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I want to pt in an outdoor fountain.

3 years ago

I want to put in a fountain that has a 110 volt electric pump. The person at the fountain store said I could add a solar collector and plug the fountain into this. What is a solar collector and where does one find one.
I googled solar collector for fountains and it gives little tiny solar collectors with small pumps. I don’t think this is what I am looking for but none of the sites mentions being able to plug in an outlet.

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Comments (2)

mindshift
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
IMO, a connection to household current is best as long as the fountain is reasonably close to an outlet. Solar collectors require full sun to work best, so go with AC power if you want the fountain on a porch or shaded spot. Also, solar power doesn't work after dark without battery storage, so there is something else to buy. Even then, battery backup may only power the pump for 6 hours. Solar may be advised if fountain location is not close to the outlet, but remember you need all day sun for best results.

Solar collectors are usually sold with the pump, and may or may not include battery backup. Look for a package that includes solar collector, battery and pump because the parts will be sized to work together. This SITE has solar power for either 9v or 24v needs. Some complete fountain kits have a space in the base of the fountain to hide the battery. Otherwise you may need to hide it some other way. Don't buy a usually round, combined collector and pump unless you want a fountain for a pond or container. Also, one fountain I looked at required the pump be off while charging the battery. You need to ASK what is included and how it all works before you buy.

The size of pump needed is determined by how far or how high you need to move water from the pump. A pump that moves a lot of water to 12" high might deliver 1/2 as much to 15". Fountain packages include a pump that is sized for a particular fountain. If winter freezes are common where you live you will need to store the pump inside to prevent ice damage.
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jonklotz
3 years ago
A solar-powered pond fountain with any significant size will require a large solar array with an inverter to convert the power generated from the solar panels to 115v. If you are primarily interested in improve the pond with aeration, there are some good options available that use a solar-powered air pump to force air to the bottom of the pond and circulate the water. Here are some exampes - Solar Power Pond Aerator
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