Possible to convert pool filter pump to solar?

[handyman.mac216]

Hello, my name is Michael and I'm very new to solar power systems... I apologize if this has been asked and covered numerous times before... I'm wondering if it is possible to convert my existing pool filter pump to solar, or would I be better off just buying a new solar pump? If it is possible, what components would I need? I do have a 200w renogy suitcase style solar panel that I picked up, and that has a controller attached to it. I'll attach pictures showing the panel label, and the existing pump motor label. I've been watching videos and trying to make sense of solar, and I'm just not sure how to go about this... I'm way better with plumbing than electrical! Plumbing is less likely to kill me and/or catch on fire if I do something wrong!!! Lol

Thank you

Michael

 

[sunworshipper]

Hello, my name is Michael and I'm very new to solar power systems... I apologize if this has been asked and covered numerous times before... I'm wondering if it is possible to convert my existing pool filter pump to solar, or would I be better off just buying a new solar pump? If it is possible, what components would I need? I do have a 200w renogy suitcase style solar panel that I picked up, and that has a controller attached to it. I'll attach pictures showing the panel label, and the existing pump motor label. I've been watching videos and trying to make sense of solar, and I'm just not sure how to go about this... I'm way better with plumbing than electrical! Plumbing is less likely to kill me and/or catch on fire if I do something wrong!!! Lol

Thank you

Michael

Is it possible to run an AC pool pump to run on solar? Yes.
Is it possible to run *your* pool pump to run on *your* solar panel? No. Your pump will consume 750-1500 Watts AC and your panel can only deliver 200W max low voltage DC. By the time you convert that DC into 115AC, you end up with less than 150 Watts. You need 10 times the panel wattage you have now - this is the bare minimum and that'll only allow you to run the pump for 3-4 hours when the Sun is directly over the panel. If you want to run the pump for 10-12 hrs a day, yo need even more panel wattage to capture the energy and a battery bank to store that energy for use when the Sun is not shining.

 

[Solar Guppy]

First is to understand the power needs, generally speaking a typical pool pump would be 1/2 to 3/4 HP and need 1200 to 1500 watts @ 240V AC. The image you posted is a 2HP motor, which is huge for a typical residential pool and needs close to 4-5000 watts an hour to operate.

There are variable speed pool motors as well as solar ready option, but frankly speaking if your pool needs a 2HP motor, you would need something like a 8 to 10 kW ( 10,000 watts ) array to run something that big plus electronics to turn DC to AC at those power levels.

 

[handyman.mac216]

Thank you both for responding. I'll start looking at other options

 

[Browse]

A variable speed pump can potentially run on solar at low speed, but you'd need more energy for startup and higher flow rates. My 3HP pool pump only consumes around 200-300W at lower RPMs. You'd likely need a few panels, inverter and a battery to handle surges and clouds.

 

[SouthernSolar]

They make DC pumps that run direct from panels. No battery needed.

1200W Solar Hybrid Swimming Pool Pump Kits with AC/DC Auto-switching Controller | eBay

Pump Power: 1200W / 1.6HP. - 1 x WBS Solar pool pump(BLDC Motor) with. - Pipes from the pump to the swimming pool. Can use AC 220V g r id power or DC solar power. Can work with grid AC power or off-grid DC solar power.

www.ebay.com

 

[SouthernSolar]

Another way is to get solar assist, is get two micro inverters , wire them to the load side of a contactor. The contactor can be controlled by a timer to operate when you typically have best solar.

The micro inverters should be sized so the are slightly smaller than the typical running load, this way there is no danger of them back feeding your meter. They will only produce when pump is running and any shortage is supplied by the grid.

 

[traumaboyy]

Our pump and saltwater system pulls about 500 watts. Programmed to run 8 hours per day starting at around 10AM while the sun shineth. The bigger pumps are energy hungry.

 

[Solar Guppy]

Pool motors are all about gallons per minute. Sure you can run variable speed at low speeds but the filtration needs will not be met.

Unfortunately this isn't a simple one size fits all task and you have the additional issue of the chemicals used that expect certain turn over rates ( time to for the full pool contents to be exchanged in gph ).

On fun fact is its the impeller that dictates the load on the motor as most are fixed rpm and the impeller will pull the required torque from the motor needed regardless of the HP rating. So if you put a 1/2 HP motor in place of the 1 HP motor as the same rpm, the smaller motor will burn out / over heat but still pulls the same energy as the 1 HP pump ( ask me how I know )

Back in 2004, I did a custom project with a DC pump direct off solar panels for my pool ( 190V into a DC motor ) didn't last long and was marginal on the exchange rate and over speed the motor in bright conditions.

 

[JoeHam]

The search function in the upper right corner is easy to overlook.

Results example :

Search results for query: Pool pump

diysolarforum.com

 

[JoeHam]

This is a pretty good thread to read through for pertinent information :

C

Thread 'My DIY solar pool pump build'

Jul 29, 2024

Well, it's official - my pool is off-grid! It's a project that I've been contemplating for years, and finally got around to making it happen.

I used a 72V/1200 watt DC pump from Vevor, which comes with it's own MPPT controller. They have three sizes - 48V/500W, 72V/900W, and 72V/1200W. I went with the biggest one, as I have a large in-ground pool. May not have been necessary, though, as this pump had 2" inlet and outlet which I sized down to 1.5" to fit my plumbing, which may negate the effectiveness of the larger pump. The prices of these have come down recently - I was able to...

• castlemusic
• Replies: 91
• Forum: Show and Tell

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[BarracudaBob]

Post in thread 'Solar system to power my pool pumps'

Apr 12, 2025

I was just testing a schneider soft start on my Pentair 1.2 HP pool pump. the starting current was 25A and run was 5.53A So around 1300W run current. the Scheider after a lot of fiddling brought the current down to 10A but seems inconsistent.

I have a Micro-Air EasyStart on my 5T HVAC and it works fantastic. Stalled Stator Current went from 209A to 39A. Self learning and worked perfect. @Will Prowse made a video about the EasyStart.

Micro-Air EasyStart they talk about using it on a pump...

• BarracudaBob