intex pool to solar heater valve

I have been trying to find a connector valve that will fit an intex pool to a solar heater panel. So far with no luck, even intex said you can't hook up a solar heater to they're pools. First we had to by an bigger pump, because you need at least 1 horsepower minimum and I found a 1.5 horse called the hayward pro max for less than the 3/4 HP intex pump. Through much frustration, I think I'm gonna need a custom valve made in order to hook up a solar heater to any intex pump/pool. We have a friend who is a machinist that is gonna make a valve out of aluminum that will work with any intex, including a salt water filter system which we have. So i don't know if there is anyone else who has had the same problems but if so, let me know and I would be glad to help out, I don't want others to have to go through the same thing I went through. Because if you live in a place that gets cold, the solar heating system is the way to go for sure. It works really well especially if you have good sun exposure.

stneasy --- We usually recommend that people not list their email addresses on the forum. There are harvesters out there that snatch up email addresses and flood you with spam or worse. I edited your post and removed it. By the way, welcome to the forum.

What kind of Intex pool do you have? I used to have a 15' donut with the little 1/6 hp cartridge filter. I had very little trouble hooking up a 10'x4' solar panel to it, just using that little pump. I did have to get fittings to mate 1.5" plumbing required by the panel to 1.25" plumbing used by the pump and pool, but that was it. By adjusting down the flow to the panel I maintained the water velocity necessary on the return and STILL had the panel bring the pool temp up to over 100 deg!

We've have used heater panels with both our intex pools. Just takes some head scratching, replacing intex hoses to pool store ones, some of those clamps u use a screwdriver to tighten and some rubber couplers. Time at the hardware store in the plumbing n outdoor irrigation depts. not as pretty but heat is worth it. We also upgraded to a 1hp Hayward pump n a sand filter. When cash strapped you tend to get creative:)

My solar heating panels have a 3 way shut-off valve that came as a recommended part when my husband set up the solar panels. This way I can run the pump with or without circulating pool water through the solar panels. We'll be hooking the solar panels up tomorrow. I can't wait to go swimming.