- Jun 17, 2009
- 35
Aloha all, I have installed 2 4x20 "sungrabbers" along with my DIY solar panel consisting of 1500' of 1/2 irrigation tubing. See the setup and the tests I have been doing for the last 3 days at DIY Heater tuning/setup thread (july 18). I also installed a 3/4 hp Jacuzzi pump in parallel with my 1/8 hp pump.. Since I am on PV solar stand alone and not tied to the grid, I will use the 3/4 during the day when the sun is out and the 1/8 at nite.
Here are some of the solar heat figures I got out of the 3/4 pump (but I only started at 4:30pm when I finished the sungrabber installation).
1) 3 degrees heating at 4:30PM @ 40gpm.
2) Constructing a easy convertible top (maybe a hinged clear plastic corrugated material) to expose the pool to direct sun as that gave me 2.4 degrees increase today.
3) Also, like everyone says, USE a SOLAR BLANKET! Since my pool is square 8'x20' I will McGiver 2 8x10 panels on pulleys that will hinge and cover the pool at night.
Question: Can I use any material as a solar blanket, such as a tarp? Or are the "official" bubble wrap material really superior?
thanks
Francis
Here are some of the solar heat figures I got out of the 3/4 pump (but I only started at 4:30pm when I finished the sungrabber installation).
1) 3 degrees heating at 4:30PM @ 40gpm.
2) Constructing a easy convertible top (maybe a hinged clear plastic corrugated material) to expose the pool to direct sun as that gave me 2.4 degrees increase today.
3) Also, like everyone says, USE a SOLAR BLANKET! Since my pool is square 8'x20' I will McGiver 2 8x10 panels on pulleys that will hinge and cover the pool at night.
Question: Can I use any material as a solar blanket, such as a tarp? Or are the "official" bubble wrap material really superior?
thanks
Francis