Solar Reels.

I was thinking about one of these reels. Has anyone had any experience with either one of these? Please advise. Thanks

http://www.waterwarehouse.com/products/sku-2704.html

S6405 Signature Series Solar Reel Up to 20' wide $279.99 $269.99


or this one


http://www.solarcovers.com/Product_P...In_Ground.html

LOW PROFILE SOLAR REEL
Get superior performance and commercial quality with this new low profile design. This low profile reel, only 12" high, is constructed from Cast Aluminum throughout and has a heavy-duty aluminum crank handle. Item # Description Price

455020 Pools Up to 22' Wide $219.99

Anyone had one of these or have one now and how do or did you like it?

Looking for suggestions and advise. Thank you.
Aranon

Links are dead.

Try them now. They should be good now.
Thanks.
Aranon

So no one knows anything about either of these reels?

If you use your solar cover alot.........reels are as handy as a pocket on a shirt. that is, IF you need your water warmed??????????? Most people don't need one, or want to deal with the hastle of putting on and taking off.
consider what is best......then go from there

another way to heat your pool without the hastle of a solar cover, is to find out how, but you can (during the cooler months) extend your pump hoses by attaching a few feet of PVC to the return. The longer the more efficient. Some guy I talked to had it gone nuts, up and on the roof of his house and back down, this short 2-3 feet though will heat your pool up just as if not better than a solar cover. Then of course when you have warmer/hotter months, take it off and put your hose in as usual. If you already have a solar cover as I mentioned before, and NEED to use it often.........a reel is nice. Sometimes you can "MAKE ONE YOURSELF" cheaper than buying one.

Tracey,
To clear up some things about solar covers:
1. They are more useful than you think, they also keep your water in the pool rather than allowing it to evaporate - VERY important for those that have a limited water supply. I'd spend 100 on a solar cover any day since I'd save over 200 on trucking in water over the course of one summer.
2. They help against heat loss over night, also important if you like to go for an AM swim.
3. They don't heat the pool as much as you think, but in some parts, they are required just to get the pool to a comfy temperature.

SO sorry MATT,
don't know where you live, but here, most people don't use them
to each their own dependant on where in the states they live
SORRY

I live in Texas but my pool is under a huge oak tree with shade cloth over it to keep the oak leaves and acorns out of the pool, so I have almost 90 percent shade. Even though it gets hot here in Texas its at the end of June and we are having 60-70 degree nights. I have 9 solar panels to heat the pool but we have found that we lose about 6 to eight degrees if we leave the solar cover off at night. We don't use it to heat the pool in the day, but to keep the heat in during the night. Also it sure helps to keep the water from evaporating which is actually keeping the heat in the pool since evaporation is a form of cooling.

My solar bubble blanket is very heavy and add a little water on it and you can barely even move it until you get it all in the pool. It is such a hassle and hard work to get the cover into the pool to cover it. I want to get a good reel that will last. I assumed a lot of people would use covers, but I guess I assumed wrong. It is a must for us. And I did go for a swim this morning with the water at 89 degrees and man did it feel good at AM this morning. The good thing about our solar panels is that when it gets hotter this summer I can turn them on at night and cool the pool. But until then I need the blanket. Thanks for any info on a good reel from anyone that knows about them.

Aranon

In Texas, you'll probably want one, not to gain any heat, but to keep your water in the pool, the heat in Texas is notorious for stealing your water, so unless you have an endless cheap or free supply of water, a solar cover is a good investment.

I got a cover. I want a reel!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My post was not weather I should get a solar cover or what it does. The post was suggestions for a solar reel. It is so hard to put it on because it is so heavy and somewhat a hassle to take it off. I was asking for advise on a good reel to purchase. I have the cover and have to use it every night or my pool gets cold.

Because of all the post by others on how bad their reels were and how hard they were to turn after a year or so I wanted to get a good one. I am suspecting the bearings were cheap or were plastic or no bearings at all which caused them to go bad. I was asking other pool owners if they had purchased a good heavy duty one that they liked or would recommend.

Thank you
Aranon

Aranon

I feel your pain. Well really i don't, but I can hear it in your voice.
I can offer no help but did you check out these kick butt solar reels?
http://www.covers4pools.co.uk/acatal...l_rollers.html

Yeah, I know they are not in the US but wow.... cool stuff. Probably impossible to get one of those to the states- the shipping wouldn't be worth it.

What about your local public pools, hotel chains ect, do they have solar reels? Can you ask them for leads on a comercial supplier?

Hope you find something soon.
~Hoffmans

Hey Aranon ! I sent you a private message about the reel I have....
crazimom

Thanks for the info. So it is pretty easy to un-roll and roll up by yourself.

I thought about attaching mine to my fence and thought about adding some type of water sprayer to spray toward the bottom of the roll when rolling it up to clean it. I seem to get a lot of dirt and leaves on it.

Maybe use PVC or one of those water hoses that spray the length of the hose mounted underneath so when I roll it up it cleans the cover and the dirt and water come off the bottom of the reel as I roll it up and drop down thru the deck to the ground and that way it would clean the cover as I roll it up.

Anyone ever rig up anything like that before?

Aranon

I have a Horizon HV-200 "commercial grade" reel - I got it because it fits above my diving board, it has self-contained steel ball bearings holding the axle, and it is all metal. It was a bear to assemble but it has been holding up well. I think a reel is one of those things you don't want to skip on qualitywise. The bigger the reel, the more important it is to have sturdy construction and quality ball bearings. If the reel isn't easy to turn you're much more likely to get frustrated. Also, once you have a reel, make sure to cover your reel with white plastic or cloth once it is rolled up - the hot sun on many layers of rolled up solar cover is not good for it!