Sending output to a pump, and excess to battery

Wow, awesome reply Ghurd, huge thanks for this!

Again, Ill read it more indepth later on, but I called a local supplier (Aquamerik at http://www.aquamerik.com/catalogue/autre.cgi?type=master&lg=eng) and the guy knows and sells the DC15 but he told me to stay away from it because I needed it to run 24/7 and it wasnt designed for it so it would require a lot of maintenance.

What do you think?

You need to know that he then proceeded to tell me that I should get one of of his 115V AC compressors, like the AL100 (500$+TX) (http://www.aquamerik.com/catalogue/produits.cgi?category=compresseurs_compeconomiques&listtype=current&lg=eng) , which gets me 3 CFM at no depth. He actually told me to get 2 of those! 6 CFM! 12 times what the agronomist needed to get good results!

Also, I trust you and will be getting the 6V batteries, but Id still like to know why :o)


Thanks again.

Also, what do you think of the diffusers?
He says they move about 1 CFM each :

http://www.aquamerik.com/catalogue/produits.cgi?category=diffuseurs_plaqueoxygenation&lg=eng

He also sells a disc similar to what the agronomist used (http://www.aquamerik.com/catalogue/produits.cgi?category=diffuseurs_disqueaeration&lg=eng) , but he says I should go with the plate instead because it is self sinking..

Gotwind: Heres a better question for you :)
This is the motor I got from ebay, how big a blade do you guys think it can handle? :)
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170387484429&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT
260 Volts 5 Amps 5100 RPM

Thats going to be for a first test since its only 5 amps, but if I get it to work Im buying some fiberglass resin and will get working on a bigger one :)





BTW Here are the solar cells I got too :
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170398013085&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT


So, if I understand everything correctly, which I doubt, my max power is:
12V * 5 amps = 60 W from wind (or is it more like 16V*5 ams = 80W?)
3 solar panels *about 60W = 180W from solar.

Im still shy of what I would need for the DC15, but not by that much!

me again! lol
Just wanted to post a more complete reply to Ghurds last post :

1) First, thanks for taking so much time to reply to my questions, even going beyond the call of duty and reading french papers! lol

2) Glad to hear their pump looks like junk. :)

3) Im not sure about starting the bubbles just below the surface. I know they mention putting the diffuser in the bottom.

4) Together, I think that means you will do as good as they did (or better) with 1/2CFM, or the DC-8. Glad to hear that as well! The DC-8 seems to be a bit below 1/2 CFM when at 3.5 PSI though, so I was thinking about erring on the safe side and going with the DC-15.

5) A small windmill makes a lot of weekly power if there is constant usable unobstructed wind.
I jsut got home and it appears my motor for the small wind turbine is at the post office! Finally! Im still not sure where Ill get a disc to make the hub though..

6) Im still unsure what a "riser pipe" is, sorry..


Controllers :
PS30: Is this "the one" ? http://solarelectricsupply.com/Charge_Controllers/Morningstar/Prostar/index.html

No wind controller seems a good idea if my wind turbine only generates max 60-80W and the DC-15 needs 80W 24/7.

Great idea @ the 2 stage controller. Do they exist? Ive got a couple electronics technician as friend that I might persuade to help me in exchange of a couple of case of beers :)

Again, Great idea @ the dumping to a second pump! Would you mind looking at this schematic I made and confirm whether I understood or not? Thanks! (http://img689.imageshack.us/img689/4764/2chargecontrollers.jpg)

If you are close to a US "Sams Club" or Costco, might be worth getting the passport checked when you cross the bridge.
(Last I knew, Sams is US$71 plus core charge for a 6V 220AH)
A friend of mine is a member at Costco, Ill have him check the prices out.

I also know what Id do with those batteries in the winter!
http://www.ruralsurvival.com/electric_farm_tractor.html
(BTW, I already have scavenged 2 forklifts motors, will get working this conversion eventually).

I might have a local contact for you if I knew a postal code. Never can tell.

Im in Gatineau, near Ottawa (zip code J8Y2S6), and my dads farm is next to Quebec City (zip code G0A 3Z0). This means I go through Montreal when I go there.


Huge thanks again. No worries about the remarks, they were deserved :)

later
S.

The 2x220AH 6V golf cart batteries are Night&Day better than 2x110AH boat batteries.
I am certain someone could post a data sheet showing they are the same. I know I could.
But in my experience, the golf cart batteries are a whole different animal. Far superior to 12V 110AH boat batteries.

Not sure about the pump "maintenance".
People tend to think a few $ more for a grid-powered pump is better than new brushes. They live in a different world.

I am also a bit concerned about an RE project, with a non-RE-specialized company, that sells a $9,000 3-ph 230/460V Gast air pump!

Maybe calculate what his pump recommendations require for the solar panels and battery. In $.
Especially if the air pump requires a pure sine wave inverter.

You will need to be VERY careful about the choice of an AC powered pump.
Many are diaphragm type pumps, working from a solenoid powered type diaphragm.
The coil will not appreciate a MSW inverter, no matter how fancy they make MSW sound.
The inverter is true sine wave... or it is not. A quick search on ebay will give you an idea of what a true sine wave inverter costs (only include known name brands).

I do not know much about the diffusers. I had some Guppies and Neons a few times. Ma-in-Law has Angel fish.

I do know a salesman will try to convince you what he has is what you need, and you will need a few of what he has for sale.

hehe :)
I also know that Id rather replace brushes on a 100$ DC Pump every year than buy a 500$ AC pump + sine wave inverter..

alright :)

Now, to decide whether to get 1 Dc-8, 2 DC-8 or DC-15..
Ill start by sleeping on it I guess.

--
Golf cart batteries it is then!
Thx
S.

I spent my share of time in your area looking for that dang bridge to/from Hull.
But I dont know anybody in the area.

Here is a plan for that exact motor,
http://www.velacreations.com/makechispito.html

Here is the riser pipe.
It moves more water.
http://i701.photobucket.com/albums/ww20/ghurd1/Sketches/Air.jpg

Make 12V PVs with 36 cells, or a 12V system will have some problems.

2-Stage controllers do not exist, but electronics technician friends could whip one up fairly easy.
The primary (24/7) pump would be on a LVD. The secondary pump would be on sort of a dump load controller.
It would be a lot of typing for a forum. You could contact me off via email. http://ghurd.info/

lol @ those damn bridges :)

Sweet, it does look like the exact same motor indeed :) Now Ill have to find a hub for it, and I have no idea where to get that. My best best so far is a circualr saw blade plus one of those "5/8" shaft adaptors" (http://www.cvfsupplycompany.com/elmoarad5sh.html). If havent got my hands on the motor yet, but it does seem the same size as the web site, and thats what they recommended.

Yes, Im looking to but 36 0.5V, 3"x6" cells on my panel, like this guy did : (http://www.mdpub.com/SolarPanel/index.html)

Websense blocks photobucket, Ill give it a look later today..

Cheers for the controller, Ill try to understand more this evening and send you an email. But my understanding is that both pumps would need to be on one of your dump controllers here (http://ghurd.info/dc.html). .. With one pump running from, say 12V to infinity and another one only runnign from 13.5V to infinity (made up numbers).


Thanks again for your help on all of this.

hey guys,

thanks for this thread. tons of good info here..i have never had the occasion to look at these pond aeration systems before. i bet with the resources in this thread Q&A a guy could come up with a nice working system!

morglum, was that your bid of $35cd on that pm motor on ebay? not such a bad price. we should get something from it. had a stab or two at self assembled pv modules with limited results..still would do it again, but for "indoor" use only. (the back deck of the car)

good luck with the project. sounds like a good time and you are well on your way to success!

cheers, dave

Thu Jan 01, 1970 1:00 am by morglum

quote:

---

hey guys,

thanks for this thread. tons of good info here..i have never had the occasion to look at these pond aeration systems before. i bet withthe resources in this thread Q&A a guy could come up with a nice working system!

morglum, was that your bid of $35cd on that pm motor on ebay? not such a bad price. we should get something from it. had a stab or two at self assembled pv modules with limited results..still would do it again, but for "indoor" use only. (the back deck of the car)

good luck with the project. sounds like a good time and you are well on your way to success!

cheers, dave

---

Thanks Ghurd for all the help indeed. I cant believe all the progress that has been done over the past couple days.

Yup, those two auctions are my bids. Im particularly happy with the price I paid on the cells (about 1$/watt shipped). Thanks for the kind words, Ill keep you guys posted :)


Ghurd: Thanks for the schematic, its very clear. What would you make that riser pipe of? A 8" PVC sewer pipe? Seems a bit on the expensive side (and too small for a 12" air stone) , but I cant think of anything else

Btw, I just got an email from the guys at Kelln Solar (http://www.kellnsolar.com/devSite/index.php) the guys says I should go with his smaller solar system (only 1495$!), but that I might need a second one because my pond has such a large surface. Theres no specs at all on his website, it only says "aerates a 750 000 gallon pond). Ill ask for more details : Id love to be sure a Dc-8 or 2 would do the trick :)