Lorentz PSk3-15 Solar Borehole Pump and Controller

Lorentz PSk3-15 Solar Borehole Pump: High Flow for Larger Duties

The Lorentz PSk3-15 is the larger of the two PSk3 solar submersible pumps, built for high flow irrigation, filling reservoirs and tanks, and large farm or estate supplies where there is no mains power. Its 16 kW controller drives a 7.5 or 11 kW three-phase motor and moves up to 235 m³/h, or lifts water as far as 180 m. It suits boreholes of 6 inches (150 mm) or more, with 8 inch and 10 inch bores for the highest flows. The controller runs from solar panels and has built-in MPPT, which keeps the pump working in poor light. It can also mix in grid or generator power if you want a back-up. The motor is a maintenance-free stainless steel unit with no electronics inside it. We supply the PSk3-15 in the UK as authorised Lorentz sales and service partners, and we size every system with Lorentz's own selection software.

A PSk3-15 system is made up of a controller, a motor and a pump end. The pump end is the part that moves the water, and it decides how much you get and how high it can be lifted. The nine centrifugal pump ends run from the C-SJ8-44, which lifts water 180 m at up to 12 m³/h, to the C-SJ150-1, which moves 235 m³/h at a 16 m lift. Maximum head and maximum flow can't be had at the same time, because the flow falls as the lift goes up, so the right pump end depends on your borehole depth and the volume of water you need each day. If your water is deep and the flow modest, the smaller PSk3-7 may suit you better.

The PSk3-15 costs from £5,523.45 ex VAT, depending on the pump end.

Which PSk3-15 pump end do I need?

The nine pump ends cover heads from 16 m up to 180 m and flows from 12 to 235 m³/h. The C-SJ8-44, C-SJ17-11, C-SJ17-18, C-SJ30-7, C-SJ30-12 and C-SJ42-6 fit a borehole of 6 inches (150 mm) or more. The C-SJ75-3 and C-SJ95-2 need at least 8 inches (200 mm), and the C-SJ150-1 needs at least 9.8 inches (250 mm).

Figures are the maximum for each pump end, from the current Lorentz datasheets (version 310270).

PSk3-15 controller and solar array

The controller handles up to 16 kW and accepts up to 850 V from the array, with a motor current of up to 25 A. It needs a maximum power voltage above 575 V, so the panels are wired in series strings. It is rated IP66 and works in ambient temperatures from -25 to 60 °C, and the pump can handle water up to 30 °C. The controller has analogue and digital sensor inputs, an integrated sun sensor, active temperature management and onboard data logging, and you set it up with the Lorentz Assistant app.

About 99% of the pump systems we supply run direct from the panels with no battery. The controller weighs 9.6 kg. The pump unit, which is the motor and pump end, weighs between 69 and 106 kg depending on the pump end, so plan for a tripod or lifting gear when it is installed. The size of the array depends on the pump end, the head and the volume of water you need each day.

What is included, and what you need to add

The PSk3-15 price covers the controller and the pump unit, which is the motor and your chosen pump end. You will also need solar panels and mounting, a rising main and a storage tank, and we can quote for the panels and mounting as well. Cable between the controller and the pump is supplied if you need it, and is quoted by length. Sensors are optional extras.

Pump sizing with Lorentz software

Sizing is free. We size every pump with Lorentz's own selection software, using the details you give us, and the result is an estimate of performance based on that data. It is not a guarantee of output. We supply the equipment, and the installation is carried out by you or your installer.

To size your pump we need the borehole depth and internal diameter, the water level, the height the water must be lifted to and how far it travels, and the volume of water you need each day. Send those details through our solar pump enquiry form. For more on choosing a pump, see our guide to solar borehole and well pumps.

PSk3-15 solar pump FAQs

How much water will a PSk3-15 deliver?

Up to 235 m³/h with the C-SJ150-1 at a 16 m lift, and up to 126 m³/h with the C-SJ75-3 at 35 m. Output falls as the lift rises, and it is highest in summer because the pump runs directly from the panels. Our sizing gives you an estimate of the daily output for your site.

Will the PSk3-15 fit my borehole?

It needs a borehole of at least 6 inches (150 mm) for the C-SJ8-44, C-SJ17-11, C-SJ17-18, C-SJ30-7, C-SJ30-12 and C-SJ42-6, 8 inches (200 mm) for the C-SJ75-3 and C-SJ95-2, or 9.8 inches (250 mm) for the C-SJ150-1. For a 4 inch borehole, look at the PSk3-7 or the PS2 range instead.

Can the PSk3-15 pump at night?

Not on solar alone, because it runs from the sun. Most systems fill a tank or reservoir during the day and supply from there when the sun is down. The PSk3-15 can also mix in grid or generator power if you need pumping outside daylight.

When should I choose the PSk3-15 rather than the PSk3-7?

Choose the PSk3-15 for flows above the 128 m³/h that the PSk3-7 reaches, or for large flows at moderate lifts using its 7.5 and 11 kW motors. If your water is deeper than 180 m, the PSk3-7 lifts to 240 m with the C-SJ5-43. For smaller duties, see the PS2-4000.