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Volt Pumps & 12 Volt Air Compressors for DIY Solar Aeration Building a solar aerator using cheap solar air pumps and direct current oilless compressors
When I say cheap I don't mean some ebay special deal on a pump made in some far away country without care for product consistency I mean buy a good quality pond pump that doesn't cost too much because you will be buying replacements every 3 to 9 months of continuos usage. If someone gives you a one year warranty then you might want to take a closer look because the pumps we use have a 3 month and 6 month warranty. That may not sound good...but that is the reality of solar dc systems as the current technology exists. Up until now most DC air pumps and battery powered DC compressors had limited reliability. Most DC pumps we've seen offer a 3 to 6 month warranty and if you don't know exactly what you're doing as far as setting up your solar aeration system you can quickly burn out your motor. We have finally found a commercial-grade line of pumps that come with a one-year warranty and these diaphragm, linear air compressors are easy to service and provide long lasting battery or DC current performance. These commercial-grade DC air compressors offer superb performance and durability. It's not always
possible to run some 14/3 gauge wire down from the nearest hydroelectric
pole across a field into a valley and around a gully to reach a
pond to power a pond aerator. A windmill is nice if you have wind
but when that isn't the case the only option is to build a solar
aerator. Often, as many of our friends know by looking on the Internet,
a solar aeration system that has any sort of potential for long-lasting
sustainabilty is going to cost upwards of $5000 and beyond. At that
price I know a lot of pond owners who would rather blow bubbles
into their pond through straws while canoeing to keep the fish alive
and algae down.
Pigtail wires
for connection to your battery or DC configuration included. 60
LPM and 100 LPM models include either plastic or steel housing cases
and do not require additional housing for outdoor use. 30 LPM unit
has no housing and must be enclosed for outdoor use but this 30
LPM unit includes a lighter adapter to fit into car lighter plugs
as well as pigtail wires. I know one thing though. A Direct Current 12 Volt air pump or air compressor will run off of a battery; a deep cycle battery, car battery or boat battery but of what sort brand or amp hour rating I couldn't tell you. All I can do is review the solar air pumps we've used and heard about over the years and offer some good, cheap pumps for you all who know what sort of solar panel setup and current booster is required to make it work. Other High Rated and Reviewed Solar & DC Air PumpsOver the years we have tested and evaluated the staying power and effectiveness of many DC 12V and 24 Volt pumps and one thing we've constantly noticed is that no matter what type of pump you buy, these 12V pumps are not going to give you years of service so buy a good cheap one! When I say cheap I don't mean some ebay special deal on a pump made in some far away country without care for product consistency I mean buy a good quality pond pump that doesn't cost too much because you will be buying replacements every 3 to 9 months of continuos usage. If someone gives you a one year warranty then you might want to take a closer look because the pumps we use have a 3 month and 6 month warranty. That may not sound good...but that is the reality of solar dc systems as the current technology exists. Thomas Industries - Thomas DC Pumps Reviews Thomas 5010 Air Pump - Thomas Diaphragm Pump 5002 VD BLDC - Thomas 5010 VD DC - Decent Pumps but higher than desired burnout rate and some issues in consistent pump construction. The 5010 series is in the range of 0.09 CFM @ 2.9 PSI which is barely enough to function a single small airstone and we found that parameter least pleasant. The Thomas 12 Volt 1/10hp Air Pump is similar; a good product. Thomas 007 & 008 Series Air Pumps - Very good pressure delivering over 20 PSI and 0.6 CFM make this series decent but again the units we've seen featured in systems cooked too quick. Thomas 907 and 2907 Series Air Compressors - These are good quality but high priced and again the inconsistency of the units makes us a bit nervous but the fact they can deliver 3.2 CFM and 14 PSI make this little grinders seem like a good deal if you can buy a few when they fry.
Buying
Solar Pumps & Aeration System Approximate Cost
We recommend the following for the best value in Cheap Solar Panels Solar Panels on Amazon As an Amazon affiliate we may recieve payment for purchases made through Amazon. 15 Watts Solar Panel:$129, 30 Watt Solar Panel:$260, 75 Watt Solar Panel:$350 For larger scale pumping, off-grid systems and cabin power systems we use the larger 165 watt solar panels: 165 WATT Mitsubishi Solar Panels 220-amp hour 6-volt battery $130 -$360 depending on quality Air compressor $300 - $2500 depending on durability and included components Control regulator and LVD $250 - $800 depending on quality and durability 1/2 inch air line (weighted) $120 - $250 depending on length and flexibility and memory of material Air diffuser $65-$500 depends on size and water volume moved Of course, the mountings for panels, enclosures for batteries and compressor can be purchased from your local dealer. The system can be permanently located at the site or mounted on a trailer for easy relocation if livestock or cattle or involved. While pond aeration systems are usually maintained on site the winter watering systems are known for being moved from pond to pond. A linear current booster is required to combine the solar direct power from the panels to the DC powered pump and this is usually a simple system that can be picked up at a local supplier of parts designed for alternative power sources. Your typical aerator includes a bubble diffuser which can be a EPDM type disc diffuser of nine or twelve in diameter membrane diffuser or an airstone or any manner of diffuser tubing also known as diffuser line, de-icing hose or bubbler line. While many systems can include a length of airline, often 100 feet, there is the self sinking weighted tubing variety of airline that makes installation much easier. Standard airline will float and it is rare that one of my clients will decide to buy regular poly plastic tubing instead of the weighted tubing because it makes installation so much simpler. Still, if saving money is a priority you should use floating airline available for about 30 cents per foot at the local hardware store instead of self-sinking tubing that costs from $1.15 TO $2.25 per foot. For those of you who want to go beyond the solar direct system there exists many retailers who specialize in solar pond systems that include deep cell battery operated systems that can provide continuous aeration over 8 to 12 hours per day due to their deep cycle battery systems. Fundamentally these solar pumps are the same but instead of operating only when sunlight hits the solar panels they have the ability to charge deep cell batteries during the sunny hours of the day and can operate the pump during times when there is no light which is often preferable as aeration systems an their best will function only during the evening hours when their is no chance for aquatic plants to contribute oxygen due to photosynthesis. Parts would Include the following:
AMAZON 12 VOLT AIR PUMPS As an Amazon affiliate we may recieve payment for purchases made through Amazon. **Note: You must accept that creating and building and setting up a solar aeration system is a very very VERY complicated affair and while we are offering the parts and instructions on how to build your system we cannot provide ANY help or installation guides. If you wish to have a simple, turn-key system then please contact someone else as we are unable to privide any help beyond this list of products and parts. Any failure of the system to function as expressed, implied or as desired is not gauranteed. Solar aeration systems are a very touchy and persnickety project so if you wish to buy or purchase from us then please do so at your own risk. We have provided a list of parts and instructions but do not imply or warranty that this will actually work! Popular Battery Operated Pumps and Solar Pond Aerator Compressors Read more about solar aeration systems
Email us for algae information or with your questions. |
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Price
Includes USA Shipping
Solar
Direct Drive 12 Volt DC Solar Aeration Systems
