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I realize this post isn't quite in line with this forum, as it's about a tiny 3.5 watt DC water pump for use in a fountain, not the typical heavy duty water pumping stuff. So feel free to redirect me to a more appropriate forum.
Here's the problem: I want to run the DC water pump directly off a solar panel, but the pump is only rated from 4-12 volts operation, and the 5 watt solar panel can hit 18 volts. The best solution would be one that "caps" the voltage as 12 volts, but if that doesn't work, I need at least voltage reducer. I realize I could open up the solar panel and try to rewire the cells in parallel to get 6-9 volt output, but this reduces the time it could run the pump, since it would need to hit 8 source volts to get the minimum 4 output volts.
Here's the problem I ran into. It seems like no one sells these anymore. Most of the regulators these days are for battery charging - they actually measure the battery's voltage and won't work without a battery. The only other form I find voltage limiters in is silicon chips, and I'm not up to making my own circuit board.
Does anyone know of a ready made, water proof module that can cap Voltage at a max level, specifically 4-18 Volts in -> 4-12 volts out, running at just 0.3 amps and 5 watts?
Alternatively, would it be possible to simultaneously charge a battery AND run the pump off that battery? It seems like it wouldn't work, because the battery terminals would see the higher voltage of the solar panel.
Any advice you have is so worth it.
Thanks!
- Jeff Diamond
Here's the problem: I want to run the DC water pump directly off a solar panel, but the pump is only rated from 4-12 volts operation, and the 5 watt solar panel can hit 18 volts. The best solution would be one that "caps" the voltage as 12 volts, but if that doesn't work, I need at least voltage reducer. I realize I could open up the solar panel and try to rewire the cells in parallel to get 6-9 volt output, but this reduces the time it could run the pump, since it would need to hit 8 source volts to get the minimum 4 output volts.
Here's the problem I ran into. It seems like no one sells these anymore. Most of the regulators these days are for battery charging - they actually measure the battery's voltage and won't work without a battery. The only other form I find voltage limiters in is silicon chips, and I'm not up to making my own circuit board.
Does anyone know of a ready made, water proof module that can cap Voltage at a max level, specifically 4-18 Volts in -> 4-12 volts out, running at just 0.3 amps and 5 watts?
Alternatively, would it be possible to simultaneously charge a battery AND run the pump off that battery? It seems like it wouldn't work, because the battery terminals would see the higher voltage of the solar panel.
Any advice you have is so worth it.
Thanks!
- Jeff Diamond
I guess I should have said the methods which require the least hardware first. The only one I'm guessing that would be efficient might be a circuit that kicks in when the voltage exceeds 12V and acts as a current booster, dropping the voltage but keeping the power the same.
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