The numbers
| Per day | 1.0–3.0 kWh |
|---|---|
| While running | 800–1,500 W while pumping (½–1 hp) |
| Starting surge (plan for) | up to about 3,500 W |
It only runs in short bursts, but the startup surge is big, so the inverter has to be sized for it. Many are 240V.
Tip: A soft starter cuts the surge so a smaller inverter can start it.
Answer a few taps in a guide and every page like this shows the numbers for your own setup. Start
Running it on solar
At typical use (about 2.0 kWh a day), it takes about 4 400-watt panels to keep up through a dark winter, plus batteries for the nights.
Sized for a dark winter. Set your location · Size a whole system
How long a battery runs it
On its own, at typical use:
Questions people ask
How long will a power station run a well pump?
A 2 kWh power station runs it for about 20 hours on its own, at typical use. Bigger batteries scale up from there.
How much solar does a well pump need?
About 1000 W of panels covers it in a typical US winter month, on its own.
Power it for good
Want it running through outages, or off-grid for good? The guides size everything around what you run.
Typical ranges for planning, from US Department of Energy appliance estimates, nameplate ratings and owner measurements. Your model's label or a plug-in meter gives your exact number. More: How much power do you use?