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eBay Solar well pump

3K views 9 replies 6 participants last post by  wy_white_wolf 
#1 ·
My wife and I are thinking about purchasing one of these solar well pumps from eBay. Just wondering if anybody here has one and what they think about. We have a old well out near our barn but no electricity to run a traditional well pump out their. It would be used in warm weather only too boot. I have a couple county water frost free hydrants in the pasture as well I’m just trying to limit my water bill during the hot summer months. I currently have three goats out their and will soon be getting a couple feeder steers. Opinions would be appreciated

https://m.ebay.com/itm/100W-Solar-P...ntroller-for-Store-Water-System-/381844282882
 
#2 ·
well I was just on ebay looking at submersible pumps before I logged on here & found a 12v dc pump similar to that oe for 76 or 79 bucks -----then youd only need a 12v solar panel to add to it & youd save a ton
 
#4 ·
I would strongly suggest doing a bunch of research before wasting your money. While I don't have any facts on your particular pump, most of those things are made in China and won't last very long.

Check youtube and search for them... a lot of youtube users do reviews on these cheap Chinese ebay products.

Here's one.. lasted for 6 months:
 
#6 ·
I guess if it would last one season for me I would be money ahead. County water for cows and goats is getting expensive. I’m sure I’ll still be ahead even if I buy a new pump every year. Guess that’s assuming the solar panel it comes with lasts. My other option is installing grid power in my barn, it would half to be a separate meter from aep. That would cost me a minimum of 20 dollars a month just to keep the power on. Any power consumption would add to that 20 dollars so 240 a year just to keep power on in a barn. Seems kinda steep to me, all I need it for is to pump water.
 
#7 ·
First, I've learned never to buy anything of any value from Ebay sellers with less than 99% feedback rating, and even then I look very carefully at the seller's negative and neutral feedback. Even that is no guarantee you're buying from an honest seller who will make good on a defective product. Ebay's feedback system is manipulated in favor of sellers, because Ebay makes money even when you get ripped off, and they make many times more off a seller they know is dishonest than they'll ever make off you. The reality is, if anything goes wrong, you have absolutely no recourse beyond the honesty of the seller. I've learned the hard way, several times, that Ebay's "Money Back Guarantee" is worth slightly more than the electrons that make it show up on your screen.

Second, as someone mentioned, it's certainly made in China. China can make very good quality stuff, but mostly they make junk, because they know people will buy it anyway. So, you might get lucky and it might last a season, or much longer, or it might last an hour. You pays your money and you takes your chances, as they say.

The solar panel will probably last a long time, and I have Chinese charge controllers that are still working after several years. But I wouldn't pay much at all for the pump.

If you want to buy Chinese goods, buy from Aliexpress.com, not Ebay. The sellers aren't any more honest, and you have to wait longer, but so far I've had 100% backup from Aliexpress when anything has gone wrong.
 
#10 ·
Going on 4 years now and no problems on the pumping end. It waters an orchard and that end of it has been somewhat of a pain. Stuff grows/builds up in the tank and then plugs up the drip system.

It has outperformed my expectation on water delivered. I was expecting 2 gpm or less but it was able to fill a 350 gallon stock tank in less than 2.5 hours when the girls decided they wanted to use it as a summer swimming pool. That puts production at about 2.5 gpm. If there is enough sun to see a shadow then it will pump water but at a much slower rate. With the 350 cistern we can easily make it through 4 days cloudy days.

I do expect to have to rebuild the pump in the next 2 to 3 years as it is a diaphragm pump. Rebuild kits are not that expensive and I also have a second pump on hand it I decided to just swap out the pump when it starts having problems and rebuild it at my leisure.

WWW
 
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