Building a Solar-Powered Pump House: Specs and Documentation

Welcome to this detailed overview of a solar-powered pump house built for Marsha G. at Eagle Ridge Seeds. This project combines sustainable energy with efficient water management, featuring construction and electrical work by Devin C, and plumbing by Brandon B. Below, you’ll find the draft specifications covering construction, components, plumbing, and electrical setups. For visual references, see the images in the linked Drive folder (construction, electrical, and plumbing sections).

Construction

The pump house is designed for durability and functionality on a compact footprint. Key elements include:

• 3×4 ft concrete pad with two 1” PVC sweeps for 3/4” poly pipe.
• Box base: 2ft x 3ft wide bottom, set on footings.
• Dimensions: 5ft high x 2ft wide on one side; slanted roof 2x3ft on the other side.
• Insulation wrapped for temperature control.
• Plastic ply for mounting the charge controller, fan, and surestart.
• 2×4 construction frame.
• Cedar siding exterior.
• Door built to slide and lock in at the top (see images for details).

Link to construction images in Drive.

Components

Essential hardware for the solar and power system:

• Delavan power flow pump 5850
• Solar controller – Sunlight 20
• 12V Battery Deep Cycle Marine
• Surestart automatic low voltage disconnect switch 48510 – 200a at 12v dc
• Fan 09a04

Plumbing

The plumbing setup uses 3/4” poly pipe as the primary line, with various fittings for secure connections and flow control. Parts list:

• 3/4” poly pipe line
• 3/4” clamps x 10
• 3/4” shut off brass – IPS ball valve full port 3/4”
• 3/4” pipe
• 3/4” insert x fipt
• 3/4” mpt x mpt Filter – PFPC64
• Fipt x 3/4” insert
• Tee insert x insert x fipt
• Left side of tee*
• Shut off red – mpt x mipt?
• Elbow fpt x insert 3/4”
• 3/4” poly Pipe
• Fht 3/4”
• Tee up into poly pipe
• Elbow insert x mpt
• Brass union ¾”
• Mpt x reducer to 1/2” slip
• 1/2” mipt x slip
• Delavan power flow pump 1/2” female
• Mipt x mipt 1/2”
• 1/2” Union* DN15 f1970
• 1/2” inset x 1/2” insert
• 1/2” fipt x 3/4” fipt metal
• 3/4” insert x 3/3” insert
• Elbow 3/4” fipt x 3/4” insert

See plumbing images in Drive for assembly visuals.

Electrical

The electrical system integrates solar input with battery storage and protective switching for reliable operation. Core components (repeated for reference):

• Solar controller – Sunlight 20
• Battery
• surestart automatic low voltage disconnect switch 48510 – 200a at 12v dc
• Fan 09a04

Wiring Connections

• Battery red to surestart voltage controller (same bolt red to charge controller battery+ port).
• Battery – goes to negative manifold?
• Solar + to charge controller +.
• Solar – to charge controller -.
• Pump red to load red on surestart voltage disconnect.
• Pump – goes to negative manifold.
• Pump red and black goes through fuse.
• Pump red goes through shut off.
• Fuse is closer to battery side.

Negative Manifold

• Fan negative pink
• Surestart negative blue
• From charge controller – battery port black & yellow
• Powerflow pump negative yellow
• Battery negative all black

Surestart Connections

• Battery red
• Battery to charge controller red yellow
• Load yellow red goes to fuse / switch / Delavan pump
• Negative to negative manifold black and blue

See electrical images in Drive for diagrams and setups.

This draft provides a solid foundation for replicating or modifying the solar pump house. If you have questions or need updates, feel free to reach out!