Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions Solar Aeration and LPM Calculation

24V vs. 12V. this is where I need more education.

Can you charge a 12V battery on a 24V solar panel?

The problem I was running into with my configurations is that the solar panels I was looking at that were above 150 watts were 24V instead of 12V. So I assumed that wouldn't work.

(All of the pumps I've seen are 12V, so I assume they need to be hooked to a 12V battery.)

So I thought I needed to stick with a 12V panel, but then be limited to 150 watts or less that will only run a "small" pump.

I think you'll need a charge controller to go between the panel and battery. Something needs to control the charge rate and voltage.

You can also wire (2) 12V batteries in series and get 24V, but will probably need a charge controller here as well.

There are 24V pumps around. Vertex has a nice one. Gast, and I believe, Thomas has them as well.

I'm just learning this solar stuff as well, but haven't dug too deep in the lower voltage DC stuff for charging batteries. That's on the list tho, but want to nail down the higher voltage AC stuff first.

I'll have to find out which charge controller my camper has. It would be nice to park it out back and spend the summer. AC during the day and DC at night, well, that's the goal. I think it will be a lot nicer than running a generator.

So, here's the most current setup/plan.

1/20 HP Pump Kit ($400)
http://www.123ponds.com/pa10w.html

200W Power Inverter ($20)
www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16882021190

DC Alligator Clips ($25)
http://www.directhomemedical.com/532209-dc-adapter-alligator-clips.html

12V Deep Cycle Battery ($150)
http://www.streetsideauto.com/p/optima-yellowtop-deep-cycle-ds46b24r/

200W Solar Panels & Charge Controller ($325)
http://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Solar-Panel-Bundle-200Watt/dp/B00B8L8MD2/

I am in same boat so to speak. Brand new , just filled
1/4 acre pond and have a long way to run juice to an AC system - plus I only have a 20 amp circuit to branch off of.
But in reading all this I don't understand why you would convert instead of just using DC motor system.
Just learning about aeration so need all the help I can get so I am following this thread closely . This pond mimics what I am trying to do including stocked fish type.
So edit 7279 I hope you don't mind if I tag along .

edit 7279,
Since your talking about spending $900+ I think you should keep in mind what you're hoping to accomplish.

If your .25 acre pond has an avg depth of 8 ft, it contains approx. 650,000 gal of water. Others have determined that successful aeration would be lifting that volume of water once per day.

A critical part of your system will be the diffuser and its efficiency in lifting water. For example, the Vertex XL1 diffuser will lift 1250 gpm at 8 ft depth when supplied with 1.0 cfm of air. That's 75,000 gal per hour or 8.66 hours to lift your 650,000 gals.
The diffuser shown in your proposed system seems to me to be a weak link.

As I see it, you need:
(1) An air pump rated for continuous duty that can supply 1.0 cfm at the depth (pressure) your diffuser will operate in.
(2) Power to operate the pump for the minimum req'd time and, if DC, to fully recharge the system for its next use.
(3) The most efficient diffuser you can source.

Like yourself, I originally thought I wanted a windmill powered system. Reading PBF convinced me otherwise. I researched solar-powered aeration systems and decided they were far from affordable or bullet-proof. In 2014 I installed twin Vertex XL2 diffusers powered by a Gast 0523 rotary vane pump. The pump sits in my barn and pumps air 500 ft through buried 1" dia Poly pipe to a homemade manifold at my 1 acre pond. System runs 24 x 7. The electricity to power the system costs about $15/mo.

here we go with information overload again.....

I think I have somewhere around 3,000,000 gallons of water. 22' at the deepest and 10' average depth. I have NO IDEA how to even go about picking the correct compressor (brand, size, type, voltage, etc) for my situation. Also, over in the other thread I learned that whatever pump I look at has to be "derated" 21% due to the altitude. Who knew having a pond could be so complicated!!!

Wow.... I was about to start a new post about building my own solar aeration system. But obviously... what can I ask that has not already been asked? Haha this forum is deep.