Solar Fountain Aerates Garden Pond

When off-the-shelf solutions fall short, creativity and resourcefulness often step in, as demonstrated by TomGoff’s DIY solar pond fountain project. Faced with the challenge of creating a pond fountain that met his specific needs, TomGoff decided to build his own, utilizing materials he already had on hand.

The fountain’s platform is ingeniously made from the end of a cable reel, with flotation provided by a wheelbarrow inner tube. At the heart of the fountain is a 12V water pump connected to a 3D printed nozzle, ensuring that the water is sprayed effectively. To conserve battery power, an Arduino controls the pump, running it for 30 seconds every 3 minutes.

A light-dependent resistor (LDR) is included in the circuit, ensuring the fountain doesn’t operate at night. The electronics are housed on a hand-built perfboard, which also includes a relay for the pump and a battery charge monitor to keep track of the power supply. The entire system is powered by a 20W solar panel, which charges the battery during the day, eliminating the need to run mains power to the pond.

TomGoff’s project is a great example of how DIY solutions can be both functional and sustainable, using solar energy to power a creative and custom-built fountain. The full write-up includes a video of the Tinkercad electronics simulation and the Arduino code, making it a helpful resource for anyone interested in building their own solar-powered pond fountain.

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