Pool Heating - Black Solar Panels

Also looking at this again now, worked well at my previous house.

The new place has all the piping installed to the roof but the previous owner removed the panels at some stage.

Our pool is about 30kl so was thinking of going with about 4 panels and then we have a pool cover as well.

Anyone have a feeling for how long the water should circulate to have a reasonable impact?
 
SolarPanelPlumbing.jpg

Here is the recommended plumbing. Any one know what the shutoff ball valves are used for? I cant imagine closing them with the bypass valve shut and when it is open what purpose do they serve as water should not go past them anyway...
 
Arzy said:
Also looking at this again now, worked well at my previous house.

The new place has all the piping installed to the roof but the previous owner removed the panels at some stage.

Our pool is about 30kl so was thinking of going with about 4 panels and then we have a pool cover as well.

Anyone have a feeling for how long the water should circulate to have a reasonable impact?
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All day while the sun is shining

It is a never ending battle with nature , you have to make up for the losses of last night

Sure if you have an oversized system at times you may switch off

ie i had 4 panels and some diy panels on the garage on a 12k pool and could climb 7 deg a day

But cant recall if i had shading problems on the garage already when i did that check, been years

So would normally find 2 days needed to get the temp up

Have bad weather lose heat rinse repeat

Week of sunny weather then i could switch of just after noon when i recouped nights losses

Byt yea we liked 34 the hotter it goes the higher the losses overnight, and naturally the heating slows down the hotter the pool goes

Ymmv george weather be like that
 
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PRP said:
Thanks for info on the backing sheet, I didnt think about how to tie it down!
This kit comes with a non return valve -> https://swemgat.com/products/pool-heating-3-solar-panel-diy-complete-kit
I was thinking the vacuum breaker would allow the return side to drain a bit due to siphon. I guess they dont want the panels sitting full in sub zero temperatures.
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Yea our area we don't see freezing conditions so i did not consider that

I assume it will syphon if it doesn't syphon all, then opening the bypass will allow to drain all

With the way they recommend the non return before those valves

In our area most tend to put the non return on the line going up to the roof

I preferred this ie to have the panels heavier with water for windy days but yra if freezing is a risk you may not want that
 
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PRP said:
View attachment 1598262

Here is the recommended plumbing. Any one know what the shutoff ball valves are used for? I cant imagine closing them with the bypass valve shut and when it is open what purpose do they serve as water should not go past them anyway...
Click to expand...
If you develop a leak the shutdown valve prevents any water going up until you can deal with it

Or in cold weather to prevent any water going up and radiating your heat

I have forgotten to switch of the bypass on pump to find that late at night i reversed much of the heating

If the pump is small they aren't really needed most just make an H at the up and down and place bypass valve on the horizontal when it is open the pressure normally isn't enough to push up into the panel as the water takes that shortcut

Though with low roofs and big pumps it may
 
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xrapidx said:
capepoolheating.co.za

Home - Cape Pool Heating

Proudly serving Cape Town and surrounding areas, we offer eco-friendly and cost-effective heating options to help you enjoy your pool to the fullest.
capepoolheating.co.za capepoolheating.co.za
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got a good quote from him so going with him for now

anyone know where i can get a bubble pool cover for now in cape town ? proper pool cover not needed and its damn expensive
 
I.am.Sam said:
got a good quote from him so going with him for now

anyone know where i can get a bubble pool cover for now in cape town ? proper pool cover not needed and its damn expensive
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Heated pool evaporates water a ton faster (in my testing) - so a cover is vital.
 
xrapidx said:
Heated pool evaporates water a ton faster (in my testing) - so a cover is vital.
Click to expand...

he just completed the job now and suggested i dont buy that bubble pool covers cos they break after a year

water isnt an issue for me i have a borehole

but will test how fast it goes
 
I.am.Sam said:
he just completed the job now and suggested i dont buy that bubble pool covers cos they break after a year

water isnt an issue for me i have a borehole

but will test how fast it goes
Click to expand...
Probably more like 2-3 years lifespan for the average ones.
 
xrapidx said:
Heated pool evaporates water a ton faster (in my testing) - so a cover is vital.
Click to expand...
Anyone recommend a pool cover that isn't a major pain to take on and off?

I currently have quite a good one with aluminium rods but it's major PITA to move around by yourself and I only really use it to cover the pool up for winter. Ideally would like one of those automated jobbies but that's probably too expensive.
 
DrJohnZoidberg said:
Anyone recommend a pool cover that isn't a major pain to take on and off?

I currently have quite a good one with aluminium rods but it's major PITA to move around by yourself and I only really use it to cover the pool up for winter. Ideally would like one of those automated jobbies but that's probably too expensive.
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When I got quotes for the automated ones a few years ago it was over 100k.

Do you need a safety cover, or just for water retention
 
On the subject of water retention, how often are you guys topping up your pools? What's the estimate surface area of the pool and where do you live?
 
20 sqm ~ 15kl. Northern suburbs. Mid summer between 1 and 2 kl pm depending on temp, wind and kids.
 
i have no clue but my borehole runs for over an hour depending

so about 10cm of water i would say and its a 6*3m pool

and i do it once a week in summer, sometimes twice depending how much the lities swim and throw water out cause thats all they do
 
I'm in Northern Suburbs of Cape Town as well. I have a 5m x 3m pool. I recon it is about 16,000 litres. I have 4 panels on the roof and a pool-cover. In summer with the pump running from around 10h00 to 15h00 the combination of panels and pool cover will warm the water to over 32 degrees. The cover also prevents the water from cooling down at night so it just gets hotter and hotter.

I have found that the hot water evaporates much quicker than cold water. I have to top up my pool every weekend. It probably drops around anywhere from 3 to 8cms in a week depending on usage and how much the South Easter blows. I need to leave the hosepipe in for a good 30 to 40mins every Saturday to replace the water in summer. In winter I have to keep backwashing to keep the pool from overflowing. Wish there was a way to store all of that water for top-water in summer - unfortunately i don't have space for tanks.
 
Affieplaas said:
I'm in Northern Suburbs of Cape Town as well. I have a 5m x 3m pool. I recon it is about 16,000 litres. I have 4 panels on the roof and a pool-cover. In summer with the pump running from around 10h00 to 15h00 the combination of panels and pool cover will warm the water to over 32 degrees. The cover also prevents the water from cooling down at night so it just gets hotter and hotter.

I have found that the hot water evaporates much quicker than cold water. I have to top up my pool every weekend. It probably drops around anywhere from 3 to 8cms in a week depending on usage and how much the South Easter blows. I need to leave the hosepipe in for a good 30 to 40mins every Saturday to replace the water in summer. In winter I have to keep backwashing to keep the pool from overflowing. Wish there was a way to store all of that water for top-water in summer - unfortunately i don't have space for tanks.
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yeah tanks is the only option for saving water lol

spend money go underground tanks :D

im also in nothern suburbs cpt ..looks like only nothern suburbs people use they pools

southern suburbs too windy
 
I.am.Sam said:
yeah tanks is the only option for saving water lol

spend money go underground tanks :D

im also in nothern suburbs cpt ..looks like only nothern suburbs people use they pools

southern suburbs too windy
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I have a 16 year old son who uses the pool a lot - we swim at least once a week from Nov through to Apr.
The wind is a pain though. It is freaking cold if you get out of the pool and the South Easter hits you.
 
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