12v dc pump for small pond/fountain application?

 For many years I've run an AC pond pump from a 25w PV panel, inverter, and =
gel battery. We've recently moved and I've decided not to reinstall that sy=
stem, which we manually switched on when we wanted the water feature to ope=
rate.

Now I'd like to just go direct solar, with a small submerged DC pump connec=
ted directly to the panel so the water runs whenever there's sun. The probl=
em is I can't seem to find a suitable pump. Everything I see is either a $6=
00 well pump, a $10 Chinese bilge pump made for intermittent use in a boat,=
 or is an AC pump designed for ponds. The only exceptions have been what ap=
pear to be very poorly made pumps that are packaged into "solar fountain sy=
stems" with junk PV panels and other stuff I don't want or need.

Can anyone point me toward a source for a reasonably-priced 12v DC submersi=
ble pump that will deliver just 10-20GPM in a low-demand application like r=
unning a small water feature in my yard?

Thanks,

Kiwanda

  On 6/12/2011 11:06 AM, Kiwanda wrote:

battery. We've recently moved and I've decided not to reinstall that system,
which we manually switched on when we wanted the water feature to operate.

directly to the panel so the water runs whenever there's sun. The problem is I
can't seem to find a suitable pump. Everything I see is either a $600 well pump,
a $10 Chinese bilge pump made for intermittent use in a boat, or is an AC pump
designed for ponds. The only exceptions have been what appear to be very poorly
made pumps that are packaged into "solar fountain systems" with junk PV panels
and other stuff I don't want or need.

pump that will deliver just 10-20GPM in a low-demand application like running a
small water feature in my yard?

look for rv pump

 How about using a 120 volt swamp cooler pump with a cheap inverter?  The
pumps are about $15 and a 12VDC inverter that size can't cost much more.  I
have used such a swamp cooler pump to pump coolant for my surface grinder
for more than 10 years.  The pump still works.

Google "swamp cooler pump"

Pete Stanaitis

 
I already have an inverter/AC pump setup, which I used at our last
place. I'm looking for some way to avoid the noise and efficiency loss
of the inverter.

Re the auto pump, I want a submersible pump so it probably will have
to be something designed for a pond or fountain. There are dozens of
AC pumps available for $20 or so but I can't find a DC pump other than
the $$$ well pumps which would be ridiculous in this application.
Bilge pumps and the like are cheap, but I don't think they are rated
for 12-14 hour per day constant use (and they are noisy and likely too
high volume for this application).

Thanks,

Kiwanda

 
harbor freight sells a solar powered pond pump..........