Solar Pool Pumping (3 Phase DC vs VFD AC)

[Sunking]

I've perused the thought...just haven't had the right opportunity I guess. If a recruiter or head hunter contacted me..I might talk to them. Just not sure how stable the govt contractor job market is. yes I have a "good" clearance

Well I would wait until after the election and see how things shake out. Lockhead Martin for example just sent out 170,000 termination notices (90% of their employee work force) warning them they would be laid off in 60 days due to military spending cuts. If our current POTUS gets reelected there will be huge layoffs in the military contractor market across the board, and I would also assume forced retirement and early discharge of military personnel as Obama dismantles the military.

[ArmyChief]

I've perused the thought...just haven't had the right opportunity I guess. If a recruiter or head hunter contacted me..I might talk to them. Just not sure how stable the govt contractor job market is. yes I have a "good" clearance

[Sunking]

Technical

27 years so far in the Communications Field.

Wow! Have you considered retiring and going into civilian work? I assume you have clearance which is a meal ticket to companies like Lockhead, Gruman, Electric Boat, Hughes, and Raytheon. Those companies pay Big Bucks.

[ArmyChief]

Technical

27 years so far in the Communications Field..just recently attended Fort Huachuca for EWO training before deployment. Navy and Air Force was very helpful in my training over there.

[Sunking]

Cool! Technical or tactical?

O-3 USN Seawolf Class honorable discharge 1979.

[ArmyChief]

CW3 - Chief Warrant Officer..Commissioned

[Sunking]

Are you enlisted, NCO or commissioned?

[ArmyChief]

Thanks Dereck

[Sunking]

Just curious if anyone has any info on the DC pump I quoted!

Cannot help you on the pump question, but what I do know is the specialized pumps for solar systems are DC and very expensive. AC motors are much less expensive, more reliable/efficient, and last a lot longer in my experience.

Good luck to you.

[ArmyChief]

OK chew on this. Which is less expensive and has the fastest ROI? One system or two systems?

One of course..which is why I've been leaning toward PV panels on a grid-tie system. Just curious if anyone has any info on the DC pump I quoted.

Kind of like having two wives.

Two wives could be fun ....but would be more expensive !

[Sunking]

Sunking..thanks for the reply.. wasn't really missing that fact...

OK chew on this. Which is less expensive and has the fastest ROI? One system or two systems?

Kind of like having two wives.

[ArmyChief]

Doug that is the part you are missing. A GTI systems utilizes all the power that is collected. Does not matter to you where that power goes. Any excess power goes out and you get credit. If you are using more power than the panels can generate you are buying but offset by what you are producing. In the END it is your NET use. That means lowest possible amount of power from FPL.

Your pool pump does not need to run 24 hours per day, use a timer and most efficient induction AC motor.

Sunking..thanks for the reply.. wasn't really missing that fact...since I was leaning to the grid-tied procedure. Appreciate all your inputs. Now..to go enphase micro-inverters or a line inverter.......

[Sunking]

Not sure if you looked at the SunRay system i mentioned above...but it is a non-battery, non grid-tied, PV->MPPT Controller->DC Pool Pump system..in that the pool pump runs all the time there is sun..and varying speeds depending on sun and panel wattage.

Doug that is the part you are missing. A GTI systems utilizes all the power that is collected. Does not matter to you where that power goes. Any excess power goes out and you get credit. If you are using more power than the panels can generate you are buying but offset by what you are producing. In the END it is your NET use. That means lowest possible amount of power from FPL.

Your pool pump does not need to run 24 hours per day, use a timer and most efficient induction AC motor.

[inetdog]

inetdog,

Thanks for the quick reply. Not sure if you looked at the SunRay system i mentioned above...but it is a non-battery, non grid-tied, PV->MPPT Controller->DC Pool Pump system..in that the pool pump runs all the time there is sun..and varying speeds depending on sun and panel wattage.

Are you familiar with the DC pump and controller used? Is it "better" (relative..i know}, then a AC VFD pump and supplementing the pump wattage with PV solar?

Thanks,

Doug

I am not familiar with that product, but others here might be.
But in any case, I would look at the cost of the panels and the pump and then compare it to buying a normal AC pump and spending the difference on panels to be added to a grid-tie system.
Will it be more economical to spend money up front so as not to pay for power for the pump at all or to pay for it at utility rates and generate more PV to offset your usage?
Where will the panels for the pool pump be and would you rather have panels on your roof?

[ArmyChief]

3. Depending on the amount of power used by the pool pump, the cost savings in cheap utility-priced power by using a DC pump may not come close to paying for the panel and battery investment.

inetdog,

Thanks for the quick reply. Not sure if you looked at the SunRay system i mentioned above...but it is a non-battery, non grid-tied, PV->MPPT Controller->DC Pool Pump system..in that the pool pump runs all the time there is sun..and varying speeds depending on sun and panel wattage.

Are you familiar with the DC pump and controller used? Is it "better" (relative..i know}, then a AC VFD pump and supplementing the pump wattage with PV solar?

Thanks,

Doug