Solar water pump: Daily Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Solar water pumps work outdoors for a long time. Wind, sun exposure and impurities in water sources may all cause malfunctions. Mastering basic maintenance and troubleshooting methods can prevent small problems from turning into major ones and reduce maintenance costs.
Daily maintenance: Weekly must-do list
• Clean the solar panels: Rinse off the surface dust with clean water. For stubborn stains, wipe with a soft cloth dipped in clean water. Do not use "detergent" or a hard brush to prevent scratching the glass coating.
• Check the wiring connections: Inspect whether the wiring between the solar panel and the controller, as well as between the controller and the water pump, is loose or oxidized. If there is an oxide layer, wipe it off with a dry cloth to ensure good contact.
• Clean the water inlet filter screen: Remove the filter screen and clear off the sand, water plants, insects and other debris on it to prevent blockage, which may reduce the water pump's water output or cause overload.
• Observe the operating status: When starting up, listen to whether the sound of the water pump is normal (no abnormal noise or vibration), and check if the pointer of the pressure gauge is stable. If any abnormality is found, stop the machine immediately for inspection.
Common troubleshooting: Solve simple problems by yourself
• The water pump does not start: First, check if the solar panels are blocked (clean and try again); Check again if the indicator light of the controller is on. If it is not on, it might be due to loose wiring (re-plug and unplug the wires). If the indicator light is on but the water pump does not rotate, it may be that the water pump is stuck (after cutting off the power, manually rotate the impeller to clear the debris).
• Sudden drop in pumping flow: Check if the inlet filter screen is clogged (clean the filter screen); Check if the pipeline is leaking (repair the leakage point); Whether the surface of the solar panel is severely covered with dust (clean the panel).
• Controller alarm: Overload alarms are often caused by clogged filter screens or water pump shaft jamming (reset after cleaning). Low voltage alarm may be due to insufficient light (waiting for strong light period) or low battery (supplementary charging).
Professional maintenance reminder
Please have a professional inspect the wear of the water pump impeller once a year. If the wear is severe, it should be replaced in time; otherwise, it will affect the water pumping efficiency.
The controller and battery should be tested for performance once every 2 to 3 years. Aged components should be replaced in a timely manner to avoid affecting the operation of the entire system.
The maintenance principle of solar water pumps is "prevention first and timely inspection". Simple daily checks can prevent 80% of common faults, ensuring the long-term stable operation of the system and truly achieving "peace of mind and effort".