What 'solar pool pump' actually means
Two architectures: (1) a DC pool pump direct-coupled to a dedicated solar PV array, runs daylight hours only; or (2) a standard AC pump on a home battery+inverter system that happens to be solar-charged. This guide covers option 1, which has materially better ROI for pool-only loads.
Hardware and sizing
For a 35,000-litre family pool:
- DC pool pump 600–900 W (Lorentz PS2, Speck Badu Eco DC, or similar) — R10,000–R18,000
- PV array 1.2–1.6 kWp (3–4 panels) — R6,000–R11,000
- MPPT controller + mounting + cabling — R3,000–R7,000
- Install (registered electrician) — R3,000–R6,000
- Total turnkey: R22,000–R42,000
Payback math
Replacing an AC 1.1 kW pump running 8 h/day (~268 kWh/month) at R3.20/kWh saves R860/month — R10,320/year before any tariff increases.
Realistic blended saving (some cloudy days, summer overproduction lost) is R5,000–R8,500/year. On a R28,000 install, payback is 4–6 years. With Eskom's projected ~10%/year increases, payback shortens.
Limitations
No night filtration unless paired with a small backup pump or battery. Cloudy stretches reduce filtration hours — usually fine, but you may need a 2–3 hour grid top-up after long winter overcast periods. Output drops ~40% in winter due to angle/daylight; size the array for shoulder seasons, not midsummer.
Sources
- SSEG registration — City of Cape Town — City of Cape Town
- Eskom tariff history — Eskom