Groundfloor Energy

Before you read on, check out the great deals for Solar Power Pump products below before they expire:

ASW-4751 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous Photo Mugs ASW-4751 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous windmill. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa Alan J. S. Weaving Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway. contact details prints ardea tel and 44 (0) 20 8672 2067 ....

ASW-4752 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous Photo Mugs ASW-4752 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous windmill. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa Alan J. S. Weaving Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway. contact details prints ardea tel and 44 (0) 20 8672 2067 ....

Tripp Lite APS1250 1250W 12V DC to AC Inverter with Automatic Line-to-Battery 30-Amp Charger $387.00 12V DC, 120V AC - 120V AC - Continuous Power:1250W...

Tripp Lite PV1000HF PowerVerter Ultra-Compact Inverter 12V to 120VAC 1000 Watts (4) 5-15R Outlets $189.99 Harness your vehicle''s battery to efficiently power office equipment on the road or power tools at a work site. Continuously supplies up to 1000 watts of 120V AC power to 3 AC outlets from any 12V battery or automotive DC source. Includes a set of nut and bolt style DC terminals for simple installation. Super-compact, lightweight metal case design is among the smallest, most rugged inverters avai...

Solar Cell Phone Laptop Netbook Adapter Charger $119.99 ?Highly versatile with as many as 4 different connectors and an 8-in-one connector belt, compatible with most cell phones, notebook/netbooks, PSPs, MP3/MP4s, PDAs, digital cameras, electronic dictionaries, IPAQs! ?Specification: Input: AC100V-240V Output: 4.2V 8.4V 12.4V 16.8V 9V 500-2000mA Li-polymer Battery: 11200 mAh 14.8V ?Compatibility list: Connector/Tip 1: 2 mm round pin, suitable ...

Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of ASW-4751 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous from Ardea Wildlife Pets $24.99 Photo Puzzle, ASW-4751 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous. ASW-4751 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous windmill. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa Alan J. S. Weaving Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway. contact details prints ardea tel and 44 (0...

Photo Jigsaw Puzzle of ASW-4752 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous from Ardea Wildlife Pets $24.99 Photo Puzzle, ASW-4752 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous. ASW-4752 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous windmill. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa Alan J. S. Weaving Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway. contact details prints ardea tel and 44 (0...

Roadpro 12V Battery Clip-On and Cigarette Lighter Adapter $4.94 Roadpro RPPSAPS 12V Battery Clip On and Cigarette Lighter Adapter....

Sunforce 50022 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger $49.95 Solar Power Chargers for your 12V batteries and accessories. Power-up anywhere, affordably! These Solar Power devices grab free "juice" from the sun! They extend the life of your 12V batteries, maintain the charge and allow you to run various electronics (deer feeders, landscaping pumps, etc.) from your batteries. Clean, silent operation... with both cigarette lighter adapter and battery clamps. T...

Sunforce 50033 15-Watt Solar Charging Kit $94.95 The Sunforce 50033 15-Watt Solar Charging Kit gives you several more reasons to love the sun. It provides the power you need, while helping you save money and protect the environment. This kit is ideal for cabins, recreational vehicles, remote power, back-up power, and 12-Volt battery charging. It comes with everything you need to start producing up to 15 Watts/125mA of clean, free power in all we...

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How To Make A Solar Power Pump Fountain

If you are thinking of doing a few upgrades to your garden, have you ever thought of getting a solar powered pump birdbath? In fact, why buy one, when you can make it?

So why would you want to make a solar powered pump birdbath?

The Advantages Are:

• Fountains circulate the water, keeping the bird bath from going stagnant
• The pump does not have to plugged into your power supply
• The pump runs on DC power, so no inverter is needed.
• It requires little power (about 6 volts) so you only need a few small solar panels.
• No batteries are required, since the pump only really needs to operate during the day when the sun is out and the birds are in the garden.
• You could learn to make your own solar panels, reducing the cost even further.
• The birdbath can be placed anywhere in your garden, without the need for unsightly 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 alternative is to, and more DIY approach is to buy a birdbath that is ready for a fountain pump to be installed (it has the right holes, and a place for the pump to be installed), and then add the various pump and power components.

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 Attachment:

This is optional, but it make the water spirt out the top, instead of just trickling out. It can be found at you rlocal nursery or hardware store.

Small DC Pump:

Depending your birdbath size, the volume of water to be pumped and how high you want to pump it, will help you decide on the voltage and size pump needed. For your average, medium-sized birdbath, a small 6 volt DC pump will suffice.

Thin, Flexible PVC Pipe:

This 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 used to seal all joins where the water could escape from, and also to insulate any bare wire from getting wet where it has been joined.

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.

->To get the solar panels, you have 2 choices:

1 : Buy a small expensive solar kit from Wallmart or Target or any other local supplier.

2 : The cheaper, DIY route and make the panel yourself. Luckily this is actually rather simple for anyone to learn to do. So if you want to learn to make your own, then carry on reading to the end...

To get the maximum sunlight, the solar panels need to be fixed in simple frame, and be south-facing (if you are in the northern hemisphere).

How easy is it to put it all together?

Once you have all the components and tools at your disposal, putting the system together shouldn't take you more than 2 hours. And within an afternoon you could have a fully functional solar powered pump birdbath.

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:

Deep cycle battery:

Since the system is small, a 12 volt battery should be enough. This will be wired up between the charge controller and the pump.

Solar charge controller:

This is not essential, but it prevents your battery from over-charging. So it can really extend the life of the battery. It will be wired up between the solar panels and the battery.

The nice thing about about building a solar powered pump birdbath yourself is that it is not only cheaper, but once you know how, you can make as many as you want. It could also make a great gift for an energy conscious friend or family member.

About the Author

Tim McDonald and his wife have been living off the grid since June 2008. If you want to learn to make your own diy renewable energy and save thousands on your electricity bills, then Try Earth4Energy For FREE, before you go out and start any renewable energy project.

Solar Pump, Solar-Hydro Power Plant

ASW-4751 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous Photo Mugs ASW-4751 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous windmill. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa Alan J. S. Weaving Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway. contact details prints ardea tel and 44 (0) 20 8672 2067 ....

ASW-4752 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous Photo Mugs ASW-4752 Solar panel for powering water pump at waterhole, replacing previous windmill. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Northern Cape, South Africa Alan J. S. Weaving Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in anyway. contact details prints ardea tel and 44 (0) 20 8672 2067 ....

Honeywell Econoswitch RPLS740B 7-Day Solar Time Table Programmable Switch for Lights and Motors $35.89 The Honeywell RPLS740B 7-Day Solar Time Table Programmable Switch for Lights and Motors helps you save money by ensuring that your lights come on only when you need them. This unit works with incandescent, halogen, and fluorescent lighting, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use. It also works with ceiling fans, bathroom fans, pond pumps, and pool pumps. Featuring three operating modes and sev...

Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater and Outdoor Shower $149.00 Enjoy instant hot water wherever you go with the Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater. Generating more than 1 gallon of hot water per minute, this compact, energy-efficient heater creates a more comfortable and convenient outdoor experience for you and your family. The water heater comes with everything you need, including the adapters required to attach any standard garden hose nozzle and p...

Sunforce 50022 5-Watt Solar Battery Trickle Charger $49.95 Solar Power Chargers for your 12V batteries and accessories. Power-up anywhere, affordably! These Solar Power devices grab free "juice" from the sun! They extend the life of your 12V batteries, maintain the charge and allow you to run various electronics (deer feeders, landscaping pumps, etc.) from your batteries. Clean, silent operation... with both cigarette lighter adapter and battery clamps. T...

Duracell DPP-300EP Powerpack 300 with Built-in 300-watt Inverter and 250 PSI Air Compressor, (Pack of 1) $92.80 DURACELL¨ Powerpack 300 Provides Portable Emergency Power. The Duracell¨ Powerpack 300EP provides you with portable, rechargeable power for almost any emergency situation. With 300 watts of AC power, an LED flashlight, a built-in air compressor, and jumper cables, the Duracell¨ Powerpack 300EP gives you portable power when you need it most. Its detachable ultra-bright LED flashlight mak...

Sunforce 11240 1000 Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter with Remote Control $191.73 The Sunforce 1000 Watt pure-sine inverter converts 12V DC to 110V AC of pure-sine wave power. Operates pumps, mini motors and appliances that won't run on modified sine wave inverters. An ideal choice for sensitive electronics. Power Supply: 12V DC, Continuous Watts: 1,000, Surge Watts: 2,000, Surge Amps: 16, AC Outlets (qty.): (2) 110V, DC Outlets (qty.): 1, LED Indicators: Yes, Modified Sine Wav...

Intermatic WH40 Electric Water Heater Timer, Grey $48.99 - External override switch - May be able to save if "time of day" rates are used in your area - Heavy duty 40 amp rating - Easy to install - Easy to program - Supply hot water only when you need it - 10,000 watts, 40 amps, 250 volts, 60Hz capacity...

Roadpro 12V Battery Clip-On and Cigarette Lighter Adapter $4.94 Roadpro RPPSAPS 12V Battery Clip On and Cigarette Lighter Adapter....

Sunforce 50033 15-Watt Solar Charging Kit $94.95 Works with Automobiles/Boats/Tractors/ATVs/Electric Fences/Deer Feeders/Telemetry and More. Maintenance Free / Easy Installation. Pre Cut Holes for Easy Installation. 4 Stainless Steel Screws. Battery Clamps. CLA Adapter. 12ft Wire. 7 Amp Charge Controller. Works in All Weather Conditions. Ultra Bright Blue LED Provides Charging Indication. Built-in Blocking Diode Protects Battery Discha...

Small Capacity Solar-powered Water Pump System $49.99 Water pump can be set up wherever desired without batteries or wiring installation Replace electric power with solar pump to make your fountain more environment-friendlySolar-powered pump is more portable and safer for your kids

1.3-watt Solar Fountain Pond Water Pump $49.99 Hard working solar powered pump maintains the relaxing gurgling sound of water Water fountain pump is powered by direct sunlightSolar panel is 1.3 watts