Solar-Powered Submersed Sump Pump
Description
This self-powered pump automatically removes standing water from a low area. This project combines a micro submersible pump, two modified solar panels (from a landscape light), a float switch, and a series of printed parts. --- **Update 30-April-2019** After 8 months of usage, I have decided to make some changes. Two issues have emerged: 1) The flow rate has diminished due to mud clogging of the "filter" landscape fabric covering. 2) I have become dissatisfied (during the winter months) with waiting until a sunny day for the pump to resume operation. When the daylight is short, the battery will not charge sufficiently on a cloudy day. My planned solution: A) I am replacing the landscape fabric with a covering of 1" thick mesopore filter foam. The foam offers better water transmission, and it will clog much more slowly. B) I am swapping out the 12V 1W pump for two upgraded 5V 1.4W pumps (plumbed in series) that will generate higher static pressure and increased flow. The higher wattage will drain the batteries faster. However, such a pump combination will work much better when the filter starts getting clogged with mud. C) I am replacing the two solar panels with with four upgraded panels with higher efficiency and capacity. The new panels do not require circuit mods to provide sufficient current to the pumps. The new pumps and panels will be all be wired in parallel. My estimates are that these changes will improve performance: 3x head, 1.5x flow rate, 1.5x duration, and over 2x the volume of water. As soon as I complete these changes, I will provide an update. ---
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