How to Build a Solar Powered Pump Birdbath

!: How to Build a Solar Powered Pump Birdbath

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.

How to Build a Solar Powered Pump Birdbath

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Pondless Waterfall Installation

!: Pondless Waterfall Installation

Mike Gannon of Full Service Aquatics and THE POND HUNTER video series brings you along on a pondless waterfall installation. A multi cascade waterfall construction with filter, rock, and plant descriptions. Waterfall is blended into backyard landscape design. Thanks for watching THE POND HUNTER video series, and please visit our official sites! www.fullserviceaquatics.com http www.twitter.com

Pondless Waterfall Installation

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Beckett 7104710 Waterfall and Stream Pump 1172gph

!: Best Prices Beckett 7104710 Waterfall and Stream Pump 1172gph Top Quality

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Beckett's waterfall and stream pump operates at 1,172 gallons per hour at a one foot lift. It features wet rotor, wet bearing technology, handles large particles, is energy efficient, has a water cooled motor, and quiet operation. The oil less pump is designed for continuous operation, underwater use only, and includes a 16 foot cord.

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!: Saved Rio 32HF HyperFlow Water Pump - 1920 GPH ideas

Brand : Hyper flow | Rate : | Price : $113.39
Post Date : Nov 25, 2011 09:24:24 | Usually ships in 24 hours

Professional grade water pump with new power magnetic vortex rotor blade technology. Drive shaft is made of hardened ceramic and runs on ceramic bearing inside the impeller. Compact pump with more output power, only comparable to an external MD water pump. Energy effecient water pumps, with excellent gallons of water flow per watt of power used. Can be used for water circulation and comes with all attachments to operate as a main filtration pump. 1920 gallons per hour. 115 watts. Maximum head - 14 foot. Output tubing size - 1 inch.

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Laying the liner in a pondless waterfall

!: Laying the liner in a pondless waterfall

This is video # 2 of the pondless installation

Laying the liner in a pondless waterfall

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!: Low Price New 5283 GPH Submersible Water Pump Pond Pump Fountain Waterfall Pump Top Quality

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New 5283 GPH Submersible Water Pump Pond Pump Fountain Waterfall Pump

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Extra Long 33ft (UL) Cord with 3 Different Sizes Prong.

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Fall Pond Cleaning

!: Fall Pond Cleaning

Doing a full pond cleaning during the colder winter months can be
very stressful on your fish. However, if the pond is really
dirty and full of 'muck' - then you may want to consider it
because all of the decaying organic matter in the pond can cause
problems if the pond ices over, and this begins to de-gas and
rot.

So, I think the best solution, and what we used to do for our
clients was do a partial Fall pond cleaning.

Here's how to do it:

First, get a container that will hold roughly 100 gallons or so,
or up to half of your pond volume (bigger is better). Then take
a pump with a hose, and pump out the relativel 'clean' water from
your pond by holding the pump just beneath the water surface.
Keep as much of the 'old' pond water as you can. Then, catch
your fish (if possible) and place them into the holding tank of
their own (clean) water.

Then you can either net out your leaves and dispose of them,
along with any muck that you can get out also. Alternatively,
you can then pump out the remaining water and do a thorough clean
out, including vacuuming out the pond with a large wet/dry vac
(this works great!).

Then refill the pond back up to the level it was at before
disposing of the water, de-chlorinate the water, and adjust the
pH to match that of the 'old' water in your holding tank. At
this point, start pumping new water from the pond into your
holding tub, and then pumping the mixture back into the pond. Do
this for 15-20 minutes until the new water mixture matches that
in the pond - and then pump the remaining water back into your
pond while netting your fish back in as well.

But it's very important not to expose your fish to new water
conditions too quickly as differences in temperature and pH can
cause extreme stress to your fish, affect the immune system, and
even cause shock or fish death. So always be careful when
changing water.

Fall Pond Cleaning

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