If you’re searching “what size solar submersible pump for deep well”, chances are you’ve already run into one of these headaches:

• You bought a “100 ft solar pump” but it barely trickles once the sun dips.
• The pump fits the well, but the flow is nowhere near what your irrigation plan needs.
• Your solar panels are sized for the motor nameplate — yet the pump keeps cutting out on hot afternoons.
• You’re mixing up well depth, static water level, and total dynamic head, and every vendor quotes you something different.

Here’s the thing: solar submersible pump sizing isn’t just “pick a HP by well depth.” It’s a chain — well hydrology → TDH → flow demand → motor voltage → solar array → controller → cable drop. Miss one link, and the whole system underperforms.

I’m writing this from the other side of the counter. At Jingong Technology, we manufacture solar submersible pumps, deep well borehole pumps, surface/land pumps, and gasoline/diesel engine pumps for global off-grid water projects — residential homesteads, 50-acre farms, livestock ranches, and remote village projects across Africa, LATAM, and Southeast Asia. We’ve sized thousands of solar borehole systems, from 30 m domestic wells to 150 m+ agricultural rigs, and we’ve seen every sizing mistake in the book.

In this guide, I’ll walk you through:

1. The 6 core parameters you must get right before picking a model.
2. A step-by-step sizing formula you can actually use (not just theory).
3. Size charts by well depth — 100 ft / 200 ft / 300 ft, with voltage & flow brackets.
4. How to match solar panels, MPPT controller, and cable so the pump doesn’t starve.
5. Scenario-based recommendations — home, irrigation, livestock, off-grid projects.
6. How solar submersibles compare to land pumps & diesel/gas pumps.
7. The most common sizing mistakes we see from overseas buyers.
8. A FAQ tuned for Google’s featured snippets.

By the end, you’ll be able to size Size Solar Submersible Pump for Deep Well for your own project — or vet a supplier’s quote without getting snowed.

Related Reading: Explore our Solar Water Pump Product Category or learn about our Deep Well Submersible Pump Series.

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Basic Knowledge — Key Sizing Parameters Solar Submersible Pump for Deep Well

Before you look at any product page, get these six numbers straight. They’re the input variables for every sizing calculator — including ours at Jingong when we quote a project.

3.1 Well Depth vs Static Water Level vs Pumping Water Level

This is the #1 confusion point in “what size pump for my well” questions.

Term	Definition	Why it matters for solar
Total well depth	Distance from ground level to the bottom of the drilled hole.	Irrelevant for pump sizing directly.
Static Water Level (SWL)	Distance from ground to water surface at rest.	This is your starting lift.
Pumping Water Level (PWL)	Water surface depth when the pump is actively running (includes drawdown).	SWL + drawdown = actual lift.

Rule of thumb: In sandy or low-yield boreholes, drawdown can be 10–30 ft once the pump runs. Always size for PWL, not SWL — otherwise your solar pump will cavitate on hot days.

3.2 Total Dynamic Head (TDH) — The One Number That Actually Matters

For Solar Submersible Pump for Deep Well, TDH = Vertical Lift + Friction Losses + Discharge Pressure.

Simplified formula (Imperial):

TDH (ft) = Pumping Water Level (ft)
         + Friction Loss in pipe (ft)
         + Pressure needed at outlet (e.g., 15–30 psi ≈ 35–70 ft)

Simplified formula (Metric):

TDH (m) = PWL (m) + friction loss (m) + outlet pressure head (m)

Friction loss depends on pipe diameter and flow rate. For 1″ or 1¼″ PVC drop pipe at 10–20 GPM, budget 5–15 ft per 100 ft of pipe. Undersize the drop pipe, and your solar pump fights friction instead of lifting water.

Expert Insight: At Jingong, Solar Submersible Pump for Deep Well we quote TDH first, then match the pump curve. A 1 HP solar submersible rated “200 ft max head” might only deliver useful flow at 140 ft TDH — that’s the engineering curve talking, not the marketing brochure. For more technical details on this calculation, refer to this Grundfos guide on Total Dynamic Head (External Authority Link).

3.3 Flow Rate — GPM / m³/h by Scenario

Don’t pick flow in isolation. Match it to daily volume and the TDH trade-off.

Use Case	Typical Flow (GPM)	Typical Flow (m³/h)	Reasoning
Residential Home	5–10 GPM	1–2.3 m³/h	Peak-hour demand (kitchen, shower), not continuous.
Livestock / Small Ranch	10–20 GPM	2.3–4.5 m³/h	Trough refill based on animal count.
Agricultural Irrigation	20–60+ GPM	4.5–14 m³/h	Depends on pivot, sprinkler, or drip zone size.
Remote Village / Community	30–80+ GPM	7–18+ m³/h	Multi-outlet distribution networks.

Pro Tip: Solar submersibles come in two main hydraulic designs: positive displacement (helical screw) or centrifugal (multistage). Screw pumps are better at high head / low flow; centrifugal pumps excel at high flow / moderate head. We’ll touch on this in the comparison section.

3.4 Pump Power & Voltage — 24V / 48V / 72V / 96V DC & Hybrid

Solar Submersible Pump for Deep Well are almost always DC (brushless) or AC/DC hybrid (inverter-driven). Voltage choice is driven by cable distance and power requirements.

Motor Voltage	Typical Power Range	Application Scenario
24V DC	100–400W	Shallow wells (< 70 ft TDH), small cabins.
48V DC	400W–1.1kW	The sweet spot for 100–200 ft wells.
72V / 96V DC	1.1–2.2kW+	250–400 ft+ depths, higher flow demands.
AC/DC Hybrid (220V)	1.5–5.5kW	Large agricultural, can switch between solar and grid power.

Critical Note: Running long cable distances? Go higher voltage. A 48V system over 300 ft of undersized wire can lose 15–20% to voltage drop — your pump never sees full power. This is why we often spec 72V even if 48V “looks enough” on paper.

3.5 Well Casing Diameter — 2″ / 3″ / 4″ / 6″

The pump body must physically fit down the casing.

• 2″ / 3″ casing → Requires 3″ or slim 4″ pumps (OD ≤ 90 mm).
• 4″ casing → Standard 4″ submersible (most common globally).
• 6″+ casing → 6″ or 8″ high-capacity units.

Jingong Factory Tip: If your driller says “4-inch well,” confirm the inside diameter. Some nominal 4″ casings are really 3.5″ ID — and a standard 4″ pump won’t pass. We’ve encountered this specific issue in projects across Kenya and the Philippines.

3.6 Solar Panel Wattage & Battery — The System Around the Pump

Pump nameplate wattage ≠ solar array size.

Rule of thumb:

• Direct solar (no battery): Array Wattage ≈ 1.3–1.6 × pump rated Watts (accounts for heat derating, clouds, and MPPT conversion loss).
• With battery / hybrid: Size battery for 1–2 nights or cloudy-day buffer; array can be smaller since grid/battery can supplement.

We’ll drill deeper into this in Module 6. For now, just note: undersized PV is the #2 reason solar pumps disappoint (right after TDH miscalculation).

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Step-by-Step Solar Submersible Pump Sizing Formula

This is the actionable workflow we use at Jingong for every quotation. Use this to verify your supplier’s math.

The 6-Step Sizing Workflow

Step 1 — Measure your hydraulic inputs

• Static water level (ft/m)
• Drawdown (estimate if unknown: 10–30 ft for sand, more for fractured rock)
• Casing ID (inches/mm)
• Drop pipe size (if replacing existing)
• Required outlet pressure (psi) — e.g., 20 psi to pressurize a house ≈ 46 ft head

Step 2 — Calculate TDH

Use the formula from Section 3.2. Example: SWL 100 ft + drawdown 20 ft + friction 10 ft + 30 psi (~69 ft) = ~199 ft TDH.

Step 3 — Define daily volume & flow

Calculate your peak minute demand. A household needing 300 gallons during evening peak hours requires roughly 8 GPM.

Step 4 — Plot TDH + Flow on the pump curve

Select a model where your (TDH, Flow) coordinate sits on or left of the curve’s “best efficiency” zone — not at the far right (max flow, low head) and not at the very top (max head, near-zero flow).

Step 5 — Match voltage & casing

If TDH > 200 ft + flow > 15 GPM → lean towards 72V+. Ensure the pump OD matches your casing ID.

Step 6 — Size solar array + controller + cable

• Array W ≈ 1.4 × pump W (for direct drive systems).
• MPPT controller rated ≥ pump max current.
• Cable gauge: Keep voltage drop < 3% (use 10 AWG / 8 AWG / even 6 AWG for long runs).

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Size Chart — Solar Submersible Pump by Well Depth

This is the data you came for. Use these tables as a starting point. All specifications assume standard PVC drop pipes and average friction loss.

5.1 100 ft (≈30 m) Solar Submersible Pump for Deep Well — Entry Solar Borehole

TDH Bracket	Flow Requirement	Rec. Voltage	Pump Power	Solar Array (Min)	Jingong Model Series
50–80 ft	5–10 GPM (Home)	24V / 48V	150–370W	200–500W	JG-Solar-3SP-100
80–120 ft	8–15 GPM (Small Ranch)	48V	370–750W	500–1000W	JG-Solar-4SP-150
80–120 ft (High Flow)	15–25 GPM (Irrigation)	48V / 72V	750–1100W	1000–1500W	JG-Solar-4SP-200

☁️ Low-light regions (northern latitudes, monsoon seasons): bump array +20%, or add a small battery buffer.

5.2 200 ft (≈60 m) Solar Submersible Pump for Deep Well — The Most Common Bracket

TDH Bracket	Flow Requirement	Voltage	Pump Power	Solar Array	Jingong Model Series
130–180 ft	5–10 GPM (Home)	48V	370–550W	600–900W	JG-Solar-4SP-150
160–240 ft	10–20 GPM (Ranch)	48V/72V	750–1100W	1000–1600W	JG-Solar-4SP-200
180–260 ft	20–35 GPM (Irrigation)	72V	1100–1500W	1600–2200W	JG-Solar-6SP-250

5.3 300 ft+ (≈90 m+) Solar Submersible Pump for Deep Well — High-Head Solar Borehole

TDH Bracket	Flow Requirement	Voltage	Pump Power	Solar Array	Jingong Model Series
250–350 ft	5–12 GPM (Deep Home/Village)	72V / 96V	1100–1500W	1600–2200W	JG-Solar-4SP-300
300–450 ft	15–30 GPM (Agriculture)	96V / Hybrid AC	1500–3000W	2200–4400W	JG-Solar-6SP-400
400 ft+ Extreme	30–60+ GPM	Hybrid / 3-phase	3–5.5kW	4400W+	JG-Solar-8SP series

Casing Check for 300 ft+: Most of these units require a 4″ minimum casing; high-flow models prefer 6″+. If you’re restricted to a 3″ casing at 300 ft depths, we’d spec a helical screw solar pump — it has a different curve profile, offering better performance at extreme head pressures.

5.4 Quick “Solar Submersible Pump for Deep Well → Starter Guess” (Orientation Only)

Well Depth	*Rough* Starter Pump	Caveat
60–100 ft	24V 200–370W solar sub	Only if flow < 10 GPM.
100–150 ft	48V 370–750W	Watch TDH, not just depth.
150–250 ft	48V/72V 750–1100W	Most common global bracket.
250–350 ft	72V/96V 1100–2200W	Screw or multistage design.
350 ft+	Hybrid / 3-phase / HV DC	Pure solar-only gets marginal; hybrid often better ROI.