Save Energy With Solar Powered Garden Fountains
A deck can be an outdoor oasis to relax and unwind after a long work day and a seemingly longer commute. By adding a lounging area, potted plants, and decorative items, you add life and beauty to this outdoor space. You can also add a solar powered garden fountain to make it a soothing area, with the intrusive environmental noises drowned out by the trickling sound of gurgling water over rocks.
Most outdoor garden fountains, run their water pumps using community provided electricity —generally there is a pretty high fee is involved. The electrical power consumed by the pump can put a toll on your budget if you use the garden fountain for long periods of time. In order to save on energy and help the environment at the same time, you can build your own solar powered fountain.
If you plan on building a solar powered garden fountain, you have a choice of cascading fountains, copper fountains, terracotta fountains, resin fountains, or the more modern and somewhat conventional ceramic fountain. Just make sure a pump system can be installed on the fountain you choose as a kit or to build. You can build the fountain to make the water squirt out the top, instead of just trickling out. Parts to do this can be found at you local nursery or hardware store. They almost always have an adjustment to regulate the squirting effect. Dependant upon your solar powered garden fountain size, the volume of water to be pumped, and how high you want to pump it, will help to decide on the voltage and size pump needed. For your average sized solar powered fountain, a small 6 volt DC pump will suffice.
Thin, Flexible PVC Pipe is usually needed for the water flow in a permanent installation. It is best to ask your nursery about the various pipe and tube options. Or you can get ideas from looking at finished solar powered garden fountains in the store. As a rule of thumb, the PVC piping needs to be small ID to maintain enough water pressure for the squirting effect.
The solar panels set this solar powered garden fountain apart from conventionally powered garden fountains. The pump will help determine how many solar panels you need. For a 6 Volt DC pump, you will need at least a 6 Volt DC solar panel. But you really should double up on the solar panels for those times when the sun is partially cloud covered or on a rainy day. Most hardware stores will have solar panels in stock or if not, usually there is only a few days wait.
Solar powered garden fountains are the answer to saving the environment as well as enhancing your back yard.
