550 W solar surface pump – 18 m³/h, 14 m head

Move large volumes of clean water in daylight without a mains connection. This Flocea 550 W solar surface pump is designed for low to moderate head applications such as irrigation water transfer and filling a tank or pond. A customer video shows a real installation with the pump, controller and solar panels in operation.

Where this pump fits

• Moving clean water between a pond, tank or reservoir.
• Filling a water storage tank during sunny hours before later use.
• Irrigation systems whose flow and pressure requirements match the pump curve.

Specifications

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

Understanding flow and head

The maximum flow of 18 m³/h applies at low total head. The maximum head of 14 m applies at zero flow. These values are not simultaneous; the approximate curve is more useful for sizing. Total head includes height difference, pipe and fitting losses, and pressure required at the outlet. The pump must remain above water; 14 m is not a suction depth.

Indicative reading of the existing Flocea curve: around 10 m³/h at 9 m total head, under its stated test conditions. Actual output also depends on sunlight and the installation.

Two solar panels: check the electrical data

The recommended setup is two identical 400–500 W panels wired in series, giving at least 750 W combined. Check the panel data sheets before connecting: the combined operating voltage must suit the MPPT input of 60–90 V, cold-weather combined open-circuit voltage must remain strictly below 100 V, and the controller current limit is 18 A. A panel’s watt rating alone does not establish compatibility.

Plan the installation

1. Calculate the required daily water volume, elevation and pipe losses, then check the operating point against the curve.
2. Mount the surface pump on a stable protected base close to the water source, with a sealed suction line and filtration suitable for clean water.
3. Prime the pump and pipework according to the supplied instructions before starting. Avoid dry running.
4. Wire the matched panels in series and follow the supplied controller instructions for polarity, cabling and DC protection. Check the actual flow and stopping arrangement when the source is empty or the destination full.

Before you buy