Questions & Answers

A solar panel array powers a brushless DC motor pump through an MPPT controller, which draws the maximum available power from the panels throughout the day — pumping water straight to your tank, trough or field with no fuel and no electricity bill. Each product page has a Specification tab, or contact us and we'll size a complete system for your borehole and daily water needs.

Wikkie's Pompe is the sole South African distributor of RISON — a manufacturer with over 20 years' experience and ISO 9001, CE, RoHS and TÜV certification. Top-quality materials (full AISI 304 stainless steel, 100% copper windings) and controller efficiency more than 20% higher than comparable products mean a stronger return on your investment against diesel or grid pumping.

Yes. RISON designs and builds its own MPPT controllers in-house — the circuit boards, protection programming and software are all developed by their engineering team. We stock and supply them with every system, and custom controllers can be produced for bulk orders.

Yes. We can design and supply a complete solar pumping system with every accessory — solar panels, mounting structures, cabling and connectors, water-level sensors and more — so everything you need arrives matched and ready to install.

Yes. RISON offers OEM and custom production, so we can tailor a pump, controller or complete system to your exact requirement — particularly for larger and bulk orders.

Yes. Pumps, controllers and accessories can all be purchased separately if you're expanding or replacing part of an existing system.

If you have reliable mains power, an electric submersible pump is the simplest choice. If you're off-grid or want to cut your electricity bill, go solar. If you need guaranteed 24/7 supply, our AC/DC hybrid range runs on solar by day and switches automatically to grid or battery when needed. Not sure? Try our Savings Calculator or just ask us.

Yes — they just pump more slowly. The MPPT controller extracts whatever power the panels produce, so on an overcast day the pump runs at reduced speed rather than stopping. This is exactly why we size the array and your storage tank to cover a few days of water, so a run of cloudy weather never leaves you dry.

Usually not. The smartest and cheapest 'battery' for a water system is a storage tank — you pump while the sun shines and store water for when you need it. Batteries only make sense if you must pump after dark or want guaranteed night-time supply, in which case our AC/DC hybrid systems can use grid or battery backup.

A pure solar pump runs on sunlight, so it works from mid-morning to late afternoon and rests at night — which is why we pump into a tank during the day. If you need water around the clock, an AC/DC hybrid pump switches automatically to grid or battery power once the sun is down.

It depends on the pump's power, your borehole depth and how much water you want per day. As a rough guide, a small 4″ household pump might need 3–6 panels, while a large farm or municipal system can need dozens. We calculate the exact array size for your site so the pump performs on an average day, not just a perfect one.

Our submersible ranges cover everything from shallow boreholes to very deep ones — the screw and multi-stage models reach heads of 200–500 m. 'Head' is the total lift: borehole depth plus any height up to your tank. Tell us your depth and we'll match a pump that delivers the flow you need at that lift.

A modest solar borehole pump comfortably delivers a few thousand litres a day — enough for a household and livestock — while larger systems move tens of thousands of litres for irrigation. Daily output depends on sunlight hours, pump size and head, so we size the system around your actual daily target.

Yes. A float switch or water-level probe tells the controller to stop when the tank is full and restart when it drops — preventing overflow and dry-running. Our wireless level detector even does this over distances up to 3 km, so the tank can be far from the borehole with no cable to run.

Very little. There's no fuel, no engine and no moving parts above ground. The brushless DC motor is maintenance-free, and the main task is keeping the panels reasonably clean and checking connections occasionally. Compared with a diesel pump, running and upkeep costs are close to zero.

The pump and controller are built for years of daily duty, and quality solar panels carry a 25-year performance warranty. With correct sizing and a clean water supply, a well-installed system typically gives 10–15+ years of reliable service — often outlasting the diesel or electric pump it replaced several times over.

Over its life, almost always. There's a higher upfront cost, but no fuel bills, no electricity bills and minimal maintenance, so most systems pay for themselves within a few years and then pump for free. Use our Savings Calculator to see the payback for your own water and energy costs.

Yes — that's what our sand-resistant screw pumps (the 4SK and 5SK ranges) are built for. Their progressive-cavity design handles silt and abrasive water that would quickly wear out an ordinary impeller pump, making them ideal for boreholes with sandy or turbid water.

Click “Get a Quote”, tell us the pump model or your water requirement (borehole depth, daily volume and distance to the tank), and we'll come back with a price. You can also call us on 012 333 8722 or 012 333 2219, or email quotes@wikkiespompe.com.

We supply and support customers across Southern Africa — South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and neighbouring nations.