A solar irrigation system enables you to water your plants in the garden, greenhouse or on the balcony using solar energy. You can find out in our test whether the alternative to the socket is suitable for your own project.
Number of plants
One of the most important things about an irrigation system with a solar panel is the maximum number of plants that can be watered. This is often the main disadvantage of these systems. They are only suitable for a small group, for example your vegetables in the raised bed or part of the greenhouse. If you want to operate your entire garden irrigation with solar energy, you usually have to rely on several modules and powerful pumps. For local use or on the balcony, on the other hand, they are ideal. On average, you can water between 15 and 50 plants at a time.
Number of sprinklers
In contrast to classic garden irrigation systems, which can be expanded sufficiently depending on the model, the sustainable solar irrigation on a certain
Limited number of sprinklers. This guarantees that the sprinklers work as effectively as possible and that the water can even be transported to them with sufficient pressure. The number of sprinklers is often directly related to the amount of plants that can be supplied. Since most systems rely on drip irrigation, these are easy-to-place drip sprinklers.Power consumption of the solar pump
So that the solar pump can be used effectively for irrigation, the power consumption of the module is given in Wp (Watt peak), decisive. The higher the power consumption of the module, the more solar energy can be converted and stored in the battery. Since the irrigation systems are generally smaller modules, you will need to start with the following Calculate maximum performance that will not be sufficient for every project, which may lead to energy bottlenecks could come:
- 1 Wp
- 3.5 Wp
- 5 Wp
Note: If the performance is not enough for you, you can of course replace the solar module.
Battery capacity
Regarding the battery capacity, there is a lot of room for improvement in irrigation systems with solar operation. Even when the solar panel is extremely effective, the battery capacity is often a little too low. Between 1,000 and 1,500 mAh are typical capacities that come with irrigation systems and are not efficient enough, depending on the intended use. Fortunately, batteries with a higher capacity can be changed in a few simple steps. We recommend capacities of at least 2,000 mAh at a voltage of 3.6 V.
Frequency and duration
Solar irrigation systems are usually equipped with programs or different intervals in which the plants are supplied with water. Since the systems are ideally used locally, these intervals are often sufficient as they can be adjusted to the water requirements of individual groups of plants. The following modes are available (depending on the model):
- 2 times a day
- 3 times a day if there is a high water requirement
- individual vacation functions
This is sufficient for the majority of the plants that are grown in the garden or in pots. More important than the frequency is the duration of the intervals. Ideally, the irrigation systems have sufficient adjustment options so that the plants do not receive too little water or drown. The following time spans are often available:
- 30 s
- 60 s
- 120 s
- 180 s
- 240 s
- 480 s
- 720 s
Note: A smart solar pump adjusts the amount of water administered individually to the current weather conditions. This is useful for regions with frequent or irregular rainfall.
Delivery rate
The delivery rate indicates how many liters of water can be transported to the plants via the irrigation system within a certain period of time. This information is important if you have many or very thirsty plants that require significantly more water. Since the solar pumps are small systems, you have to expect a lower flow rate. It is usually given in liters per hour (l / h). Typical maximum delivery rates can be:
- 20 to 30 l / h for standard devices
- up to 100 l / h for professional devices
Attention: The flow rate is also influenced by the number of sprinklers used and the pump pressure. Some devices with solar operation do significantly worse than classic models with socket operation.
Delivery head
The head of the irrigation system is not only important if you want to use the pump for a raised bed or if you want to sink it into the ground. Since most systems cannot be connected to the tap, but the irrigation water from one When referring to a large container, for example a rain barrel, the solar pump must be powerful enough for transport be. The irrigation systems mainly have the following delivery heights, which is sufficient for local use:
- 2 m
- 2.5 m
- 3 m
- 4 m
- 6 m (professional devices)
Assembly
The complexity of assembling the solar irrigation system depends heavily on the model and whether you already have experience in this area. The majority of the available systems are equipped with all the necessary components that are necessary for assembly and operation. As with other irrigation systems, the hoses must be cut to size yourself.
