How To Build Your Own Solar Pond Aerator
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- čas přidán 17. 03. 2021
- 100W Poly Solar Panel: amzn.to/3gWoOaJ
100W Mono Solar Panel: amzn.to/3iTlFK8
Adjustable Solar Panel Mounts: amzn.to/3Px5nY6
Solar Charge Controller: amzn.to/3xfRW3f
Sima Inverter: amzn.to/2Q5g47p
Matala Hakko Pump: amzn.to/3PPbjdn
Vmax AGM battery: amzn.to/3vWZyp6
9" Pond Diffuser: amzn.to/3wadGMc
10" Pond Diffuser: amzn.to/3tC3YRi
12" Pond Diffuser: amzn.to/3xkq3a0
3/8" Weighted Airline 50' : amzn.to/3ljSvDh
3/8" Weighted Airline 100' : amzn.to/378cnD0
1/2" Weighted Airline 50' : amzn.to/3lEj9c7
1/2" Weighted Airline 100' : amzn.to/3fy0V8z
15A Waterproof in-Line Fuse: amzn.to/3frvKuM
3.3 Feet Extension Cable: amzn.to/3HOsNl9
Y Connector for Parallel Connection: amzn.to/3wkmCkX
IP67 Solar Panel Cable Connectors: amzn.to/3zUqwQk
Camera Used: amzn.to/2NusMv0
Tripod: amzn.to/3a0oF1u
GoPro Quick Release Mounts: amzn.to/2L2zFTu
Do you have a pond that you want to aerate but is to far away from a power source? I'll show how you can build your own solar pond aeration system for just over $500.
Correction: I said I used a 12" diffuser in the video, but I actually used a 10". You may also use a 9" diffuser as well.
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#solarpondaerator #pondaerator #solar - Jak na to + styl
Watch How I wired everything and the optimal charge controller settings here: czcams.com/video/tST4FrShstw/video.html
I have watched this over the past 3 years and each time...I'm stoked. Just need to find the time to do this project.
This is a great way to aerate a pond, thanks.
This video is exactly what I needed. Thank you!
Your welcome! I'm glad to hear that.
Great video . I am calling everyone trying learn about solar aeration and your video pops up. Hope I can figure out how to this
Thanks, I hope this can help you get your aeration running. I have another video as well, showing more about the wiring and charge controller setup here: czcams.com/video/tST4FrShstw/video.html
Best of luck with your project.
Great video, looks like a simple project and you've made it easy for me to try and replicate in my pond. Thanks again, very helpful.
Your welcome! It works out well for my situation, as my pond is a fair distance away from any power source.
We installed our solar powered pond aerator over the weekend. Wow! Thank you! I learned so much and my pond is on the way toward recuperation. Thank you for such clear instructions. Anyone who decides to do this project should expect minor variables and adjustments based on what you have laying around to recycle or put into use or purchase, what you decide to spend, and your ability to lift, or have another person to help with things like installing a post. I have lots of fence posts, so I chose to mount it on a fence post. (I may add another post) That changed the mounting hardware for example. I chose to install it with a hinge on the top so the angle should be changed seasonally. I am so pleased. I can't thank you enough!
That is so great to hear! Your welcome, I'm glad that my video helped you out. I like your idea with the hinge for seasonal adjustment. I may need to incorporate something like that on my system.
I wonder if it would help to insulate your battery enclosure. Keep any residual heat from the pump inside and the battery compartment and above freezing during winter.
Thanks so much, this is very helpful. I have a near acre pond. It's about 10 feet in depth at its deepest. Do you think the 10" diffuser would be sufficient for that? It's a clay bottom (with a little silt of course). Could you have an additional video showing the bucket set up and how that is hooked through to the panel, battery, etc?
You will be fine with the 10" Diffuser. My pond is similar in size and depth to yours. I unfortunately do not have a video of the diffuser setup, But I do have a video of the complete wiring and charge controller/ battery setup. You can find that here: czcams.com/video/tST4FrShstw/video.html I hope that helps!
thanks alot
Your welcome.
Hi-- Thank you! Really appreciate all this info and how detailed you are. We're doing it! My question is this-- our pond is 1/3rd of an acre, approx 15 feet deep and I'm seeing that can be trouble for the pump. Do you recommend that we bump up to a 80L? Or a piston driven one? Also, wanting to confirm that we are going to need to buy all the wires that interconnect these components. These aren't supplied with them, right? Standard stuff?
Thank you again-- really making this possible for us. (Total is coming to about $800 from Amazon right now but it's still a huge value for us)
You might want to use the 80L pump. If you go that route, you will need a bit more solar watts and a larger ah battery to support this pump. Yes, you will need to purchase the wires sperate as well.
Great video! Very informative. This project is now on my agenda for the summer after I get rid of the algae. I was wondering, what is the height at the top of the solar panels, and how do you know what angle to set them? I know they are supposed to face south. Also, which VMAX battery do you recommend? There are 4 batteries listed on the linked page.
Thanks! My panels are 6' to the top. I recommend at least a 30ah. battery or more. The higher the ah. the longer your pump will run into the night. Here is a link to a Solar Angle Calculator that I used. www.solarelectricityhandbook.com/solar-angle-calculator.html You can enter your location and it will determine the best angle for each season.
@@DeanoOutDoors Thanks!
Deano, thanks for the video everything is running fine. I will post link to video once I fine tune everything. I have a question though. Should I leave this running 24/7 or is it okay just to run for a certain amount hours during the day. Thanks
Your Welcome, I'm glad to hear that! I have mine set to run continuously, it usually shuts down a few hours after the sun sets from the charge controller, then starts back up after the sun rises. The larger the ah. battery the longer it will stay running into the evening. If your looking to keep your pond opened up during the winter, then I recommend running this way, otherwise a few hours per day is sufficient. Looking forward to your video!
Just set mine up. Working great. Just a note- a 12 inch aerator disc does not fit in a standard 5 gallon bucket. Ended up zip tying it to the top.
Question- if you use more than 100 Ft of weighted 3/8 inch hose, will it still work? I am using the same pump and set up you recommended. I would like to add another 50 to 100 feet.
Great to hear it’s working good for you! I am not 100% certain, but I would think you should be fine adding another 50 foot for sure but another 100 might be maxing it out.
thanks for sending me this video and for answering my battery powered question so quick. Is there a reason for the 2 different style solar panels?
I had ordered them at two different times. They are the same panels, the newer one was their updated style.
Thank you for doing this and putting the knowledge out there! I have some questions:
1. Where are you based? How cold does it get in a typical Winter?
2. Do you leave the pump set up like that all Winter long? No problems with battery freezing, etc?
Thanks!
I’m in Wisconsin, temps drop down to sub zero many nights. Yes, I left it setup just like in the video. The battery life was around three years, you could get more if you adjust the low voltage disconnect to a higher voltage setting which after using it for some time, I would recommend a little higher setting. I am now using a battery-less system. You can check out that video here if interested czcams.com/video/Y5JmN69_-DA/video.htmlfeature=shared
@@DeanoOutDoors Just watched the battery-less one, I think that's what I'm going to do! Project for next year. Maybe I'll try to set up the wiring components this Winter and deploy it in the Spring.
Thanks for that video. What depth is the diffuser sitting at?
Your welcome. I have it around 9 foot. You wanna try and place the diffuser in the deepest area of your pond food best results.
Thanks for this video - very helpful. Did you use concrete to hold the pipe & panel stable? Or just plant it a few feet deep?
Your welcome! I did not use concrete, just drove the pipe down into the ground four feet.
Great video and solution! Do you have an estimation for how much air (litres per hour) you get into your pond with this system? Thank you
Thank you! The pump is a 60l output, but I am not sure of the actual output at the diffuser with the calculated loss from the air line. Sorry I can't be more specific. I guess each situation would depend on the length and diameter of the airline. The video doesn't show it the best, but the water boils pretty good with this pump.
@@DeanoOutDoors great, thanks!
Thanks, brother! The wife and I bought ten acres in Montana with a spring-fed, one acre pond. Plan to follow your lead on this. Should a guy wire two batteries in parallel? Any value to that?
Your welcome! Congrats on your land purchase. Yes, two batteries in parallel would definitely be better. The aerator would probably run thru the entire night setup like that. You can never have too many AH.
Hi Deano! Thanks for the video(s) on this setup. I'm only just now getting into solar and I'm wondering why you list both a poly and a mono panel for this build? Is there any reason I wouldn't want to use 2 mono panels? Thanks again!
Hello Christopher, thanks for watching! I list both panels just to give you the option of choosing either one. It's just personnel preference and I actually prefer the mono. Yes, I would definitely get two of the same panels, I do not recommend one of each. Sometimes poly are cheaper so many people will buy those over the mono. However, mono panels will give you the best performance.
@@DeanoOutDoors excellent. Everything I've been researching says to go mono, as well. I appreciate your response. Thank you!
Very helpful video! So I understand depending on battery size will determine how long the controller will let pump will run after sundown based on the cut out voltage setpoint. So when the sun comes back up will the battery have to recharge (cut in voltage ) for the pump the restart. Can the solar panel run the pump and charge the battery at the same time? Thanks for all of your help sir
Yes, the battery will need to reach cut in voltage for the pump to start back up. The solar will continue to charge the battery while the pump runs as long as the sun is shining.
Hello, did you need to install a check valve in the air line to prevent water getting into the hose and freezing?
No, as long as your pump is elevated higher then the water line, you'll be fine without a check valve. I haven't had any freeze issues.
👍
Great video! I ordered the same setup, but with only one solar panel, u think that will still work w my 85watt aerator?
You will need 200 watts Solar to power that pump. On a clear, full sunny day, you’ll be putting out just under 100 watts with one panel. There will be line loss and the inverter will consume some of that power as well.
Will it run more than 2 diffusers at the same time or can you use the same principle to hook up with a fountain and accomplish the same? I have a 2 acres pond and looking at options and best case scenario
The way I have mine sized in the video, it will only be able to operate one diffuser. You could use a larger output pump to operate two diffuser at one time, but that would require going larger with all the other components as well, such as the Solar panels, inverter, battery ah. etc.
Hi Deano, first off, I truly appreciate this video and your other video detailing the wiring. Your two videos have been my primary starting point for setting up solar aeration on my pond. Infact, I just realized I posted a question several months back, ha.
I've decided to go with a 1/4 hp fountain (HQUA-FS02 120V), instead of a diffuser. This is my first dive into the world of solar power. I'm wondering if your panel/battery setup will be enough to power the fountain throughout the day, or if you have any recommendations on how I would calculate that? From what I've been able to gather, a 1/4 HP at 120v uses ~1.6ah (.1865kWh ÷ 120V × 1000 = 1.554ah) and using the 30ah battery listed, I should be able to run the motor for approximately 15 hours. I'm sure there's much more to it, but this is my current layman's understanding.
Any additional advice is appreciated. Thank you!
If I were you, I’d definitely go larger on the solar panels. Your looking at using around 186 watts of power which would be maxing out the system. Go at least 300 watts. Also, a 30ah battery is roughly 360 watt hours. That would only power your system for just under two hours. If you’re looking to run your pump into the night, your going to need a lot larger ah battery. Hope this helps get you going in the right direction.
@@DeanoOutDoors thank you for the reply. I was way off, ha. I did the math with the appropriate panels and battery; figuring 150ah would get me just under 9 hours. Unfortunately, this bumps it outside of what I was looking to spend. Fortunately, I can go the diffuser route and possibly upgrade in the future. I really appreciate your information and advice, thanks again!
Your welcome, and good luck with your build.
I’m wondering if I could do this in my pond, but kind of need to know the size of your pond to know if the same pump is large enough or too small for my pond. What size is your pond? Surface acreage and average depth, and max depth? Thanks for your time!
My pond is 1 acre, and the average depth is between 8 to 10 foot. This setup has worked great over the last few years.
Nice. What kind of fish are in your pond. All probably do this setup in the near future.
I have mostly piranha and a couple hammerhead’s in there….
Lol, mostly bluegills right now with a couple crappies and bass. This setup keeps them healthy all year long.
Im about to build from your instructions , any upgrades you suggest since this video ? Thnx
If I’d do anything different, I’d get a better charge controller, and probably the next size larger ah. Battery. That’s about it. Good luck with your project!
Hello, great video.
My pond is 12 feet deep do you think, that pump produce nice pressure for my pond?
Thank you! Yes, it should have no problem aerating your pond. I’d recommend using the larger diameter air line for best results.
Hi Deano. I had asked you a few questions on your solar aerator wiring video link. Can you please tell me what size inverter we should get if we double the battery and the solar panels? Thank you so much for your time!
Doubling the solar and battery bank will not affect the inverter size. It's the amount of watts that the pump will draw. The larger the pump wattage the larger the inverter you will need to power it. Hope this helps.
@@DeanoOutDoors Thank you!
One more question. The pump outlet fitting is approx. 5/8" O.D. and the weighted airhose includes "3/8 inch insert coupling". Are there additional couplings or adapters needed?
If you take a torch and heat up the end of the weighted air line, it will soften it enough to be able to slide the end over the pump outlet. Then attach a hose clamp and your all set.
Did you place the diffusers directly on the bottom of the pond or did you build a stand to keep it elevated off of the bottom? Great video and instruction, appreciate you doing this!
Thank you! I have the diffuser connected to a five gallon weighted bucket, so it's sitting roughly the height of the bucket off of the bottom of the pond.
Did you use the 30A solar charge controller? There are a few options and want to make sure I get the right one! Thank you!
Yes, use the 30A charge controller. Good luck with your solar project.
I'm really sorry but could you please give a breakdown of each component you used so I can purchase them. You did a great job very impressive.
Well thank you. I do have a list of everything I used up in the description section. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Best of luck with your project.
Deano, thanks for the great shopping list. I just finished purchasing everything on Amazon. I noticed the link for the battery results in a 35AH VMAX and not the 30AH. Will this still work with the 30 Amp power controller?
Your welcome! Yes, it will work just fine. The 30ah was out of stock or discontinued. The only difference is, you will get a longer run time into the evening with the 35ah battery.
I built this system about 16 months ago and it has worked great Except our hot Texas weather caused issues with the inverter. I built a cover for shade which helped last year, but our monotonous 107 days this summer has overwhelmed it again with a cover. bought a new one and it worked a few weeks and quit I have an old one I use with my C pap when camping and swapped it out but it cuts off periodically Do you know any more inverters that are more heat tolerant?
I’m not sure about an inverter, but you could try running a small fan to cool the inverter down.
Starting to build my solar project for the pond. Could you provide some more information on the brackets you got from Home Depot?
Sure, check out this link. It’s what I used. www.homedepot.com/b/Strut-Channel/N-5yc1vZ1z116bd/Ntk-google/Ntt-steel%2Bchannel?NCNI-5
I’d love an update how everything is holding up with your aerator.
This setup was working great, but I recently updated my system to a battery-less system: czcams.com/video/Y5JmN69_-DA/video.html
I notice in your supply links there is 1/2” weighted line but you use 3/8”. Just wondering the advantages or disadvantages of each line. Thanks
The 1/2” will supply more air and easier to attach to the pump, the 3/8” is a little cheaper. You will need to heat the end of the 3/8” to get it over the fitting on the pump.
I bought and installed everything you had, the charge controller was kinda confusing, my system shuts off for a minute and runs for a minute is this normal if not can you please let me know what you set yours at. I sure would appreciate it, Thanks Jaime.
Here is a link to a video I made showing the settings that I use: czcams.com/video/tST4FrShstw/video.html The system should not be shutting on and off every minute. Mine will run continuous all day and approximately 3 hours into the dark. The only time I had an issue was when I used a cheaper battery. That old battery didn't have enough life in it to hold a good charge and couldn't keep up with the pump. If your settings are correct I would take a look at the battery next. Let me what you find out.
Where did you buy your diffuser from or did you build it
I bought it off of Amazon. I added a link in the description for the one I have. It works really well with the pump I have. I set it inside a 5 gallon bucket with weights in there to keep it at the bottom. Thanks!
Do you have a better picture as to how your wires are hooked up from your charge controller to the inverter, and to the battery.
I'm sorry, I should had been more thorough on that. The 2 wires on the far left are coming from the solar panels, the 2 wires in the middle go to the battery, and the 2 wires on the far right of the controller go to the inverter. You can program the charge controller to shut down the inverter when the batteries fall below a set voltage that your batteries recommend. I hope this is helpful!
Thanks, definitely helps.
Did you place this in the center of your pond? Did you drain it first in order to get to that place and depth?
I used a small row boat and placed it in the deepest spot on the pond. I knew about where the deepest spot was from ice fishing it. Use a rope attached to the bucket to lower it into place.
Nice pond. What type of fish ?
Thanks you. Mostly hybrid bluegill with a few bass and crappies.
Thanks for the video! I built a solar aerator with these instructions.
Question: my aerator was working perfectly when I first set it up. When I went back to check on it a few days later, it wasn’t running anymore. The solar charge controller shows a 13.2 voltage currently, and it also shows connection to the solar panel, battery and inverter. The green light on my inverter is no longer on. I am wondering if something is wrong with my inverter. Do you have any ideas? Thank you!
Try powering your inverter off/on to see if it restarts. If this solution works, then you need to increase the cutout voltage on your charge controller.
@@DeanoOutDoors unfortunately that didn’t work. I can’t figure out the issue. I tried a new inverter. That’s not working either.
Okay, it sounds like the charge controller is bad. To test this, try connecting the charge controller directly to the battery. If it turns on and runs, the charge controller is either defective or you need to turn on the load if it somehow got turned off. Let me know, thanks.
@@DeanoOutDoors Sorry, I forgot to follow up! I am not sure what was wrong exactly, but we replaced the solar controller and the inverter. Now the aerator is working perfectly! It has been bubbling away for 3 months now without me having to touch it once. Thanks for the great video! Our pond is looking fantastic.
That’s great to hear!
Have you had any issues with that specific pump? How many years has it been run? Thanks.
I've had zero issues with this pump and have used it for over three years now.
What’s the lowest temperature and duration you get there? I’m in Western South Dakota we’re we get lots of snow and it gets cold (below zero) for a week or more at a time. I have a pond that freezes over so the trout don’t survive. I’m looking for a remedy. Like your design and will add more battery so it runs over night. Would the long duration of cold impact the batteries?
I’m located in central Wisconsin, we get a few weeks at a time with below zero temps. Our average temp is around 15 during winter. I’ve had better luck in cold temps running with AGM batteries. They do not seem to be impacted like the lead acid batteries do.
@@DeanoOutDoors Thanks for the info!
Any pros/cons to using a lithium battery? Trying to get some extra run time.
The only problem you may run into using a lithium battery would be charging in freezing temps. Lithium batteries have a BMS that keeps them from charging when the temps get too low. You could find one that has a built in heater, they are out there and used in EVs. But probably very expensive.
Did you consider a dc powered pump, or was the ac pump with an inverter a better option? Thanks
I first tried using a DC pump, it worked fine during the summer, but didn't have enough power during the winter months and the diaphragm would freeze up. I then switched to this setup which was a bit more costly but well worth it.
@@DeanoOutDoors how cold does it get there
In months like January, we see nighttime temps at -15 to -30 f. for up to 2 weeks at a time.
@@DeanoOutDoors ouch that's cold. I'm trying to design a bubbler for livestock tanks so that you don't have to go out and break ice so the cattle can get water and so your video was helpful and giving me some ideas I appreciate it
I have a one acre pond. Will this set up work for that size pond?
My pond is just under one acre and it works really good. You should be fine as well.
I have found used 250 watt panels on EBay. Do you think those would work in this set up?
They should work fine. Just be sure the output on those used panels are still to specs. I've seen some where the voltage wasn't enough to charge a battery. If they are fairly new and a name brand panel without any defects, they will work.
Fantastic , is it really that easy ??
If you have a little electrical knowledge, it's fairly simple yes.
@@DeanoOutDoors thnx , do you know if you would use different components now or is there better current choices ? Thnx
If anything, I would spend the extra money and get a better charge controller. Other then that, not really.
@@DeanoOutDoors thanks , you saved me lots of time and money
How do you address the issue of battery degradation when charging them at temps below freezing?
That can be a problem. The AGM batteries are better at handling this situation.
Hi Deano. Running in to a small problem. Have my cut on and cut off voltage at 12.8 and 11.3. I set it up and everything works. When I come back, it is off even though the voltage reads 11.8. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance.
It's sounds like the voltage dropped below 11.3 which turned the pump off. So now the voltage will need to get back above 12.8 to turn the pump back on, which must not had happened. This tells me that either the Sun was not shining or cloudy that your solar panels were not able to get your battery voltage back above that 12.8 that you have set as your cut on voltage. Was the Sun shining that day? You could also lower your cut on voltage a little.
It was cloudy so maybe it did drop below 11.3. Will see what happens. Thanks for the fast response.
You find the 35AH acceptable? I was gonna put mine on a timer so the battery could charge in between usage.
The 35AH works fairly well. It will keep the aerator running all day long. It will power the pump for a few hours after dark. If your looking to power your aerator thru the night, then I'd recommend a larger AH battery.
@@DeanoOutDoors that's great. I'm impressed. My pond is a lot smaller, 1/4 acre. I'm assuming I can also do a 60 pump, with the 35ah battery, 230 watt panel and be good then.
Yep, that should work perfect for your pond. Best of luck.
@@DeanoOutDoors What guage wire do you use to go from controller to battery? Is it just solar panel wire that you repurposed?
I used 10awg that I had left over from another solar project.
5 gallon weighted bucked? How is that connected to the defuser?
I have the bottom half of the bucket weighted, the diffuser is attached to the upper half of the bucket. It is designed to sit in there nicely. You drill a hole through the side of the bucket to attach the airline to the diffuser. This also keeps the diffuser suspended off the bottom slightly.
Hope this is not a stupid question but what is the difference between the 2 different types of solar panels you have listed? One is mono and one poly?
Yes, I ended up trying both styles. Both are one hundred watt panels but the mono panels are more efficient, especially on overcast days. Usually the mono panels are a bit more money as well so take that into consideration when planning your build. Hope this info helps.
Thanks for the info! I live in TX so cold is not a huge issue so is there a 12V pump you would recommend? I am told they are more efficient but I dont know that for sure.
Hello. I already have a 48 volt battery operated golf cart, a 250 watt solar panel and, charge controller will this be enough power to run the Matala air pump?
That should be plenty of power. Just be sure to size the inverter correctly since you are using 48volts instead of the standard 12 volt battery.
@@DeanoOutDoors How do I size the inverter. As you can tell. I am. Newbie to all of this. However, I am totally committed to learn.
No problem. The first thing you need to do is determine what voltage battery you are going to use. Looks like you have decided on a 48v system? If so, make sure your solar panels add up to 48v. So you could use two 24v panels or four 12v panels and connect them in series. Then be sure to get a 48v inverter. The wattage of the inverter needs to be large enough to power the Matala Pump. A 225watt or larger inverter will be sufficient. Be sure the inverter output matches the Pump which is 110v. In my case, I choose to use a 12v system, so all the components used would be 12v. My panels are 12v run in parallel.
I am now trying the system using an eco-worthy 12v/50 ah gel battery. Just an observation..when I put a voltmeter to it the display show 24v. Wondering why if this is a 12v battery
Is the battery hooked up to anything, such as the charge controller?
Will your setup work with 50AH battery. Would this give me longer run time?
Yes, absolutely. The larger AH battery you have, the longer the run time will be into the night.
How deep is your pond? Mine is just under 1/4 acre. Deepest half is around 18'. Will this pump still work. Upper peninsula of Michigan. Ice just broke up 2nd week of April (Last week). Or should I go with an 80L or larger.
You should be fine with the smaller pump. If you decide to get the larger pump, you may want to get the larger amp hour battery as well and at least a 30ah charge controller. My pond is 1 acre and roughly 10 foot at the deepest, this works just fine.
@@DeanoOutDoors thank you
@@DeanoOutDoors czcams.com/video/5C4UfCGtKX0/video.html My pond build 2 yrs ago. I've got a few videos on here.
@@robintroyer did you end up getting the pump for that 18 depth? I want to do something similar and wanted to see if the same pumped work for you
You will get a significant reduction in volume of air flow at 18' depth. If you don't have problems with fish kill, then it doesn't matter. If you need more air flow, then you may need to switch to a rocking arm air compressor that has more capacity at the depths that you mentioned.
Of course, the rocking arm air compressor will require more power to operate.
Do i see more than an acre there? Maybe close to three?
According to Google Earth, it's just over 1 acre.
Will the hose freeze shut in the winter
No, I never had an issue with the hose freezing up in winter as long as your pump is above the water line.
How long have you used this system. Is it pretty durable?
I've had it running for 4 years now. The only problems I had with it, was when I used the cheaper deep cycle batteries. They would only last 1 winter. I live in a northern climate that sometimes gets -30 f. Since I switched to the VMAX AGM battery, it's been working good. The level of oxygen output is plenty and my pond is just over 1 acre.
@@DeanoOutDoors can this setup also work for a 2 acre pond ?
It could, depending on the depth of your pond. But I would recommend using two of these systems, or going with the larger pump, which would require a larger diffuser, more solar wattage, a bigger watt inverter and a larger amp hour battery.
Could you tell me what charge controller you use
I used a 30 amp charge controller. Solar Charge Controller: amzn.to/3xfRW3f
i just built your identical system, except for an 80 Matala pump (82 watts). every time the LVD turns on the inverter and pump will turn on for 1-2 seconds and then the LVD turns off. can i adjust the LV to less than 12.0 or what else should you suggest.
You could try going down to 11.7 see if that solves your problem. Using the larger pump, you may need to add a little more solar watts.
@@DeanoOutDoors Ging to 11.7 worked - but not satisfied with the pumps power. so now got the 100 matala pump (116 watts) plus 200 more watts (400 total). still having the issue. pumps turns on 1-2 seconds the LVD turns off. any suggestions. thanks for your input and your videos
How did you attach the defuser to the five gallon bucket.
I have the diffuser sitting on top of the rocks that are at the bottom of the bucket. I then place 4 bolts through the bucket at four corners just above the diffuser to keep it from floating upward. A hole is drilled through the side of the bucket to allow the weighted airline to enter and attached it to the diffuser. Hope that helps.
Hmmm ok. The bucket is 12 and the defuser is 12 inches. You must have a wider bucket.
I'm sorry, I meant to say I used a 10" diffuser. I will get it corrected in the description. Thank you for correcting me on this. It should make more sense now how it fits in a 5 gallon bucket.
Why did you use two different solar panels. Is there a reason, or just because that's what you had?
They are actually the same wattage, just look different. I bought them at two different times and the design was changed slightly from the first purchase. Thanks for viewing!
I have an extra 305 watt solar panel. Will that work with this system as is?
Yes, as long as it is a 12v panel. Otherwise you will need to reconfigure everything to 24v.
My panel has 72 cells so is 24 volt. What would I need to do to reconfigure so your system works?
You will need 2-12 volt batteries wired in series or 1-24 volt battery, and a 24 volt inverter. The rest should be compatible.
@@DeanoOutDoors thanks so much for your help! I’ll see what I can do .
What's the diffuser for?
The diffuser is a rubber membrane that sits at the bottom of your pond and disperses the oxygen into the water.
Any reason why you went with a AC pump? Why not use a DC pump so you can ditch the inverter?
I originally tried using a DC pump. It worked just fine during the warmer seasons, but once winter set in and the temps. dropped below freezing, the DC pump didn't have the power to keep running. I think because of their design, the diaphragms would get to stiff and freeze up slightly and the 12v. power wasn't enough to get them started again until warmer sunny days.
Question if I have a 115v pump piston pump how many solar panels will I need. How has your aeration been working?
You will need to size the panels according to the wattage your pump uses. Also, the sizing of the battery is important if your pump uses high wattage. My system has been working great!
@@DeanoOutDoors thanks so much for response
@@DeanoOutDoors any ideas for a good or best efficient battery I can use for that type of pump and how many panels I will need will be greatly appreciated thanks again
I have a link in the description with the batteries I like to use. You could get a larger ah battery if you need to. To give you a more accurate panel size, I would need to know the wattage of your pump first.
@@DeanoOutDoors wattage is 115v
What if the water is only about 2 ft deep? Will it work?
Depends on what you define as “will it work?” Yes the system will diffuse air into the water as long as It’s below the surface. But as far as keeping fish alive, that depends on where you are located. If you get a deep freeze, I doubt the fish will survive in that shallow of a pond. Hope this info helped.
I'm always curious why people use a 110v air pump with an inverter. That's way inefficient for a solar setup like this. You'd be better off with a 12v pump.
I partially agree with that statement, however, if you live in extreme cold climates like myself, using a 110v pump is a must. I've tried using a 12v pump originally. The problem is they don't operate when the temps fall below zero. I think the voltage is too low to operate the diaphragms. They get too stiff. Once you get those 12v pumps moving, they'll work, but when they shut down at night, they will not start back up in the morning.
I would like to make a DD system and eliminate the battery
Nice, let us know how it works out. I tried using a 12v pump in the past to eliminate a battery. The problem I had was when the cold temps came, the pump would be too stiff to start up. I am in the process of designing a battery less 120v system and hope to have it perfected next spring. Thanks for watching!
Got everything hooked up. My inverter keeps turning off and on. Any suggestions?
I would first check the settings on the charge controller. Make sure the cutout voltage is correct. It will also cut out if your not getting enough sun or the wattage is to low. How many watts of solar are you using?
Also the pump runs fine connected straight the battery. How do you set the cutout voltage?
@@BrentStoneProductions Here is the PDF of how to set the charge controller that I use : www.solorder.se/image/data/uploads/KLD1210.pdf The voltage at which the the charge controller turns off the inverter is the #4 in the diagram, discharge stop. The voltage at which it will turn back on is the #3 discharge reconnect. I like to set the #3 at 12.8 - 13.0
I have the same setup as you. What do you have your voltage disconnect set at? The max it will let me set it is 11.5 volts. Have you had any issues with the battery letting it go that low?
I have my disconnect set at 11.3 volts and the reconnect set at 12.8 volts with no problems using the Vmax battery.
Does the pump over heat in the summer in the box?
I haven’t had any issues with it, been running the same pump for five years now. But, if your in a very hot climate and concerned, you could cut open a vent area and install a screen mesh to keep out the critters.
@@DeanoOutDoorsawesome video! Thank you for posting and replying so quickly. I may have missed, roughly what is the size of your pond?
Yep, you’re welcome. Just under one acre.
@@DeanoOutDoorslast question and I promise to leave you alone. Home Depot has a vevor aerator 550 W with 3/4 HP and 100 foot hose set up. Would I use that with your system or would I need more power?
That pump would use too much power, I believe it’s rated at 550w. The pump I’m using is around 85w. You would need a lot more solar and larger components to run the pump you are describing.
How to wire the solar panels
You can see how to wire everything up in this video: czcams.com/video/tST4FrShstw/video.htmlfeature=shared Thanks.
How deep is your pond?
It is 10 feet at the deepest spot.
Price?
It cost me just over $500 to build this aerator.
Why did you use 2 different solar panels
I ordered them at two different times, they changed design between orders. They have the same specs.
Part of your deep cycle marine battery problem was that you were discharhibg ut to near zero charge. The life of them is degraded if you constantly do that. They dont like to go bekow about 20%. The problem wasnt the battery but on how you designed the system.
Your system is designed too small to run continously, because it ran out of juice each day.
Yo probably needed closer to 600 watts of generation to do so,along with a second battery in parallel.
Why two different solar panels?
I had purchased them at two different times, they changed the design at the time I ordered the second panel. They're both the same wattage and voltage.
are the fish surviving?
Yep, they sure are.
I really like this setup. And I’m determined to get it working. However it keeps turning off and on. Thanks guys!
Settings
1.14.9v
2. 13.7v
3. 12.8v
4. 11.3
5. 24 h
6. b01
I'll try to help, I haven't had that issue with mine. How many watts of solar are you using, what is the inverter you used and what is the battery and capacity of it. I know that some inverters work better then others for this situation, and if the battery is too small (amp. hour) it will not work well.
It almost sounds like your battery is either too small or it's getting too weak to hold a charge. You stated when connecting the pump directly to the battery, it would run. This is correct because it'll draw the battery down to nothing, whereas the charge controller will shut off the pump when the battery voltage gets to low (your cutout set point). If your using an older or small battery, I'd try that first. I hope that makes sense.
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