Dancing fountain

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Mike_2545

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I have completed a fun project that shoots "pulses" of water around a pond inside a greenhouse. The water pulses jump from one spot to another, there are 12 solenoids connected to a micro controller. The circuit is simple,the micro controller turns on a 2N2222 transistor, the transistor drives a 5 volt relay and the relay turns on the solenoid. Times 12.

I put a motion sensor on the unit so it only operates when someone is around to see it. I programed a Basic Stamp micro controller to run 5 separate valve sequences in a random order.

Here is a link to a video I shot just after installation. If you look close you can see my assistants leg triggering the motion sensor.YouTube - Dancing water feature

Enjoy
 

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Interesting application mike, nice construction. A good example for a basic stamp.

Do the selonids feed city water or recirculated pond water ?

If you are using city water (or well) you could add a water level sensor and use the setup to keep the water level up.

I like it.

3v0
 
Last edited:
3v0,

The solenoids feed city water at about 50 psi. I was worried about recirculating the pond water, for fear it would gunk up the valves.

It does help fill the pond, which we did have to do weekly.

I did have to add a water hammer arrester, basically a tank with an air bladder, to absorb the shock of when the solenoids turn off.
 
Valves and jets

What size/type/model of solenoid valve did you use? Also, what did you use for the jet/nozzle?

Thanks
 
zakrzep said:
What size/type/model of solenoid valve did you use? Also, what did you use for the jet/nozzle?

Thanks
Click to expand...

I picked up some solenoids from e-bay, they are 24vdc and have 1/4" threaded connections. Most solenoids will handle air or water, check the manufacutrer specs to be sure. The Nozzle is just a piece of 1/4" copper tubing.
 
Very cool! I've wanted to explore this ever since seeing something like this in Vegas Nicely done!!
 
Well, besides the Bellagio --- I was thinking of an interior garden/ponds with jumping water features... I *think* it was the Wynn... ??
 
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