RainMaker 2

SunCulture

The RainMaker 2 is a submersible irrigation pump that can be powered with a solar battery.

Snapshot
Manufacturing & delivery
Performance & use
Research & standards
Feedback

Product description Brand name and product description

The RainMaker is a submersible irrigation pump designed by SunCulture that can pump water from a depth of 70 m and a flow rate of 50 L/min. The pump comes with a solar panel and a ClimateSmart Battery™which can also be used to power lights, televisions, and phone chargers.

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Africa

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

This product is implemented directly to consumers in Africa by SunCulture.

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

912.73 – 1184.67 USD (97,000 – 125,900 KES)^{Converted June 2020}

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

GF1 Submersible Solar Pump, Futurepump SF1 Solar Pump, aQysta Barsha Pump

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 2: Zero hunger

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Smallholder farmers

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Unknown

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Trade secret

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Consumers can purchase this product by contacting SunCulture or visiting a regional office in Kenya.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Unknown

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Pump type

Description of the pump type

Solar submersible pump

Irrigation capacity (acre)

Land size irrigation capacity, measured in acres

1 acre

Maximum flow rate (L/min)

The amount of water discharged, measured in liters per minute

50 L/min

Maximum lift/head (m)

Maximum length of pipe from pump to the raised tank, measured in meters

70 m

Required pressure (MPa)

The amount of pressure required to pump water, measured in MPa

0.686 MPa

Maximum distance from water source (m)

The maximum length of pipe from the water source, measured in meters

100 m

Power source

Type of energy used to power the pump

Motorized

Power requirement: Max power (W)

Maximum power requirement, measured in watts

200 W

Power requirement: Max motor current (A)

Maximum motor current, measured in amperes

8 A

Power requirement: Voltage range (V)

Power required to run the pump, measured in voltage

24 - 34 V

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

The Rainmaker 2 comes with several components: a submersible irrigation pump, a 300 W roof-mounted solar panel, 100 m of 25 mm PN10 PE pipe, four sprinklers with fittings, 50 m of electrical cable, four 600 lumen LEd lightbulbs with a 5 m cable and switch, and a ClimateSmart^™ system which includes a lithium-ion battery and MPPT charging controller. The ClimateSmart^™ system collects power from the solar panel, allowing the user to use the power for the irrigation pump and the lights or other electronics.

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Product schematics

Technical support Technical support provided by

Technical support is provided by SunCulture through their website or through their regional offices in Kenya.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

SunCulture provides after-sales support

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

This product includes a 3-year warranty and has an expected lifetime of 10 years

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

The designer specifies that the irrigation pump can pump up to 2500 L of water an hour from a water source up to 70 m deep.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Testing performed by The Impact Programme found the RainMaker 2 saved customers time and money over traditional diesel pumps and manual irrigation methods, and that almost half of the customers reported an increase in farm yields and income.

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

The Impact Programme

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Potential hazards related to this product include electric shock, risk of fire, and physical injury due to equipment failure.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

SunCulture sells add-on technology such as a drip irrigation kit and a television. They also sell a version of the RainMaker 2 called ClimateSmart Direct™ which does not come with a battery or lights and has a smaller pumping capacity.

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Merrey, D. J. and Langan, S., 2014, Review Paper on ‘Garden Kits’ in Africa: Lessons Learned and the Potential of Improved Water Management, IWMI Working Paper No. 162.

Michaelowa, A., Köhler, M., Friedmann, V., Tkacik, J., and Dransfeld, B., 2016, IMPAQT Case Study.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

This product meets the testing certifications IEC 60335-1, IEC 60335-2-41, and ISO 9001:2015.

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

This product has been tested for electrical and water suction safety by the International Electrotechnical Comission and has been certified for quality by the International Organization for Standardization.

Other information

SunCulture won the Gloabal LEAP Awards in 2019 for their ClimateSmart Direct™ solar irrigation system.

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

Snapshot

Product description Brand name and product description

Target region(s) Target region for distribution/implementation (listed by country if specified)

Africa

Distributors/implementing organizations Organization(s) distributing/deploying this product directly to communities/individuals?"

This product is implemented directly to consumers in Africa by SunCulture.

Market suggested retail price Price per unit or service price per usage/terms (USD). Subsidies noted.

912.73 – 1184.67 USD (97,000 – 125,900 KES)^{Converted June 2020}

Competitive landscape Similar products available on the market. May not be a comprehensive listing.

GF1 Submersible Solar Pump, Futurepump SF1 Solar Pump, aQysta Barsha Pump

SDG targeted United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targeted with this product/application/service

Goal 2: Zero hunger

Target user(s) Target user/consumer base (country, income segment)

Smallholder farmers

Manufacturing & delivery

Manufacturing/building method(s) Detail regarding solution production or construction method (instructions, mass production capacity, custom made,etc...)

Unknown

Product Intellectual Property Open source/IP protected (note patent)/trade secret/other?

Trade secret

User Provision Model Where can the product be purchased/acquired by end users?

Consumers can purchase this product by contacting SunCulture or visiting a regional office in Kenya.

Distribution to date Number of units that have been deployed, downloads or users to date

Unknown

Performance & use

Fields marked are sourced values that have been evaluated by the manufacturer or a third party, all others are design specifications.

Pump type

Description of the pump type

Solar submersible pump

Irrigation capacity (acre)

Land size irrigation capacity, measured in acres

1 acre

Maximum flow rate (L/min)

The amount of water discharged, measured in liters per minute

50 L/min

Maximum lift/head (m)

Maximum length of pipe from pump to the raised tank, measured in meters

70 m

Required pressure (MPa)

The amount of pressure required to pump water, measured in MPa

0.686 MPa

Maximum distance from water source (m)

The maximum length of pipe from the water source, measured in meters

100 m

Power source

Type of energy used to power the pump

Motorized

Power requirement: Max power (W)

Maximum power requirement, measured in watts

200 W

Power requirement: Max motor current (A)

Maximum motor current, measured in amperes

8 A

Power requirement: Voltage range (V)

Power required to run the pump, measured in voltage

24 - 34 V

Design specifications Component and Operation overview including power, portability, facility requirements, preventative maintenance and user training requirements

Product schematics Design and assembly illustrations

Product schematics

Technical support Technical support provided by

Technical support is provided by SunCulture through their website or through their regional offices in Kenya.

Replacement components Availability of replacement components (in-country, by order,...)

SunCulture provides after-sales support

Lifecycle Disposal and warranty

This product includes a 3-year warranty and has an expected lifetime of 10 years

Manufacturer specified performance targets Designer / Manufacturer specified targets

The designer specifies that the irrigation pump can pump up to 2500 L of water an hour from a water source up to 70 m deep.

Vetted performance Findings of manufacturer evaluations or independent testing centers

Testing organizations Independent lab, academic research centers, etc.

The Impact Programme

Safety Potential hazards / risks related to operation of this product

Potential hazards related to this product include electric shock, risk of fire, and physical injury due to equipment failure.

Complementary technical systems Performance of this product is improved with another technology (eg. Cookstoves and Wind-blocking skirts)

Research & standards

Academic research Academic research related to the product (e.g. published papers in peer-reviewed journals)

Merrey, D. J. and Langan, S., 2014, Review Paper on ‘Garden Kits’ in Africa: Lessons Learned and the Potential of Improved Water Management, IWMI Working Paper No. 162.

Michaelowa, A., Köhler, M., Friedmann, V., Tkacik, J., and Dransfeld, B., 2016, IMPAQT Case Study.

Compliance with regulations Product certifications and standards referenced by designer/manufacturer

This product meets the testing certifications IEC 60335-1, IEC 60335-2-41, and ISO 9001:2015.

Evaluation methods Evaluation methods/protocols/guidelines referenced by designer or manufacturer.

Other information

SunCulture won the Gloabal LEAP Awards in 2019 for their ClimateSmart Direct™ solar irrigation system.

Feedback

In context photographs (0)

You can use the form below to contribute a photo of this product.

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors

Please let us know your experience in using this product through comments below.

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RainMaker 2

SunCulture

In context photographs (0)

In context files & documents (0)

Feedback from users, customers & distributors