you sir are a saviour! Strangely enough (just before finding your video) after days of research, I'd shortlisted this very pump from the very same website! Its so difficult to find accurate data on solar pumps and pondkeeper was about the only place where the claims weren't clearly nonsense. Ive seen much smaller, cheaper, pumps claiming ridiculous flow rates and one even state it weighs 2500kgs?!?! Even on B&Q their "specs" are complete and utter nonsense. And they're making completely different claims for flow rates for the same pumps in lph and gallons. I made a water feature last year with an ebay pump claiming 400lph last year, it just about does the job but more likely is about 150lph. I doing larger one this year and want better (and higher, about 1m head) flow. Fairly certain I will go with the 800 from pondkeeper, however one thing im not clear on is it seems to suggest the switch over from solar to battery (when it clouds over) is a manual process? That you need to press the button on the solar panel to do so? Could you confirm if this is the case please Mark? (seems odd if so, I just want it to run regardless without needing to press anything if it clouds over) You should ask pondkeeer for a promo code (and freebies for you) since folks are watching for the update on your new fish pond. Thanks for the video
Hi there. I'm not entirely sure about the answer to the switch thing but I believe it is automatic as mine just keeps going until a couple of hours after dark then starts on it's own next day. Pondkeepers did give me a discount code but unfortunately it got abused by a discount code website so it had to be pulled sadly. I'll be speaking to them very soon so I'll ask again. Thanks. Mark
Thanks for this but I got lost soon after 5:00. How can the battery charge up as it's operating the pump? As I understand it, a hybrid car charges up when the petrol engine is not under power, so it's momentum that is charging the battery, in other words engine braking. How does that equate to this pump? When would the pump charge the battery when the only reason the pump is moving is via the battery? I have a hybrid car but I'm not sure I understand it.
Hopefully, it will last longer than most of the other solar kits out there. The constant charge and discharge will eventually kill the battery, so good that you have the option to permanently plug it in.
Great video! I'm thinking of running something similar through a small bog filter in a very lightly stocked pond. Any issues you can think of with doing this?
Well the only potential issue is that it will stop and start depending on daylight/night-time. Otherwise if you're ok with slightly intermittent pumping
We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I suspect you are incorrect about it freezing. My experience of 35 years with ponds none have frozen so deep in to the ground and this is in a sheltered spot. It will be fine. Lastly, the pump will be OFF in the winter.
@@MarksHouseandGardenUK Common sense would say its best to remove the pump from smaller bodies of water for Winter, thats what i do with the one i made last year anyway. As you say, since yours will be below ground it should be ok.
Looking forward to this project mark from start to finish.
Hi Frank. Thank you. Should be fun this one. Mark
Love this idea 🐠 can’t wait to see it. xx
You'll be able to sit by it with a glass of vino de calapso when we eventually get around to organising something x
@@MarksHouseandGardenUK sounds fabulous 🤩👍xx
you sir are a saviour! Strangely enough (just before finding your video) after days of research, I'd shortlisted this very pump from the very same website!
Its so difficult to find accurate data on solar pumps and pondkeeper was about the only place where the claims weren't clearly nonsense. Ive seen much smaller, cheaper, pumps claiming ridiculous flow rates and one even state it weighs 2500kgs?!?! Even on B&Q their "specs" are complete and utter nonsense. And they're making completely different claims for flow rates for the same pumps in lph and gallons.
I made a water feature last year with an ebay pump claiming 400lph last year, it just about does the job but more likely is about 150lph. I doing larger one this year and want better (and higher, about 1m head) flow.
Fairly certain I will go with the 800 from pondkeeper, however one thing im not clear on is it seems to suggest the switch over from solar to battery (when it clouds over) is a manual process? That you need to press the button on the solar panel to do so? Could you confirm if this is the case please Mark? (seems odd if so, I just want it to run regardless without needing to press anything if it clouds over)
You should ask pondkeeer for a promo code (and freebies for you) since folks are watching for the update on your new fish pond.
Thanks for the video
Hi there. I'm not entirely sure about the answer to the switch thing but I believe it is automatic as mine just keeps going until a couple of hours after dark then starts on it's own next day. Pondkeepers did give me a discount code but unfortunately it got abused by a discount code website so it had to be pulled sadly. I'll be speaking to them very soon so I'll ask again. Thanks. Mark
Thanks for this but I got lost soon after 5:00. How can the battery charge up as it's operating the pump? As I understand it, a hybrid car charges up when the petrol engine is not under power, so it's momentum that is charging the battery, in other words engine braking. How does that equate to this pump? When would the pump charge the battery when the only reason the pump is moving is via the battery? I have a hybrid car but I'm not sure I understand it.
I don't know for sure but my understanding is that there is surplus power in bright sunlight. Some runs the pump and some charges the battery
Thank you for such a simple explanation. I shall contact Pond keeper asap.
Thank you very much indeed. Really appreciate your feedback. Mark
Hopefully, it will last longer than most of the other solar kits out there. The constant charge and discharge will eventually kill the battery, so good that you have the option to permanently plug it in.
I'll keep an eye on this. Thanks
Great video! I'm thinking of running something similar through a small bog filter in a very lightly stocked pond.
Any issues you can think of with doing this?
Well the only potential issue is that it will stop and start depending on daylight/night-time. Otherwise if you're ok with slightly intermittent pumping
wasn't that where you were growing your colocasia!!
Well spotted Jo. Sadly they all perished despite being in the garage loft 🙁 such a cold winter here in Nantwich
Still waiting for the video build ugghh 😢
Yes sorry slight delay due to holidays. I'll be on to it soon. Mark
Gran labor
You remind me of Neil Buchanan.
The pond wont be deep enough to stop it freezing and the solar pumps are terrible in the winter.
Pipes freeze over and burn them out
We'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I suspect you are incorrect about it freezing. My experience of 35 years with ponds none have frozen so deep in to the ground and this is in a sheltered spot. It will be fine. Lastly, the pump will be OFF in the winter.
@@MarksHouseandGardenUK Common sense would say its best to remove the pump from smaller bodies of water for Winter, thats what i do with the one i made last year anyway. As you say, since yours will be below ground it should be ok.