Q: What type of solar panels does Lorentz have?
A: Lorentz solar panels are monocrystalline and polycrystalline.
Q: Do solar panels easily break?
A: Contrary to popular belief, solar panels are not made of glass, but are still very sturdy. An average Asian can stand on a panel without breaking it.
Q: Where can I install the solar panels?
A: Solar panels are generally installed in roof tops or on ground. For roof top installations, special equipment must be used to ensure structural stability and prevent water from leaking into the structure. For ground mounted, these are usually installed in special frames which are anchored on a cement base.
A: Lorentz solar panels are monocrystalline and polycrystalline.
Q: Do solar panels easily break?
A: Contrary to popular belief, solar panels are not made of glass, but are still very sturdy. An average Asian can stand on a panel without breaking it.
Q: Where can I install the solar panels?
A: Solar panels are generally installed in roof tops or on ground. For roof top installations, special equipment must be used to ensure structural stability and prevent water from leaking into the structure. For ground mounted, these are usually installed in special frames which are anchored on a cement base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How does solar pumping work?
A: Energy from the sun in the form of light is converted by solar panels to electrical energy. This electrical energy is regulated by a pump controller, which powers a motor. The motor converts the electrical energy to rotating mechanical energy and drives a pump. The pump takes in a fluid, usually water, from a source such as a well or a cistern and does flow work to the water, delivering it to higher pressures or to higher elevations. This water would be ready to use for drinking, irrigation or other uses, or could be stored in an overhead tank for future use
Q: Can it run at night?
A: With a solar direct system, no. However, ample pressure should be supplied via an overhead tank. If night time pump operation is an absolute requirement, we may integrate a battery system with the solar pump, although we do not recommend this due to cost considerations.
Q: How do you determine the size of solar pumps?
A: We determine the appropriate size of solar pumps using a design software that incorporates solar energy, temperature, and rainfall data. The software requires information about the location of the installation, the daily water requirement, and the total dynamic head where the water will be delivered. The software processes this information and recommends a solar pump system of the optimal size for the specific application. The required information is ideally provided by customers by filling out an enquiry sheet.
Q: Why is it so expensive?
A: When investing in any equipment, we have to analyze the full cost of ownership, which includes not only the equipment purchase, but also costs for operation, maintenance, repair, spare parts, etc. For solar pumps, the cost is mostly in the upfront, since the equipment is solar powered (P0.00 operation cost), built for harsh environments (high quality materials - will rarely need repairs), and operates maintenance free (no need to change oil, change consumable parts, etc.). Usually, for areas using diesel pump and considering solar pump as an alternative, ROI can be as fast as 1.5 years.
Q: I have an existing AC pump. Can you use this to upgrade the system to a solar pump system?
A: Yes, but it will be costlier to setup and to maintain. Lorentz solar pump systems are optimized for solar operation. The system does not need batteries or inverters, and can run safely even with varying irradiance conditions. If we use an existing AC pump, we will have to invest additionally a charge controller, which charges the battery, a battery for energy storage, and an inverter to convert DC to AC. In every step of the way, there is conversion losses, and all these equipments will cost additional, the battery more since it will need replacing in short periods of time. If you use a Lorentz solar pump system running on "solar direct", you will only need the solar panels, the solar pump controller, and the solar pump - less components, cheaper, less conversion losses, more reliability.
Q: What is the life of LORENTZ solar panels?
A: Life would depend on usage environment. LORENTZ panels are expected to last at least 20 years.
Q: What is the life of LORENTZ pumps?
A: Depending on usage environment, LORENTZ pumps could last up to 8 years before needing replacement.
A: Energy from the sun in the form of light is converted by solar panels to electrical energy. This electrical energy is regulated by a pump controller, which powers a motor. The motor converts the electrical energy to rotating mechanical energy and drives a pump. The pump takes in a fluid, usually water, from a source such as a well or a cistern and does flow work to the water, delivering it to higher pressures or to higher elevations. This water would be ready to use for drinking, irrigation or other uses, or could be stored in an overhead tank for future use
Q: Can it run at night?
A: With a solar direct system, no. However, ample pressure should be supplied via an overhead tank. If night time pump operation is an absolute requirement, we may integrate a battery system with the solar pump, although we do not recommend this due to cost considerations.
Q: How do you determine the size of solar pumps?
A: We determine the appropriate size of solar pumps using a design software that incorporates solar energy, temperature, and rainfall data. The software requires information about the location of the installation, the daily water requirement, and the total dynamic head where the water will be delivered. The software processes this information and recommends a solar pump system of the optimal size for the specific application. The required information is ideally provided by customers by filling out an enquiry sheet.
Q: Why is it so expensive?
A: When investing in any equipment, we have to analyze the full cost of ownership, which includes not only the equipment purchase, but also costs for operation, maintenance, repair, spare parts, etc. For solar pumps, the cost is mostly in the upfront, since the equipment is solar powered (P0.00 operation cost), built for harsh environments (high quality materials - will rarely need repairs), and operates maintenance free (no need to change oil, change consumable parts, etc.). Usually, for areas using diesel pump and considering solar pump as an alternative, ROI can be as fast as 1.5 years.
Q: I have an existing AC pump. Can you use this to upgrade the system to a solar pump system?
A: Yes, but it will be costlier to setup and to maintain. Lorentz solar pump systems are optimized for solar operation. The system does not need batteries or inverters, and can run safely even with varying irradiance conditions. If we use an existing AC pump, we will have to invest additionally a charge controller, which charges the battery, a battery for energy storage, and an inverter to convert DC to AC. In every step of the way, there is conversion losses, and all these equipments will cost additional, the battery more since it will need replacing in short periods of time. If you use a Lorentz solar pump system running on "solar direct", you will only need the solar panels, the solar pump controller, and the solar pump - less components, cheaper, less conversion losses, more reliability.
Q: What is the life of LORENTZ solar panels?
A: Life would depend on usage environment. LORENTZ panels are expected to last at least 20 years.
Q: What is the life of LORENTZ pumps?
A: Depending on usage environment, LORENTZ pumps could last up to 8 years before needing replacement.
