Anyone have any pictures of their Solar Panels?

[NullQwerty]

I'm sooo close to buying a solar heater, but the only thing stopping me is placement of the panels. I'm scared of the roof because I've been reading that if it malfunctions, you could damage your roof. And I don't have the lawn to spare to just lay it on the ground

So, now I've gotta find a new location that won't be such an eyesore on a lot that is only a 1/4 acre with a pool and a house on it. It could look very industrialous if not done with care. My latest idea was to basically build something similar to a canopy. 4 posts and a roof. Put that pool side with the panels on top. Won't help the neighbors views though, so I'm hesitant.

Anyone have any pictures of their panels they could post? Or have some good ideas I'm not thinking of? I even thought of building a cabana and putting it on that, but a 20 foot cabana is a bit monstrous for my layout

Thanks!

[CarlD]

Go to Above Ground Pool Gallery, post # 20 for mine. The decking is the solar system. Keeps the water warm and your feet from burning!

[tphaggerty]

Not sure why you are so worried about roof damage. Installed correctly, panel hardware will pentrate the roof, but so do shingle nails and lots of other things. My installer caulked EVERY screw that went into the roof and we have had no problems (I check often). I have panels on a 2nd story roof and on the single story garage roof. Don't have pictures now, but will try and get some.

If you have the room, then on-ground panel racks are great. You can position them for best sun exposure, there is no working on a roof (damage or not, that can get scary), often you can plumb easier and there is less dynamic head when filling the panels. But, they can take a LOT of room (depending on how many you install) and they ain't the prettiest lawn ornaments!

[NWMNMom]

When I get home I will take some pics of ours. We built a "rack system" for ours due to space/sun limitations. Our pool is in a natural alcove in the yard with woods on the E and S sides, pine trees on the north. There was not enough S side left to allow panels to get sun (shade from the woods.)

The rack is 40' long along the N side of the pool - posts are 2" pvc sunk into the ground/concrete that are 54" high (angle back starts at top rail) then run at 40deg angle another 4' - braced at the back. The entire system has chicken wire to support - we have 4x20 panels the long way (40') and they are connected in the middle so they receive and return at the same time (parallel not from one to the next) The system looks like a pergolla and we actually hang our pool cleaning tools and lovely plants off it. Works great, saves space. Hard to explain, pictures when I get home.

Side View


Full shot


Center plumbing

[Karen_in_TN]

We've got ours on three tables we made. We only need ours up from April to June and then from September to October. The rest of the time we put them away because we have a small, small backyard and get tired of looking at them. We also have ours plumbed seperately from our main pump using an Intex pump. Ignore the dead grass and horrible bushes. Between a late freeze here and the complete lack of rain everything looks horrible.

[NullQwerty]

Thanks for the great pics everyone! It's giving me some good ideas.

Oh and CarlD...nice job on the floor unit being your panels...Impressive!

Karen_in_TN....Does the lawn underneath the panels start dying after they've been out for a month? That's one thing I was concerned about.

Thanks again!

[CarlD]

Thanks for the great pics everyone! It's giving me some good ideas.

Oh and CarlD...nice job on the floor unit being your panels...Impressive!

Karen_in_TN....Does the lawn underneath the panels start dying after they've been out for a month? That's one thing I was concerned about.

Thanks again!

Thanks! My better half was very particular about how our pool would look, and this was a great way to incorporate what I wanted, what she would find attractive, and what the town would let me do.

Karen_in_TN: Here's a thought: If the grass is going to die under the panels anyway, then just lay them on the ground. Here's why: The heat from the panels will bake the ground underneath--no gross worms and bugs because it's far too hot for them. The ground will heat up around the panels and you'll be able to run them for a couple of hours AFTER the sun passes--the heat from the ground will continue to heat the water. I'm not speculating on this--I've had it work on two separate systems I've done, one on my old pool, the other on my parents' pool. Remember: As long as the water from the panels is warmer than the pool, even the littlest bit, it's adding heat energy.

N_Mom--you may want to consider adding more supports so the panels don't droop and get additonal strain, especially at the ends as cantilevers. You could just cut in and glue Tees with extra length to support it. Also, cross-bracing between the "rafters" should also keep the system flatter and with less strain, and therefore a longer life. I know the panels roll in the winter but it's very different when they are full of water. Just some ideas for a very nice and clever system.

[Karen_in_TN]

It really doesn't kill the grass. (Right now that's about all the grass we've got that isn't scorched) It turns a little brown, but recovers quickly after they're moved. The only place it really kills the grass is where the 4 x 4 's sit on the ground.

Carl, I had them on the ground at our previous house, and it does indeed work better with them on the ground. Fortunately where they are gets sun from whenever it comes up until around 6pm. And considering right now I've got the water up to 94 degrees I don't think I need more heat. (I've VERY cold natured and won't get in unless it's at least 85.) We plan on taking them down either this weekend or next.