Solar Panel for air Pump

Tqn626

Hello.

I'm new to the forum and very interested in solar. I have zero electrical wiring knowledge.

I'm starting small currently. I want to wire a 10 watt solar panel directly to an air pump. I'm using this for a hydroponic system. I'm going to go into aquaponics with a larger solar panel down the line.

I'm going to use a aleko 10watt solar panel. I want it to power a either a 3 watt or 6 watt hydrofarm air pump. I want it to power the air pump without a battery or inverter if possible.

I seen solar air pump online but they're extremely weak for my purposes.

Any tips or links to the correct thread would be awesome.

BB.

Re: Solar Panel for air Pump

Welcome to the forum Tqn626!

Ok--First we need to know about your loads. Is this the pump you are looking at?:

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-AAPA15L-6-Watt-15-LPM-Outlets/dp/B002JPEVMC

If so, this a 120 VAC pump... They use a "solenoid" type motor--Basically the AC field drives a block of iron back and forth, and the armature drives (a pair?) of diaphragms to pump the air.

There is no way to run this direct from a DC system. And any sort of DC to AC conversion is probably not cost effective (given technology and demands for small AC direct power systems from solar panels).

Assuming you do not need air 24 hours per day==And only need pumping between ~9amp to ~3pm, there are DC power air pumps available:

http://www.amazon.com/Marine-Metal-Power-Bubbles-12-volt/dp/B000EYWNVQ
http://pentairaes.com/aeration/air-pumps/show/all.html

And there are aeration pumps that move air and water for fish:

http://www.marinemetal.com/products/12-vt-air-pumps

A big problem with 12 volt DC pumps is many (most?) use brush type motors (like in electric drills, vacuum cleaners, etc.). Brushes have a life in small motors of ~2,000 to 3,000 hours or so--There are ~9,000 hours in a year--So if you are looking for long lasting/24 hour per day "typical" air/water pumps that will last--These are not the pumps you are looking for.

What you want to find are "brushless" DC pumps... El-Sid makes some good DC water circulation pumps (think I have read good things about them here on the forum).

There are brushless air pumps available (20,000+ hour life?)--They are not cheap, and you have to find one that will meet your pressure/volume needs (as well as work behind a solar panel).

Anyway--That is where I would start. You may need to make some phone calls to a few places and see if they can direct you to a good mfg./supplier.

-Bill

inetdog

Re: Solar Panel for air Pump

Tqn626 wrote: »

Hello.

I'm new to the forum and very interested in solar. I have zero electrical wiring knowledge.

I'm starting small currently. I want to wire a 10 watt solar panel directly to an air pump. I'm using this for a hydroponic system. I'm going to go into aquaponics with a larger solar panel down the line.

I'm going to use a aleko 10watt solar panel. I want it to power a either a 3 watt or 6 watt hydrofarm air pump. I want it to power the air pump without a battery or inverter if possible.

I seen solar air pump online but they're extremely weak for my purposes.

Any tips or links to the correct thread would be awesome.

The problem you will be facing is that a DC pump typically wants to see a constant voltage input (for a given air volume pumped) while a solar panel will deliver a constant current (proportional to the amount of sun hitting it) regardless of the voltage.
In some cases this will cause the pump to pull down the panel voltage and not run will, if at all, when the sun is less than full on the panel.
There are ways of working around this (one option is a linear current booster) but the first thing to check is whether those pump motors are compatible in terms of current and voltage with your panel, and that leaving the pump turned on at too low a current or voltage will not harm the motor.

Tqn626

Re: Solar Panel for air Pump

BB. wrote: »

Welcome to the forum Tqn626!

Ok--First we need to know about your loads. Is this the pump you are looking at?:

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-AAPA15L-6-Watt-15-LPM-Outlets/dp/B002JPEVMC


-Bill

Yes, that exactly the pump. Wasn't sure about linking. Didn't want my first post to look like i was peddling something. I will take a look at all your links.

I'm doing a non-circularing hydroponic system organically. Which is not working out, was thinking of putting an air pump in it to see how it turns out.

Do you have any recommendations on solar panels? I always see renogy and grape solar plastered everywhere.

I was looking at these solar air pumps

http://www.amazon.com/Solarrific%C2%AE-G3035-Solar-Pump-Fish/dp/B00CAV89C8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398062308&sr=8-1&keywords=solar+air+pump

It a bit weak for my needs, and im assuming the parts inferior and will just break on me.

If i used the Marine Depot Pump and connect it to a solar panel, will i risk getting shock by touching the metal clamps?