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solar water feature any good?


 
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needtoknowhow
Hazel Tree
Hazel Tree


Joined: 02 Jun 2008
Posts: 19
PostPosted: Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:10 pm    Post subject: solar water feature any good? Reply with quote
Just saw another post with links to site for solar lighting and on the site there were also solar water features. Has anyone any experience of solar water features? Interesting in incorporating in my garden, on the patio or something, nothing fancy, just some water trickling from pots or something. are they any good or just a gimmic? would prefare to avoid the expense of having to run electricity out to garden! thanks in advance.
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BlackBird
Silver Birch Tree
Silver Birch Tree


Joined: 25 Jan 2007
Posts: 165
PostPosted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:45 am    Post subject: Re: solar water feature any good? Reply with quote
needtoknowhow wrote:
just some water trickling from pots


I think trickling is the best you could hope to achieve. Most solars I have seen were a bit weak, but strong enough to give a little trickle sound. Not enough to drown out traffic sounds but enough to relax you if seated nearby.
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needtoknowhow
Hazel Tree
Hazel Tree


Joined: 02 Jun 2008
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 8:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
mmmmm not so good then! want more relaxation and less urine sample inducing!! maybe bringing some electricity out would be better so. obviously this is a specialist job but is it very invasive? i have an outside light over the back door - is this what a sparky would use to divert some garden electricity?

Thanks for your help blackbird Wink
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verge
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Joined: 04 Jun 2006
Posts: 325
Location: Ireland
PostPosted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 12:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
needtoknowhow wrote:
obviously this is a specialist job but is it very invasive? i have an outside light over the back door - is this what a sparky would use to divert some garden electricity?



Its possible to take the power off the outside light as long as the power is the power flow is then not dependent on the outdoor light being on. but there are other ways to trace back further than the switching to get the power from that point as well. The power can be taken from your attic area and brought down the side onf the house within shielded cable possibly.

As for invasive on the dwelling, a bit of maneuvering in the attic, a small hole drilled in the structure, and a few clips tapped in. As for invasive on the garden, not so bad if you are travelling across lawn and soil as this can be dug to allow you to bury the cable. Travelling across patios, paths and other hard surfaces will throw up a few obstacles, but nothing a handy electrician will not be able to cope with.
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needtoknowhow
Hazel Tree
Hazel Tree


Joined: 02 Jun 2008
Posts: 19
PostPosted: Wed Jun 18, 2008 9:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
sounds like a plan so - no patio etc in yet, i'm just starting so so long as the planing's right from the word go, sound do-able. thanks for the advice guys
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Rockworld Water Features
Hazel Tree
Hazel Tree


Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Posts: 10
Location: Kildare, Ireland
PostPosted: Sat Nov 22, 2008 11:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Solar powered pumps generally run on a reduced voltage (12-24v, dc).
The consequence of this is that most manufacturers only produce pumps of low power output, which means that the flow rate of water from the pump is very small and not suitable for anything other than a very small fountain spray. To achieve a good flow of water a solar panel at least 500mm square is required as well as a battery storage system to run the water feature constantly.
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