The system when full only put out about 3-5 PSI before I added the pump. As the water in the barrels depletes the PSI drops. My main concern is that drip irrigation in general needs 10-30 PSI depending on the quantity of drip lines, so I still feel a pump would be required, depending on how high the barrels are above the garden. If the garden was well down slope (say 20 vertical feet) from the barrel system it might work just fine with a zero pressure timer and no pump.
This pump is a little pricey for my budget is there something else i can get what spec. just 12v?
Great video.. Thanks a lot. Where do the fuses from your list attach?
moyse_tv 1) Between the charge controller and battery bank, 2) between the charge controller and solar panels, 3) between the pump red lead and the controller.
What amp fuses do you recommend for each device?
Ben Moscatello These are what I ordered on Amazon:
3 Pack -12V Water-resistant Add-A-Circuit Blade Type Inline Fuse holder with Cap16 Gauge (Larger) - $7.99
Tony Franzetti thanks Tony! I ended up using the same ones. I’m using a 10 amp fuse for the pump and the battery, and a 5 amp fuse for the solar panel.
Hi I like your video and I will like to buy the same water pump but I didn’t see on and off switch and I need just for hose to water garden
It is an on demand pump, so if it detects water flow out the hose end it turns on and pumps more. Same pump used in RVs for something like a kitchen sink - turn on sink pump kicks on automatically. If you're manually watering garden have a nozzle on the hose that you can open/close. That will cycle the on demand pump.
Nice video. I have the same charged controller. Did you install a 10 amp slow blow fuse inline with the motor?
I'm so sorry for asking this but what is inline with a motory? He did list the fuse but didn't show an install.
Yes there is an inline fuse recommended. I need to publish an update video! It had not arrived in the mail in time to make the original video.
What're diameters of your drip pipe system?
Good video. Quick tip, never hook up the wire leads to the battery 1st, that's always the last connection. It's can blow up the battery if the two ends touch.
Great video....exactly what I am looking for. Would you mind sharing the model number of that pump?
Oops, I see you did that already
Yes it’s in the video description, for anyone else seeing this
Hey tony, thank you for video. Is there anyway you can operate the pump automatically when you use the garden hose from the other end? For example, I am watering the garden about 30 feet away from the pump, will it turn off if I pinch the hose? Or does it keep running until I turn off the pump?
AJ DIY Its an on demand pump so if water is allow to flow the pump will come on. You could pinch the hose, use a sprayer with trigger etc and it should shut off. It’s the same pump used in RVs. Always ready but only comes on when a faucet is turned on.
Thanks for the video, do you know about how many gallons of water are used per cycle?
Isaac Rodriguez depends on how long I run the timer but probably about 30 gallons in 10 minutes because it will empty 220 gallons in a week.
I'd have gotten some bulkhead fittings for the tote, to help make it more water tight. I also would have done a bit more cable management, added a riser from that 2x4 to mount the solar charger on. all in all, not bad.
Hi! I made this set up but with a hose instead of a drip system and sometimes when the pump shuts off due to pressure my solar controller will reset and the arrow between the battery and load will start blinking and i have to click a bunch of buttons for it to reset. Any suggestions would be very greatly appreciated!
Not sure, but I’d check with the controller manufacturer
Where did you get those 1/2" barbed fittings to the pump and what are they called?
they look like standard barbed fittings. wal mart garden section or any home improvement should have them.
The pump comes with the fittings. You will need a to get a 1/2 inch inner diameter hose, clamps and fittings to hook up any hoses or tubes to the barbed fittings on the pump. I used this setup for on demand.
You didn't show the fuses being wired in. I am assuming these are wired in-line with the positive from the battery to the pump, and similarly to the solar panel? I didn't see these in either of your videos. If you could confirm it would be appreciated. What size fuse did you use for the pump and also for the solar panel? Great video and very helpful.
I edited my post but it didn’t change.
Would this setup still be suitable if I was to run a manifold setup but buried in the dirt instead?
Johnny Khamnoy Sure, I don’t see why not. Just out of curiosity, why bury the manifold?
Lonestar Worms I am looking into building a vertical living wall.
What about using SAE connectors for the wiring?
Hi. Can you build one of this system and sell it?
Can this solar charge controller be interfaced with inverter?
Never connect an inverter to a charge controller. The inverter is connected (with a fuse) to the battery.
Where did you install the fuse ?
Install it between the battery and the rest of the system on the positive lead.
Does the pump continually cycle on and off while trying to maintain pressure?
I used an on demand pump. When the RAINBIRD timer says it’s time to water the pump turns off. When the timer is up the pump shuts off. There is no pressure to maintain. The water pressure is always there on the pump inlet from gravity and the barrels.
@@TexasOrganicGardening I have a 45 psi demand pump hooked up to 330 gallon IBC tanks, and my pump cycles on and off to maintain the pressure. I have it set to a rainbird timer with 3 solenoids, that run at different times of the day. Was thinking of putting a pressure tank on it so the pump doesn't cycle on and off.
Thanks for sharing, I purchased most of the same components you have and I'm having an issue with the pump not responding when connected to the solar controller. My pump is a 12V 8.0A SeaFlo Model#SFDP1-055-060-51. If I connect my pump directly to the battery I can get it to run, however, when I connect through the controller I get no response. Any ideas? I did notice that the load (light bulb) on the screen is blinking slowly. Not sure what that means, if anything. Thanks for your comments.
Robert I have the same issue, did you figure it out?
@@patrickharvey9790 Hi Patrick, it did start working for me. I think the issue was that I had a wire incorrectly positioned.
Check for no loose wires and that everything is properly connected. Then also make sure you have adequate charge showing in the display and that the buttons on the controller are all turned on.
Thanks Tony for the help. One last thing that I was wondering if you've run into...I have the unit hooked up and working, but after running the pump for only 5 min. I smelled and saw small amounts of smoke coming from the charge controller unit. I stopped the unit and powered everything down and I noticed that the end leading to the pump was indeed very hot and I could see a visible bubble forming int he plastic case on the end nearest the wires leading to the pump. Any chance you ran into a similar issue? I have also sent a message to the charge controller company. Thanks
Thanks for the info gents. Thought I’d provide an update. Binen indicated that even though they advertised the maximum current draw was 20 A, in fact the maximum is actually 10A. This is what was causing the burning while I was running the pump since my pump draws about 17max. When I informed them of their advertised 20A, they immediately indicated they would provide a refund and update the product description. Thanks
The solar controller is listed on Amazon as now unavailable. FYI.
Thanks, I will be testing my current one in an upcoming video in next week or two. Will provide updates here and there on what controller and where to order (I may need a new one).
What water filter is that that you used?
It’s from Rain Bird. Something like this will work: store.rainbird.com/rby075mptx-3-4-in-inline-rby-filter-with-200-mesh-screen.html
This filter is often sold with the pump. www.amazon.com/SHURFLO-255-313-Twist-Pipe-Strainer/dp/B000V2W0GE
I need a little assistance, I got my system set up like yours with a water timer however the pump isn’t taking off when the timer kicks on, I have to push the solar controller to kick on. Any ideas?
Patrick Harvey Is it an on demand pump?
Lonestar Worms yes it is
Patrick Harvey not sure then. The only time mine has acted strange like that was when we had a week of cloudy and rainy days and the battery level got low. Resolved when the weather got sunny again.
Check the basic like adequate water to the pump, solid wiring connections into the controller, and good battery charge level.
Hi Patrick Harvey, did you figure out this issue? My husband and I just set up our system using this video as a guide and we are having the same issue. We can get our pump to turn on when it is manually turned on via the charge controller, but we can't get the on demand feature to turn the pump on. We are stumped.
@@deborahjorgensen9414 hi Deborah I finally got mine to work by changing out the controller as when talking to a engineer at a solar company he said the controller is specs need to be larger or it is I’ll fry the computer in the controller. I used the great people at newpowa in California. If you give me a couple hours I’ll get you the model of the controller. I put mine to bed as we are headed towards freezing
I don't understand the "on-demand" nature of the pump. Doesn't that imply it has to have a static head pressure on it at all times? And if I didn't want to use a timer, could I install a switch between the pump and the solar controller? And third question, where do the fuses go? Thanks. -- or -- Maybe I don't understand the way an on-demand pump works. If I wired it just like you show, but instead of an irrigation timer, I just put a manual water shut off valve on the outlet of the bin itself, then the pump would notice a pressure drop and turn on? So the head pressure just from the rain barrels is enough to engage the internal pressure switch?
hey, did you ever figure out where the fuses go?
@@lynsey911 no.
@@woodsykris I found that he said: "1) Between the charge controller and battery bank, 2) between the charge controller and solar panels, 3) between the pump red lead and the controller."
however, this is my first wiring project, so I am still lost. If I figure it out, I'll post it here
Can I use a regular car battery with this set up?
Manuel Salgado I’m not sure that car batteries are the optimal choice for solar charged systems. Deep cycle batteries are typically a better choice, as the deep cycle batteries perform better in situations like solar where they may get fully discharged and then recharged.
Lonestar Worms 10/4, thanks for the response
@@TexasOrganicGardening that said, there are a few deep cycle car batteries, like the Optima blue top. www.optimabatteries.com/products/bluetop
why put the hose pieces on the pump, looks like you could connect directly to the pump.. this creates more possibilities for leakage
Pump has some strange fittings, must have made 6 trips to Home Depot trying out what seemed like common sense connectors and nothing worked.
I purchased the pump that you had a link to, but in my assembled unit the pump keeps turning on even though the valve to the water is off and the timer is off. Is there a setting on the control panel I need to change?
The pump is ‘on-demand’ and only turns on when it thinks water is trying to flow out (imagine it in an RV and someone turns on a faucet). Most likely cause is the seal/clamps to the tubes in or out is not airtight.
Anyone with this setup having problems getting the on demand pump to turn on? I’m using all the equipment as the video did. After setup, it works once for me, but the second time I open up the valve to use water, the bulb icon on the controller starts to blink and the pump won’t turn on. I have to reset everything for it to work again. I’ve checked all the electric wiring, as well as the tubing for leaks. The battery is fully charged, and none of the fuses are blown.
Got myself sorted out! When my pump first turns on, there is a surge that is slightly over what the controller can handle, so the controller went into error mode. The two solutions I found are either 1) get a controller with a higher amp rating 2) use a fuse box to connect the pump directly to the battery, rather than to the “load connector” in the controller. The systems works great now and the pump is fully on demand.
Thanks for adding the follow up!!