Solar Powered bird bath fountain requires two significant pieces of equipment, one is the container where the water will get collected, and another is the setup of a solar panel. Connect the fountain pump to the solar panel and keep the solar panel in direct sunlight to power the fountain pump.
How to set up the Solar powered bird bath fountain?
Bird Bath with a Free Solar Fountain
We will discuss the solar-powered fountain that keeps pumping the water during the day. As its sunsets, the pump would no longer receive the solar panel’s electricity, so it will automatically shut down.
The following day again, when the sun rises and the sunray reaches the solar panel, the fountain gets activated without human interaction and pumps the water into the fountain. Once the setup is installed, the whole system runs autonomously.
Step by Step guide to Setting up the Birdbath in your Garden.
Materials
- Small Water Pump 12V
- 12V/60W Solar Panel and connecting wires
- UV-treated Plastic Saucer or Basin created using Cement
[snippet]Note: There are small solar pumps like this from Amazon. This type of product will save you time.[/snippet]
1) First of all Decide the place:
The solar-powered fountain would require direct sunlight to produce an adequate amount of electricity. While setting the fountain, ensure that you have a place where you can put the solar panel facing the direct sunlight.
It is essential to find the right place which will offer maximum solar exposure. Else the solar panel would not be able to catch the required sunlight. No sufficient electricity would stop the fountain.
2) Deep Container:
Outdoor Colorful Flower Glass Birdbath
Once you have decided on the place for the birdbath fountain, the next step is to place the deep container.
Find or build a container that would hold a sufficient amount of water for the bird to take a bath. Also, the flowing water will move through the top layer of the fountain to the connected pump.
If you plan to decorate the fountain with an aquarium decorative, then have the container with require deep, so you can comfortably arrange the stuff in your fountain.
Ensure that you are not making the fountain very congested.
You can also find the decorative garden fountain in the stores. These fountains would have small artwork, mannequin or decorative that makes the fountain look interesting.
3) Place the Fountain Motor Pump:
3.5W LED Solar Fountain for Birdbath
Depending on your need, you can have the fountain. For this project, choose the fountain that comfortably fits your deep container in the centre so the water moving through the fountain would land in the container, and there will be no wastage.
In water should get collected back to the container else, as the day pa, the water level gets decrease, and after a few hours, the whole fountain will be empty.
The pump will be running without water and could get damaged due to excessive heat. Ensure that the fountain that you choose is durable and could sustain the outdoor heat.
You can cover the pump using decorative stones like lava stone to make it natural looking and safeguard the motor from birds.
4) Decorative Items for Aesthetic Look:
Once you have your fountain in the right place, the final step is to decorate your fountain. If you have made your fountain using cement and other stuff, paint it white colour or any different colour you prefer.
Use the decoration to make the fountain look beautiful. You can arrange some plants to make it look hidden from the view, and only the top view is open so the bird can see and reach the fountain.
Put some river stones in the fountain. The river stones are primarily rounded in shape, and they may not have the edges like normal stones. So the bird would not get injured from it.
Put everything together, and once you are satisfied with the decoratives’ placement, it is time to activate the fountain.
First, pour the water into the fountain and submerge the fountain top under the water as per the fountain’s manual’s instructions.
Connect the fountain cable with the solar panel and put the solar panel in direct sunlight. The solar panel will start generating electricity instantly.
Your fountain would start processing the water, and you will see the beautiful looking fountain in your garden.
The birds will start appearing on the fountain to enjoy the water and take a bath. The DIY solar birdbath set-up is complete now. It will run seamlessly.
1.6W Solar Pond Fountain Pump for Garden Decor
Maintenance Tips for Your Solar Bird Bath Fountain:
- You have to pour the water regularly as some of the water gets lost due to heat, and as birds start spending time in the water, the water level will decrease.
- Regularly clean the fountain. Else, the pump will not work if there is too much dirt in the water. The fountain pump requires clean water that it can pass easily through the nozzle.
- If the dirt and waste product get trapped in the pump, the pump will automatically get shut down, and there will be no fountain. Therefore, keep your fountain clean.
What are the benefits of a DIY solar-powered bird bath fountain?
The DIY projects are always good when you are working on your garden. The DIY project would teach you a lot in the process and make your self sustaining person. It is a great learning process when you work on a DIY project.
Here are some of the top benefits of the DIY solar birdbath.
1) Affordability:
Instead of buying the entire setup from the store, you can make your fountain birdbath in your backyard with a few elements.
Use the old household equipment and make your own beautiful-looking solar-powered bird bath fountain.
2) Easy Installation and disassembling:
When you make your own DIY solar birdbath fountain, it would be easy for you to install them and disassemble them whenever required.
3) Use your creativity:
Use your creativity to design and decorate the DIY Solar powered birdbath. Place the element in a way that will provide enough space for the birds to swim, use the river stone to help the bird stand in the water, and remove any element with sharp edges.
4) No electricity bills:
Unlike other fountains, the DIY solar birdbath would be powered by 100% renewable energy. While setting the fountain, you will have another setup for the solar panel near the fountain powering the entire system.
Eng. Matthew Joseph Nandirio is the Founder of walkingsolar.
After graduating from the University of Houston in 2002, matt started working as a Solar Electrical Engineer for several multi-national solar energy companies.
He has a wide range of experiences including solar system requirement analysis, planning, maintaining, debugging and even solar device development through research.
He now shares his 20 years of expertise through his articles on the walkingsolar website.
Further, he is also the author of two books on Solar Technology, “Solar Power for Villages” and “DIY Solar System for Dummies”.