Solar recommendations?

[tradewinds]

What is the general consensus on a solar system? Would like to ground mount since I have south facing area close to the pool equipment.

 

[ajw22]

Read Solar Pool Heaters - Further Reading

 

[Ahultin]

We love ours and it kept the pool swimmable (in socal) all year. I did a diy install, Ground mounted

 

[tradewinds]

We love ours and it kept the pool swimmable (in socal) all year. I did a diy install, Ground mounted

Which system did you get?

 

[Ahultin]

We used the swim joy 500 sq ft system (10 12.5x4 panels) from solarpoolsupplies.com

Pool solar

107 new items · Album by Aaron Hultin

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[tradewinds]

We used the swim joy 500 sq ft system (10 12.5x4 panels) from solarpoolsupplies.com

Pool solar

107 new items · Album by Aaron Hultin

photos.app.goo.gl

This is awesome! Did you document all the steps and materials list? I was looking at yours on the Amazon site and was wondering.

 

[Ahultin]

Did you document all the steps and extra materials. I

Not all but most

 

[tradewinds]

Not all but most

If you don't mind sharing, would really like to follow what you did. Appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[Ahultin]

I actually used the design off of here which has a materials list and everything. Solar pool supply considers it excessive but too me it just seems sturdier than the version they have instructions on using galvanized steel studs.
www.ecosystemssolar.com/strut-channel_rack.htm

SPS recommends this for ground mount that you could consider as well.

Pool solar Rack

23 new items · Album by Russell McCann

photos.app.goo.gl

 

[tradewinds]

@Ahultin - what did you end up with for LxW for you rack (with that kit)? Also, I see you decided to use metal roofing? Did that help with adding more degrees?

 

[Ahultin]

@Ahultin - what did you end up with for LxW for you rack (with that kit)? Also, I see you decided to use metal roofing? Did that help with adding more degrees?

I used those plans but not a kit - I sourced all of the posts and uni-strut from home depot. The post connectors I got from lowes and the metal roof i picked up cheap surplus from Craigslist (hence the use of the fancy gray powder coated substrate)
The substrate helps to prevent the convective cooling effects from wind thru the panels ( we can get a decent offshore wind at times on the Southside of the house where the array is installed )
We used 10 4x12.5 panels so the rack was built 13'x43'

 

[tradewinds]

@Ahultin - thank you. Anything special you did to calculate the pitch angle to the sun?.

Sorry, for kit, I meant the swim joy.

 

[Ahultin]

@Ahultin - thank you. Anything special you did to calculate the pitch angle to the sun?.

Sorry, for kit, I meant the swim joy.

As I recall, I was told to aim for a tilt angle roughly equal to your latitude - plus up to 15° for optimized winter use, minus 15° for optimized summer use, but also that it is much less important a factor for solar heat than PV solar. I dont recall what I ended up installing at but I can throw the angle finder on the rack later today if you'd like.

 

[tradewinds]

but I can throw the angle finder on the rack later today if you'd like.

Yes, thank you and if you don't mind mentioning your latitude. Thx.

 

[Ahultin]

Yes, thank you and if you don't mind mentioning your latitude. Thx.

We are at 33° and install tilt angle 21° ( and I can't for the life of me recall how I landed at using that number lol)

 

[tradewinds]

We are at 33° and install tilt angle 21° ( and I can't for the life of me recall how I landed at using that number lol)

Thanks. I see there is the SwimLux. Did you look at this and did they explain the difference/benefits for the added cost?

 

[tradewinds]

I wonder why he didn't use a wye for the bottom red arrow vs. a Tee.

 

[Ahultin]

Thanks. I see there is the SwimLux. Did you look at this and did they explain the difference/benefits for the added cost?

I had explored those and asked if i was better with a smaller swimlux or the larger smimjoy (budget being equal) The swimlux they explained as being used for cooler climates or windy climates where the fully enclosed panels are needed. The shipping is significantly higher on the swimlux because they have to be shipped flat via freight.

 

[Ahultin]

I wonder why he didn't use a wye for the bottom red arrow vs. a Tee.

View attachment 520308

Probably because while a pressure rated wye is available, they are hard to find and non existent locally

 

[tradewinds]

@Ahultin OK, I sent them a note and referenced you as the referral and also basically stating I'll be doing a very similar setup. Hopefully they have some good deals as this is significantly over what we thought we would spend for heating the pool when we budgeted the pool build. However, looking at electric, natural gas or propane, this may be better in the long run although I couldn't yet figure out the break even date.