Solar Heating

[jmc61894]

Hi, I live in Mass and iam looking into solar for heating my IG. what brand of panels did you use?

[tphaggerty]

They are SolarIndustries panels. I have 55% coverage on an eastern facing roof, not the best setup as I lose the late afternoon sun, especially in the early spring and late, late summer. One nice thing about SI is that you can get a good variety of panel lengths, I wound up going with 8 4x14 panels, the extra 64 sq/ft was worth it (ran out of roof length or I would have added another panel). I have an Aqualogic controller.

I have the system running now, it has raised the pool temp from 51 on opening to 59 now in about 3 days of running. I expect the kids to be swimming in a week or so. The system keeps running for at least 1/2 hour after the sun has left the roof, it just sucks the heat out of the roofing tiles!

[CPM]

A LONG time ago, when I was in college, I worked at the Florida Solar Energy Center testing collector performance. I quickly learned that there is a big difference in the performance of hot water solar collectors. I just went to their site and they have performance ratings on pool solar collectors posted. Looks like most of the pool collectors are about 1000 BTU/Ft2, but there are some that are a lot less. I recommend you check out their site to see if the collector you are considering was tested, and has a rating from the FSEC.

http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/solar/testce...tr/tprpool.htm


Craig
UCF class of 1980

[CarlD]

I, too, am an advocate of solar. It's free heat! Sure, it doesn't work when it's raining--but we don't swim then.

You don't NEED an automatic system if you set your manual valve(s) so it(they) are convenient. I turn them on in the morning before I go to work, and off when I get home, and don't use them if the water is getting too warm.

I had 96 deg water last summer...Algae is ONLY a problem if you neglect your water, not if you are checking it everyday--and adjusting as needed.