Solar collectors - DIY glazing and temp control

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I moved the temp probe to the outside of the glazing. luckily only 46c (quite breezy). As long as the panels have a higher temp. threshold I should be ok.

70c under the glazing but 45c outside the glazing where the piping is routed. Goes to show the glazing is working quite well.

The supplier of the panels is finding out from the manufacturer what the temp threshold is for the plastic material of the panels.
I do not want to damage them due to excessive heat under the glazing.
 
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Katodude said:
You can always uncover you pool at night and just let evaporation help cool it down.

I am getting to the point where it just might make sense to add solar heating to the pool.
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Yes I did exactly that last night end enjoyed some late night swimming (few cold beers involved of course but with the hot water and beer I had to visit the restroom more than usual!! LOL).
Lost 3c before midnight. Was a cool breeze that accelerated the cooling process also.
Surprising how fast it loses heat.
A cool 34c at 7am today.

Go for it! I see you're in West Palm Beach also. Ideal location for the solar collectors.

How warm does your pool get without heating in Florida?
 
The pool is probably around 70 degrees now maybe a little lower its been a little cold here overnight. In the summer it will top out at about 96 degrees which is too hot for me but my wife loves it. Most of the time in the summer it will hover around 88 to 90 degrees. I have a southern facing roof that would be perfect for panels. Really would like to use it to extend the pool season, I would like to start swimming in March and go through November or possibly December which I think the panels would give me.

I could also use it to pre heat the Spa in the winter to help save on the propane bills.
 
Katodude said:
The pool is probably around 70 degrees now maybe a little lower its been a little cold here overnight. In the summer it will top out at about 96 degrees which is too hot for me but my wife loves it. Most of the time in the summer it will hover around 88 to 90 degrees. I have a southern facing roof that would be perfect for panels. Really would like to use it to extend the pool season, I would like to start swimming in March and go through November or possibly December which I think the panels would give me.

I could also use it to pre heat the Spa in the winter to help save on the propane bills.
Click to expand...
Wow 90-96 without heating? 90 is a really nice temp. Yes the wives always want it hotter!
But yes to keep that temp going later in the season is where the panels will come in useful.
Luckily our pool is quite small so we can cover it and remove the cover fast and easily. The cover makes a vast difference in heat retention.
 
Was in the pool at midnight today and to my surprise, a lot of cold water enters the pool through the jets.
Well no it's not flowing but the convection from the underground piping is shocking.

Put your hand around the jets and you can feel cold water convection currents flowing out.
Could do with some plugs for when I want to conserve more of the heat during the colder weeks.
Plus that may just pop out when the pump starts. End of day put them back in.

Update: I believe the cold convection current out of the jets is the water connected to the panels which do not empty at the moment. When the valves are shut off manually this does not occur.
I must get the Vacuum release valve fitted to empty them.
 
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I'm going to have to start using the panels at nightime to cool the pool a couple of degrees!

My glazing is too efficient during the hot summer months here. Air temp 31c all week this week.

I switched off the flow through the panels today and at 11:30am as the temperature was rising above 75c (167F) under the glazing!!! The blue pool piping is only rated to 60c. I don't want melted pipes again so had to switch on the flow again just to remove the heat.
Currently sitting at 52c under the glazing with half -flow (half being bypassed).

Covers off and jets pointing to the surface.
Pool at 33.8c.
 
Set up the pump to run through the panels last night until the pool temp fell below 31.5c. Was 35c yesterday
Worked perfectly as the air temp was about 19c.

Cooled the pool down to 31.4c by 5am approx.

Wife put her foot and got the approval. Much nicer temp. But she still hasn't swum today! All for nothing. Lol
 
Unfortunately I'm going to have to remove the acrylic glazing I think.
It has been too efficient. Hottest part of the season has not arrived yet and been having issues keeping the pool below 34c

If I switch off the flow to the panels the temp under the glazing has been rising too much.
90c yesterday - had to switch on the flow to prevent damaged to the panels and piping!!
100c and the exisitng water in the pipes will start boiling! I do have a VRV but still this is not designed for such heat I'm sure. Can understand why glazing systems use sealed pipes and transfer the heat from the appropriate liquid (not water)
 

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Katodude said:
In our house there is no such thing as having pool water that is too hot!!!
Click to expand...

Lol. Kids really don't like it too hot as they play a lot and don't use it to chill.
When it gets above 36c on hot humid days it feels like a hot soup. Could run it at night to cool it but then that starts messing up the chlorine levels etc. (plus electricity).

30-32c for us is about right
 
Managed to achieve a good balance now - pool temp ranges from 31-33c now instead of creeping up to 37c!! Just perfect for all of us young and old.

50% of the acrylic glazing removed from above the solar collectors did it. They certainly were efficient - good for the cooler months.
 
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