Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions My new "Custom" Winter compressor

This bad boy should make some air! Gast 0740 rotary vane attached to a Baldor EL3510. At 4psi it will make over 5CFM, "only" uses 335 watts and I will have it shallower than 8'for the Winter. The EL3510 was the heaviest duty 1/3hp motor and had the highest wire insulation class I could find (without going 3 phase). Apparently being at 10,000' makes it tough for electric motors to stay cool. Although this one shouldn't be working all that hard so hopefully that offsets and it can handle it. Planning on putting in an over the top solar system to run all this aeration. Of course when selling the solar idea to my wife, the solar system is for the cabin It will all be backed up by a LP generator and 1,000 gallons of propane. Planning on running this thing 24/7 all through next Winter.

Will be running a Thomas 2660 all summer and through the fall making the switch for winter as late as possible. If I can make enough power, maybe run both!! Turn the lake into a Jacuzzi...

THIS IS GOING TO BE THE YEAR!

That compressor looks like it will do a very good amount of aeration for you during the winter. Make sure you have a pressure relief valve at the compressor in case the power is lost/interrupted plus a check valve on the diffuser.

I love it when a plan comes together!

You will be ready to rock and roll! Hopefully some brook trout will appreciate all your troubles these several years.

Thanks guys!

Unfortunately, I got a call from a guy in Michigan last night and he pointed out that the EL3510 is a 1hp motor! Initially I disagreed so I went out and checked the ID plate on the motor and it is indeed a 1hp motor. I am going to have to go back through the emails I had with the company that built it and see if they screwed up or I did. It was supposed to be the EL3501, a 1/3hp motor! Frame sizes are identical so should be an easy swap.

Only bright side is I should be able to gets watts even lower with the 1/3hp unit.

I'm not sure swapping the 1 HP motor for a 1/3 HP motor will make a difference in electrical costs. The compressor will provide the same load to each motor. Assuming both motors are running at the same speed, each should draw about the same amount of current. If I'm correct, my gut feeling would be that the 1 HP motor would have a longer life span.

It is just something to consider. Maybe the supplier or somebody with more experience than me will see this and provide a better answer.

Ken

Startup current is 40amps at 230v. I will be using a 4,000 watt inverter with a surge capacity of 8,500 watts but the 1hp startup will probably still be too much for it. 1/3hp startup should only be ~2,500 watts.

A guy in Michigan, eh?

Lol, yep!