You're very kind, thank you so much, Gail! The first thing that you need to do is set one of the digital pins to output mode. Below is a simple example. { This amount is subject to change until you make payment. :). The downside is it has a possibility of leaking. This is absolutely amazing! Make sure the saucer you use is smaller than the diameter of the basin so the pump can recirculate the water that lies beneath the saucer. I recommend using a 12V relay. If you want the fountain to be on all the time, then you will need a larger panel. I love that the sun is powering the fountain too. { A few examples are given in the following steps. You may find that the attachments result in the water squirting too high in the air. It is filled with plants and fish, and the bees really enjoy it as well! Another feature of this particular solar pump is that it has an on/off switch on the solar panel so you can turn the fountain off while away on vacation. We used a piece of PVC pipe but an inverted pail or smaller pot works fine too. Check to make sure the block is level before setting the water basin on top. Place the pump in the basin and run tubing to the watering can. Grrrrr. digitalWrite(RelayPin, HIGH); // turns the fountain on if the sun is shining Our outdoor lights are all solar and I love them. 4 x 6v golf cart batteries world be 420 amp-hours wired in series-parallel for 12volts. In my spare time I make the how-to series "DIY Hacks and How Tos.". Thank you so much for featuring and sharing it with your readers, and for the pin! Otherwise the code should be the same as in the previous step. Thank you so much, Rita, I'm glad you like it and I appreciate the pin! To power the Arduino, you need to connect the negative terminal of the battery to the GND pin on the Arduino and connect the positive terminal of the battery (or the +12V line from the relay driver circuit) to the Vin pin. Especially during hot weather as the water will evaporate much quicker. This amount includes applicable customs duties, taxes, brokerage and other fees. Since it doesnt work at night, I do have a half of a mosquito dunk in the water so it doesnt become a breeding ground. This lets you power it directly from the battery. We love it! Enjoy your solar water fountain. Also, most pumps will come with different attachments, so feel free to experiment! You guys have any suggestions to point me in the right direction? Copyright 1995-2022 eBay Inc. All Rights Reserved. Then you can use the AnalogRead function to measure a voltage as an integer between 0 and 1023. I'll be featuring it at Thursday Favorite Things today. } It is also possible to use a solar cell as the light sensor. Pinned! Now if only the dang magpies would stop being so curious. fountain solar sunnydaze rosette battery feature backup water garden outdoor florentine rechargeable patio outside finish stone Place something inside the water basin to raise the water pump so it is submerged but the stem of the spray nozzle is above water. I just wanted something simple. Pictured below are most of the supplies we used to make the rechargeable solar water fountain. Your email address will not be published.

} The chosen resistors are 10K and 4.7K. This is a simple example of how to use light sensors so that your fountain will only be on during the day. { I love how lush it looks and how realizing it sounds! At this point, you'll need to choose between white or multi-colored LED lights to illuminate the fountain before placing the cover on the pump. if (val> 720) //if the light level are high delay(60000); // waits for one minute At night the water pump operates on the stored power and it is also illuminated with white or multi-color LED lights. }. I want to do this!!!

Thank you so much Tuula! The battery needs to be a 12V rechargeable battery (preferably one that is designed for solar power applications). So pretty! Thanks Kim I'm thrilled to hear our DIY fountain idea may be the inspiration you needed to make a fountain for your backyard. Thanks for the diy tutorial. You could do this with a commercial relay shield. Or you can make your own relay driver. In fact, as I'm typing this it is raining outside and the fountain is still going. Fill the fountain with water. Get hands-on with kits, books, and more from the Maker Shed, Skill builder, project tutorials, and more, Subscribe to the premier DIY magazine today, Community access, print, and digital Magazine, and more, Browse and Vote on Your Favorite Projects, Learn More About the Amazing Maker Awards, Graphics and More to Help Spread the Word. The LED lights will automatically light up your fountain at dusk. I've got a few new ones coming soon as we undergo some big projects in our backyard. We used a clay saucer that we had on hand but there are clear plastic saucers available too that might not be so visible underwater. You are so clever! Find a spot in your flower bed for the water feature and level the ground. { You can easily use the AnalogRead function to measure a voltage. The Vin pin has a built-in voltage regulator and most Arduino models can accept 7V-12V.

They are still trying to pull the spray head nozzle off despite it being glued on. Also connect one of the leads of the smaller resistor to this same analog pin. It also has a pretty pond scene. The size of the solar panel determines how many hours a day the fountain can be on. If you only want it to run for a few hours each day, then you can get by with a much smaller panel. Wire up the relay driver circuit as shown in the diagram and you are ready to connect it to the Arduino. If you plan on using a cascading spray head nozzle, we recommend the diameter of the barrel or flower pot be a minimum of 20-inches. Following the previous examples you can add any number of sensors to your fountain. delay(60000); // waits for one minute int val = 0; // variable to store the value read I would just connect the panels directly the pump though and just run it while the sun is out. I decided to forgo any water plants right now, but you could easy create a beautiful water garden with some plants and river rocks. To make one, you will need two resistors. Wire the panel directly to a 12v shurflow-type bilge pump. Attach the peg that comes with the solar panel and stick it firmly in the ground. Membership connects and supports the people and projects that shape our future and supports the learning initiatives for the next generation of makers. //this is read by the analogRead function as 785 Music to my ears, Shawn! I have worked in a variety of industries from hydraulic aerial lifts to aircraft tooling. For instance, maybe you want the fountain to turn on at certain times. For the rechargeable solar water fountain basin, we used a resin whiskey barrel but a large flower pot with a wide opening would be fine as well. I want one too. Since most fountain pumps run on 120VAC, you will also need a small power inverter to run the pump. I just used a cheap plastic tub with a slot cut in the side for the power cords. especially when it is lit up at night. It's music to my ears Julie to hear that our fountain has inspired a smaller version for your balcony. Electricity that is produced by the solar panel is stored in the battery. Alternatively, you could use a clear plastic saucer that wouldn't be as visible under the water. 4 batteries and 1000w of panels for running a fountain two hours (ok x3 , but still) . This would enable the system to turn itself off if the battery gets too low. When the Arduino sends a HIGH signal to the gate of the transistor, the relay is activated. To do this connect the negative terminal of the cell to the GND pin on the Arduino and connect the positive terminal to the analog input pin. To make a relay driver, the first thing that you need is a relay. The robins and wrens really love it and will give me the side-eye as they take drinks and bath and I love listening to the fountain run as I sit outside! My experience with the solar pump birdbath is that you need a very wide bowl to capture all of the water otherwise it will spray out eventually draining the bowl. This would be the perfect solution! I thought by adding a DIY Solar Water Fountain, the water feature would not only help cloak the car sounds, but the bubbling water would be so relaxing to listen to. BTW, I just subscribed to your YouTube channel - I'm excited to watch your videos! Then just program the Arduino to react accordingly. The fountain is such a great alternative to not building a full on pond. Please allow additional time if international delivery is subject to customs processing. digitalWrite(RelayPin, HIGH); // turns the fountain on if the battery's voltage is greater than 12V As long as there was enough sun during the day to recharge the solar panel, the fountain will run well into the night. For additional information, see the Global Shipping Program, Floating 3.5W Solar Fountain Pump with 1200mAh Battery Backup DIY Birdbath Water, Standard Shipping from Greater China to worldwide. The upside is that the DIY water fountain has also become a sort of a birdbath. This prevents electricity from flowing back through the panel when it is dark and draining the battery. if (val 785) //if the battery's voltage is greater than 12 Enjoy! Im a tech guy, but not a solar guy, so I really dont have any idea of what I would need. For additional information, see the Global Shipping Program, This amount includes applicable customs duties, taxes, brokerage and other fees. The control circuit in this project uses a relay to turn the fountain on and off. You can also use light levels as a condition for turning the fountain on and off. SO upsize the panel and replace the battery. I love hearing from you! My MIL has a small fountain in her garden and she contemplated changing it a bit, so I am going to show this to her! If you're gonna keep the batteries make sure you use a battery management system or atleast a solar charge controller? document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Thank you so much! Assemble the solar rechargeable light-up water pump according to the manufacturer's instructions. I decided that the most convenient way to connect the other components was to wire them all to the circuit board of the relay driver. Connect the Solar Panel, Battery and Inverter to the Relay Circuit, 5. While you are waiting for the pumpto arrive, you can search for the perfectcontainer. This allows you to save energy by programming when the fountain will be turned on. This subreddit is for you!

Thank you so much for the feature, Pam! Attach your favorite onto the water pump stem. Now if you want the mother of all DIY water fountains, then you will love our largeDIY outdoor water wallidea. A free program that lights childrens creative fires and allows them to explore projects in areas such as arts & crafts, science & engineering, design, and technology.

reimagine secondhand finds into reloved treasures. Power Inverter: Thank you so much my friend! Likely, the battery is dead or damaged by now from not being fully charged for so long. void setup() Some of the nozzles sounded like a hose was running. Discuss your projects, show us pictures, ask for help. pinMode(RelayPin, OUTPUT); // sets the digital pin as output We sure are enjoying our new fountain, especially at night. Because the output of a solar panel is dependent on the weather, you can't always count on it to keep the battery fully charged. See our sponsor and affiliate disclosure here. I love your fountain Marie, and I love it even more because it's solar. This connects power to the inverter and turns it on. What a great summer project! This may be just what we're looking for! Outdoor Ponds, Fountains & Water Features. void loop() Running a small business,shows and shop keeping. In addition, we use third-party cookies to help us analyze and understand usage. a planter). I'm excited to be sharing this with our readers at Tuesday Turn About this week! Thank you so much for sharing! My family has a cemetery and theyve tasked me with getting together a solar setup to run a fountain on the grounds. You need to know the power numbers, before you can figure out how to fix the problem. Press J to jump to the feed. Thanks for stopping by the Interior Frugalista today!

So I decided to run it on solar power. Maker-written books designed to inform and delight! Find a sunny spot in your flower bed near the water fountain for the small battery backup solar panel. The last solar plant pot water fountain I made was with a bird bath-style solar pump that floats on top of the water. The pump has suction cups on the bottom but they do not stick all that well. I liked that there was no hole in the bottom and it was glazed. This listing was ended by the seller because the item is no longer available. I really love solar pumps. This is such a fun idea Marie! As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small commission from any qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. We are really enjoying our front yard water feature, and so are the neighbours! They have already setup a pump, small panel, and battery with the controller, but the pump only runs for a short amount of time before the battery depletes. This is so cool. Thanks for all the inspiration! So you need to make a voltage divider to reduce the voltage to something that can be measured. The photoresistor should be connected to the positive voltage from the battery and the 10K resistor should be connected to ground. This post contains affiliate links and Amazon affiliate links. To help keep things a little more organized, I made a simple housing for the relay driver and the Arduino. I am so going to make one of these in the next few days. I placed a few pieces of 24 blocks we had laying around to help take up some space so I didnt need as much rock. Solar Panel: Love it Marie. If you do too, make sure you take the pump with you to pick the correct size. The power inverter just needs to be strong enough to power the pump. Happy 4th of July! Conceal the clay saucer by filling it with small river rocks. Im Nicole, founder of Heritage Acres Market and the Backyard Bounty Podcast. int analogPin = 3; // Center of voltage divided connected to analog pin 3 Thank goodness, for the first time in two years, we can escape to a warmer climate this coming winter. val = analogRead(analogPin); // read the input pin I chose a IRF510 MOSFET but other power transistors can also work.

The water pump comes with several spray nozzle heads. However, this will require you to add some additional sensors. I'd eliminate the battery and the charge controller, etc. My husband and I have been talking about adding a fountain in our yard. Learn Electronics with Make: Kits and Books. Marie, this is fantastic! One of them should be twice the value of the other. I figure the right answer is to get a larger panel, relocate it to the roof of the building, get a deep cycle marine battery (or two), and possibly a better controller. (you can see the entire experience in the related video, an ad will play first.) Connect the solar panel to the pump (if youcontainerhas a hole in the bottom you will need to feed the cable through an then connect it, of course). We have pond in our backyard but I want to add a small one to our front yard - near our front porch. One of my favorite places to be in the summer is outside on our backyard patio. Something went wrong. So to run 2 hours per day, with 3 reserve days you would need, 375 x 2 x 3 = 2250 watt-hours x 2 (50% depth of discharge will make your batteries last longer) = 4500wh. Learn more about Nicole here, How To Start A Mealworm Farm: A Comprehensive Guide For Beginners, The ULTIMATE list of what chickens CAN and CANNOT eat, 7 Ingredients For The Perfect Chicken Dust Bath, COPYRIGHT 2022 HERITAGE ACRES MARKET LLC, Fountain container (with or without hole in the bottom), Silicon (optional, only needed if your containerhas a hole, i.e. If you have any questions when making it, don't hesitate to drop me an email (see contact me tab at the top), I'd be happy to help. I'm so glad to hear my solar fountain provide a solution for your front yard.

You'll only get 4-6 hours of usable sunlight anyways; Make sure the panel is pointed in a way that it will face the sun well, not just 'at the sky' if possible. Regarding your second comment - the older I get the more I dream of shorter winters. Your country's customs office can offer more details, or visit eBay's page on. I wish I had your expertise. xoxo. Your email address will not be published. I knew I wanted solar because I didnt want to have to run an electrical cord. These will be stored in your browser only with your consent and you have the option to opt-out. Welcome! Press the on/off switch on the bottom of the solar panel.

The inverter then takes the 12VDC from the battery and converts it into 120VAC which powers the fountain. The battery then uses this stored electricity to power all the other components. Need to know the power draw of the pump, and it's duty cycle (I assume 100% otherwise). You will also need to visit the dollar store and buy whichever filler rock or marbles you like best.

Thank you for your support! Have a wonderful summer my friend. My thoughts are that the pump is pulling more voltage than the car battery can handle, even for short duration, and the small panel is probably only getting around 4-6 hours of direct sunlight, so the battery is probably never charging fully. link to the supplies and the solar fountain I ended up using. You can read more about me here. A little cotton under the cap will help. While my other stacked flower pot fountain operates both during the day and night, it has an electrical cord. It's super easy to make but the downside is that it doesn't function on a cloudy day or at night. } I found the planter pictured at Goodwill for $3. As I type this it is cloudy and raining but the fountain is still going strong! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TftGEdAAQg?feature=player_detailpage, 3. I ended up adding an extra flexible bit of aquarium tubing from the pet store because I wanted it to cascade down a board instead of shooting up like a typical bird bath so there was a louder water noise. As mentioned earlier, this water fountain is very quick and easy to assemble and I'll show you how in the instructions below. Check out this DIY solar water fountain we made for less than $30. Don't be shy, I love reading your comments and reply to every single one! Pinned!

The water had different nozzles, so I picked one that once the water shot out, it would hit the branches and trickle and drip down for a more organic sounds. Since this is a solar fountain with a small panel and no battery backup, water flow will be determined by the sunlight. Next press the mode button to adjust the height of the water spray. Make a Housing for the Relay Driver and the Arduino, 6. Our websites use cookies to improve your browsing experience. You're most welcome! digitalWrite(RelayPin, HIGH); // turns the fountain on If your solar panel does not have a built-in blocking diode, then you need to add one before connecting it to the rest of the circuit. digitalWrite(RelayPin, LOW); // turns the fountain off {"modules":["unloadOptimization","bandwidthDetection"],"unloadOptimization":{"browsers":{"Firefox":true,"Chrome":true}},"bandwidthDetection":{"url":"https://ir.ebaystatic.com/cr/v/c1/thirtysevens.jpg","maxViews":4,"imgSize":37,"expiry":300000,"timeout":250}}, This item has an extended handling time and a delivery estimate.

It also has a safety on it to shut off if theres no water running, so I dont have to worry about it burning out. I love this. If your pump is a different size, you have to redo the numbers. void setup() and was a little bit of a fail at first. Low sunlight can cause little or intermittent water flow. You could have an old watering can that pours into a basin. { But it isnt always easy to run a power cord out to where you want it. The premier publication of maker projects, skill-building tutorials, in-depth reviews, and inspirational stories, accessible by all ages and skill ranges. To camouflage the nozzle, I bundled birch tree twigs to create an organic look, and then surrounded the tub with pots of ferns. Use them to assemble a voltage divider as in the previous step. void loop() But it also has a function mode button that easily adjusts the height of the spray. int val = 0; // variable to store the value read } } One thing that I was really missing was the sound of water. The pump only needs to run a couple hours a day, likely not even daily. Buy more than you need, because youll likely use them. The only problem with this one is that the dang magpies are determined to rip the spray nozzle head off, despite it being siliconed on. Given 4-6 hours of sunlight, you would want to recharge you system in 1 day, so you'd need a 1000 watts of solar panels to recharge the battery. }, Get dozens of projects in every issue covering DIY electronics, 3D printing, craft, and more, Learn tips and skill-building tutorials from experts in the maker community. Let's assume the pump is 1/2hp (375watts-ish). These pumps can move water quite well. If you plan on using a bubble spray head nozzle, then you can get away with using a smaller pot. A project collaboration and documentation platform. I had to heat the tubing to get it to slip over the pump outlet, however the tubing was the perfect size for the bubbler attachment. xoxo, Oh Marie, this is wonderful! I had to purchase a piece of tubing to movethe water outlet to the top of the planter. The positive terminals of the solar panel, the battery, the Arduino, and the relay driver can also be wired together. It's important that you get in the habit of checking the water level a few times per week and topping it as necessary. It was so easy to put together and I am thrilled with how well the solar fountain works! This is a water fountain that can double as a deck or patio privacy screen! On another side I drilled two holes and added a pair of screws that I used to attach the clamps from the solar panel. Next, fill with your selected rock. int analogPin = 3; // Center of voltage divided connected to analog pin 3 Your choice here will be recorded for all Make.co Websites. void setup() delay(82800000); // waits for 23 hours Here is an example of how you could use this setup to monitor the battery's voltage and turn off the fountain when the battery gets low.

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