Solar Fountain Site

An Introductory Guide to Solar Fountain Selections and Features

2010-05-10T21:21:04Z

A SOLAR FOUNTAIN is a great addition to any garden. There are many styles and sizes to choose from, all of which are beautiful and classy. These fountains run solely on solar energy, and do not require any electricity. Since they attract birds, they can be used as solar bird baths in addition to fountains!

Indeed, they create a relaxing atmosphere in any garden or patio.

These fountains really do not need to be “installed” in the typical sense, as they require no wiring or complicated assembling.

They do, however, come with mounting kits to make the set-up process simple. Some of them, such as the Duo Solar Cascading Fountain, also come with AC adapters for indoor use. When setting your fountain up, all you need to do is mount it in an area of your yard where it will be under direct sunlight.

Even though they do not require a great deal of maintenance, you should still keep an eye on a few things. For starters, a battery is required in order for solar fountains to work at night. On cloudy days, extra solar panels may be needed to provide additional power. They are not required, but you should still have an extra panel or two just in case.

It is essential that the panel(s) remain under direct sunlight. Some are integrated into the fountains, and others are separate. If you order the fountain and panel as separate pieces, the latter needs to be placed directly under the sun. In this case, you can place the fountain anywhere, as it will still receive power from the panel.

The prices vary according to size, design, and make. Some of the most popular include Smart Solar Zen fountains, Duo Solar Cascading models, and Belize Solar Birdbath fountains. The price for these models ranges from $89 to $249. Some solar fountain styles are designed to standalone on pedestals some can float on ponds or in pools, and some double as lanterns.

Clearly, there is so much to choose from, so you should be able to find the perfect solar fountain for your yard or garden!

Smart Solar: Country Gardens 2-Tiers Solar System and Other Models

2010-05-10T21:16:05Z

BEAUTY comes in all forms, but it begins with a Smart Solar Country Gardens 2-Tiers solar system. These types of solar fountains improve the natural surrounding by adding natural waterfalls to your garden and yard.

Features include a lightweight, carefree resin made fountain that is trouble free because maintenance is not required. Instead, this grey system is made of weatherized stone finish. It features two turtles that sit on the edge of a bowl.

Now you can create a comforting atmosphere for your balcony, deck, or patio that is near your garden. These elegantly designed solar springs have underwater integral solar panels with a pump system designed to continue recycling water from a concealed reservoir. There is no operating or wiring costs.

This type of solar fountain costs around $250. You can find cheaper models on the Internet. Smart made the Ceramic fish springs of blue glaze. The fountain was designed to create a comforting environment in your garden.

This particular model runs off a separate solar panel, which comes with the spring and it includes 3 m cables that stretch 10-feet. It also comes with a low-voltage water pump and filter. The pump continually recycles water. There is also an AC adapter you can use for indoors and you don’t have to worry about operating costs. You can purchase this AC Adapter for around $99.

Dual solar cascading fountains in organic Terracotta are also available for around $124. This is the hand-finished model that functions on the most recent technology. It is self-contained, so there is no need to install it. It has a 15-feet cord from the solar panel. You can position it anywhere you like and it includes versatile solar panel that mounts and AC adapter so that you can enjoy it indoors.

The Eco-Friendly Design of Solar Water Fountains

2010-05-10T21:28:45Z

Many homes today are incorporating products which help the environment. People are looking for items that can be recycled and regenerated to help reduce the cost of energy and eliminate some of the excess waste in landfill areas. This eco-friendly attitude has been taken into the outdoors with items that can be used by solar power. One such decorative addition is the solar fountain. This is a new twist on the old water fountain that came with its own pump action system for recycling the water. The new solar style also recycles water, but uses solar power rather than electricity to operate.

These fountains come with a panel which is placed in the yard where it can absorb direct sunlight. These fountains are created in some very interesting designs such as the ceramic bowl design. This has a tiered level of beautiful bowls in varying sizes which empty into each other and down to a bottom basin. The top piece is a ceramic pitcher and the large bottom basin can be used to place items in such as rocks or floating flowers. You might choose a statue type fountain such as the contemplating Buddha, which is made from a resin material that appears as though it is real stone.

Most of the battery units which come with these solar items hold a charge for 10 hours of use. The products all come complete with water pump, filter and battery components so they are easy to install and use. The fountain is a good way to add a distinctive decorative touch to a yard area. It creates a serene and relaxing atmosphere when used in combination with a flower garden. You will find some variations on the fountain design which include those that will shoot streams of water into the air, and those which are created to be used as solar birdbaths.

How Does a Solar Fountain Work?

2010-05-10T21:25:17Z

As we go into a new age where there is a heavy emphasis on the environment, the shift towards the utilization of solar power is finally taking effect in the market. House and garden decors such as a Solar Fountain for example are now being sold to replace old types of garden or yard fountains but how do these solar-powered garden enhancements work?

What makes them so unique is that you can place them anywhere you want without having to worry if the electric cord is long enough to keep it working. Since solar plates planted on the ground run the whole system, you do not need to worry about the electric bill either. If you really want to get nitty gritty with it, here it is:

Solar pumps in the fountains themselves are connected to small solar panels composed of photovoltaic cells. These cells store energy. Although they provide lots of energy for your solar fountain during daytime, at night, they do not work as efficiently because of the lack of energy from the sun. Most of these fountains require a high amount of energy for the pumps to work at night.

Apart from not being able to work efficiently at night, owners of the said garden or yard enhancement do not have a hard time operating it during the day. They are just so easy to use, just place the panels in a place where it is exposed to the sun and place the fountain to any part of your yard or garden and you are good to go. Such an item does not only make your yard or garden look much better, it is also one good way to save money from your energy bill, prevent accidents caused by cords or wires and helps in keeping the environment less warm. Getting such an item should not only be for aesthetic purposes but a great way to make such products enter the mainstream market.

Going Green With Solar Energy for our Yards and Garden

2010-05-10T20:54:59Z

As society moves to a new age where there is a lot of emphasis on protecting the environment, the shift to using solar power instead of conventional means is finally taking its effect. House and yard decorations such as solar-powered fountains is one great way to make the yard and the home look beautiful and at the same time it’s a fantastic method to save money on your power bill and not gratuitously use “normal” energy.

Furthermore, it’s incredibly easy to use solar products such as fountains and lights! A Solar Fountain can be placed just about anywhere without worrying about the electric cord but why should you buy a solar fountain? Aesthetically, they look great – especially those made out of cobblestones. Apart from that, you get to save the earth and save money at the same time.

Many consumers are now opting for solar fountains because they are more affordable in the long term. This type of fountain may be expensive at first because of the solar panels that come with it but in the long term, you will be saving more money since you no longer have to pay for the fountain’s energy bill. The only downside is, your fountain will not be working at night because of the lack of sunlight to power it. Many people are now purchasing solar fountains instead of the conventional ones since they are more energy efficient and are also great for the environment. Aside from these pluses however, you can also prevent accidents of tripping and falling because of electric cords placed in the wrong places.

How do solar-powered fountains work? Solar fountains rely on solar energy to work. The pumps inside its system use solar power to work. Where does it get solar energy? There are solar panels that are included in the package. You can put this in the sunniest place of your house and it will provide power to your fountain. Getting a solar fountain for your yard or garden is a great decision.

The Modern Solar Fountain

2010-05-10T20:42:31Z

Nearly any yard or garden can appreciate the addition of a solar fountain – especially the ever popular cobblestone fountains. In modern times, many of the fountains available are so uniquely designed that they have revived the fiberglass resin effect by replacing it with cobblestone finish to produce an outdoor waterfall. In short, they look magnificent! But what’s under the hood? How do they work? What different types are here and how do you clean?

Finally, how much do solar fountains cost?

Let’s dig a bit deeper into those questions, starting with a simple definition of the process by which a fountain maintains water flow.

How Solar Fountains Work

An unattached solar fountain – that is to say, there are no wires plugged in to gather electricity – always gets its source of energy from the sun. Hence, the term solar. There are different ways in which the energy is captured, but it always involves a solar panel that “gathers”, stores, and uses the energy inherent from being exposed to the sun. From here, the fountain water is revived and pushed through, continually recycling itself. It’s this sound that creates the comfortable and relaxing environment we all association with fountains, whether it be on the patio, balcony, deck, or in the middle of your garden.

Types of Solar Fountains

There are lots of different types but it’s often described in terms of tiers or levels. You can have 1 level, 2 level, or 1 tier, 2nd tier fountain. The materials used also condition the fountain into a separate type.

Maintaining and Cleaning Solar Fountains

This depends on the specific fountain in question. One thing to note is that the lightweight system does not require any maintenance!

Colors, Materials, Prices, and Features

You can find these cobblestone units on the Internet, which includes pump. The materials are made of lightweight resin and weighs about 60 pounds. If you are looking for something that costs less the floating springs is a good choice. The type of solar fountain is designed for night use. It has a photovoltaic solar cell that powers the unit by day, and batteries are used to enjoy energy from the system by night. This model comes with a remote control. You can control the volume of the fountain up to 18-feet! You can find this model online for under $70. It comes complete with 3-spray heads, energy-saving pump, and bubbler. To save energy, the pump shuts off every 45 minutes or so. There is built in lights cause the solar system to light up during dark hours. Other types of solar springs to consider include the grand illusions, Waterbury solar, improvements classic 2-tier for your garden and so forth.

Making Your Bird Bath Into a Living Solar Fountain

2009-11-20T17:28:14Z

Do you have a birdbath out in your yard that you enjoy bird watching from? The birdbath is one of my favorite garden decor items, adding a very nice design touch that is also functional. It’s actually really relaxing to observe birds using the birdbath. (It’s just not so much fun to clean, but I’ll talk about that in a different article!)

One “problem” with my birdbath is that while it’s nice looking, it’s stagnant. The water simply sits in there. What if there were a way to get the water moving? What if I were to install a pump in it and make it into a water fountain AND a bird bath?

Forget about having to run a power chord or anything like that out to your yard. Instead, you can simply buy a solar pump and install it into the birdbath and the rest takes of ourselves.

Here’s how you do this:

First, you’ll need to purchase a small solar pump. Something about 10V will do just fine. The pump will come with an attached solar panel. Now for this to work, you’ll have to be using a birdbath that is a few inches deep, but, that will qualify 95% of birdbaths so that’s not much of a concern. Empty out the water and place the pump into it, facing upwards. Attach the solar panel via the accompanying cord to the water pump. Here is where you’ll need to be creative. If possible, you’ll want to somehow shield or obscure the solar panel from being outright viewable, yet it needs to also directly in the sun so it can do its solar magic. Failing this, you can always simply place it on the ground next to the bird bath. Even if yourself and others can see the solar panel, it will still be okay!

Once it’s installed into the birdbath, refill it with water. Then you’ll have to give it time to “queue” up some energy from the sun. This probably means you’ll just set it up one day, and by the end of the next day, it will have collected enough energy from the sun to power the pump.

And that’s it – you’re done! The simplicity of this is what makes it so great. One can go out and buy a solar pump for a bird bath to convert it into a solar fountain for under $50, then set it up and install it in just minutes. After that, your job is done, but the solar fountain will continue to do its job so long as the sun is shining!

With a solar pump installed into the birdbath, you now have a birdbath and a solar fountain all in one! This makes bird watching more fun and the sound of the water creates a relaxing, mesmerizing experience.

3 Reasons To Get a Solar Fountain

2009-11-20T17:27:16Z

Solar fountains have established themselves as a solid item in any home and garden or garden pond. Anyone who takes pride in their gardening, garden decor, or landscaping skills – in other words, anyone with that green thumb you hear so much about – is usually hip to having a nice solar fountain too somewhere in their green set-up.

What are the top 3 reasons people like owning a solar fountains? I will admit this is no official survey, but from my own time spent in the garden and talking and learning from others who are crazy about garden decor and whatnot, these are the top 3 reasons I hear over and over for owning a solar fountain.

1. Solar water fountains are green. And by this, I mean they do not contribute to our countries worlds energy problems. In fact, aside from the energy used in their production and eventually to the buyer, they expend no energy at all in the usual manner we’re used to when we discuss using power. Everyone knows that a solar fountain is powered by using small solar panels, which in turn capture a fraction of energy shot out from the sun, and then use this to power the fountain. The gardening community is big on helping the earth, and many people fancy themselves green by using as many solar gardening items as possible, from water fountains to garden lights, all powered effortlessly from the sun.

2. Buying a solar fountain isn’t very expensive anymore.The catch with solar is that until the price comes down, people just weren’t able to shell out the cash to afford them. Buy this is the case no longer. A simple Ebay search for solar fountains bring up many inexpensive solar powered water pumps and fountains. I’m staring at a page of auctions right now for solar fountains, and many of them start in the $20 range. The nicer, bulky fountains – the kind you probably think of when you imagine a solar water fountain – still go for under $100. Not a bad deal! (There obviously still are very expensive solar fountains on the market. See Buying an Expensive Solar Fountain.)

3. Having a solar fountain keeps money in your pocket every month. Since the solar fountain is powered via the sun and not the standard electrical grid, you won’t see your power bill increase by a dime when you install one of these fountains in your yard or garden. While the amount saved may be very small, people obviously buy these items to leave them on all the time, not just for weeks or months, but years! Over time, this means there is a real difference in money saved if you were to have bought a fountain where you’re paying the electric company for the right to power it.

Of these three reasons, I believe the first one stands up the most as to why people want to get a solar fountain. Not having to spend that much money to buy one in the first place – and then actually SAVING money by owning a solar powered fountain instead of a traditional fountain – well, that’s just icing on the cake!

What reason do you have to get a solar fountain?

Converting Old Statues into a Solar Fountain

2010-05-10T21:10:36Z

Today we have a guest post from our friends at the Garden Decor site. Here Mary discusses when her and husband realized how easy it was to convert statues with sitting water into “living” solar powered fountains. Thanks Mary for your guest post, and I hope to return the favor sometime soon!

Gardening for me is not just about the plants and the flowers. It’s about the whole package, the whole experience. This includes everything from the stone and brick walkways we laid down from the back porch out to the garden, the solar powered stakes that light the way, the hanging lights that illuminate the trees around our garden come nightfall, and to all the garden decor items set up in the garden itself.

Stone statues are abundant in our yard, and for good reason: we like them. Who doesn’t? They cost next to nothing and are easy to buy and set up, since by “set up” you simply need a place to put them!

My husband and I are also a fan of statues with water in them. We had 2 baby angel statues, showing a baby standing next to a column, of which affixed to the top was a bowl-like design for holding water. These are cool looking, yet the water tends to collect and get dirty; which is only natural for stagnant water to do so. This encouraged us to imagine how we could get that water moving, both so it would look cleaner and nicer, but also for the wonderful effect it has on our moods; the sound of rushing water is just fabulous!

Years back, we either converted old fashioned standard powered items into solar powered items, or just went out and bought new items of the same type that were already set to go for solar powered. This second option is much easier than trying to convert something to solar power! However, the exception is for making something that had no moving, powered parts – like a statue with water sitting in it – into something that moved, breathed, and flowed!

More specifically, I’m talking about those two stone statues. Turning each one into its own solar fountain was shockingly easy. All it requires was a solar pump and 5 minutes of our time to install it. The only “trick” was positioning the attached (via cord) solar panel in such a way as to not distract other garden pieces or the garden design as a whole. But either way, we spent maybe $75 per pump and that was it.

The good news is that in today’s dollars, those same pumps cost under $50, and some nearly half of that. Additionally, the solar panels themselves are much smaller, making them a lot easier to merge into the existing garden design.

Anyone out there who has old statues that hold and would like a solar fountain, you need look no further than your local garden shop or simply buy online, and you can easily convert it into a solar fountain!

Buying an Expensive Solar Fountain

2009-11-20T17:25:48Z

Solar fountains do NOT have to be expensive. We learned this from our friend Mary recently, who was kind enough to write this guest post on how to cheaply convert your statues into solar fountain statues.

That being said though, there are some wonderful solar fountains out there that cost quite a bit. This begs the question then of what do you get for your money if you choose to go this route? Is it worth it or are you simply paying for someone else to put a pump into a statue?

For our purposes here, I’m talking about the solar fountains in the $200 plus range.This includes items such as the Smart Solar Solar Chatsworth Tier Solar Fountain, the Smart Solar Blenheim 27470R01 Blenheim Two Tier Solar Fountain, and the Smart Solar Cobblestone Cascade Waterfall Fountain. All these cost upwards of $200 or more.

From the names of these fountains, you probably can see that they are much more than just an old fountain with solar pump placed inside them. What you are paying for is two-fold: the design, beauty and elegance of a fountain in combination with the technology placed inside it that powers it via the sun.

Fountains in this range look great. The Smart Solar Cobblestone Cascade fountain for instance, is a beauty. There’s 3 different levels of water falls here – two smaller ones at the top, merging into a large water reserve. The cobblestone adds a true touch of elegance. It is no stretch of the imagination to consider how nice this would be in or around any home or garden!

Looking at your other examples, such as the Smart Solar Blenheim fountain, we can see more reasons why the price is so high, despite the fact that buying a solar pump in and of itself is really cheap these days. These solar fountain has two levels, or tiers, merged into a classic design. It’s beautiful and easy to assemble. Once you’ve set it up, you need only to fill it with water once and then let the sun shine on it.

As you can see, what really makes the expensive solar fountains expensive isn’t so much the solar power that’s driving them, but rather, the design and beauty of the fountain itself. This is actually an ideal situation, because as the cost of solar panels and technology continues to go down, it will make more and more sense to incorporate it into nearly all fountain structures. What you then pay for is what we’ve always paid for when it comes to garden decor and statues – the artistry and design put into the piece itself. Anyone who appreciate these things will find it worth the value of their dollar when buying a high quality solar fountain.