Pond Boss Forums MANAGING AN EXISTING POND Feeding Bug Lights

Hello,

I'm an avid pond boss reader, and for the last couple of years I've basically been planning to begin work. I have 3 ponds, one of which is doing great. It's about 10 acres, and is stocked with Florida Bass, Channel Catfish, and Bluegill. This is my first post, so I'm going into a little more detail than I need to right now because I have a specific question. I'll get to the point.

I have one of these bug lights.
http://www.suttlefish.com/buglight2.htm

Mine is probably not this brand, I've had it since about 1990. They are absolutely wonderful! The only problem is, you need AC power, and my main lake doesn't have that. I want to set this up on battery power, so that it comes on every night. (I'm an hour away from my pond) I know that all I really need is an inverter to go from DC to AC power to run the light, but I don't know of any reliable outdoor continuous use inverters. I'd like for this thing to last for years. I'm not the kind of guy to just keep buying cheap stuff, waiting for it to break, and buy more cheap stuff. Does anyone have any experience with something like this?

Thank you in advance for any help

Well, after searching the forums, and reading a bit about bug-whackers, I found the Bugslugger on the internet and it offers a DC powered version. It's actually about $150.00 less than the AC powered bug-whackers I've found too. Does anyone have any experience with these, hooked up to a 12V battery charged with a solar panel?

Some people here have used them. Somebody even made their own.

Bozilla, I would also love to know what you find. I have the same situation. I purchased a solar panel system from Harbor Freight and want to set it up to run a bug whacker light. It sounds like the Bugslugger may be the way to go if it is available in a DC version. Please let me know how it goes. Thanks.

Would a timer be doable to have it run only at night conserve battery life?

I manufacture the light shown on the Suttle link. I do not offer a solar or DC model at present. There is a reason the bug slugger is $150.oo cheaper. Please check closer, since I have both. My light will run about 16 hours on a good battery through an inverter. Thanks

Bob thanks for responding. Yes the old adage you get what you pay for is in order here. The bojo fish light is like the energizer bunny it just keeps going and going. A great investment. We have not had one complaint after selling these at least 6 years.

Bob do you think a solar panel will charge the battery by day and then thru an inverter run the light all night?

Bob, I would love to hear your response as this is exactly what I am trying to do. I have a 45 W panel and a deep cycle marine battery, with inverter of course. Now I'm trying to make the correct decision concerning which light to purchase. Thanks

Hey Greg,

I appreciate your comments. I'll be glad to share all I know about my light and my experiences with it in regards to solar. I know nothing about solar and not much about DC. With that being said here goes.

The Bo-Jo Fish Light uses all 120 volt components. I use a motor that is rated at 2 watts, but draws 20-23 watts. I ship my lights with 2-23 or 26 watt compact flourescent lamps and the light has a photocell control which also consumes a fraction of a watt. The total light on 120 volts is a mere 60-65 watts and can be operated for 10 hours for about 5 cents.
When compared to most underwater green lights, this is rather impressive. The ones I have experimented with were around 200 watts each.
While this sounds simple on 120 volts, a 60-65 watt 12DC load is a pretty good sized solar load, so I am told. You can reduce the bulb size to 13 watts each with no impact on the lights ability to attract fish. I have not tried smaller lamps. Any reduction in over-all wattage will add to run time on solar. Also, a 12volt inverter consumes power to convert 12volt DC into a make believe 120 volt AC. With a 300 watt inverter and a Good 12 volt battery, I have gotten up to 25 hours on a solid one time cycle before the battery quit. Solar people say it is not good to completely discharge a battery. I do not know.
I am in the middle of trying something else for solar that would use a different motor and LED bulbs, but this looks costs prohibitive at this time.

I'm all ears, if someone has other ideas. Also, could make someone real happy that would Like to experiment.

Thanks again
Bob

Hello Larryboy,

My post to Greg may attempt to answer your question. I'm told by people who are supposed to know, that you need approximately 50% more wattage on the panel than the load you are trying to pull with solar. This is near the capacity of your panel, if this is true. The only way around this would be a timer to reduce the run time to 3-4 hours instead of all night. Hope this helps.

Bob

Thanks Bob. I was actually thinking "timer" as I was reading your response to Greg. I do like your idea of using LED lights for solar use. That seems like a reasonable method to reduce watts.

If you have an idea that you think will work better for my situation, I don't mind paying a little more or doing some experimenting.

How much energy would a small windmill generate as a battery charger?

Larryboy,

Would you call me? I've got something I want you to try.

Bob
478-951-1490
Thanks

BOb I appreciate the thoughts, good luck. I have ao contact that makes light wieght solar panel material I will see if we can get ahold of him as well.