Pond Boss Forums AERATION Should I aerate? Running Electric To Pond

I have decided to aerate my 180x70 pond, will more than likely purchase the Economy One system from Ted Lea at Forever Green. I will also be building a cantilever deck out by the pond, and will be wanting electric out to the deck. Should I place the aerator pump out by the pond since I will have electric, or would it be best to just run the airline underground along with the electric wire and keep the pump in the garage? If I place it out by the pond I will have to build some sort of cabinet for it to mount in. Has anyone used this system before or know of it? For the size of my pond it seems to be a good system.

Donnie:

A somewhat similar decision I was making; you made find the contents of some value: Compressor Safety/Noise

Theo

What did you decide on your setup? I am leaning towards leaving it in the garage and running the airline to the pond. I have to dig a trench anyway for the wire, might as well run the airline. This would keep it safe from the weather without having to build or buy a cabinet for it. And the airline would be cheaper than the underground wire.

I am going to build a 6'x8' weather/varmint proof shed (pole barn construction) at the pond this Spring. I will run the electric service to it (planned for later this year) and it will house the circuit breaker panel, air compressor (in time), refridgerator, and various pond/fishing gear like poles, chairs, PFDs, etc.

I will be distributing air from the compressor in the shed to the current pond and the second one that is planned toi go in late Summer via buried air lines.

If I run 100' of underground wire, which size would I need to operate radio, two lights, bugzapper, and a electrical cooler. 12-2 UF-B W/Ground 600 volts 20 amps, or could I use 14-2 UF-B W/Ground 600 Volts 15 amps, or do I need something larger. Dont want to run the wrong size and drop to many volt getting there.

Donnie, at 100 feet you won't have much voltage drop. Here's what you need to consider, add up the total wattage of all the devices that you'll use and divide by 120 volts and that will = the amp draw. P (watts)= I (amps) x E (voltage)

We discussed wire size and line loss in the thread Brettski referenced.

Regardless, I wouldn't use anything lighter than 220V through 12-3 w/ Ground if I was going to the effort to bury it - get yourself at least two 20A 110V circuits.

Either way you decide to go don't forget the GFCI protection!

Thanks for information, For some reason I didnt read all the way thru Brettski reply, and missed the wire size chart.

Donnie
My 2 cents worth
1) Always run bigger wire than you think you need,you'll always come up with something else to plug in later.If your wire is too small it burns up the motor first.I ran 6 ga to my pump 100 ft and it only pulls 2.2 amps.While installing the pump I decided to go ahead and add 2 outlets and a couple of lights in the shed.Yesterday I wired a batt charger for my boat battery,was glad I ran bigger wire than I needed.
2)Talk to Ted about self sinking airline and bite the bullet,DONT try to save a little and not use it.I did that and had to redo my airline.Have had great dealings with Ted but I dont think he pushes that hose enough.Its a bit pricey but well worth it.I buried pvc from the pump to the pond to save there but in the water the selfsinking hose is the only way to go.Fell free to contact me if you want the rest of the story.
Tom G

As Tom says go with as big of wire as you can afford, if the place you are running the wire to will be used at all you will be rewarded. Refers, pumps and ACs take a lot of amps to start up. You might talk with the local electric company crews about used wire.

I purchased 75' of the weighted hose from Ted when I purchased the Economy One system. That should give me enough to come up the bank and underground 30'. I have decide to set the pump in the garage and run the silverline 1/2 hose that I picked up from Lowes to the weighted hose. I am still going to run the electric line, along with the hose. I wasnt considering anything as heavy as #6 gauge, but you are right in never knowing what you may end up doing at the pond. #6 or a little smaller may be just what I will do. Thanks

After 20 years on running services all over my farm - I've never wished I'd buried a smaller electric line.