Ponds

Help please! For our next big project we are planning to make a pond. As the garden is on a slope we thought about having 2 ponds connected by a waterfall. We would like to try and power this using a solar panel, does any one know if this would work and where we could get the solar panel from? We did think about getting the panel to charge a 12v battery and for the battery to work the pump, is this practical?

 

The only solar powered pumps I've seen make a tiny fountain.

It may work, but it depends on the amount of water you want transferred. Calculate the width of the output from the top pond, and the depth, then caclulate the pump you need to achieve this allowing for the amount of lift required. Then you can see if you can get a powerful enough pump to run off the solar panel.

 

Yes it would be feasible! I think it's an excellent idea. If you use a 12 volt battery you have the option of charging it via the mains if necessary. These people sell pumps and are very helpful with email requests about pump specifications:
http://www.thetankexchange.com/home.htm

And these are just one of the many suppliers of 12v solar panels:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/Search.aspx?criteria=CAMPING%20ELECTRICAL%20solar%20panel&menu=0&WorldSearch=Y&doy=6m8&C=SEO&U=strat15&ShowPics=undefined&MinPrice=0&amp ;MaxPrice=9999
When we have summers like this it seems very wasteful not to take advantage!

 

Thanks for your help. I'll let you know how it goes, though it won't be until next year now. The web addresses look very useful.

 

keep off the solar powered stuff they are expensive and has got no umph!!!!!!no power fancy :D :eek:

 

Totally disagree! Solar power is getting better and cheaper all the time, and 12v is 12v wherever it comes from.
We should all be installing solar panels to supplement mains electricity!