Solar Question

[RocKKer]

This is one of those "it depends" questions. It depends how sunny a location you live in, it depends on what exposure you have to place the panels, south-west-east-north (listed in most to least desireable) and if it's full sun or not. It depends how much space you have available for panels, (my roof was a limiting factor).

www.powermat.com has alot of answers (Temp. graphs and other info) for this.

My understanding is you try to cover about 70% of pool surface area in solar panels, that is based upon a full sun southern exposure in the sunny states. You can have less, lots of people do, it still warms the water nicely just slower.

For mine, I have 115% of pool surface area in panels. I have an easterly exposure on my roof. In the peak of the season I see 8-10 degree increase in temp of the water after the panels. Early in the season obviously it is alot less.

To control the temp you need an electronic solar temp control and valve, if I tried to control it manually I'm sure I would end with a swimming pool size spa (my kids want me to try that!).

When I first got my system running (peak season) my 23K gallon pool rose 9 degrees in about 6 hours.

PS - If your pool gets to hot you can cool it off by running the system at night.

[CarlD]

I have a 16x40 pool, 20k, 640 sq ft and the equiv of 3 4x20 panels--240 sq ft. Yesterday, in North-Central NJ, the water hit 92 deg. I frequently run only half the system.

My parents had a 13,500 18x33 oval (525sq ft), with only 6 hours sun a day on the pool and on the 4x20 and 4x10 panels (120 sq ft) I installed and they went from 78 deg (brr) to 84 deg all summer--just six hours a day. Total cost: Less than $500, inclding a 4-way valve for the DE filter's output, TigerFlex, fittings and the panels.

I think 2 to 3 4x20 panels will do you VERY nicely.

[cleancloths]

I have a 16x40 pool, 20k, 640 sq ft and the equiv of 3 4x20 panels--240 sq ft. Yesterday, in North-Central NJ, the water hit 92 deg. I frequently run only half the system.

My parents had a 13,500 18x33 oval (525sq ft), with only 6 hours sun a day on the pool and on the 4x20 and 4x10 panels (120 sq ft) I installed and they went from 78 deg (brr) to 84 deg all summer--just six hours a day. Total cost: Less than $500, inclding a 4-way valve for the DE filter's output, TigerFlex, fittings and the panels.

I think 2 to 3 4x20 panels will do you VERY nicely.

Not to doubt the effectiveness of your system, but that does not sound like much heat generation. I have a 20x40 IG and use a heatpump and solar cover. I had heated the pool up to 79 degrees with the heatpump. I am in NorthWestern NJ and my water is 85 degrees just from the outside temperature and the sun hitting the pool and being covered at night with no other heat added to the pool. In other words, just by having the solar cover on it it has gone up 6 degrees in the last week.

[CarlD]

Not to doubt the effectiveness of your system, but that does not sound like much heat generation. I have a 20x40 IG and use a heatpump and solar cover. I had heated the pool up to 79 degrees with the heatpump. I am in NorthWestern NJ and my water is 85 degrees just from the outside temperature and the sun hitting the pool and being covered at night with no other heat added to the pool. In other words, just by having the solar cover on it it has gone up 6 degrees in the last week.

Please read it again: 13,500 gallons, 1 4x20, 1 4x10, and only 6 hours sun per day on the water or the panels. Even with a solar cover, my parents had troubles getting it to 78-79. With the panels and the limited sun, it jumped to 84-85 for the whole summer.

I get far better results in my pool, because I get far more direct sun, mostly all day.

But remember, solar heat is free heat. Even the most efficient heat pump cannot match it for cost.