What to Look for When Buying a Solar Fountain
Should you buy a solar garden fountain or a wired fountain? Both have their advantages and disadvantages but we have found that solar garden fountains are safer around children and pets with easier maintenance than wired fountains even though they do have the drawback of not working well through the winter.The power panels on solar fountains make use of photovoltaic cells to gather sunlight all through the day which is used to power the pump. As they require sunshine the pump will reduce speed and the water will stop through the hours of darkness or if the sky is overcast.
Setting up a Solar Garden Fountain
Solar fountains are straightforward to set up and nearly all will require no difficult installation. Solar fountains either have panels built into the pedestal or separate panels that may be sited some distance away. This allows the fountain to be sited in a sheltered setting while the panels are positioned where they can collect the sunlight. The separate 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.
Storing Energy
Nearly all solar panels aren’t capable of storing power so they cannot be used at night. They will operate most effectively on sunny days and during cloudy days they will only pump water slowly or stop altogether. Through the winter it is a good idea to disconnect the solar panels as during very cold or icy weather conditions the pump may work if it is sunny and damage could arise. A few solar fountains may have battery backups to make up for short periods but the majority are really only intended to be operated on sunny days.
Ease of Use
Solar garden fountains are advantageous as they necessitate no wiring from a power supply and can be located some distance from the home. With separate panels they could even be positioned in out of the sun or under arbors.
Solar Pond Fountains
Additionally many solar fountains are specifically made for fish ponds and are also handy as they don’t necessitate cables from the house. You could set them to float on the pond or set them in place with rocks or tied to secure them.
Solar Garden Fountain Safety
Solar powered fountains are environmentally friendly with no poisonous emissions, hardly any noise and no substances that may leak and be a danger. Since there aren’t any cords they are safe for pets and children.
In Conclusion
Fountains powered by sunlight are cheap to run, very easy to take care of and safer than fountains with wires. While they have the shortcoming of working poorly throughout the colder months they will be, however, an excellent addition to your garden.
