Pump models vary in size and power, but all operate by the same principle: Energy from sunlight is collected by the solar panel and transferred to the submersible pump through a length of wire. Do not position the solar panel in a shaded area because that arrangement will not allow the solar-powered pump to function. The biggest issue to pump longevity is making sure the water coming in is free of grit as grit is hell on the diaphragms, The Shurflo 9300 is very popular around here with ranchers. The pump still functions while the battery pack recharges. Rake the stone smooth, then compact it with a hand tamper. It's pretty much the default pump for cattle tanks now that solar has replaced aeromotors. Minuses: it works at half-speed if the weather is really cloudy. Rake the dust smooth and level. If you want a solar-powered pump to function on cloudy days or into the night, consider a model marked as a "night and day" solar pump. Dig a 6- to 8-inch-deep rectangular hole at the location of the fountain. The length of the included wire may be 12 feet or longer; so you have flexibility as to where to place the solar panel even if your garden fountain is in shade. Ensure the solar-powered pump is level and that its round, outflow hole is on the pump's topmost side. Even with battery backup, a solar-powered fountain pump may stop operating from time to time, depending on the duration of cloud coverage or diminishing intensity of sunlight during winter months. It is true, though, that if the sun is blocked in any way the power diminishes. A fully charged battery pack provides energy to the pump when sunlight energy is absent. When the solar panel is in a sunny location and collects enough of the sun's energy, the pump will begin to operate. Fasten the solar panel to the stake, making sure it faces south. That kind of model includes a rechargeable battery pack, which is charged by energy collected by the solar panel during the day. Dig a shallow trench from the pump to the solar panel, then bury the pump's power cord. Wading in the water in a backyard meant having a massive swimming pool or settling for a scant hot tub.
Pluses: no extension cords through the yard or over the deck, no plugging or unplugging cords since it turns on/off with the sunlight. Submerge the solar-powered pump into the fountain's water, and set it on a flat surface, such as a submerged, flat rock or the bottom of the water feature. Sit the fountain's cap on the edge of the basin. J. Eric Jackson is a writer and educator for a botanical garden and has more than 10 years of experience in writing and youth and adult education. Wrap putty around the plug, then force the plug into the hole in the basin, creating a waterproof seal around the power cord. When the pump operates, it draws water through its side openings and forces the water upward through the outflow hole. The kit typically includes a submersible, solar-powered pump, a solar panel and a length of wire with one end fused to the pump. How to Power Appliances With Solar Panels, The 3 areas of your house you should be deep cleaning but maybe aren't, How to Build a Fountain That Spills Water Over the Edge, How to Replace a Pump in a Whirlpool Front Loader, Solar Energy Projects for the Evil Genius; Gavin Harper, Feng Shui that Makes Sense: Easy Ways to Create a Home that Feels as Good as it Looks; Cathleen McCandless, Small-Space Container Gardens: Transform Your Balcony, Porch, or Patio with Fruits, Flowers, Foliage and Herbs; Fern Richardson. Installation goes quickly, but the concrete fountain parts are heavy. Remember if there is no battery backup: no sun = no run. Set the base of the fountain onto the bed and check it for level. To figure out what sort of pump could fit the bill, you need to decide on: vertical lift, rate of flow, and pressure. Fill the basin with water and plug the pump's power cord into the solar panel.
All rights reserved. Use a piece of bathroom tile instead. Repeat until the hole is full and the stone is level with the surrounding grade. This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows how to harness the sun's energy to power a backyard water feature. Connect the flexible tubing, which you removed from the AC pump, to the solar-powered pump's outflow hole.
Read through our list of, Interested in independent assessments of various pump manufacturers? We review many of the well-known brands like. Using a solar-powered pump gives you the flexibility to operate your garden fountain just about anywhere on your property, freeing you from using a pump that is tethered to an electrical outlet. Spread 2 to 3 inches of crushed stone into the hole.
Position the solar panel on a level surface that receives steady sunlight for at least six hours each day. Copyright 2022 This Old House Ventures, LLC. The round, flexible tubing should slide securely into the outflow hole. Set the fountain's basin on top of the fountain base. By submitting your email, you agree to our.
There are trade-offs to going solar but overall we are pleased. Add another 2 or 3 inches of crushed stone and compact it again. Remove the stake from the solar panel and push it into the ground approximately 2 feet away from the fountain. Make this connection by sliding the two-prong connector of the wire into the two-prong receptacle of the solar panel. Spread stone dust over the crushed-stone bed. He was a presenter at the 2012 Youth Garden Symposium in Washington DC, and is a contributor to a national publication for botanical garden professionals. SolarPondPumps.org is an independent website. Plus, swapping an electrically powered pump for a solar-powered pump enables you to transform your garden fountain into an environmentally friendly, or a "green," water feature. One end of the included wire is already permanently fused to the solar-powered pump and sealed to be watertight. Disconnect the AC pump's flexible tubing, and remove the pump from the water. The solar-powered pump's initial expense pays off because the garden fountain no longer draws electricity; that factor reduces your electric bill. Tour This Renovated 220-Year-Old Farmhouse, With a wraparound porch and oversize windows that frame the views, an updated rear addition embraces its pastoral settingand readies a well-loved, almost 220-year-old farmhouse for another century of family life, A Suburban Lot Turns into Magical Garden Rooms, How to Install a Water-Saving Drip-Irrigation System, Backyard Renovation: From Dirt Patch to Perennial Paradise. If your garden fountain feature includes aquatic animals or vegetation needing constant water circulation, then a solar-powered fountain pump may not be the best choice. But plunge pools fill the middle ground, give a splash of fun, and offer relaxation in smaller yards. Replace water wigglers in birdbaths (which tend to get funky and rusty) with a mini solar fountain pump. I live in Southeast Michigan, hardly a sun paradise, and the fountain still operates well.
The flow of water should begin within a few seconds.
Read the directions included in the solar-powered pump kit, and familiarize yourself with the kit's parts. Have a helper reach inside the basin and feed the pump's hose through the hole in the cap. Unplug the existing alternating-current (AC) pump from its electrical outlet. If your birdbath is porous, the suction cups on submersible solar pumps dont always stick. The wire's other end terminates in a two-prong connector, which fits into a two-prong receptacle located on the dull-finished underside of the solar panel. Devices that plug directly into an electrical outlet are commonly referred to as AC devices in reference to the type of electrical current they use. Connect the wiring from the solar-powered pump kit to the solar panel according to the kit's directions. Get the latest This Old House news, trusted tips, tricks, and DIY Smarts projects from our expertsstraight to your inbox. If a solar panel is submerged in water, the clarity of the water and mineral deposits that accumulate on the panel over time will negatively affect the power output. Guide to Selecting The Right Solar Pond Pump, Not sure which solar pump is the best one for your needs?
Then, slide the cap completely over the basin. On windy days, check the water level in small bowls or fountains since the wind will displace water as it shoots out of the fountain. In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows how to harness the sun's energy to power a backyard water feature. See our, Your pump quit working? When buying online, calculate shipping costs (which can vary widely) as part of the price of the solar pump. Sitemap. All trademarks, logos and brand names on this website are the sole property of their respective companies and are not owned by SolarPondPumps.org. Tap the fountain with a rubber mallet until it's level in both directions. Jackson holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction, and a bachelor's degree in telecommunications management. Set the solar pump inside the fountain's basin, then pass the power cord out through the hole in the bottom of the basin.