| If you are thinking of doing a few upgrades to | | | | options. Otherwise, get ideas from finished pump |
| your garden, have you ever thought of getting a | | | | powered fountains. As a rule of thumb, the PVC |
| solar powered pump birdbath? In fact, why buy | | | | piping needs to be narrow to maintain enough |
| one, when you can make it? | | | | water pressure. |
| So why would you want to make a solar | | | | Silicon Sealant: |
| powered pump birdbath? | | | | This is used to seal all joins where the water |
| The Advantages Are: | | | | could escape from, and also to insulate any bare |
| - Fountains circulate the water, keeping the bird | | | | wire from getting wet where it has been joined. |
| bath from going stagnant | | | | Solar Panels: |
| - The pump does not have to plugged into your | | | | This is what sets this off-grid system apart from |
| power supply | | | | conventionally powered birdbath fountains. The |
| - The pump runs on DC power, so no inverter is | | | | pump will help determine how many solar panels |
| needed. | | | | you need. For a 6 volt DC pump, you will need at |
| - It requires little power (about 6 volts) so you | | | | least a 6 volt solar panel, but rater double up on |
| only need a few small solar panels. | | | | the solar panels for times when the sun is weak. |
| - No batteries are required, since the pump only | | | | ->To get the solar panels, you have 2 choices: |
| really needs to operate during the day when the | | | | 1 : Buy a small expensive solar kit from Wallmart |
| sun is out and the birds are in the garden. | | | | or Target or any other local supplier. |
| - You could learn to make your own solar panels, | | | | 2 : The cheaper, DIY route and make the panel |
| reducing the cost even further. | | | | yourself. Luckily this is actually rather simple for |
| - The birdbath can be placed anywhere in your | | | | anyone to learn to do. So if you want to learn to |
| garden, without the need for unsightly wires. | | | | make your own, then carry on reading to the |
| And what does it take to make a solar powered | | | | end... |
| pump birdbath? | | | | To get the maximum sunlight, the solar panels |
| The easiest way is to simply buy a birdbath with | | | | need to be fixed in simple frame, and be |
| a pump and fountain already fitted. Then all you | | | | south-facing (if you are in the northern |
| need to do is wire up some small solar panels. | | | | hemisphere). |
| The alternative is to, and more DIY approach is | | | | How easy is it to put it all together? |
| to buy a birdbath that is ready for a fountain | | | | Once you have all the components and tools at |
| pump to be installed (it has the right holes, and a | | | | your disposal, putting the system together |
| place for the pump to be installed), and then add | | | | shouldn't take you more than 2 hours. And within |
| the various pump and power components. | | | | an afternoon you could have a fully functional |
| If you go the DIY route, then you will need to | | | | solar powered pump birdbath. |
| get: | | | | A nice added extra is to hook up some batteries |
| The Birdbath: | | | | to the system. That way you can store any |
| Here you have a choice of cascading fountains, | | | | excess power, and the pump could run all day and |
| copper fountains, terracotta birdbaths, resin | | | | night. If you do want the fountain to operate for |
| fountains, or the conventional ceramic birdbath. | | | | 24 hours, then you will need the following: |
| Just make sure a pump system can be installed | | | | Deep cycle battery: |
| on the birdbath. | | | | Since the system is small, a 12 volt battery |
| The Fountain Attachment: | | | | should be enough. This will be wired up between |
| This is optional, but it make the water spirt out | | | | the charge controller and the pump. |
| the top, instead of just trickling out. It can be | | | | Solar charge controller: |
| found at you rlocal nursery or hardware store. | | | | This is not essential, but it prevents your battery |
| Small DC Pump: | | | | from over-charging. So it can really extend the life |
| Depending your birdbath size, the volume of | | | | of the battery. It will be wired up between the |
| water to be pumped and how high you want to | | | | solar panels and the battery. |
| pump it, will help you decide on the voltage and | | | | The nice thing about about building a solar |
| size pump needed. For your average, | | | | powered pump birdbath yourself is that it is not |
| medium-sized birdbath, a small 6 volt DC pump will | | | | only cheaper, but once you know how, you can |
| suffice. | | | | make as many as you want. It could also make a |
| Thin, Flexible PVC Pipe: | | | | great gift for an energy conscious friend or family |
| This what the water will flow through. It is best | | | | member. |
| to ask your nursery about the various irrigation | | | | |