Planning solar pool heater panels

[Magnumpl]

Hello. I am planning to add solar heater to my pool, I've read that a variable speed pool pump would be recommended. I currently have a Flotec AT251001-01 1hp single speed 115/230v pool pump. I am trying to determine what voltage is it running on. The multimeter is showing 120v on both connectors at the mechanical timer. I am not sure if the wiring is suitable for a 230v pool pump and if it would be difficult to upgrade it to 230v.

I've attached pictures of the pool electricals and breaker. The lower part of the breaker turns the pump on/off.

https://imgur.com/a/iE8cgjE

I would appreciate your help!

 

[Magnumpl]

Hi. I purchased pool solar heater system for my 12k gallon pool. The panels are 4'x10'. I was planning to install them on my roof but my insurance does not allow it. I have 2 flat aluminum roof over patios connected to the pool enclosure, one patio roof is over the pool equipment but it would only fit 2 panels (maybe 3 if one panel is mounted perpendicularly). My second patio is located 20' away from pool pump, it would fit 4 panels easily.

Not sure if it's better to install 2-3 panels right over the pool pump, install 4 panels 20' away from the pump or 6 panels - 2 over the smaller roof and 4 over the bigger patio?

Here are the plans to give you a better look:

https://imgur.com/a/RS9lCOD

Could you please advise?

Also, what pump size would you recommend for these setups?

 

[ajw22]

What model pool pump do you have?

Show us pics of the equipment pad and the areas you are considering mounting the solar panels.

What is the sq ft area of your pool surface?

What are the sq ft area of the panels?

If you do the 6 panels on the two roofs where will the pipe runs go?

Solar Pool Heaters - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

@mas985 @Dirk

 

[Dirk]

Solar panels don't have to be contiguous (installed right next to each other). But if you have more than one set of panels, you have to plumb them together appropriately. You can't just connect them all together any-which-way. It has to do with pressure and flow and pitch and angles, etc. They may work if you do, but they will not likely heat your pool as effectively, and efficiently, as they would if plumbed correctly.

A VS pump will certainly facilitate dialing in the most effective flow rate for your panels. I also have a FlowVis flow meter that lets me dial in my pump RPMs perfectly for my panels. But there are other ways to adjust flow through solar panels that don't require a VS pump, if that's not in the budget, so it's not a requirement of a solar system. You could install a flow bypass valve and adjust that for flow rate.

If you're handy, you can save a lot of money installing panels yourself. I did and saved about $7K! But you need to understand the principles involved if you want the most heat in your pool. I learned most of them on the ol' google machine, and some from the supplier that sold me my system. Mostly from this site (which explains a lot of the science I've been describing):

Hot Sun Solar Swimming Pool Heating with Flexible Solar Collector Panels

The state of the art in the adaptation of solar pool heating to various roof types and pool mechanical systems.

www.h2otsun.com

 

[ajw22]

I've attached pictures of the pool electricals and breaker. The lower part of the breaker turns the pump on/off.

I cannot see the breaker in your pic.

Please post pics directly to the TFP server.

The Intermatic timer you have is 120 volts. If that controls the pump then the pump is probably 120 volts.

 

[Dirk]

I was planning to install them on my roof but my insurance does not allow it.

This is a little vague in the ol' brain, but I picked it up from somewhere. I think it might be federal law that prohibits at least some entities from banning solar panels on your property. Homeowners associations can't do that, for example, even though they try. If you can put them somewhere else, they have to let you. If you can't, they can't stop you from putting them on your roof. I'm wondering if that law applies to pool solar heating panels, and if it applies to insurance companies. Not sure. Might be worth a little research. Or you could get a different insurance company, as not all of them have the same restrictions.

That said, putting the panels elsewhere does have the advantage of not messing with your roof. So if you can fit all you want on your patios, that's not the worst thing.

 

[Pool_Medic]

Pentair makes a couple of variable speed pumps that run 115-230. So no need to know. The added advantage of a vs pump and solar set up is you can up the speeds during solar demand times.

 

[Dirk]

Pentair makes a couple of variable speed pumps that run 115-230. So no need to know. The added advantage of a vs pump and solar set up is you can up the speeds during solar demand times.

Thanks for pointing that out, PM! In addition to adjusting your optimal flow rate for the panels, the right solar controller can adjust your VS pump's speed along with the solar heating: so you might need 2200 RPM to get the most heat out of your panels, but if a cloud passes over and the solar controller shuts down the panels, it can drop your pump RPMs down to some other speed, like 800 or something. Very efficient. A VS pump will pay for itself over time in just about any pool, but it's an even better value if there is a solar heater involved.

More to the point: be sure you get a handle on all the equipment you'll need and be sure all the components are compatible. If you do go VS pump, you'll want to make sure your solar controller and the pump are compatible. My stuff is all Pentair and it all works great together.

 

[Magnumpl]

Thank you so much for your comments!

The solar heater equipment that I have is 6x 4x12 solar panels (but I don't think I need that many), Hayward GVA-24 Valve Acuator and Hayward Aquastar II Solar Pool Controler. My current pump is Flotec AT251001-01 1hp single speed but I am looking to replace it as its very loud too. I am considering running a new wire to make it 220v but not sure if it's worth it.

The pool equipment is connected to the main breaker panel in the garage. I attached the picture of the breaker.

 

[Dirk]

I have eight panels that size for my 12K pool and probably get an extra 5-10 degrees, depending on weather conditions and time of year. That's in CA. I expect 6 panels in Florida might be comparable.

 

[Magnumpl]

To sum up. I would be installing four 4'x10' panels on a flat roof. The roof is 8' high and is located 20' away from the pump. It has a slight slope to the southern side.

I am not sure if its better to have a longer inlet pipe or return pipe. I attached two options in the pictures.

Now, does the return pipe to pool need to be declined under a slight angle or is it fine if its horizontally flat, where it goes from the panels along the roof to the point where it goes down to the pool return?

 

[1poolman1]

You want your panels to feed from the bottom to the top, lowest to highest. Other than that it doesn't make any difference which line is longer as it is a closed loop. Either of your diagrams would produce the same result.

 

[mas985]

Option#3, I would plumb it like picture 1 but reverse the supply and return lines. This will result in the shortest supply lines of the three options. Also, by placing the VRV on the supply side, this will allow you to run at minimum RPM if you go with a VS pump.