Peak Power Analysis of an Off-Grid Solar PV System During AC Pump Startup
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54518/rh.6.5.2026.2017Keywords:
AC Pump, Inverter Capacity, Off-Grid Photovoltaic System, Peak Startup Power, Transient Power, Water PumpingAbstract
Off-grid photovoltaic water pumping systems must accommodate changes in electrical demand during AC pump startup, which steady-state power alone may not represent. This study characterizes an AC pump’s startup power profile in an off-grid solar photovoltaic system and examines its relevance to inverter selection. A prototype comprising a 585 Wp PV panel, a 12 V, 100 Ah LiFePO4 battery, a 2,000 W inverter, and an AC pump was evaluated. A camera recorded the power-measuring instrument’s display, and values were transcribed across pre-startup, transient, and steady-state phases. Ten tests were analyzed using peak power, steady-state power, time to peak, transient duration, and the peak-to-steady-state power ratio. Peak startup power ranged from 125 to 200 W, averaging 157.0 W, whereas steady-state power ranged from 88 to 92 W, averaging 90.0 W. The mean ratio was 1.74, and the transient lasted 2.8–3.8 s. Startup demand exceeded steady-state demand and varied more across tests. Inverter assessment should consider startup behavior alongside continuous power requirements. Because measurements relied on a display, observed peaks do not represent sub-cycle electrical peaks.
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