Small pumps for tanks, taps and gardens
Trickle and Lift explains how small 12V and solar water pumps work. You'll find plain guides to picking a pump, working out flow, lift and power draw, and running it from a battery or panel. It's written for first-timers with a tank, a garden or a cabin to supply.
- The main types of small 12V pump and what each is for
Diaphragm, submersible, centrifugal and piston pumps compared, so you can match one to a transfer, pressure or garden watering job.
- Flow rate, lift and head explained for small pumps
What litres per minute, metres of head and suction lift mean, and how to read a pump curve to see what a pump will really deliver.
- How much power a 12V water pump really uses
How to turn a pump's volts and amps into watts and watt-hours, and check whether a small battery can run it for a day.
- Pumping from a tank to a tap: a simple pressure setup
How a tank, pump, pressure switch and tap work together in a cabin, shed or camper, and which mistakes to watch for.
- Gravity feed or pump: which suits your site?
When a raised tank can supply water with no power at all, how to judge the height you need, and when a pump is the better choice.
- Running a pump straight from a solar panel
Can a panel drive a pump with no battery? Yes, within limits. Here's how it works, what a controller does, and where it falls short.
- Why a small pump won't prime or loses flow
Common causes of air leaks, blocked strainers and weak suction in small pumps, and a simple order for checking each one.