How Solar Fountains Work
Solar fountains are the hot item for summer, with good reason - they're environmentally friendly, economical, and super easy to set up. They come in many colors, sizes and styles, so anyone can find one that suits their outdoor decorating style. They need virtually no maintenance at all, can be placed anywhere that receives exposure to sunlight, and make no noise other than the relaxing sound of flowing water.
Solar fountains operate entirely on the power of the sun, with no electrical power source required. The solar fountain pump is connected to a solar panel made up of photovoltaic (PV) cells, which collect energy for use. These cells are made up of silicon, which is the main component of sand. Typically, the PV cells are very thin, and therefore cannot store energy for use at night. This is due to the great amount of energy required for the solar powered fountain pump versus the amount needed by a solar garden light, for example. The solar panel requires direct sunlight to perform at its maximum power level, so you may want to place your fountain accordingly.
One of the biggest perks of using a solar fountain instead of an electric fountain is the ease of use. No installation is necessary in most cases - you can simply place the fountain in its desired position. If the fountain has the solar panel built directly into it, like the Brushed Copper Birdbath Solar Fountain or the Lily Solar Pond Fountain (pictured left), you're ready to go! If the fountain has a separate solar panel, such as the Green Ceramic Cascade Solar Fountain (pictured above right), you have more options for placement of the fountain. This is due to the fact that the panel has 15 feet of cord, allowing you to position the panel in direct sunlight but place the fountain further away, in a shady spot such as a patio. Solar panels can be set up in a number of ways - you can either use the mounting system that comes with the fountain to stand it up on a hard surface, use the included grass stake, or mount it to a wall. If your lawn or garden has a lot of shrubs or other plant life that may block the panel's access to direct sunlight, a good solution is to mount the panel to a wooden post to keep it above the level of the greenery.
While summer creates the ideal weather conditions for the use of solar fountains, they can be used year-round as long as the temperature remains above freezing. Any sunny day will allow your fountain to flow, creating that wonderful flowing water sound and acting as a beautiful decorative accent for your outdoor space. Solar fountains are available in blue, green, copper, terracotta, birdbath styles and for use in ponds. KineticFountains.com has a great selection of solar water fountains.
