I have a 6700 gal fiberglass pool. Just bought two of the Sungrabber 2' x 20' aboveground pool solar panels and installed them this past weekend. I am impressed with the results so far. The weather this weekend in VA was party cloudy, in the upper 70's. I consistently got a 6 degree increase from the pool temp on water coming out of the panels when sun was on the panels. Yesterday at peak exposure, the output was 90 degrees.
I just installed (2) Sungrabber 2x20 solar panels...
- Thread starter keithw
- Start date
Keithw,
May I inquire where you bought your SunGrabber panels from? How difficult was the installation?
Thanks in advance.
Ray
May I inquire where you bought your SunGrabber panels from? How difficult was the installation?
Thanks in advance.
Ray
That's encouraging. I got 2 panels last week, but have not been able to get them installed yet.
I bought them here, http://www.poolproducts.com/-i-SLH-SPP-240-2.htm
Installation was very easy. I just piped them into one of my returns with a Polaris UWF for quick removal. I built a 4 x 20 rack out of 3/4" PCV for them that I hung on my fence. I can angle it up towards the sun.
Installation was very easy. I just piped them into one of my returns with a Polaris UWF for quick removal. I built a 4 x 20 rack out of 3/4" PCV for them that I hung on my fence. I can angle it up towards the sun.
Keithw,
Besides the solar panels, what else did you need to buy? I looked at the link you posted in your reply but it does not go into any great detail as to what is needed to get the panels working? Thanks in advance.
Ray
Besides the solar panels, what else did you need to buy? I looked at the link you posted in your reply but it does not go into any great detail as to what is needed to get the panels working? Thanks in advance.
Ray
I didn't want to rework major plumbing to tie these in so I decided to tie them into one of the returns. To do that I bought a Polaris UWF (Universal Wall Fitting) kit. It is an adaptor that replaces one of your returns and allows quick disconnect from the returns and terminates in a 1 1/4 male adapter. Then I used standard 1 1/4 vacuum hoses to go to the input on the panels and then back into the pool. That is pretty much it. A few clamps, and the frame for the panels. I am eager to see how long I can keep the pool open with these panels.
FYI: I bought mine through this seller on eBay: http://tinyurl.com/2oj584
It came with the bypass valve kit which you have to buy separately from some sellers. Like I said, I have not been able to get it connected yet, but I looked through the box and read the instructions and it looks like everything we would need is there with the exception of extra hoses. With the bypass valve you need to go from filter to valve, valve to panels, panels to valve, and valve to pool return--so four hoses.
We remodeled our kitchen earlier this year and my husband is rebelling against any more household projects, so I might have to wait until spring to try mine out. :-( It's torture watching the pool temp drop and knowing the panels are just sitting there!
It came with the bypass valve kit which you have to buy separately from some sellers. Like I said, I have not been able to get it connected yet, but I looked through the box and read the instructions and it looks like everything we would need is there with the exception of extra hoses. With the bypass valve you need to go from filter to valve, valve to panels, panels to valve, and valve to pool return--so four hoses.
We remodeled our kitchen earlier this year and my husband is rebelling against any more household projects, so I might have to wait until spring to try mine out. :-( It's torture watching the pool temp drop and knowing the panels are just sitting there!
- Apr 8, 2007
- 1,616
- Pool Size
- 17450
- Surface
- Vinyl
- Chlorine
- Salt Water Generator
- SWG Type
- Hayward Aqua Rite (T-15)
We see a big difference with panels - we have 2-4x20s. They are a great investment. Years ago we ran in a series on our 2x20s (4 of them) but then read something on PF that made us change our mind. Now ours are run parallel rather than in a series as they suggest and I believe we get a better return of heat that way.
Hi, MeSue.
Kinda curious. Why did you buy it from Ebay instead of buying it from a distributor? Was it cheaper?
Thanks.
Kinda curious. Why did you buy it from Ebay instead of buying it from a distributor? Was it cheaper?
Thanks.
Yes, it was cheaper than the other online sites I had checked, especially considering that you got the bypass valve with it. I had also been tracking several eBay auctions for the same thing, and all of them were going at auction for higher than the "Buy it Now" price on this one (with shipping factored in). Even though that seller is Canadian, the panels arrived here in FL in less than a week.
MeSue,
How do you know that the ebay seller is selling you authentic SunGrabber solar panels? What were the
reasons you picked SunGrabber? Was cost your main concern? Thanks in advance.
How do you know that the ebay seller is selling you authentic SunGrabber solar panels? What were the
reasons you picked SunGrabber? Was cost your main concern? Thanks in advance.
I didn't consciously choose Sungrabber. That was the brand most sellers on eBay were offering, so I went to the Sungrabber website and it looked like they had a lot of info and the 10 yr. warranty sounded good. Sure, I was taking a chance with the eBay seller, but they had good seller ratings and solar panels seemed to be the only thing they sold. Since they had no negative ratings I figured it was safe. I would not say cost was my only concern, but I didn't want to spend more than $200 or so. I have used eBay for at least 10 years so it's something I'm comfortable with.
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