This birdbath is perfect for your garden or landscaped area with no need for an outlet! It can run on solar and battery backup power. In prime sunlight conditions, the pump will be powered by solar energy while the solar panel will also recharge the batteries. To run on battery mode simply press the Battery On/Off button. The battery will now power the pump. On the battery mode it can run for up to 4 hrs on cloudy days or at night. When the battery power is depleted, the system will automatically change back to solar powered mode and start again when there is sufficient sunlight. A fully charged battery will operate up to 4 hours after the sun goes down. You can operate it daily using the battery technology for consistent performance even in cloudy conditions, or leave your fountain off, charging the batteries for use when you want it.