Solar fountains » Solar powered fountains
Published: 12.08.2021 | Reading time: 7 minutes
This text is machine translated.
Many companies and craft businesses are based in industrial areas on the outskirts of the town.
On the one hand, this is very practical due to the generous amount of space available. On the other hand, the more demand-oriented facilities also have their disadvantages. For visitors and customers, functional office buildings, towering warehouses and large truck turning areas initially appear rather cold.
This is why many companies try to make the area in front of their central building more inviting with lawns, plants and a pretty garden pond. Add a small fountain and a previously functional entrance door is transformed into a friendly and inviting entrance area.
In our guide, we explain how fountain pumps work and what advantages a solar fountain pump offers you.
As already mentioned, a fountain increases the recreational value of a garden pond immensely. The water feature is pretty to look at and the gentle splashing has an incredibly calming effect. For this reason, many employees enjoy the relaxing effect of a company garden pond with a fountain during their lunch break.
But a fountain offers even more benefits: The bubbling fountains enrich the water with oxygen. This leads to significantly better water quality. And this in turn benefits the fish living in the pond. In addition, oxygen-rich water is less susceptible to algae blooms.
Another advantage is that it also prevents an annoying plague of mosquitoes. This is because the moving water surface makes it more difficult for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. This prevents your pond from becoming a breeding ground for the annoying pests. An advantage that is also highly appreciated in private gardens.
In contrast to fountain pumps that draw their energy from the power grid, solar-powered fountains have decisive advantages:
Simple installation
Power is supplied via a solar panel. It is therefore not necessary to lay a complex electrical installation with underground cables. A solar fountain can be installed in just a few simple steps and is therefore ready for use in no time at all.
No running costs
As the sun's light is free, there are no ongoing electricity costs when operating a solar fountain. This saves the property management budget in the long term.
Renewable energy
Solar energy is a renewable energy source. Therefore, no valuable resources are wasted on the power supply for a solar fountain.
Even in the dark
By using a rechargeable battery, the solar-powered water feature can also be operated in the evening or at night. The surplus energy from the solar panel is simply charged into the battery during the day.
In the dark, the rechargeable battery can then power more than just the pump. With decorative LED lighting, the fountain in the pond becomes an absolute eye-catcher in the garden.
The generic term solar fountains includes pond pumps, watercourse pumps and pond aerators that are powered by a solar panel.
Incidentally, a solar panel only achieves the specified peak output when there is optimum sunlight. This is why the pumps of the various solar fountains have a wide range of operating voltages and pump sufficient water even at low voltages.
Solar pump sets
Solar pump sets contain all the components required for immediate operation. The standard components are the solar panel, the water pump, a variable riser pipe and various nozzles.
The electrical connection cable is usually long enough for the solar panel to be optimally positioned in the garden.
Solar stream pump sets
A solar watercourse pump set makes it possible to improve the water quality in an inconspicuous way. The water pump installed in the pond pumps the water into a concealed hose to the uppermost point of the stream.
The water flows through the artificial stream over stones and steps back into the pond. The pump normally has a hose connection, although the required hose is not included in the set.
Solar pumps
Solar pumps are aimed at experienced users who know exactly what additional technology is required. An existing solar panel with sufficient power can be used for the power supply.
Or you can choose a solar panel that matches the pump in our store. With a little specialist knowledge, beautiful fountains or perfectly designed streams can be created individually.
Floating pond pumps
Floating solar pond pumps are the quickest way to create a water feature in your own pond. After unpacking, they are simply placed on the surface of the water - and that's it.
The solar module is part of the floating body, eliminating the need for a cable between the pump and solar panel. The small solar islands generally have a lower flow rate than the stationary versions due to the built-in solar module.
Floating pond aerators
The floating solar pond aerators focus on water quality.
They do not produce a fountain, but the integrated solar panel operates an air pump that enriches the water with oxygen.
Floating pond aerators are simply placed on the water surface and aerate the pond water with a bubble stone when the sun is shining.
Solar pond pumps LED ring
The solar pond pump LED ring is an ideal accessory for various battery-powered systems.
It is simply pushed over the pump's riser pipe and illuminates the water fountain in the dark.
The combination of lighting and moving water makes the fountain an absolute highlight in the garden.
The assembly of a finished solar set is very simple. All you have to do is follow the manufacturer's instructions in the operating instructions.
Protect aquatic plants
When positioning the fountain in the pond, ensure that it is at a sufficient distance from the floating leaves of pond plants and water lilies. This is because if water droplets from the fountain land on the top of the leaves, they act like a burning glass in the sunshine. This irretrievably destroys the cell structure of the plant.
Our practical tip: Pump installation
If a fountain or watercourse pump is to be installed at the bottom of the pond, it makes sense to raise it. To do this, simply place it on a suitable stone. The raised position means that no sludge is sucked up from the bottom and the pump does not get dirty as quickly.
The right place for the solar panel
The location for the solar panel should be chosen so that it can be exposed to the sun for as long as possible during the day. The tilt angle of the panel must be set so that the sun's rays hit it at a 90° angle.
Water sensors
Important!
With many solar pond pumps, the pumped liquid is also used for cooling and lubrication. For this reason, the pumps must not be operated dry. Not even for test purposes.
Some manufacturers have therefore integrated sensors and a protective circuit into the pumps. In the attached example image, the sensors can be seen as metallic contact points on the side of the pump housing. Only when the pump is deep enough in the water will it start up when switched on.
Why does my new rechargeable solar fountain not work in battery mode?
The battery of a solar fountain set is discharged on delivery. The battery must therefore be charged first. To charge the battery quickly, it is advisable to switch off the fountain for a while. This ensures that the entire module current is fed into the battery. The exact procedure for this can be found in the operating instructions.
Why does the new watercourse pump not deliver the specified 2500 liters per hour?
Two values are always specified for pumps: Firstly, the maximum delivery head (meters of water column) and then the maximum delivery rate (liters per hour). However, both maximum values are not reached at the same time. The two values are interdependent. This is because the greater the delivery head, the lower the flow rate. In the technical data, manufacturers often provide diagrams from which the flow rate specified for the delivery head can be read. Due to friction losses in the hose, the actual value may be even lower than the value read off.
How high should the flow rate of a stream pump be?
The size of the pond is of decisive importance here. The watercourse pump should be dimensioned so that it can still circulate approx. 50 % of the pond water in one hour at the required delivery head. Two hours would then be required to circulate the entire pond water. If the pump is too small, the entire water volume will never be circulated.