Difference between revisions of "Solar Pool Heaters" - Further Reading

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==DIY Solar Pool Heaters==
 
==DIY Solar Pool Heaters==
  
Solar pool heaters and hot water solar heaters are too different designs. One is used to heat a lot of water just a little bit while the other is used to heat a little water a lot. Using a hot water design for a pool will results in less than satisfactory results. What you want is a lot of surface area with many very small tubes all in parallel for high flow rates and high efficiency. Something like a commercial pool solar panel:
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Solar pool heaters and hot water solar heaters are too different designs. One is used to heat a lot of water just a little bit while the other is used to heat a little water a lot. Using a hot water design for a pool will results in less than satisfactory results. What you want is a lot of surface area with many very small tubes all in parallel for high flow rates and high efficiency. Something like a commercial pool solar panel:<ref>https://www.troublefreepool.com/threads/diy-solar-heating.248780/post-2179574</ref>
  
 
[[File:Solar Heater Roof Panels.png|600px|frameless]]
 
[[File:Solar Heater Roof Panels.png|600px|frameless]]

Revision as of 16:32, 5 April 2022

Solar Pool Heaters

DIY Solar Pool Heaters

Solar pool heaters and hot water solar heaters are too different designs. One is used to heat a lot of water just a little bit while the other is used to heat a little water a lot. Using a hot water design for a pool will results in less than satisfactory results. What you want is a lot of surface area with many very small tubes all in parallel for high flow rates and high efficiency. Something like a commercial pool solar panel:[1]

Solar Heater Roof Panels.png


Diyers generally use landscape tubing in coils much like this:

Solar Heater Landscape Tubing.png

But if you go this route, it is best to use several coils in parallel to keep the tube length short and flow rates higher. One of the biggest mistakes DIYers make is to use one very long tube coiled up. That creates a lot of head loss limiting the amount of flow through the panel. Higher flow rates through the tubing results in better efficiency. This is what you want (although the pump is shown backwards and solar valves should be used):

Solar Pool Heater Schematic.png

For a 400 sq-ft pool, you will want at least 200 sq-ft of panels. Using 1/2" tubing (0.7" O.D.), that is about 3500' of tubing.