DIY best info on Solar panels for inground swimming pool
This entry was posted by Linda Petty on April 27, 2020 at 10:25 am
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Thanks, Yvette for sharing all the way from SC! I'm going to try to make this with my husband. How is it working now? 2020?
Love your accent
If you listen the pump is screaming if you open the valve all the way the pump won't stream and last longer because you're pressurizing it
Don’t think I’ll bother
To make greater heat gains for the system adding some plexiglass over the piping would help greatly. I have been watching others experiment with systems like these and how to get the most out of them. It seems that the plexiglass systems operate at about 66% efficiency where as the uncovered operate at around 33-40% depending.
Is that a slight Australian accent in there?
background noise is driving me nuts
Got to have a check in case the hoses leak so that water does not leak out all over the lawn
i was looking into using solar electric and a relatively small pump. But 4 degrees increase is not that much.
I like you simple approach. Some glass or plexi covers, would really heat things up. So maybe if more heat is needed a few removable panels may be an idea
this is the general idea of what I will build. back in the late 70s I actually majored in energy conversion, heat transfer an thermodynamics and what not and built a few simple heater. I live in Florida and I am sure a fairly simple system will add 3 or 4 months of warm water to my pool season. Thanks for the post
A couple of things…
1. A frame with glass over the top isn't to keep it clean. It keeps air from circulatng around the tubing and cooling it off, and traps the ultraviolet rays (heat) from the sun = hotter water.
2. Insulating the backside will help hold in the heat as well = hotter water.
3. Install a one way flow valve on the cold water end of the tubing. As the water in the tubing heats up, it will expand and push itself out the hot end of the tubing, creating a suction, that will draw the cold water into the tubing. This will create a siphoning action, eliminating the need for a pump.
Put the system in line with pool filter. One pump, less noise. How premade systems are done.
Putting your intake (cold) so close to your outlet (warm) is a bad idea. Likely your system is mostly cycling water at one end of your pool only.
You are actually making it less effective by keeping the end valve almost closed. You want to grab all the heat you can. Just because the water is "hotter" if you restrict the flow, you are not effectively getting all the heat you can to the pool. More volume of water will result in more heat getting into pool overall and save the life of your pump.
ONE continuous line ! More time to heat the water AND the temp should be well over 100'F ! And yes, a glass top closed container will surely help !
I want to make one of these and put it on one of those cheap easy set up pool kits that are available at any Walmart, Target or Biglots etc and try running it through the winter. Has anyone attempted to keep their pool open all winter and heat it this way? Lol
That's probably the best set up I've seen so far; even though you haven't finished it yet. I would highly recommend covering and sealing each section of the solar heater with UV protected plexiglass; at least 1/4" thick; and some type of insulation on the underside of the base to help prevent heat transfer on windy days. Just a tip to help increase the heat retention: add another 2X2 on top of the current sections and add a piece of 4X4 in the center; painted; to the middle as additional support for the plexi. Make a complete frame for each w/no gaps and seal to the top of each one with an outside wood glue and nails or screws. Reprime the new sections. Repaint the entire surface with either WOODLIFE COPPERCOAT or RUST-OLEUM WOLMAN (both come in gallon cans and can be used with a WAGNER POWER SPRAYER to make the job faster and easier) to protect against burrowing insects such as termites and protect against premature wood rot. I did a similar install for a friend back in the 90's for her above ground 22' round pool. Mounted it on her garage roof which was right by the pool on the south facing side. Intake cane off the top of the filter return (eliminated the need for an additional pump) and return went thru the hose under her deck.
plexi glas wil bleach in the sun cover them wit normal glas en replace the pump wit a 12 volt model on a 12 volt solar panel en it is all automatic, the sun comes up en the motor runs, more sun the motor runs faster.
Very poorly constructed, a death trap if you will!!
Major eye sore!!