Solar Pool Heater

[rbrown3rd]

Added a pool blanket, just like bubble wrap, now I only have to run the pump for one hour a day to keep the pool above 80 degrees F. Before the blanket I was running the pump about five hours a day to keep the temp that high. The shorter run times have made a major reduction in our electrical consumption. The pool pump is an energy hog. Now, even with clouds our photovoltaic system is generating around half of our electricity.

[nuclearthreat545]

nice system

[brianmballard]

Thanks for the video. I installed my own system this weekend but am losing all pressure when I divert the water up to my roof. I am not sure if my 1.5 hp motor is enough to push the water up one floor. Also, I divert the water after the small filter on the main unit and bring it back from the roof just before my main filter. Do you know if my problem may be that I diverted the water in the wrong place?

Any advice is appreciated.

[rbrown3rd]

I had my system installed by a contractor so I will have to go out and check to see where the water is diverted from. Not sure if you can tell from my video. The pump should be sufficient as that is the HP of mine and it works great. How high is your collector above the pump?

[brianmballard]

Very disappointed after working all weekend on this. I just took a couple pictures of my setup. I cant figure out how youtube allows me to upload still photos rather than video so I put them on my old business website that I no longer use. It is easier to show a picture than try to describe. ballardimports is the site. I added two valves to my system. One diverts water to the roof, the other lets the water back into the main line before the main filter. The pics will explain better.

[STMRentals]

@brianmballard

Did you ever figure it out? and is the water going up now? If so tell me where you went wrong.... and how you fixed it..

[soccer3564]

i just got that system installed, they diverted the water after the main filter, then to the roof and back into the pool, i only have a 1hp motor.

[catatonicable]

@brianmballard Use a saddle valve AFTER the filter and put a non return valve so its not struggling up hill each morning when your timer switches the pump on.

[rbrown3rd]

I have had none of those problems. Maybe you had a bad installer and poor choice of equipment. You must really research a major installation like this and pick the best hardware and most skilled installers. Sorry you had so many problems. Heat pumps don't work in the tropics where I am located but we have lots of sun. Our house is powered by the sun from photovoltaic panels. We love the sun.

[catatonicable]

@rbrown3rd Why would you say heat pumps dont work in hot weather, I thought they took the ambient air so they would work better.?

[rbrown3rd]

@catatonicable, I know nothing about that really. You are probably right. If you have better info please share it.

[reaveyo]

Solar costly to install/maintain. Difficult, dangerous to install on roofs, Boil the water in warm sunny periods, when heat is not needed. Do not work well in cold or no sun, when needed. Ruin the look of your property. Leak- too many pipe junctions after high winds. Wreck your filter pump. Harbor bugs after non use periods. Annoying bubbling in the pool. Heat pumps work all year Inexpensive, unobtrusive. Simple to install. Cheap to run. Reliable. calyenty

[nuclearthreat545]

damn trying to ruin some buisness eh?