The Solar Powered Pump Birdbath: How To Do it Yourself
by Tim McDonald
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?
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: It uses none of your main power supply
c: No inverter is needed since the pump operates on direct current.
d: The pump uses minute power (only 6volts) so very few solar panels are needed
e: The fountain usually operates during the day when the birds are out in the sun, so batteries are not essential
f: It is possible to make the entire system your yourself, helping you save money
g: 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 most basic method is to buy a working birdbath with fountain, and then wire up the 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 decide to make your own fountain, you will need:
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 attachment can be source from your nearby hardware store or garden center. It is an optional extra that helps make the water spout out of the top, instead of a small trickle.
Small Fountain 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.
Thin, Flexible PVC Pipe:
When buying the irrigation for the fountain, it is best not to get piping that is too wide, otherwise the right water pressure will not be maintained and the pump will not work properly. So before you buy the wrong tubing, get advice from your local garden center and see what they use in similarly sized birdbaths
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 makes this birdbath unique to your average water fountain. Depending on what size pump you buy, will need to get enough solar panels for the fountain to work properly. A a typical 6 volt pump, you will require solar panels with a capacity of at least 6 volts. But is better to be on the safe side and get a 12 volt solar panel instead, for times when it is cloudy and for late afternoons.
NB: To get the solar panels, you have 2 choices:
1 : Buy a small commercial portable solar power kit from a department store such as Target.
2: Make your own solar panel. This is actually much easier than people make it out to be. With the right instructions you could build your own panel in an afternoon. If you want to go the diy way, 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?
With the right tools and parts and a the right attitude you could have a fully functional solar powered pump birdbath in an afternoons work. It really depends on your level of experience, but many of our friends (even housewives) have managed to make their own fountains.
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:
Since the system is small, a 12 volt battery should be enough. This will be wired up between the charge controller and the 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.
