Author Topic: Pond Pump Aerate Without Batteries, Linear Current Booster  (Read 3462 times)

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OperaHouse

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Pond Pump Aerate Without Batteries, Linear Current Booster
« on: March 18, 2018, 06:25:48 PM »
Solar water aeration without batteries. Linear Current Booster increases daily pumping hours and
protects pump from over voltage. Use cheap grid tie panels and operate them at power point for high
efficiency and at lower light levels.

This circuit uses a TL431 to sense panel voltage and fake any cheap ebay buck converter into thinking
there is an over voltage on the output.  When panel voltage drops below optimum, the pullup on the TL431
goes high. This results in higher voltage on the sense pin of the buck converter. Even at lower voltage,
the buck converter tries to supply as much current as it can. Lower output voltage but higher current.
The LED and two diodes acts like a zener and prevents current flow when panel is above power point voltage.
This is required because a TL431 only drops to about 2V when conducting. The sense pin of the pot can be
found by finding the lowest resistance to common or lowest voltage.  Sense voltage is normally about 1.25
volts.

Parts are for 12V panels. Higher voltages require changes and the TL421 should be protected by an 8V zener,
24V and above.

Save hundreds of dollars not buying an expensive Linear Current Booster and put that money into the purchase
of a better grid tie panel with 60-72 cells.  This is the optimum way to aerate remote ponds.