How To Make A Solar Powered Pump Birdbath
If you have ever wanted to make your garden more environmentally friendly, have you ever thought of buying a solar powered pump fountain? Going one step further, have you ever considered making your own?
What are the benefits of having a solar powered pump fountain?
The pros to getting one are:
a: Fountains circulate the water, keeping the bird bath from going stagnant
b: The fountain is wireless and does not have to be plugged in
c: The pump runs on DC power, so no inverter is needed.
d: It requires little power (about 6 volts) so you only need a few small solar panels.
e: Batteries are optional, since you usually only want the fountain to operate in the day when the birds are around.
f: It is possible to make the entire system your yourself, helping you save money
g: It is very portable since it has no wires.
And what does it take to make a solar powered pump birdbath?
The easiest way is to simply buy a birdbath with a pump and fountain already fitted. Then all you need to do is wire up some small solar panels.
The cheaper, more labor intensive approach would be to get a birdbath with the right holes drilled for the fountain to be installed. And then add on the pump, fountain attachment, irrigation and power supply.
If you go the DIY route, then you will need to get:
The Birdbath:
Here you have a choice of cascading fountains, copper fountains, terracotta birdbaths, resin fountains, or the conventional ceramic birdbath. Just make sure a pump system can be installed on the birdbath.
The Fountain Spout:
This is optional, but it makes the water spout out the top, instead of just trickling out. It can be found at your local nursery or hardware store.
Small DC Pump:
The next part is buying the small dc pump. A typical 6 volt pump should be adequate, but you may need to go bigger, if the birdbath or water feature is larger than normal.
Tubing for irrigation:
This is what the water will flow through. It is best to ask your nursery about the various irrigation options. Otherwise, get ideas from finished pump powered fountains. As a rule of thumb, the PVC piping needs to be narrow to maintain enough water pressure.
Silicon Sealant:
This is one of those essentials that you should already have lying around the house. It will help seal all those joins and also protect electrics from water damage.
The Solar Panels:
This is what sets this off-grid system apart from conventionally powered birdbath fountains. The pump will help determine how many solar panels you need. For a 6 volt DC pump, you will need at least a 6 volt solar panel, but rater double up on the solar panels for times when the sun is weak.
NB: For the solar panels, there are two options:
1 : Buy a small commercially available solar panel from any outlet, such as Wallmart.
2 : Make it yourself. With the right guide it is rather easy and much cheaper to make your own solar panel in a matter of hours. If this is something you would love to try do, then keep reading…
For the solar panel to operate effectively it needs to be fitted in a frame and angled in the direction of the sun. Placing it under a tree will not help.
Can anyone build this birdbath?
If you have all the tools and materials and any diy experience, you could have a working solar powered pump birdbath within in a matter of hours - that’s if all goes to plan…
A nice added extra is to hook up some batteries to the system. That way you can store any excess power, and the pump could run all day and night. If you do want the fountain to operate for 24 hours, then you will need the following:
1) The right battery:
You will need deep cycle battery that is capable of storing a charge for a long time. A 12 volt one should be more than enough to power a 6 volt pump.
Charge Controller:
This is not that important, but to protect the battery from over-charging and to maximize it lifespan, you should a charge controller that sits between the solar panels and the battery.
Over and above it being affordable to build, what I like about putting together my own solar powered pump birdbath, is that once the first one is finished, making the second or third one just gets easier. It could even be a fantastic gift for a close friend or newly wed.
If you want to make your own solar panel for the birdbath, then have a look at the Earth4Energy Sneak Peek - a FREE preview of the top-rated step-by-step solar power guide. It may also help to read the Earth4Energy Review.
