| Solar powered home appliances become more and | | | | There are many benefits of getting a solar garden |
| more popular these days. Many people invest into | | | | fountain rather than the electric one. The most obvious |
| solar powered water and pool heaters, and of course | | | | advantage is that energy is free. An electric pump |
| solar garden fountains. There are many benefits to | | | | won't add much to your energy bill in a day, but if you |
| having a solar fountain, but there are some downsides | | | | want your fountain to work all summer, you can save |
| as well. | | | | a lot by using sun energy instead of electricity or |
| How do solar powered garden fountains work? | | | | batteries. |
| Usually fountains with solar pumps are very easy to | | | | Another advantage is that you are not limited by |
| install. As all solar appliances they use solar panels with | | | | proximity to a power source when selecting a place |
| Photovoltaic (PV) cells to collect energy of the sun. | | | | for your fountain. This is particularly important for |
| Since a fountain pump doesn't require a lot of energy, | | | | people with large gardens. You can place your |
| the panels are usually quite small. | | | | fountain in the farthest corner from the house, as long |
| There are two main types. First are fountains where | | | | as the solar panels are on a sunny spot. |
| solar panels are incorporated in the design of the | | | | Also solar fountains are very easy to install. The ones |
| fountain itself. This type is the easiest to install, but you | | | | with panels built into a body of the fountain don't |
| have to make sure that you place your new fountain | | | | require any special installation at all. This type is perfect |
| in a sunny spot otherwise it won't work. | | | | as a solar pond fountain that sprays water from your |
| Another type has remote solar panels, which can be | | | | pond. Since there is no cord the fountain can just float |
| positioned several meters away from the fountain. If | | | | on the surface. |
| you chose this type, it doesn't matter whether your | | | | The main disadvantage of a solar powered garden |
| fountain is in a sunny or shady spot as long as the | | | | fountain is its dependence on the sun. Most pumps will |
| panels are exposed to the sun. Most solar fountains | | | | still work on a slightly cloudy day, but if it is really |
| with remote panels come with easy to set up | | | | overcast the flow of water will be much less. And, of |
| mounting system for the panels. Usually you can | | | | course, your fountain won't work at night. |
| mount them on the wall, use grass stakes to position | | | | Also, it is best to disconnect your fountain in winter. It |
| them on the loan or use a tall wooden stake to put | | | | would work fine on a sunny day without snow, but |
| your panel high up above all the plants. | | | | snow and frost can damage your pump. |
| Pros and cons of solar fountains | | | | |