Building A Solar Powered Pump Fountain
If you have been thinking of making a more eco-friendly garden, have you considered getting a solar powered pump birdbath? Actually, have you thought of making one yourself?
So how will a solar powered pump birdbath benefit you?
The benefits are:
a: The moving water in the fountain stop its from going stagnant
b: The fountain is wireless and does not have to be plugged in
c: No inverter is needed since the pump operates on direct current.
d: The pump uses minute power (only 6volts) so very few solar panels are needed
e: No batteries are required, since the pump only really needs to operate during the day when the sun is out and the birds are in the garden.
f: You can save more money by making the entire birdbath and fountain yourself, even the solar panels.
g: The birdbath is wireless making it very portable.
And what does it take to make a solar powered pump birdbath?
The easiest way is to simply buy a birdbath with a pump and fountain already fitted. Then all you need to do is wire up some small solar panels.
The cheaper, more labor intensive approach would be to get a birdbath with the right holes drilled for the fountain to be installed. And then add on the pump, fountain attachment, irrigation and power supply.
If you decide to make your own fountain, you will need:
The Birdbath:
Here you have a choice of cascading fountains, copper fountains, terracotta birdbaths, resin fountains, or the conventional ceramic birdbath. Just make sure a pump system can be installed on the birdbath.
The Fountain Spout:
Depending on whether you want the water to trickle or spout out the top, you can get the right attachment from most hardware stores or garden centers.
The Water Pump:
Next is the pump. Usually a small birdbath only needs a small 6 volt DC fountain pump. But if you have a larger birdbath that pumps more water, and at a greater height, then a larger pump will be needed.
Tubing for irrigation:
This tubing generally should be narrow enough to keep the water pressure high, so that the water can be pumped properly. My advice would be to visit the nearby garden center and have a look at what piping is used.
Silicon Sealant:
This is used to seal all joins where the water could escape from, and also to insulate any bare wire from getting wet where it has been joined.
The Solar Panels:
This is what makes this birdbath unique to your average water fountain. Depending on what size pump you buy, will need to get enough solar panels for the fountain to work properly. A a typical 6 volt pump, you will require solar panels with a capacity of at least 6 volts. But is better to be on the safe side and get a 12 volt solar panel instead, for times when it is cloudy and for late afternoons.
NB: You have 2 alternatives for the solar panels:
1 : Buy a small commercial portable solar power kit from a department store such as Target.
2: Make your own solar panel. This is actually much easier than people make it out to be. With the right instructions you could build your own panel in an afternoon. If you want to go the diy way, then keep reading…
To maximize the efficiency of the solar panel, it could be mounted in a simple frame with the ability to be angled towards the sun.
Can anyone build this birdbath?
Once you have all the components and tools at your disposal, putting the system together shouldn’t take you more than 2 hours. And within an afternoon you could have a fully functional solar powered pump birdbath.
A nice added extra is to hook up some batteries to the system. That way you can store any excess power, and the pump could run all day and night. If you do want the fountain to operate for 24 hours, then you will need the following:
1) The right battery:
You will need deep cycle battery that is capable of storing a charge for a long time. A 12 volt one should be more than enough to power a 6 volt pump.
Charge Controller:
This is not that important, but to protect the battery from over-charging and to maximize it lifespan, you should a charge controller that sits between the solar panels and the battery.
Other than it being really cheap to make, the big advantage of making your solar powered pump fountain is that once you have that skill it is there with you forever. You could even make it as an eco-friendly gift for your friend’s next birthday.
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