How To Build Your Own Solar Water Fountain

Written by Seb Tennyson

Wednesday, 04 November 2009 23:36

by SebTennyson

If you have ever wondered how solar panels work, or if you are looking for a fun family project, you can easily learn about solar energy and solar panels by simply creating your own fountain. A solar water fountain is surprisingly easy to make and it teaches kids a great lesson about solar energy and how it works. Below I have listed the basic steps of this fun project.

The first thing you want to do is choose the design you want. Would you like a waterfall or a bubbling stream? Sometimes it is helpful to look through landscaping magazines or browse the Internet to get ideas on what kind of style, shape and size you are looking to create. You also want to decide whether your fountain will be in a fixed location or if it will be able to be moved from place to place.

Your next step is to choose which kind of pump you will use to move the water. Depending on the size of your fountain you will need to determine the numbe of gallons perminute and the vertical lift of the water that your pump will need to handle. You will get this information based on the volume and height of your fountain's design. For example, a tall waterfall fountain requires a more powerful pump than a smaller and lower babbling brook design. You want to pick a pump that is designed to be completely immersed in water and runs on direct (DC) current.

Now you will want to choose your solar panel. You can generally find them at home improvement stores or online. The size of the solar panel you will need is determined by the energy requirements of the pump you choose and the amount of sunlight your fountain will receive. If you are using a powerful pump that will move a lot of water with a long vertical drop you might need to choose a larger panel. This goes for a fountain that is located in an overcast region or shady area. Smaller solar panels can be used if you want to slow down the pump, or if your fountain will receive lots of direct sunlight every day.

Before you connect the pump and solar panel, or install your fountain permanently, assemble the components (if it has several tiers or basins) and hook up the plumbing. Test it for flow and leaks. Pour enough water through it, using a bucket or hose, to make sure that it works as intended.

Once you have everything working properly you can hook up the pump and the PV panel. Play around with the placement of your solar panel and you can see how the speed of the water will slow down or speed up depending on how much sun the panel is receiving. Once you have found a great spot for your panel you can install the fountain in its permanent location and sit back and enjoy the benefits of your hard work.

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