The fountain comes with a water pump which needs the power to push the water up. In the case of a solar water pump, the panel generates electricity from sunlight. That is why many potential buyers have a very relevant question regarding the product: does it work on cloudy or foggy days? A solar water pump may not work properly during cloudy or foggy days without direct sunlight. Moreover, the power the solar panel generates will not be enough to run the system. If you have installed solar batteries, then the situation will be different.
Do you want to know more about the working process? Please read this article.
Table of Contents
How Does a Solar Water Pump Generate Electricity?
Mini solar fountains come with inbuilt solar panels. Some products may have remote solar panels connected with the cord. The photovoltaic cells in the Solar panel capture sunlight and turn it into energy.
It supplies direct energy to the system and stores the excess energy in the battery. When the pump gets sufficient energy, it runs the fountain.
Should I Install Solar Battery to Run the System During Cloudy and Foggy Days?
You need a fully charged battery to run the system during cloudy and foggy days.
If you are living in a place where rain is predominant, then solar panels take a long time to charge the battery.
Generally, solar panels may not work in an optimal state in the absence of sunlight. That is why the water pump does not work properly. It needs 500 GPH to 2,000 GPH power to run the system effectively.
If you have a battery power backup, you can decorate the fountain with LED lights connected to the power supply. Now some questions may come to your mind-
Can I Use a Regular Battery with a Solar Fountain?
I do not encourage you to use a regular battery with a solar fountain because if the product comes with a solar rechargeable battery, you have to replace it with solar batteries.
If you do not have such a replacement, you can run the system with regular batteries for a few hours, which may lead to overheating the system.
Many people ask very similar questions.
Can I Run a Solar Water Pump with Electricity During Cloudy and Foggy Days?
Solar is less powerful than coal energy. That is why if you use electricity, it may cause burnout.
Please consult with an expert before using regular batteries and power supply with solar products.
Factors that Determine the Use of Solar Fountain
Many factors influence the working process. Remember the following points before buying a solar fountain or water pump. The main factors are:
Direct Sunlight and Shade
Solar panels use sunlight to generate power for the system. Indeed it is an eco-friendly and renewable energy source, but the absence of sunlight may influence the system.
Solar pool heaters and lamps may work in cloudy or foggy conditions, but fountain/ solar water pumps need more power than other products. That is why these products do not work in the absence of sunlight.
Temperature
If the surrounding temperature is too hot, it may deteriorate the performance of the panel and batteries. A sunny day of 10 to 35 degrees Celsius is appropriate for solar products.
It may not work on winter or rainy days if the surrounding temperature is not suitable for the item. You should consult with a local expert before investing a large amount in a fountain. However, you can buy a mini fountain available at a lower range.
Duration of Use
You have to calculate the usage of the product. Solar fountains run all the time for commercial premises, lodging, and restaurant. That is why they need more power backup at night. However, in residential premises, it may not be utilized at night, so they do not need batteries.
I have a mini solar fountain that is not connected with batteries. I brought it just to decorate the garden and explore the product so that I could write authentic information.
External Batteries
The number and accumulated power supply of batteries determine how long your fountain will survive without sunlight. Besides that, they also take more time to get fully charged.
External Panels
The installation of a solar panel is very important. You should place it under direct sunlight. However, you can place the solar fountain in the shade. It is only possible when a remote solar panel is connected with a cord.
After reading this article, I hope you understand why solar fountains or water pumps will not work on cloudy and foggy days. It is important to consult with a local expert to inspect your area before installing high-budget solar products on your premises.
If you have any questions, please feel free to comment down below. I will answer it as soon as possible.
