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Inherited Solar Water fountain

blacklight650blacklight650 Posts: 2
in Problem solving
Hi all. I recently came across a boxed up and unopened solar water fountain when going through my dad's stuff. I've set it up with three plants  in a tub (with bricks for visitors to get back out again) and all seems to be working...sort of. I think this is an old item and as such does not hold charge well, a big enough cloud is sufficient to stop the pump dead in its tracks and after seven o'clock in the evening (at this time of year) it's hasta mañana! I hate to throw anything away, or spend money unnecessarily and can think of a fix / modification - if I were to add some kind of rechargeable battery in to the circuit in between the panel and the pump where the lead connects. Google searches have not yielded many (useful) results, the direction the internet is driving me in is 'buy a new kit' but I don't want to do that. Ultimately I just want to be able to move the water enough for it to not go stagnant. Has anyone conquered a problem like mine without buying a new pump / kit?

Many thanks.

Posts

  • ontopofthehillontopofthehill Posts: 76
    Not sure if this would work for yours but we got a solar feature from aldi a few months back. Like yours it only works in full sun (no battery). We got a 6v plug off something else and plug it in whenever we want it running continuously.
  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    blacklight650 said:
     I think this is an old item and as such does not hold charge well

    Many thanks.
    Does it have a battery or not?
    If the answer is no then my answer is no.
    If it never had a battery then the panel won't be big enough to charge one and run the pump at the same time.
    More details about the product would be useful, make, model, pictures etc.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    My pumps only work when the sun is shining but it should be ok to stop water going stagnant in this weather. Maybe get a few oxygenating plants too if you don’t already have some? 
  • blacklight650blacklight650 Posts: 2
    It has no battery. The make is a Sunjet, I don't have the model number to hand at the moment as it is at home. The product is identical to this:

  • ontopofthehillontopofthehill Posts: 76
    Looks very similar setup to ours. We just bypass the solar panel by attaching the plug instead when it's cloudy.
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    That small panel won't be able to run the pump and charge a back-up battery at the same time. You could buy a bigger panel, battery and charge controller but it may make better financial sense to just use what you have since it was free.
  • janetfossjanetfoss Posts: 303
    edited August 2022
    I hope nobody minds me sneaking in here- but as the subject is solar pond pumps/fountain may I ask a question? 
    I'm wishing to purchase a solar pump- fountain and am bamboozled when it comes to choice. Obviously I'd like it to be of good quality, I know price will reflect that. Could someone guide me as the best one to buy?
    Thanks so much, if you can help.
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