I have a water pump in a nearby creek. It's powered by two 100 watt solar panels, with a controller connected to two 24 marine batteries. A 2,000 watt inverter is used between the batteries and the pump. I want to use a timer for the pump to come on and off at a specified time. How do I connect a timer without the inverter having to stay on 23/7?
Timer for inverter
- Thread starter drenfroe
- Start date
hwy17
Anti-Solar Enthusiast
Ideally the inverter would accept an external dry contact relay to signal it on and off.
Without that feature, the options get worse. You could us a contactor, but you would not want to use the contactor to open the circuit while the pump is running as a regular operation.
I use the Baomain digital timer for light duty 12v DC timer signaling. But it wouldn't be suitable to control the main power to the inverter.
Without that feature, the options get worse. You could us a contactor, but you would not want to use the contactor to open the circuit while the pump is running as a regular operation.
I use the Baomain digital timer for light duty 12v DC timer signaling. But it wouldn't be suitable to control the main power to the inverter.
marionw
Solar Addict
What is the make/model of the inverter. Does it have a remote control or remote control connection?
OzSolar
Whatever you did, that's what you planned.
Is the pump DC or AC? Your wording is not clear to me but I often miss things.
If the solar panels are running the pump then why do you have an inverter?
Or are the solar panels charging the batteries that the inverter is hooked up to and the inverter is running the pump?
wpns
Solar Joules are catch and release
As others have said, you need to supply more details. Just put a timer on the power switch on the inverter.
This is a Jupiter. It doesn't have a remote or a connection for one.
Sorry for the confusion. It is set up as you describe in your last sentence.
How do I go about putting a timer on the switch?As others have said, you need to supply more details. Just put a timer on the power switch on the inverter.
marionw
Solar Addict
You would have to open the inverter and if (and only if) the On/Off switch has two wires attached, you would cut one (and splice longer wires to both ends to extend out of the inverter) and use a relay driven by the timer or built into the timer that would energize and reconnect the wire.
The other possibility is to purchase a 2000 watt inverter with a built in remote on/off capability. There are a number available on Amazon under $200.00
The other possibility is to purchase a 2000 watt inverter with a built in remote on/off capability. There are a number available on Amazon under $200.00
OzSolar
Whatever you did, that's what you planned.
Can we back up a little bit and clarify why you want to put a timer on the pump? Is it because your batteries aren't keeping up and your inverter is shutting down?
You mention Jupiter Inverter. (It's nice supply a link to your product(s) when asking for help by the way)
That looks to be a Harbor Freight inverter. That style of inverter have a notoriously high tare load. Also called "idle losses".
My crystal ball tells me you might be having the same trouble a lot beginners experience which is that your solar panels aren't even able to keep up with the idle draw of your inverter. If so, we need to talk about something more than just a timer.
Texas-Mark
Solar Addict
- Joined
- Aug 4, 2021
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That is what I have done on a couple of my inverters.
I was thinking of getting this for another project as it has a set of dry contacts.
OzSolar
Whatever you did, that's what you planned.
Care to put a number on "about nothing"?
2000w inverter at 12v is commonly about two amps. So 46 amp hours per day. I would sooner get an additional battery than create an odd solution to save this energy. Besides 2x group 24 for a 2000w inverter is a bit light.
wpns
Solar Joules are catch and release
You really need to supply more details. ‘Jupiter’ doesn’t really help, what’s the model number? What panels, what batteries, what charge controller, what pump?
And what’s the problem you are trying to solve? If you are just pumping water from the creek into a cistern, then you may be able to (for instance) just run the pump when the sun is shining.
You gotta help us help you.
And what’s the problem you are trying to solve? If you are just pumping water from the creek into a cistern, then you may be able to (for instance) just run the pump when the sun is shining.
You gotta help us help you.
OzSolar
Whatever you did, that's what you planned.
2 x 100w solar panels in perfect sun at the perfect angle will be somewhere just under 10 amps at maybe 5 hours per day.
So ~50 amp hours a day of production, best case. (double check me please) However that's not what makes it into the batteries since LA are around 80% R/T efficient. ~40 usable amp hours is what I'm seeing.
Throw in a cloudy day here and there plus not being at the perfect angle or just an hour or two of shade and maybe you can see where I'm going.
I venture to guess the OP's batteries have never been fully charged. I can't see how another battery is going to help, OP likely is struggling to keep the two they've got charged.
wpns
Solar Joules are catch and release
Depends what his load is. So far it’s a secret.
Yes I agree. Need 2x battery and 3x solar. Maybe more. The timer patch cannot save enough to get out of the hole.
marionw
Solar Addict
It also depends on his budget and what the pump/water is used for
Daddy Tanuki
Solar Wizard
with no other information one thing might be that he needs it to shut off when the cistern or tank is full, a simple float switch wired into the on/off switch of the inverter (assuming it has one and is accessible for modding) could perform this function fairly easily. but once again we don't really know what his issue is due to lack of information.
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