DIY Solar Pool Heater

[lukeyn]

Now that I have my pool up and running, I am looking into heating this bad boy.

There are really three design types to running your solar piping; coils, serpentine, or the manifold style.

What works the best for the least amount of back pressure increase to keep the strain down on my pump, but is also pretty effective?

Right now my pump pushed about 10psi at the filter..


Thanks in advance.

 

[JohnT]

Back pressure isn't hard on your pump provided you keep some flow. For effectiveness, the commercial panels are in another league compared to home brew systems. The goal with any kind of solar heat is to maximize the amount of water going through the system and the contact area between the water and the panel. This results in minimal temperature rise which reduces heat loss. You accomplish high flow and large contact area with a lot of parallel pipes.

 

[Isaac-1]

This is one of those cases where you can almost always buy a commercial panel that will outperform anything you can make for less money than you would spend on the DIY supplies. About the only exception would be if you have several thousand feet of black poly tubing on hand for free, even then there is a question of how much is your time worth.

 

[lukeyn]

Any suggestions on where to purchase the panels?

 

[pooldv]

I got mine at Solar Direct. Pics in build thread in sig.

 

[lukeyn]

Purchased a solar blanket, 12 mils thick from midwest canvaa

 

[Isaac-1]

My techno-solis panels came from poolheatpumps.com these are the same panels as Solar Direct sells as their house brand Vortex panels. I bought mine a couple of years ago with 2 inch headers for less solar direct gets for their 1.5 inch header version

 

[lukeyn]

Have a guy selling some panels locally. They are 20 years old and have some leaks, but he wants 20 bucks a piece for them. What's everyone's thoughts

 

[Isaac-1]

20 years is pushing it, I would say to go for it if they were 5 years old, but not 20

 

[lukeyn]

Bought em all for 180. He threw in some random chemicals too.

 

[Isaac-1]

At least you will not be out a lot of money if they don't hold up, but hopefully you will get some use out of them.

 

[lukeyn]

After cleaning them up some. Doesn't look like they are in too bad of shape.

 

[jblizzle]

Great ... just what every here loves to see ... random chemicals

- - - Updated - - -

What brand are they? Any pix?

 

[lukeyn]

Had to rush home and I'm out at a t ball game. Will take some when I get home. Chemicals probably won't get used.

 

[f3justusc]

If you get a year or two, it's money well spent. And it gives you time to look around and figure out what you really want.

 

[lukeyn]

Thinking it will be worth the cost

 

[lukeyn]

 

[jblizzle]

Wow that is a lot of mats for the price. Hope not many have leaks.

 

[lukeyn]

If it does have some, I'm going to use pvc glue and irrigation connectors "Raindrip 312050B Barbed Connectors"

 

[jblizzle]

PVC glue will not stick to the mats at all. If there is just a small leak, the barbed connectors might work.