Solar Panels and Water Features

[BigMatt]

Hi All

First post - after googling for an Electrical Forum.

We have a cascading water feature similar to this one (ours is a couple of years old) :
http://www.greenfingers.com/superstore/product.asp?dept_id=200345&pf_id=LS1143D

The solar panel that comes with it works well when the sun is directly on it but as the day moves on the sun goes to West and the fountain stops. What I was thinking was whether I could add a second panel in pointing to the West (the other panel is lieing on the shed roof facing South). Or is it the original panel of a "lower" spec so can't pick up in all directions.... and do I need to replace the panel?

Any suggestions greatfully received.....

[jj4091]

An easy way to test your panel would be to un-secure it & turn it into the sun & see if the pump starts up again, in which case you have your answer. It seems like an expensive solution to add another panel, but if you have no option then I would have thought you can simply connect it in parallel with the other one, providing it is of the same output spec. I would not have thought it would act as a load, but I am not 100% sure.

[RobFurn]

I wonder if a carefully positioned Mirror could deflect the sunlight back onto the pannel when the sun turns. May work for a short time. May also blind you neighbours though
Did you see that in news yesterday Now thats solar power:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6616651.stm?ls