Everything You Need to Know about Solar Fountains

Solar products are upgrading; people have many questions regarding new technologies used in Solar products. Solar fountains have been on the market since 2010, but now it has become popular on social media, so people want to know more about the product and its uses. Here I have added answers to some frequently asked questions related to solar fountains. If you want to learn more, please comment down below. I will try to add the answer to this article.

How Long Do Solar Fountains Last?

Solar fountains will last for five years, depending on your maintenance and many other factors. If you regularly use the pump and clean it properly, the fountain will last up to 5 years.

Do not expose the solar pump to direct sunlight. It is mainly used to enhance the aesthetic quality of the garden. Too much heat or too much pressure can shorten the lifespan of the product.

You can use it in less sunny weather and expose the solar panel under direct sunlight for a long time.

Different Types of Solar Fountains

There are two kinds of solar fountains on the market. One type of fountain comes with a battery and the second type does not have a battery backup. 

You have to understand the difference between the two products.

Solar Fountain without Battery

Smaller solar fountains do not have battery backup, and they cannot store power. During the daytime, the solar panel captures sunlight and generates electricity that helps to circulate the water in the fountain. The fountain is connected with an inbuilt panel. Please note that it does not work without direct sunlight. 

solar fountain

If you want to use it for a restaurant, then you have to invest some money in a solar battery. 

Do you want to buy it for room decoration? It is better if you buy the following product.

Solar Fountain with Battery

It has the ability to operate without direct sunlight. It works in a very similar way to solar lamps or any other solar product. It comes with a panel that generates electricity and stores it in a battery which is rechargeable.

At night when sunlight is not available, it uses the battery to run the system. It is costly than fountain without battery, but it is worth the value.

How Long Do Solar Fountain Batteries Last?

Solar fountain batteries do not last more than two years because they need repeated charging. Solar batteries have a rechargeable cycle. When they reach the highest level, they discharge quickly.

If you find your battery is discharging quickly, then you can try the following method-

  • Boost the charging facility by leaving the solar panel under direct sunlight. 
  • Check the solar panel if it is scratched or not because sometimes the battery cannot charge well due to scratched solar panels.
  • If both of these processes fail, you should consult an expert.

How Long will a Solar Battery Run before Recharge?

However, a solar battery will last 4 hours before it needs to be recharged. You can extend the run time by installing more batteries on your premises.

If you use a solar pump without a battery, it does not need charging because it works with the help of direct sunlight.

What is a Dry Run Protection Pump?

Dry run protection technology works as an auto-cut technology that turns the pump off when the water level is too low. 

Please note that the pump usually runs even when the fountain is not working properly, or the water has dried. This way, the dry run protection technology enhances the life of the pump and makes the product long-lasting. 

Next time when you are going to buy the product, please check if it has this feature. Cheap quality products do not have this feature, or if it has, then the quality will be low. That is why you should buy high-quality branded solar fountains for your garden.

How Long can My Solar Fountain Run Indoors on AC Power?

You should not run a solar cascade fountain on AC power for more than five hours. 

  • Electricians suggest AC power is different from solar power. 
  • Overuse of AC power in a solar product may decrease the lifespan. 
  • Excessive use of AC power in a solar fountain may cause overheating and potential burnout. 

What are the Items Included with Solar Fountains? 

A solar fountain includes 

  • Pump: maintains the circulation of water. 
  • Panel: generates electricity from sunlight. 
  • Cord: connects panel and the system. 
  • Some high-quality solar panels also come with LED lights and batteries. 

How Do I Switch My Fountain from Battery Mode to Solar Mode?

You can find a button to switch solar mode and battery mode, but different solar fountain models have different facilities. Some models have auto-switch technology to power the fountain with battery backup whenever sunlight is unavailable. 

How to Get LED Lights to Work in the Solar Fountain? 

Solar fountains with battery backup may have LED lights in the system that enhance the beauty of the product. The light is also connected with the cord and solar panel.  

In short, you have to connect the fountain with a solar panel and battery. Besides that, connect LED lights with a battery so that they can illuminate in darkness. 

It will illuminate when the panel cannot generate power (that means in darkness).  

If you want to add other artificial lights, you can connect them with the battery or use an on-grid power supply to decorate the fountain. 

Where Should I Place My Panel for a Solar Fountain? 

The distance between the solar panel and fountain will depend on the cord size. It can be 16 feet or 32 feet, so you can place this solar panel under direct sunlight.  

Please remember that you can place a solar fountain in the shade, but you should not place a solar panel in the shade. You have to keep it under direct sunlight to get optimum performance. 

How Far Away Can I Put the Solar Panel from the Fountain?

Solar fountains come with 9.5 feet to 32 feet long cords to place the solar panel while keeping a safe distance from the fountain. 

It also increases the aesthetic quality of the premises. It means you can set the fountain on the floor and the panel on the rooftop.

For more details, you should read the specification section of the product page. Many products come with a 32 feet cord, giving you enough space to decorate around the fountain.

Where Should I Place My Solar Fountain?

You can place a solar fountain anywhere on your premises, depending on the cord and distance from the solar panel.

Some of the great outdoor spaces for this product are the garden, patio, deck, and front porch. You have to place the solar panel under direct sunlight so that it can generate electricity to run the system. 

Basically, the length of the cord sets the distance between the panel and the fountain. The cord can be 10 feet, 16 feet, or 32 feet, depending on the product model.

Can I Place a Solar Fountain under the Shade?

You can place a solar fountain under the shade as long as the panel is under direct sunlight.

You have to choose an area that is open to direct sunlight so that you can place the panel there. It is better to invest in buying a solar battery to run the system even at night.

Matt Hardy

Aim for Solar is an online platform for solar products. Matt has extensive experience in solar industries with an online certificate affiliated to The State University of New York. He aims to encourage others to enjoy the blessing of solar products. Read unbiased product reviews and other blogs. Please feel free to contact us at support@aimforsolar.com

This Post Has One Comment

  1. Robin

    Great post, very insightful, I am sharing this with my audience. Keep up the good work!

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