If you have ever wanted to make your garden more environmentally friendly, have you ever thought of buying a solar powered pump fountain? Going one step further, have you ever considered making your own?
So why would you want to make a solar powered pump birdbath?
The benefits are:
a: The moving water in the fountain stop its from going stagnant
b: It uses none of your main power supply
c: The pump works on direct current, so no inverter is required
d: It requires little power (about 6 volts) so you only need a few small solar panels.
e: The fountain usually operates during the day when the birds are out in the sun, so batteries are not essential
f: You can save more money by making the entire birdbath and fountain yourself, even the solar panels.
g: The birdbath can be placed anywhere in your garden, without the need for unsightly wires.
So, what do you need to make your own solar powered pump fountain?
The most basic method is to buy a working birdbath with fountain, and then wire up the solar panels.
The alternative is to, and more DIY approach is to buy a birdbath that is ready for a fountain pump to be installed (it has the right holes, and a place for the pump to be installed), and then add the various pump and power components.
If you want to save money, and build your own system, then you will need:
A 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:
This attachment can be source from your nearby hardware store or garden center. It is an optional extra that helps make the water spout out of the top, instead of a small trickle.
The Water Pump:
The next part is buying the small dc pump. A typical 6 volt pump should be adequate, but you may need to go bigger, if the birdbath or water feature is larger than normal.
Thin, Flexible PVC Pipe:
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: To get the solar panels, you have 2 choices:
1 : Buy a small commercial portable solar power kit from a department store such as Target.
2 : Make it yourself. With the right guide it is rather easy and much cheaper to make your own solar panel in a matter of hours. If this is something you would love to try do, then keep reading...
To get the maximum sunlight, the solar panels need to be fixed in simple frame, and be south-facing (if you are in the northern hemisphere).
Can anyone build this birdbath?
If you have all the tools and materials and any diy experience, you could have a working solar powered pump birdbath within in a matter of hours - that's if all goes to plan...
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:
Since the system is small, a 12 volt battery should be enough. This will be wired up between the charge controller and the pump.
Solar charge controller:
It is not vital , but if you want the battery to last longer, a charge controller will protect the battery from over-charging. It is wired from the solar panels and then to the battery.
The nice thing about about building a solar powered pump birdbath yourself is that it is not only cheaper, but once you know how, you can make as many as you want. It could also make a great gift for an energy conscious friend or family member.
So why would you want to make a solar powered pump birdbath?
The benefits are:
a: The moving water in the fountain stop its from going stagnant
b: It uses none of your main power supply
c: The pump works on direct current, so no inverter is required
d: It requires little power (about 6 volts) so you only need a few small solar panels.
e: The fountain usually operates during the day when the birds are out in the sun, so batteries are not essential
f: You can save more money by making the entire birdbath and fountain yourself, even the solar panels.
g: The birdbath can be placed anywhere in your garden, without the need for unsightly wires.
So, what do you need to make your own solar powered pump fountain?
The most basic method is to buy a working birdbath with fountain, and then wire up the solar panels.
The alternative is to, and more DIY approach is to buy a birdbath that is ready for a fountain pump to be installed (it has the right holes, and a place for the pump to be installed), and then add the various pump and power components.
If you want to save money, and build your own system, then you will need:
A 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:
This attachment can be source from your nearby hardware store or garden center. It is an optional extra that helps make the water spout out of the top, instead of a small trickle.
The Water Pump:
The next part is buying the small dc pump. A typical 6 volt pump should be adequate, but you may need to go bigger, if the birdbath or water feature is larger than normal.
Thin, Flexible PVC Pipe:
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: To get the solar panels, you have 2 choices:
1 : Buy a small commercial portable solar power kit from a department store such as Target.
2 : Make it yourself. With the right guide it is rather easy and much cheaper to make your own solar panel in a matter of hours. If this is something you would love to try do, then keep reading...
To get the maximum sunlight, the solar panels need to be fixed in simple frame, and be south-facing (if you are in the northern hemisphere).
Can anyone build this birdbath?
If you have all the tools and materials and any diy experience, you could have a working solar powered pump birdbath within in a matter of hours - that's if all goes to plan...
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:
Since the system is small, a 12 volt battery should be enough. This will be wired up between the charge controller and the pump.
Solar charge controller:
It is not vital , but if you want the battery to last longer, a charge controller will protect the battery from over-charging. It is wired from the solar panels and then to the battery.
The nice thing about about building a solar powered pump birdbath yourself is that it is not only cheaper, but once you know how, you can make as many as you want. It could also make a great gift for an energy conscious friend or family member.
About the Author:
If you want to make your own solar panel for the birdbath, then have a look at the Earth4Energy Sneak Peek - a FREE preview of the top-rated step-by-step solar power guide. It may also help to read the Earth4Energy Review.
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