Cabin build 2hp well pump

Helping my father design a solar system for an off grid cabin. The biggest hurdle is the cost and size of a system to run a freaking 2hp well pump. Doing a bit of research these are the options I think, which is best?
1. Generator at pump house to storage tank in garage.
2. Big system to accommodate 2hp (4,000 running watts) 8-12k start up.
3. Generator auto start up to feed pressure tank?

The well is a couple hundred feet from the cabin so added cost to run wire down there for options 2 and 3. Good south facing slope for solar panels, in the pnw. Running propane for fridge, hot water heater etc. wood stove for heat. So Cabin wouldn’t need a big system without the well.

Grundfos well pumps are the way to go or run a soft start on the current pump.

For the solar system you will need to provide more info before folks can give you ideas. Whats your power usage look like at the cabin ? One thing I will suggest upfront is try and go 48v from the start, it will save you in the long run and especially in wiring costs.

with all of the big energy suckers running off of propane, I think A 3000 watt inverter would be plenty. The electrical and appliances aren’t done yet but I think The well alone would pull double the rest of the cabin.

Any chance of using a DC pump down the well to fill a cistern?

For offgriders most of us use Grundfos Deep Well Pumps with Softstart so that there isn't a hard start surge which inverters dont like. I myself live offgrid, in the deep north, I use a GrundFos SQ-5 120V Softstart model. This is 240' deep in the well, to a 50 Gallon pressure tank in Power/Pumphouse then another 75' to house. It starts at 550W and steps up in stages till it reaches 52 PSI cutoff @ 1350W. I NEVER notice a pressure drop (kicks in @ 40 PSI) and have never had any issues with this system. You DO NOT NEED 240V That's a Grannies Tale !


NOTE: Be aware that HIgh Frequency Inverters are cheaper, lighter & use FETS. They only handle 2X surge and are NOT The best for heavy motors (pumps, fridge/freezer compressors & the like... Great for digital electronics. Low Frequency Inverters have 3X surge handling and use a heavy Toroidial Coil and they handle heavies, even Mig Welders if need be (appropriately sized of course). High Quality LF INverters are also up to 96% Efficient while HF is typically 90% efficient. It does make a difference with Idle Power consumption etc.

Yep, as @Steve_S says time to upgrade the pump to something more efficient. It will save you money in the long run with system size and strain.

How deep is the pump set to? A 2hp pump is freaking huge.

The well itself is 170ft. With another 100 ft of vertical up to the cabin. The well was preexisting, not sure why it’s a 2 hp!

ChaseRD said:

The well itself is 170ft. With another 100 ft of vertical up to the cabin. The well was preexisting, not sure why it’s a 2 hp!

Click to expand...

I was getting ready to ask the same question. I bet the answer is "that's the pump the well guy had on his truck that day."

Take a serious look at a new pump. The total cost of your system may end up being the same and you'll end up with a pump that suitcase sized inverter generator can run should your solar inverter take a dump. Belts and suspenders...

I will offer at that depth you're in the realm of what a couple of people change out themselves without any special equipment. Even it you don't want to try it won't be terribly expensive to have a well guy come out and change to Grundfos SQ.

A lot traditional well guys that I bumped into are quick to hate on Grundfos. When I ask them "why" it takes some pressing but the finally reply some version of "that's not how my grandpa did it".