Pond Boss Forums AERATION Systems questions Another Solar Aeration Project

Can a mod find a way to restore the password on MNFISH's original account? Or merge the old history/threads into his new account? It would be a shame to lose the history and searchability he would have in his old posts by forcing him into a new user name simply over a forgotten password.

CC

I will be shooting and posting a crudely done video explaining each component of this system with lots of detail. Since my last picture post, I have added a new feature. In the upper right corner of the first pic you see a charge controller. In the second pic you see a battery box. In essence, the power from the solar panel is split between charging the battery and running the aerator. Once the battery is full charged, the aerator has all the power. The battery is used to power my fish feeder and lights.








Test pond by day


Test pond by night

Sweet! Nice clean packaging and great features. FWIW, I have a few patents... I hope you have protected yourself before posting your design. As you post details publicly on this forum or other venues, you are giving up all rights unless you have done your homework and have in place the required design protection.

Thanks for the compliment Bill. No patents on this device. I am sharing this with the entire pond community with no thought of commerce. So much has been given to me here and other forums that I payed zero $$ for. It is my way of giving back and will answer any and all questions and help all who ask for it.

My only request, if I help to save a person trouble and dollars creating this device for their pond, Please take some of that saved money and subscribe to the PondBoss mag and pledge a little money to this fantastic forum. Thank you

I understand that sentiment my friend and salute it but, IMHO there are not that many DIY guys out there. Most folks will wait for a turn key setup to buy. If you don't want the fruits of your labor, an opportunist will. If it was me, I would at least edit that post with a copyright addendum....

Not my business just think you should get something out of it. Heck! You could donate all proceeds to the Dave Willis foundation if that's what you want instead of some corporate hotshot's next car!

Did this thread get continued somewhere else? Was the video from MNFISH ever posted? Did the tread just die?

Bump

I was making my way through every post and page of this forum only because I have been looking for research like this because I live in WI. I get all the way to the end and that's it, the end.

MNfish2 - Very nice work assembling the DIY solar aerator!!. The project looks so good I am thinking of building one for my remote forage pond. I look forward to your video. Please include brand name and model of your pump and other items including deep cycle battery.

How dependable of a life span do you think the solar panel will be? Do solar panels wear out or become inefficient with age? Does anyone know how to evaluate the quality of solar panels. I assume there are cheaply made one and better quality ones? What factors does one use to choose?

Does anyone know if this thread continued somewhere else?

Bill,
Solar panels come is several versions.

Amorphous, the lowest cost and shortest lived,

Poly and mono crystal both are far better. Ploy are cheeper and larger ( lower efficiency). Mono are the higher efficiency panels and cost a little more than poly panels.

The life is rated in 90%, 80% and most come in 20 or 25 year ratings.

As for where panels are made, well there are panels from all over the world. Some are way better than others. If you would like specifics for this project, Mnfish can let you know the panels he is using. As for the panels I installed for George, they are still going strong running the aerator. The setup we used is different than MN's, but the theory is the same.

Bill- I have been using a 12V Thomas diaphragm pump. Openflow 1.4cfm. The systems I have built have utilized 150w Renogy Mono. I figured, wore case, a 15 year usable life. Renogy will also deliver 1 panel to my door for a reasonable cost.