I want to expand my wireless network out into my garden so I can run my laptop when I am sitting out there. I have bought a specialist outdoor router which says it only needs 12 watts to run.

I am wondering if I can make a solar power set up hidden away in my garden somewhere that will power the router all the time so I don't ever have to think about it I can just pick up my laptop and go sit in the yard and enjoy my wireless connection.

Residential Solar Power

I am building a pond at the end of our yard, it is going to be a fair way from our house and I don't want to run power all the way out there just for a pump.  I want to use solar power to run my pond pump.

The pond is going to be large and may include a water feature so I may need two pumps, do I need to buy specific pond pumps to work with solar panels?

We do get sunshine for most of the year, but if it isn't sunny I assume the pumps will stop, do they just restart when the sun comes back out?

What about maintaining the solar equipment, do I need to do anything special to keep it running.

Residential Solar Power

I really do want to join the solar power revolution, I live in Florida so we do get enough sun to use the solar panels.

I am wondering what I can do that will get me the best return on my investment in solar panels and equipment for my house. I don't want to have to wait 10 years to see any sort of return on the money I put into this solar power stuff.

Will the technology be changing quickly in the next year or two, if so would it make sense to wait a while before investing my money? I look on it as an investment because I can't afford to just throw a good few thousand dollars at something as a hobby.