Tips on Buying a Solar Garden Fountain

Should you purchase a solar fountain or a mains powered fountain? Both have their advantages and disadvantages but we have found that solar fountains are safer around children and pets and easier to maintain than mains powered fountains although they do have the drawback of not working well in the winter months.The panels on solar fountains use photovoltaic cells to collect solar energy all through the day which is used to power the pump. Because they need sunshine the pump will reduce speed and the water will cease during the hours of darkness or if the sky is overcast.

Installing a Solar Garden Fountain

Solar fountains are straightforward to set up and the majority will require no difficult installation. Solar fountains either have solar panels built into the main body or remote panels that may be sited some distance away. This allows the fountain to be positioned in a sheltered setting while the panels are sited where they can gather the sunlight. The remote solar panels can be placed on a hard surface, attached to a tree or fence or on a wooden post planted securely in the ground.

Energy Storage

Nearly all solar panels are not capable of storing energy so they can’t be used at night. They will operate most effectively on sunny days and on cloudy days they may just pump water slowly or not at all. During the winter it is advisable to disengage the solar panels as during frosty or freezing weather conditions the pump may work intermittently when the sun is out and some damage could occur. A number of solar fountains may have backup batteries to compensate for short overcast periods but most are really only intended to be operated only on sunlit days.

Ease of Use

Solar garden fountains are convenient as they require no wiring from a power source and can be positioned at a distance from the house. With remote panels they could even be located in out of the sun or in summerhouses.

Solar Fountains for Ponds

Also many solar fountains are specially made for fish ponds and are also suitable as they do not necessitate cords from the mains supply. You could set them to float on the surface of the water or set them in place with rocks or fixed to anchor them.

Solar Garden Fountain Safety

Solar powered fountains are environmentally friendly without toxic fuel emissions, hardly any noise and no substances that may leak and be a danger. As there are no cables they are not dangerous to pets and the family.

In Conclusion

Fountains powered by the sun are economical, very easy to maintain and safer than wired fountains. Even though they have the shortcoming of running disappointingly during the colder months they would be, however, excellent additions to your garden.