Pool Solar Panels

[badkins50]

With the shade situation in our yard and the location of the deck and pool, our pool needs a little help getting up to a more comfortable temp. I bought a new solar cover last year and it help some but still not warm enough for me.

Has anyone used or thinking about using these solar panels on the roof? Here is an example of one I was looking at.
http://www.smartpool.com/website/sunheater421.html

Its an above ground 24' round pool x 54" deep.
With the prices of natural gas/lp/electric I don't think the pool is worth it to run an actual heater.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

I would have to say, what is the cost to return ratio, they have no prices listed, I would imagine it is not cheap.

 

[aspeck]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

Same basic principle as Dad did years ago ... ran a maze of black plastic pipe on the roof of the house and ran the filter water through that before going back to pool during the day. It definitely helped raise the temp of the pool water!

 

[rickryder]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

I have seen people use the black 3/4" well pump pipe 100' length coiled up and placed on a roof and used as a heat coil.
http://www.solar-for-energy.com/homemade-solar-pool-heater.html
or
http://www.thecasualtraveler.com/solar.htm

 

[badkins50]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

The price for the unit in the link above is $216.00 delivered to my door after coupons and specials and all the good stuff. The kit includes everything except the 1-1/2" flex hose to and from the panels to the pool. I am figuring about another $50 or so after a trip to Home Depot.

I think I should sit down and think about this some because some of these "home made" ideas could just be the ticket.

Thanks for the responses though, keep them coming.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

The flat collectors work quite a bit better than black pipe. Pool heating is one of the more economically sensible solar applications. It's pretty hot out when you're trapping the heat, and you run them at ambient temp or below so heat loss doesn't happen.

 

[rbh]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

I have seen people use the black 3/4" well pump pipe 100' length coiled up and placed on a roof and used as a heat coil.
http://www.solar-for-energy.com/homemade-solar-pool-heater.html
or
http://www.thecasualtraveler.com/solar.htm

+1 on the home made roof solar heaters, south facing roof, box in your pipe and cover it with a single pane of glass for that extra efficiency.(green house effect)

 

[rickryder]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

I have even thought about building plywood boxes painted black with glass tops (old slider patio doors would be nice) and go to the scrap metal guy and buy up some hot water baseboard fin and solder them up in a manifold filling the box. I was going to use it to supply domestic hot water fed into my oil boiler hot water coil.... But I bought a project boat instead Ya gotta have your priorities straight!

 

[rbh]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

I have seen those placed on the roofs in areas were they do not get much snow but alot of sun and it amazing how much warm/hot water (glycol filled) they produce in the winter with the insulated boxes and the double pane glass.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

......does your neighbour have some outdoor plugs facing your place and is he away a lot?
BP

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

we used to use a cover that was similar to bubble wrap, it worked really good but your situation may not work with the shade and all.....

 

[badkins50]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

Heck, just move the pool into the sunlight.

Wish I would have thought of this when we had it installed it last spring. Where were you at bubba? Are first thought was just have the tree cut down, but I'd like to keep it if possible because it is healthy.

......does your neighbour have some outdoor plugs facing your place and is he away a lot?
BP

Now I like the way you think. "hey what is this orange extension cord and why is it running to your house" lol.

 

[badkins50]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

All good advice. I'll have thinking to do for sure and options to go over. Thanks a bunch. I'll let you know what happens.

 

[MolsonCanadian]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

I have a 16x40 inground pool with 1600sq feet of panels on a south facing pool house roof. I love it, I can dial it in and keep those 34000gals of water at 84-85. I had a few times last year my temps creeped up into the 90's. I would definitely recommend it over a gas heater.

 

[badkins50]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

I ended up going with the system in the link I posted above. I found a $10 off coupon and got the entire system delivered for just over $200.00. We have been paying attention to the sun the last few days and found our mounting spot to give us the most sun exposure. Next month we will open the pool and see how this works. Thanks for the advice and I'll let you know.

 

[MolsonCanadian]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

Just a quite addition, make sure your pump has enough head pressure so that it can push the water up to your panels. (Depends how high you're mounting them).

A good resource for items pool related is www.troublefreepools.com

(I hope I can post that here?)

 

[badkins50]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

Yeah I checked the specs and we should be well within our limits. Thanks. I have a 1hp pump that's only 2 years old and the panels are going to be 20ft away from the pump and on the ground angled 20 degrees up. Everything I read said that a 1hp pump will work 30ft away and up one story.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

I'm late to this party but another option is to install a heat exchanger on your home air conditioner. There are drawbacks to this method but the heat produced is free, or at least it is heat that otherwise went to atmosphere.

My problem with this method is run our ac much until the heat of summer. By then the pool is plenty warm enough. If your pool is shaded you might benefit from this??

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

Yeah I checked the specs and we should be well within our limits. Thanks. I have a 1hp pump that's only 2 years old and the panels are going to be 20ft away from the pump and on the ground angled 20 degrees up. Everything I read said that a 1hp pump will work 30ft away and up one story.

If your pool filter/pump runs at night, Put in a three way solenoid valve that is wired into a timer so that the heater is bypassed at night.
Otherwise you have a big radiator losing what you gained during the day.

 

[badkins50]

Re: Pool Solar Panels

If your pool filter/pump runs at night, Put in a three way solenoid valve that is wired into a timer so that the heater is bypassed at night.
Otherwise you have a big radiator losing what you gained during the day.

Now that's a great idea. I will most definately look into this. Thanks.