Solar garden fountain

[ERICS MUM]

so annoyed ! I bought it last year and it was lovely. Put it away in Oct, wrapped up nice and safe in the garage.

Set it up today in my hot sunny south-facing East Anglian garden - nothing. I've owned it for more than 12 months but obviously it's broken down after only 3/4 months of use. I've checked and can't see any bockages so assuming it's the panel itself that's dead.

It's not on the website anymore and I don't want to buy one of their more expensive ones in case that has a short life span too.

 

[Loveinamist]

Could battery be flat EM?

 

[Tiddlywinks]

Could battery be flat EM?

This might be it... I took some solar lights out of storage and they looked like they weren't working but I left them out all day and they then worked the next day... worth a try.

 

[iloveshopping]

so annoyed ! I bought it last year and it was lovely. Put it away in Oct, wrapped up nice and safe in the garage.

Set it up today in my hot sunny south-facing East Anglian garden - nothing. I've owned it for more than 12 months but obviously it's broken down after only 3/4 months of use. I've checked and can't see any bockages so assuming it's the panel itself that's dead.

It's not on the website anymore and I don't want to buy one of their more expensive ones in case that has a short life span too.

If there is a switch on it, set it to off. Leave it in a sunny position for 2 days and then switch it on. Hopefully it will have picked up enough charge to work.
Some of the solar lights I have, have ordinary rechargeable batteries and I sometimes take them out and charge them on my charger.

 

[Dipper]

I had a similar problem with one I had bought for my parents, I ended up contacting the manufacturer, I'm sorry that I can't remember their name, but they sent a replacement panel. If the company name comes back to me I will let you know.

 

[ERICS MUM]

Could battery be flat EM?

Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't think there is a battery. It only works when the sun is on it, it doesn't store any energy for when it's dark.

 

[Loveinamist]

Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't think there is a battery. It only works when the sun is on it, it doesn't store any energy for when it's dark.

Have you tried it during cloudy weather, according to Wiki this type of weather with hinder the non battery type. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar-powered_fountain

 

[rainbowdottie]

This is why I only buy cheap solar lights now.I have some all round my garden and they're so pretty - but they were only from wilkinsons.They work fine and reliably at the moment but I won't be too annoyed when they don't work next year (and they won't!) as they were such a minimal cost.

Have you tried to tell QVC - you never know....

 

[iloveshopping]

This is why I only buy cheap solar lights now.I have some all round my garden and they're so pretty - but they were only from wilkinsons.They work fine and reliably at the moment but I won't be too annoyed when they don't work next year (and they won't!) as they were such a minimal cost.

Have you tried to tell QVC - you never know....

Quite a few of mine are from Wilkinson and I've had them years. As I described above I sometimes recharge the batteries indoors - more so in the winter when there was isn't enough sun to charge them. The worst set I have is a small super bargain ones from QVC - pretty feeble.

 

[ERICS MUM]

Thank you everyone for taking the time to reply.

well it's been sat in full sun for 2 days now and not a sausage. Definitely no batteries, the box thingy attached to the panel is sealed.
I'll give QVC a call, I've got nothing to lose ! Might wander down to Wilko's or the gardening accessories stall in Chelmsford market tomorrow and get a shiney new (cheap) one !!

 

[Dipper]

I've remembered the name! It was Smart Solar Ltd.

 

[candycane]

Worth calling customer services anyway. I bought some lights that refused to work after 6 months and admittedly it's probably because sometimes we struggle to get daylight in Scotland never mind sunlight, however, Q gave me a discount code for a future purchase. OK, not the best of solutions as I had to buy something else, but then I buy anyway. The people at CS are always trying to keep the customer happy so I'd phone them.

 

[ERICS MUM]

I've remembered the name! It was Smart Solar Ltd.

thanks for this, I'll contact them to see if I can buy a new panel.

Linda xx

 

[beachc0mber]

I'd have thought calling them and saying its not fit for purpose might help , after all, you would reasonably expect it to last more than one year? surely? i have had a couple of things replaced altho not at QVC that were not fit for purpose without any problems.