Description
What is included in your purchase
The pump with its built-in MPPT controller and accessories. Solar panels, pipes and DC protection are sold separately.
Pressure for sprinklers, or water to send far and high? The Flocea 48 V – 550 W solar surface pump is a high-pressure pump: up to 50 m of head with two panels. Its MPPT controller is built into the pump housing: the panels connect directly to it, with no separate box, no battery and no electricity bill.
What is it for?
Sprinkler irrigation
Supply sprinklers that need 2 to 3 bar of pressure, with the sun.
Elevated tank
Fill a tank 20 to 30 m above the source, which then distributes the water by gravity.
Long distance
Transfer water over several hundred metres through a small-diameter pipe.
The pump stands out of the water, in a dry place, as close to the source as possible and as little as possible above the water level. The 50 m head is not a suction depth: for a well or borehole you need a submersible pump. It is designed for clear water: a strainer is essential.
Specifications of the Flocea 48 V – 550 W pump
| Brand | Flocea |
|---|---|
| Type | High-pressure solar surface pump, clear water |
| Motor | Brushless DC, 550 W; rated voltage 48 V |
| Maximum flow | 3 m³/h = 3,000 L/h = 50 L/min, at very low head |
| Maximum head | 50 m, at zero flow |
| Inlet / outlet | 1″ / 1″ (DN25); check the thread type for fittings |
| Controller | MPPT built into the pump housing, with display |
| MPPT voltage range | 60–90 V DC |
| PV array open-circuit voltage | Strictly below 100 V, cold correction included |
| Minimum PV power | 750 Wp |
| Indicative set-up | 2 × 450 Wp in series = 900 Wp |
| Cable | 2 m |
| Reference | FLO-SQB3-50-48-550 |
Work out the total head of your installation
Before comparing flow rates, estimate the total head the pump will have to deliver. Two measurements are enough.
Total head ≈ H + 10% × L
- H: height difference between the (lowest) water level and the outlet.
- L: pipe length to the outlet; the 10% covers friction losses.
- Pressure needed at the outlet (sprinkler, drip line): add 10 m per bar.
Example: tank 8 m above the water level, 50 m of pipe → total head ≈ 8 + 5 = 13 m. With 1 bar needed at the outlet: 13 + 10 = 23 m.
Then go by the flow the pump delivers at that total head, not its maximum flow. Full 3-step method and how to read the curve.
Water more than 7–8 m below the pump? See our solar submersible pumps.
Filling a reserve? See our flexible water tanks · Have my installation sized
What flow at your head?
Flow decreases as the total dynamic head (TDH) increases. It adds up the suction lift, the elevation to the delivery point, the friction losses in the pipes and the pressure required at the outlet. Useful rule: 1 bar of required pressure ≈ 10 m of extra head.
Example: at 20 m head, expect about 2 m³/h (2,030 L/h) in full sun; at 40 m, about 0.8 m³/h. The table and curve give the other duty points.
| Head | Indicative flow in full sun |
|---|---|
| 10 m | ≈ 2.5 m³/h (2,540 L/h) |
| 20 m | ≈ 2 m³/h (2,030 L/h) |
| 30 m | ≈ 1.4 m³/h (1,420 L/h) |
| 40 m | ≈ 0.8 m³/h (800 L/h) |
Two panels in series: the recommended set-up
The built-in controller works between 60 and 90 V and accepts no more than 100 V open circuit. The simplest set-up: two identical panels of about 450 Wp connected in series, i.e. 900 Wp for a 750 Wp minimum. In series, voltages add up and the current stays that of one panel. Check these values on the label of each panel:
| Power (Pmax) | 400 to 500 Wp per panel |
|---|---|
| Maximum power voltage (Vmp) | 30 to 45 V: in series, 60 to 90 V |
| Open-circuit voltage (Voc) | 45 V maximum per panel: in series ≤ 90 V, about 99 V at −10 °C |
| Number of panels | 2 in series, never more |
Simplified wiring
Panels → pump
The solar cable goes straight into the pump housing (P+ / P−), through a DC isolator: no separate box to mount.
Built-in display
The controller display shows the operating status and gives access to the settings described in the manual.
Level probes (option)
Compatible probes can stop the pump when the source runs dry or the reservoir is full.
Principle diagram, to be completed with the manual of the equipment supplied. Wire with the power off, by a qualified person, then check polarity and voltage before commissioning.
The full Flocea range of solar surface pumps
High-pressure models for low flows and high heads, centrifugal models for large flows: choose according to your needs.
| Pump | Max. flow | Max. head | Connections | Panels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 210 W solar pump – 2 m³/h | 2 m³/h | 25 m | 1″ | 1 × ~400 Wp |
| 280 W solar pump – 2 m³/h | 2 m³/h | 30 m | 1″ | 1 × ~400 Wp |
| 550 W solar pump – 3 m³/h (this page) | 3 m³/h | 50 m | 1″ | 2 × ~450 Wp |
| 750 W solar pump – 3 m³/h | 3 m³/h | 65 m | 1″ | 3 × ~450 Wp |
| 550 W solar pump – 6 m³/h | 6 m³/h | 30 m | 1″ | 2 × ~400 Wp |
| 550 W solar pump – 18 m³/h | 18 m³/h | 14 m | 2″ | 2 × ~400 Wp |
| 750 W solar pump – 21 m³/h | 21 m³/h | 14 m | 2″ | 3 × ~450 Wp |
| 1,100 W solar pump – 26 m³/h | 26 m³/h | 15 m | 2″ | 3 × ~500 Wp |
| 1,500 W solar pump – 27 m³/h | 27 m³/h | 21 m | 2″ | 4 × ~500 Wp |
| 1,500 W solar pump – 55 m³/h | 55 m³/h | 17 m | 3″ | 4 × ~500 Wp |
Preparing an installation that keeps the flow
- Place the pump on a stable, dry base, sheltered from direct rain and frost, as close to the source as possible.
- Plan a short, airtight and non-collapsible suction line of at least 1″, with a strainer and foot valve.
- Keep the strainer submerged and away from the bottom to limit debris intake.
- Fill the pump casing and suction line with water before each start from empty; never run the pump dry.
- Size the delivery line according to length: a 32 mm PE pipe for a few tens of metres, 40 mm beyond 100 m.
- Connect the panels to the pump housing through a DC isolator, then check fittings and strainer regularly.
Your questions about this solar pump
Does the pump deliver 3 m³/h all the time?
No. 3 m³/h is a maximum flow, at very low head and in full sun. At 20 m head, expect about 2 m³/h (2,030 L/h).
Do I need a separate controller?
No. The MPPT controller is built into the pump housing, with its display: just connect the panels to it.
Which solar panels should I choose?
2 identical panels of 400 to 500 Wp in series: Vmp 30 to 45 V and Voc of 45 V maximum each. Avoid panels of 580 Wp and more.
Can it lift water from a deep well?
No. It is a surface pump: it only draws water up a few metres. The 50 m head is not a suction depth; for a well or borehole, choose a submersible pump.
What pressure at the tap or sprinkler?
Count 1 bar per 10 m of available head. For example, with 10 m of elevation and losses, about 1.9 bar remains usable at a flow of 1.5 m³/h: have your case checked.
Does it work at night or in cloudy weather?
In direct solar mode it runs only when there is enough PV energy. At night, use the water stored in a reservoir.
What pipe diameter do I need?
The ports are 1 inch. For the delivery line, plan a 32 mm PE pipe for a few tens of metres, 40 mm beyond 100 m.
Let’s start from your water needs
Tell us the daily volume you need, the water level at the source, the elevation, the pipe length, the pressure you want and the model of your panels: we check the right pump before you order.
