Still pumping with a windmill? A solar well pump drops into the same well, fills the same stock tank, and does it without leathers, sucker rods, a tower to climb, or waiting for wind. Most windmill wells can be converted in a day.
Why ranchers are switching
- Water when cattle need it. The hottest, stillest days are when windmills go quiet and cattle drink the most. A solar pump produces the most water on exactly those days.
- Far less upkeep. Our DC brushless submersible pumps have no brushes, no leathers and no gearbox. The controller restarts the pump on its own every morning.
- Uses the well you already have. Our 3-inch and 4-inch pumps fit standard well casings. Pull the windmill pump, drop pipe and rods, and set the solar pump on new drop pipe.
- Automatic shutoff. Add a float switch and the pump stops when the tank is full and restarts as it drops. Dry-run protection shuts it off if the well draws down.
- 5-year pump warranty and free phone support from our sizing team.
Matching your windmill
Two numbers decide the pump: how deep the water is (plus any lift to the tank) and how many gallons a day you need. Plan on about 20 gallons per head of cattle per day in summer, and size for about 5 to 6 hours of good sun.
| Typical windmill site | Starting point |
|---|---|
| Shallow well (under about 130 ft), small herd or one trough | 0.4 HP submersible kit |
| Well up to about 290 ft, 30 to 100+ head | 0.8 HP submersible kit or the 0.8 HP hybrid kit (runs on a generator on cloudy days) |
| Deeper wells, up to about 390 ft | 1.61 HP submersible kit |
| Very deep wells or several tanks | 2.41 HP submersible kit |
| Need water at night without a generator | 500W 24V pump kit with battery |
These are starting points. Flow drops as depth increases, so check the head and flow chart on each listing against your well, or let us size it for you.
What you'll need besides the kit
- Drop pipe and submersible pump wire long enough to reach your pump depth
- A well cap or pitless adapter suited to the new setup
- A storage tank. A tank holding two to three days of water carries you through cloudy weather.
- A mount for the panels (ground or pole)
Wiring is for reference; a licensed electrician should make permanent connections.
Free pump sizing call
Tell us your well depth, static water level and herd size and we'll recommend the right pump and panel count, at no cost.
Call +1 (800) 858-4318 or size a pump online.
Applying for NRCS cost-share? See our NRCS / EQIP documentation page.