Covering a CircuPool cell

[pikeman]

I read that the clear plastic isn't to be in direct sun. My equipment pad gets a lot of sun and heat.
Has anyone used a cover, or made a shade for it?
Thanks!

 

[Philo]

delete

 

[proavia]

See pics in post #6 here: Circupool SWG and solar heat not compatable?

The poster there covered the cell and built a"bird house" for the controller. You could also construct some type of shade structure or shade screening for all your equipment if desired.

 

[Wrinkled fingers]

I covered mine, the sun i think killed my cell housings and controller (circupool) The controller plastic cover distorted and would fall off, the key pad faded to nothing. The clear cell housing cracked 3 times, not sure if from UV or not, plumbing was spot on, no preloads or overtightning, only finger tight. The clear housings in my opinion can not take lots of sun. My wife made a Sunbrella cover for our new cell and I built a wooden box, properly vented, to keep sun off of controller. With a "feel" test, both are running much cooler and NO SUN.

 

[Chuckiechan]

Mine is peeling off. Plus my display died (and came back to life) and if I buy another one I plan to cover the front door with a piece of Lexan.
Your set up looks great. Mine was in direct weather.
I’m starting my 5th season with the SI30+, FYI.

 

[JoyfulNoise]

My pool equipment is in direct sunlight from late morning until sunset. It gets blasted and the sun has definitely shortened the life of components that are exposed. My automation panel has a metal door and the paint coating on the front of it is deteriorating (gritty and the color wipes off on your hand). Sun, heat and UV will destroy most anything over time. So I would say if you have sensitive components you'd be better off relocating them to a shadier location or you need to enclose and/or protect them from the sun. I like the CircuPool cells that are visible BUT no plastic is capable of withstanding constant UV exposure and so it makes perfect sense that they would fracture/fail early. This is probably why Pentair and Hayward both use standard white PVC to construct their cells, it simply holds up better to exposure and, once the exterior has weathered a little, the deterioration slows down.

 

[Wrinkled fingers]

My pool equipment is in direct sunlight from late morning until sunset. It gets blasted and the sun has definitely shortened the life of components that are exposed. My automation panel has a metal door and the paint coating on the front of it is deteriorating (gritty and the color wipes off on your hand). Sun, heat and UV will destroy most anything over time. So I would say if you have sensitive components you'd be better off relocating them to a shadier location or you need to enclose and/or protect them from the sun. I like the CircuPool cells that are visible BUT no plastic is capable of withstanding constant UV exposure and so it makes perfect sense that they would fracture/fail early. This is probably why Pentair and Hayward both use standard white PVC to construct their cells, it simply holds up better to exposure and, once the exterior has weathered a little, the deterioration slows down.

Totally agree, I put my new Pentair variable speed pump key pad in a electrical box also on the wall, my Hayward controller plastic housing died in two years exposed, had to put a strap on the door to keep it closed. Anything that can be painted with Latex I do also, acts like sunscreen for your stuff. Down here in the land of the sun, If i was to have built this myself from scratch, all this equipment would be in its own shed, totally out of the sun. I am originally from Washington State, UV isn't of much concern there and I think I would not of had a issue, quite a difference from Phoenix so you have to take my experience with a grain of salt. A lot depends on where you live and exposure.

 

[pikeman]

Thanks for the advice. My wife could make one of those sun covers and it's no big deal to mount the controller in a steel switch box.