Solar power helps with landscape projects

I installed a timer on my water heater.

The timer will turn off the heater at night to save electricity. A typical water heater takes 240 volts and doesn't plug into the wall, so I turned it off at the circuit breaker. I literally checked it five times to make sure it was off before closing my eyes to cut the wire. I prefer to work with low voltage that won't kill you.

There are also several items in the landscape that require electricity, such as irrigation, pumps and lighting.

However, the green movement has brought new equipment to the marketplace that utilizes photovoltaic solar panels to generate electricity.

Currently, they are more expensive, so you may not be saving money up front, but there are still advantages. One such advantage is remote access to power when an outlet is not available.

Irrigation

Irrigation systems consumes very little power. The controller sends a continuous 24-volt signal down a wire to turn on a valve. When the signal stops, the valve turns off. Installing a valve in a remote location can create difficulties running wires.

Solar-operated valves utilize a small solar panel and programmable controller typically installed on the valve cover. The controller is programmed with a wireless handheld device. When the valve needs to open, the controller sends a direct-current pulse to the valve that latches open, and another pulse to turn off. An additional sensor can be connected to the solar controller to stop the system during rain.

The equipment is relatively expensive compared to current irrigation systems, and the savings on power won't make up for the additional cost, but there will be no need to run wire or replace batteries. These systems are available online from companies such as DIG Corp. (www.digcorp.com).

Pumps

A pump is required for ponds and fountains. A small pump with a flow rate of 100 gallons per minute may cost $20 with a 6-foot power cord or longer. Unless you also purchase a timer, the pump will run continuously. Solar pumps of similar flow rates cost approximately $80. The savings in energy could be recuperated after several years, but neither pump is likely to last that long.

Like irrigation, solar pumps are ideal for remote locations where power cannot be located. Most solar pumps do not store energy in a battery but rather run the current directly to the motor so they only run during the day. It's important to face the solar panel south and tilted back 25 to 30 degrees to maximize exposure to the sun.

Lighting

Solar lights have been available for quite some time, but they have recently improved in quality. This is likely due to the improvement of LED lights, which require significantly less power than halogen bulbs.

In the past, many solar lights appeared more like beacons than actually illuminating a path. Higher quality solar lights are providing more illumination, depending on time of year and exposure to sunlight, but the light lacks the same warm quality as halogen bulbs. It is whiter and sometimes bluish.

Solar lights depend on a battery to store power generated during the day and a light sensor to turn on lights. In time, these components will need to be replaced.

Electric lighting systems also require a transformer to reduce voltage down to 12-volts and wire to reach each fixture. It's conceivable to save money with solar lights through energy savings, but that depends on the extent of the lighting system and quality of lights you purchase.

The upside, as always, is having light where there is no power. However, getting sunlight to the solar panel can often be a problem since lights are usually placed in shaded areas.

Solar equipment will likely get cheaper with time. Just like microwave ovens and other technologies.

Tony Bertauski is a horticulture instructor at Trident Technical College. To give feedback, email him at tony.bertauski@tridenttech.edu.