+ Reply to Thread
Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14

Thread: SunGrabber solar panel....

  1. #1
    BullDean Guest

    Default SunGrabber solar panel....

    Anyone have any experience with these..

    I have an 18' x 48" above ground pool...

    And someone on Ebay that has a very good reputation is selling a lot of these... 2 2x20' panels

    Not sure if my pump on my intex will be strong enough.. But It shouldn't be too much of a problem...

    Just need to figure out where I will place them...


    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Cleveland, OH
    Age
    48
    Posts
    121

    Default Re: SunGrabber solar panel....

    I bought the sun grabber system from ebay (probaly from the same seller). I went with them because of their design. I got them at the end of winter so was able to get them for $116 shipped.

  3. #3
    BullDean Guest

    Default Re: SunGrabber solar panel....

    MaxxFusion,

    So how is it working for you...

    I live in Mechanicsburg which is about 30 minutes west of Columbus, OH..

    It's probably been colder up in your area....

    I just have a small above ground 18' x 4'... So I am debating how it will look and fit around the pool...



    Thanks for the info..


    Dave

  4. #4
    CarlD's Avatar
    CarlD is offline SuperMod Emeritus Vortex Adjuster CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars CarlD 4 stars
    Join Date
    Dec 1969
    Location
    North Central NJ
    Posts
    6,607

    Default Re: SunGrabber solar panel....

    I had an Intex 15'x3' and used a 10x4 panel on it with no trouble. I just routed all of the return water through it. I did have to valve it down a little to keep up the return water velocity, but only a little. And it worked GREAT!
    Carl

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Cleveland, OH
    Age
    48
    Posts
    121

    Default Re: SunGrabber solar panel....

    Unfortanatly I have not installed it yest. I have been working on my deck and my pool deck but that is next on the list. I have have my solar cover reel to install.

  6. #6
    Aranon is offline Registered+ Thread Analyst Aranon 0
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    102

    Default Re: SunGrabber solar panel....

    I have the Sun Grabbers that I bought on ebay. We hooked them up temporary on the ground. I bought 5 kits so I had 10 separate 2ft x 20 panels. With my 1hp pump on low they worked great. Brought my pool up from 80 degrees to 86 in one day. Did not put the solar cover on at night and lost 4 degrees. Used the solar cover and kept the warmth in over night. To day I am putting them on the roof so I disconnected them. If you use them on the ground and just have a few you hook them up only on one end. If you are going to put them on the roof and use them like for an ingorund pool, you have to knock the dirverter our of the inlet side with a broom handle or wooden dowel and then you hook up both ends just like all the other inground systems. I knocked out all the dirvirters and got them on the roof but have not hooked them back up yet. I moved my pump and I am adding a 300 lb sand filter to my 150 cartridge filter. I should have them working by Tuesday.

    But just laying on the ground they worked great on low speed.
    Aranon

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 1969
    Location
    Harwinton CT.
    Posts
    23

    Default Re: SunGrabber solar panel....

    I bought a set also on Ebay. I hooked them up and worked great... until on of the connections let loose. OMG emptied right down to the skimmer...! However it was an installation error (mine) that caused the problem.

    They raised the temp from 55 to around 75 in about a week. I have a 24' AG and live in NW CT. Only get about 6 hours of sun daily, but used a solar cover almost the whole time. I usually don't see those types of temps until late July.

    I do have one concern. When I run the heater the pressure on my filter raises about 5 psi (14 psi normal, 19 psi when heater is going) and the return to the pool is much weaker. I have it set up with ball valves so I can turn it on and off. I used 1 1/4" black poly hose for the run. The fittings on the unit are 1 1/2", I used fenco rubber adapters to connect. Is the change in diameters causing the increased pressure? Is this going to cause damage to the filter or the pump motor?

    mark

  8. #8
    prh129 is offline Lifetime Member Widget Weaver prh129 0
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Rehoboth, MA
    Posts
    258

    Default Re: SunGrabber solar panel....

    I just got a Fafco solar heater for a 24' round AG. The two things I like about it are 1) it's a single 4' x 20' panel so less plumbing and 2) it's got a built-in bypass valve. It sells for around $200. I notice that this mat uses small tubes placed side by side so the entire mat is used for water heating. I have it on the ground on one side of the pool. The water temp went from 62 yesterday morning to 68 (first sunny day in a long time!). I start to get shade on the mat around 3 PM so I think that's pretty good.

    Peter

  9. #9
    BullDean Guest

    Default Re: SunGrabber solar panel....

    Ok.. Think I might give these a try...


    My pool is a 18' x 4' round intex pool....

    So 2 2x20' panels are probably going to stick out like a sore thumb.. But warm water is more important to me....

    Is it possible to bend these a little or do they need to be perfectly flat whether they are lying down or at an angle...

    I figure if they will bend a little maybe I cna arch them around the pool...

  10. #10
    Aranon is offline Registered+ Thread Analyst Aranon 0
    Join Date
    Apr 2006
    Posts
    102

    Default Re: SunGrabber solar panel....

    I would imagine that the increase in pressure is because you are forcing the water through those tiny little spaghetti tubing and then back to your pool.
    Aranon

+ Reply to Thread

Similar Threads

  1. Sungrabber solar panel flow rate calculation
    By TRHOD12 in forum Pool Equipment & Operations
    Replies: 15
    Last Post: 05-19-2010, 12:39 AM
  2. Solar Panel - too much air in system
    By jmcst25 in forum Pool Equipment & Operations
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-27-2006, 08:33 PM
  3. solar panel
    By marchbreak in forum Above-Ground Pool Construction & Repair
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-03-2006, 08:13 AM
  4. Solar Panel?
    By csevel in forum Above-Ground Pool Construction & Repair
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 04-21-2006, 05:50 PM
  5. Solar Panel Recomendation
    By jmcst25 in forum Pool Equipment & Operations
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 04-14-2006, 11:56 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts