Should you purchase a solar garden fountain or a mains powered fountain? They each have their pros and cons but we have discovered that solar fountains are safer with easier maintenance than wired fountains although they have the shortcoming of working poorly during 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 slow down and the water will cease during the hours of darkness or if the sky is overcast.

Setting up a Solar Fountain

Solar fountains are straightforward to set up and nearly all will require no difficult installation. Solar fountains may either have panels in the main body or separate panels that can be located at a distance. This enables the fountain to be positioned in a shady position while the panels are sited where they can gather the light. The separate solar panels can be located on a firm surface, attached to a fence or tree or on a wooden stake planted securely in the earth.

Energy Storage

Nearly all solar panels are not able to store energy so they cannot be used by night. They will operate most effectively on sunlit days and during cloudy days they will only pump water slowly or stop altogether. Through the winter it is best to disconnect the solar panels as during frosty or icy weather conditions the pump may work if it is sunny and some damage could occur. Some solar fountains may have backup batteries to make up for short overcast periods but most are really only designed to be used on sunny days.

Convenience

Solar garden fountains are advantageous as they necessitate no cables from the mains and can be placed some distance from the house. With remote panels they can even be located in in the shade or under arbors.

Solar Pond Fountains

Also some solar fountains are specially made for fish ponds and are also convenient as they don’t necessitate wires from the mains supply. They can be set to float on the pond or set them in place with rocks or fixed to anchor them.

Solar Garden Fountain Safety

Solar powered fountains are environmentally friendly without toxic fuel emissions, no noise and no substances that could seep out and be a hazard. Since there are no cords they are safe for animals and the family.

In Conclusion

Fountains driven by solar energy are economical, easy to look after and safer than wired fountains. While they have the drawback of working inadequately through the colder months they will be, nevertheless, an excellent addition to your garden.