Solar heater controller

[CarlD]

Having used solar panels for at least a dozen years I have LONG found that it's no big deal to turn the panels on and off manually. I have two ball valves, one for my south and eastern panels, and one for my north and western panels. THEORETICALLY, I could get better performance with robotic, computer controlled valves, but at what cost? If my pool gets too hot I merely turn the panels on at night and they act like a car's radiator, bleeding off heat energy.

Just, IMHO, it's over-kill.

[nefretrameses]

If the panels are "off" they cannot either heat or cool the pool. You can use manual control as Carl suggests for both heating and cooling. Besides, here in Florida, the sun will heat your pool in summer, even with a screen enclosure. It's more likely you would want to use the panels to cool the pool at night during summer and to heat it during spring fall and winter.

But you should check for warranty issues. If the panels are off and drained of water, are there warranty issues? Without water or water flow will they get too hot and become damaged? Most panels discuss freeze protection for warranty coverage, but I doubt you have freeze issues.