Solar Panel Question

[Islander2C]

Hello everyone. We own a 27ft AG pool and are interested in getting some information on Solar Panels for heating the pool. Can anyone advise where I can get more information on installation, how many we will need etc. or anyone who uses them with their pool who would like to post advice I would appreciate it.
Thanks

[MaxxFusion]

I havent used one yet but will be installing one this season. I already bought one off ebay. I have a 24 ag pool and went with a 4x20. I have been doing research on them since the fall and in the old forum I got a lot of good feedback on them and they seem well worth the money. To really make them work well you need a solar cover to keep the heating in at night.

[mwsmith2]

I believe that the maunfacturer's sites provide sizing data for the panels. One thing you are going to need to know is the square feet of surface area of your pool, which is pretty easy to figure for a round pool. Also, you are going to need to have the panels facing south for best efficiency at a 45 degree angle, especially in the northern lattitudes.

Michael

[CarlD]

They are VERY easy to install. I suspect two 4x20 panels will be great for you. Remember: The more water flows through them, the better they work. If, on a blistering hot, sunny day, the panels are cool or only mildly warm, then they are doing there job. If they are hot, they aren't flowing enough water and it will take longer to heat your pool.

[matt4x4]

Really easy to install, Instead of all these fancy valves, I just put my pool on a timer - on at 9:00 when the sun hits the panels, off at 6:00 when it leaves the panels, the water coming out on a sunny day is very warm, almost hot.
2 4x20's should do you fine.
I made mine so I can disconnect two unions and completely remove the panels from the equation, but you can achieve the same with two directional valves and it would be less work.
The reason you may want to remove the panels from the equation (bypass) is that you get better back pressure for your vac without the panels on the system, or on a cloudy, rainy day you may want to circulate the water without running it through the panels since they can also remove heat from the water if the air temp is lower than the water temp and sun is not warming the panels.
If you also want to circulate the water at night is another reason to bypass...

[cnk]

How much do the panels usually raise the temperature?

[JohnT]

How much do the panels usually raise the temperature?

Depends on where you live and how long they get direct sunlight in a day.