Help with operating my solar heater

[Cjkrey]

Hello,
I have a new pool, it is about 240 square feet.

I have 200 safest of solar and a pentair variable pump. What gpm should I set the solar to.

What gpm would you recommend for the gas heater?

Today is 71 degrees and the solar has been only adding 1 or two degrees at 20 gpm after running from 10 am to 12.

I would like the pool to be at 82-86. It seems like the solar is not designed to do that. Thank you in advance

 

[guinness]

The problem is that every solar setup is different, but a general rule of thumb is about 0.1 gpm/sqft of panels. Since the angle of the sun is lower in the fall you won't be able to get as good an increase that you would say from late April to early October. Do you have a pool cover to avoid heat loss overnight?

 

[Rocket J Squirrel]

It's too late in the season for solar. I drained & shut down mine in October. 71 is not very warm. What does your solar temperature read?

 

[Cjkrey]

Well I am not sure if I have a different gauge for the solar thermometer, but it will add 1 or two degrees right now. During the summer i did not really use it because it was 80-90 out and it was nice to get into a 75-80 degree pool. It even got too hot during the heat wave.

It looks like solar was a waste of money for me. I wonder if I can sell it.

 

[dschlic1]

I looked up the specs on my solar panels and looked for the recommended pressure drop across them. I then adjusted my three way way controlling the solar panels for that increase in pressure. Every panel has a recommended flow and/or pressure drop for best efficiency. I live in Tampa Bay. Currently the weather has cooled, so I have placed the solar covers on the pool. This helps to maintain the pool temperature and also saves water.

 

[Ahultin]

Do you have automation? I am thinking you do not have an accurate baseline for what the solar is doing. Looking at the history in my intellicenter I can see that the water in my pool (north san diego county) is getting down in the 50's over night. The solar is kicking on by about 830 am daily and water temp is getting to 70-72°. My solar temp sensor is reading mid 80's much of the day and faces south in full sun. We have @500sq ft of surface area (shaded most of the day due to orientation) and 500@q ft of solar. For reference, my sister has a pool without solar in the same region and she is barely breaking 60 during the day. To me, 70° is swimmable, 60°is not lol.