Abstract This paper deals with the analysis and development of a permanent magnet brushless DC (PMBLDC) motor drive coupled to a pump load powered by solar photovoltaic (PV) array for water pumping system. A simple low-cost prototype controller has been designed and developed without current and position sensors which reduces drastically the overall cost of the drive system. This controller is used to test the dynamic behavior of the PMBLDC motor drive system. The mathematical model of the system is developed with a view to carry out a comparison between experimental and simulated response of the drive system. A simple filter circuit incorporated in between PV-array and an inverter to reduce ripples and to improve the performance of the PV-array. The necessary computer algorithm is developed to analyze the performance under different conditions of varying solar insolation for a pump load.