VEVOR SP-12 12V DC Solar Submersible Well Pump: specs and what to check

The VEVOR SP-12 is a 12V DC submersible pump for drawing water from a well. It is designed to be run from solar panels and a battery, which makes it a candidate for places without mains power, such as a remote plot, a cabin or a livestock field. It is sold as the pump only, so the rest of the system has to be put together separately.

Reading the flow and head figures

VEVOR rates the pump at a maximum flow of 1.6 gallons per minute (GPM) and a maximum head of 230 ft. Flow is how much water moves; head is how high the pump can push it, counting the vertical lift plus losses in the pipe. The two figures are linked: a pump delivers its maximum flow at low head and its maximum head at very low flow. The figures are therefore best treated as the two ends of a curve, and real output at your well's depth will be somewhere between them.

The pump can be submerged to 98.4 ft (30 m). It is described as suited to wells with a diameter above 4 inches.

Power: 12V DC and solar

Power draw is 96W, and the pump accepts a DC range of 12V to 14.8V. In practice that means a 12V battery bank charged by solar panels, with a charge controller between the two. VEVOR says you can choose the panels and power system yourself. A pump like this runs most strongly when the sun is high, so many installations add a storage tank to cover cloudy periods and evenings.

Motor and build

The motor is a high-speed carbon brush DC type running at more than 2,600 RPM. Brushed motors are simple and work well from direct current, but the brushes wear over time, which is why VEVOR quotes a lifespan of over 1,200 hours. The pump body is IP68, which is the highest dust and water-ingress class for continuous immersion, and VEVOR says it can be left submerged year-round. A double-layer stainless steel mesh filters particles to reduce clogging.

Upkeep

The brand's guidance is that when the pump isn't running, you should move the protective steel mesh at the base and clean out silt and debris. Silty wells may need this more often.

Weight and cable

The pump weighs 5.7 lb (about 2.6 kg) and has a 10 ft (about 3 m) power cord. If the pump will sit deeper than that, plan how to extend and protect the cable using fittings suited to submersion.

What to check before you buy

• Well diameter and depth: confirm the casing is wider than 4 inches and the pump position is within 98.4 ft.
• Water demand: at up to 1.6 GPM, work out how much water you need per day and whether a storage tank would help.
• Rest of the system: the solar panels, controller, battery and pipe are not included.
• Voltage: make sure your system stays within 12V to 14.8V DC.
• Water quality: sandy or silty water may mean more frequent cleaning.
• Rules and wiring: follow the manual and local rules for well work and low-voltage wiring.

The short version

• A 96W, 12V DC submersible pump for wells, sold as the pump alone.
• Rated by VEVOR at up to 1.6 GPM, 230 ft of head and 98.4 ft submersion.
• IP68 body, stainless steel double mesh filter and a brushed DC motor.
• Needs solar panels, a controller, a battery and piping from the buyer.
• About 5.7 lb with a 10 ft cord.

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