need help picking solar panels

[jwalker]

Can you please give me suggestions on which DIY solar panels work best?

I have a 27 foot round AGP. sand filter with a 1.5 hp pump. I would like to put the panels on my roof is is really 1.5 stories up. any issues with the pump? I live in Lancaster PA and would like to see my pool get to @ 88 degrees or so. I have a huge tree that blocks most of the sun to the pool, so this is 1 reason why I need a heater.

Any help is appreciated.

Thanks
Jeff

 

[JohnT]

It really depends on the model of the pump.

How big is the roof area you have available?

 

[reebok]

I got the sunheater model off of ebay. happy so far but I really don't know if more expensive ones would make a difference.

 

[JasonLion]

All of the large black solar panels are just about the same. There are some very minor differences, but they will all work well.

 

[amjohn]

I have solar bear from https://www.amerimerc.com/pool-solar-he ... -bear.htm#. I have been dealing with amerimerc since we got the pool in August- fast shipping, good customer service, actual human people on the telephone. That counts for a lot. However, I notice their price has gone up since this winter.
Another good price I found: http://www.aquasuperstore.com/products/ ... ~3664.html Have not dealt with them yet, but their price is more in line with what I spent. Also http://www.bestbuypoolsupply.com/abovegroundsolar.htm
If I add another panel, I will try one of these since amerimerc has gone up. My 20,000 gal pool is gaining 5 degrees a day, on partly to mostly sunny days. Can't wait until we have a truly sunny day. Anyways, you don't just need the panels. I made the mistake of figuring that would be the "big" item. There is the mounting kit, repair kit, and plumbing (including a 3-way valve or bypass setup), and if you use an electronic controller, the wiring, sensors, and valve actuator.
Also, if you are not going to have your panels directly adjacent to each other (as in inches apart) and running all parallel in the same direction, save yourself some money and do not get the "Add-on" kit. That is for a series of panels run together right next to each other. It is just a large diameter piece of rubber radiator hose and 2 large hose clamps.
To see our ongoing saga, this post may give you some ideas: adding-solar-bear-panels-to-our-agp-the-process-with-pics-t11410.html

 

[fofa]

For some true DIY
http://ffaat.pointclark.net/blog/archiv ... eater.html

http://www.diylife.com/2007/07/02/passi ... the-cheap/

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/06 ... _therm.php

http://rimstar.org/renewnrg/splyucca.htm