Solar Powered Fountain

Solar energy is produced using energy from the Sun through radiation. Solar power is the conversion of sunlight into electricity. In tis most common form, this is acheived through the use of by photovoltaics .
Solar electricity

How?

Photons in sunlight hit the solar panel or collector and are absorbed by semiconducting materials, such as silicon.

Atoms have thier negaively charged electrons separated, allowing them to flow through the material to produce electricity.

Positive charges are also created called holes. These bubbles flow in the direction opposite to the electrons in the solar panel.

For larger instalations, several solar panels (an array) are grouped together to convert solar energy into a usable amount of direct current (DC) electricity.

This electricity (electrical energy) can be used to directly power electrical equipment or stored in a bank of batteries for later use.

For a solar array or collector panel to charge a battery, the output from the cell must be greater than the charge in the battery.

Some people struggle with electricity, so it may help to think of it this way:

Imagine you had to water tanks of equal size sitting side by side and connected at their bases with a pipe or tube This tube has a valve in it which is closed.

If you fill one tank and leave the valve closed, the other tank would of course remain empty.

When you have around 75% filled the first tank, you stop the flow of water and open the valve.

What happens?

Of course, the water will flow from one tank to the other until they have an equal amount of water (37.5%) in them. (remember the two tanks are identical).

At first the flow would be quite fast, slowing as the tanks got closer to equally full.

A solar collector charging a battery bank act sthe same way with amps equating to pressure and volts equating to flow.

Wikipedia Extract

Sunlight can be converted into electricity using photovoltaics (PV), concentrating solar power (CSP), and various experimental technologies. PV has mainly been used to power small and medium-sized applications, from the calculator powered by a single solar cell to off-grid homes powered by a photovoltaic array.

A solar cell, or photovoltaic cell (PV), is a device that converts light into direct current using the photoelectric effect. The first solar cell was constructed by Charles Fritts in the 1880s. Although the prototype selenium cells converted less than 1% of incident light into electricity, both Ernst Werner von Siemens and James Clerk Maxwell recognized the importance of this discovery. Following the work of Russell Ohl in the 1940s, researchers Gerald Pearson, Calvin Fuller and Daryl Chapin created the silicon solar cell in 1954. These early solar cells cost 286 USD/watt and reached efficiencies of 4.5–6%.

With emerging technologies, the solar cell is becoming increasing more efficient and small inexpensivve units are being manufactured to power a wide range of equipmet and plant including water pumping equipment.

It has been these continuing advancements in technology that now allow us to affordably create small pumps to power water features for home and office use both indoors and outdoors.

A solar powered fountain is  a great way to get introduced to the world of solar electricity and can provide a great escape or conversation starter.

Rick

 

Technorati Tags: solar garden fountain, solar powered fountain, solar powered fountains, solar water feature

A Solar Powered Fountain offer a real alternative to traditionally powered fountains and water features.

“Moving Water as nature intended” was chosen as our theme, catchphrase or comapny slogan, to show we are commited to providing an environmentally friendly option to the range of water features and gardens that currently exists in the marketplace.

Some of the advantages that a fully self contained water feature or fountain can offer is their use in smaller outdoor areas where electrical supply to the fountain may be difficult or even impossible.

You will not have to disturb any of the building structure or existing garden to get your solar powered fountain up and running.

Smaller units are fully self contained, while some larger units may require the remote installation of the solar panel or collector.

There is nothing more relaxing thatn sitting in your own garden or that special indoor retreat while you solar powered fountain flows gently through the artistic environment or theme you have created.

Your water feature can be as expressive, bold and visual as you would like, being the main theme and focal point of its location or be subtle simplpy blending into its surroundings while providing that serenity that is flowing water.

The best thing is the choice is yours and the staff at Solar Powered Fountains are here to help you select the best foutain for your unique setting.

Over the next few months, we will be producing a range of designs and models which will be available in retails stores, through our own design centre or through affiliates located all over the globe.

There will be a complete range, from the very simple and elegant to custom produced fountains that will be true pieces of art as individual as our clients.

Can,t wait?

Well for those of you who want something right away, click on one of the links below and you will be taken to one of our affiliate sites where you can purchase your water feature today.

For those of you who are more technically inclined, our next article will be on the new generation pumps and solar panels which make a solar powered fountain efficient and affordable.

There will even be some tips on how to design and build your own solar powered water feature, including where to source the materials ou will need.

Rick Heaton

Moving water the way nature intended.

 

Technorati Tags: solar powered fountain, solar powered fountains