Considerations When Buying a Solar Fountain
Should you purchase a solar fountain or a wired fountain? They each have their pros and cons but we find that solar powered fountains are safer and easier to maintain than mains powered fountains although they do have the disadvantage of not working well during the winter.The power panels on solar fountains use photovoltaic cells to collect the sun's energy throughout the day which is used to power the pump. Since they need sunshine the pump will reduce speed and the water will stop through the night or if the sky is cloudy.
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Setting up a Solar Fountain
Solar fountains are straightforward to set up and nearly all will necessitate no installation. Solar fountains either have solar panels in the body or separate panels that may be located some distance away. This enables the fountain to be sited in a sheltered setting while the panels are sited where they can gather the sunlight. The separate solar panels can be placed on a hard surface, attached to a tree or wall or on a wooden post planted firmly in the earth.
Energy Storage
Nearly all solar panels aren't capable of storing power so they cannot be used by night. They will operate most efficiently on sunlit days and on cloudy days they may only pump water slowly or stop pumping completely. For the duration of the winter it is best to detach the solar panels as during frosty or icy weather the pump may work intermittently when the sun is out and some damage could happen. A number of solar fountains have battery backups to make up for short cloudy periods but nearly all are really only designed to be used on sunny days.
Convenience
Solar garden fountains are advantageous as they require no wiring from a power source and can be positioned a long way from the house. With separate panels they could even be placed in in the shade or under arbors.
Solar Pond Fountains
In addition some solar fountains are specially made for ponds and are also suitable as they do not require cables from the house. You could set them to float on the pond or set them in position with rocks or tied to secure them.
Solar Garden Fountain Safety
Solar fountains are environmentally friendly with no toxic fuel emissions, hardly any noise and no substances that could escape and be a danger. As there aren't any cables they are harmless to pets and the family.
In Conclusion
Fountains driven by the sun are cheap to run, very easy to maintain and safer than fountains with wires. Although they have the shortcoming of functioning poorly during the winter months they will be, nonetheless, an excellent addition to your garden.
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June 02 2009 10:30 am | Reader Articles
