Three Solar Panels Replace Windmill [Video]

Here is a video I took while talking with Tom Gabriel (TipsByTom.com). In the video you get to see the installation of 3 solar panels that replace one windmill to provide water for a 1,000 head of cattle.

The cattle can drink 40-50 gallons of water a day and the tank shown can hold around 2,000 or 3,000 gallons. They can drink the tank dry 10 times a day.

The three solar panels feed in to a Grundfos CU 200 SQFlex water pump control unit (about $275). The pump control unit then feedpower (DC) to the pump down 40 or 50 feet down in the ground. The pump can handle AC or DC voltage. Tom Gabriel installed a disconnect so they can put in a gas powered generator for when it is cloudy for several days. Sometimes the solar panels can’t keep up with a 1,000 head of cattle when it is cloudy. Sometimes the generator is run at night.

The solar panels work so well that Tom installed a water control value to slow the water going in to the tank so it didn’t run the well dry.

The cost of the panels and the whole system is about the same as two years up keep on the windmill.

Sorry for all the wind noise - this was filmed in Laramie Wyoming where it is always windy. Ironic that they replaced a windmill with solar in such a windy area.

They placed the panels in the tank because the cows can bend the posts if mounted out side the tank.

This picture is the shut off float for the water tank which tells the pump controller to stop pumping.