Solar Panels. Which one????

[MaxxFusion]

Maxfusion,
Looking into the same panels you are talking about. Just wondered how bendy they are?? Are yours on your roof or the ground? We want to hook these up but aren't sure the best way. Was thinking of possible leaning them against the pool at an angle but wasn't sure if they would bend around some or stay straight. Also was wondering if they were hard to install? Thanks.

They seem pretty flexible even after installed.

I have them laying on the ground right now next to my pool. I am debating wether to build a rack out of treated lumber or go with a PVC rack and mount it on my privacy fence posts up off the ground. I am leaning towards the RVC rack and mounting it. I would love to put them on the roof but I dont have a first floor to mount them on.

You wont be able to lean them on the pool. I have 2 2x20 panels that sit side by side. Most of the kits come this way. I beleive there is one company out there that has one 4x20 but not sure who. I just wanted to get them installed to benefit from the heat. Its been high of 80s for a while here and water temps needed a boost. Its was really easy to install. My kit came with the diverter valve so thats in there too. I can see having to turn off the panels once it gets really warm. I dont want to be swimming in 90 degree water.

I just went to the LPS and got a bunch of their bulk hose for .75/foot. I will hard pipe it in once I move it later.

[ellenicol]

They seem pretty flexible even after installed.

I have them laying on the ground right now next to my pool. I am debating wether to build a rack out of treated lumber or go with a PVC rack and mount it on my privacy fence posts up off the ground. I am leaning towards the RVC rack and mounting it. I would love to put them on the roof but I dont have a first floor to mount them on.

You wont be able to lean them on the pool. I have 2 2x20 panels that sit side by side. Most of the kits come this way. I beleive there is one company out there that has one 4x20 but not sure who. I just wanted to get them installed to benefit from the heat. Its been high of 80s for a while here and water temps needed a boost. Its was really easy to install. My kit came with the diverter valve so thats in there too. I can see having to turn off the panels once it gets really warm. I dont want to be swimming in 90 degree water.

I just went to the LPS and got a bunch of their bulk hose for .75/foot. I will hard pipe it in once I move it later.

Thanks for the advice. Do you think you could find a link to the ones you purchased on ebay. The one's I found don't say anything about a diverter kit coming with them. We might be able to put ours on the roof but my husband is worried that they will be an eyesore on the ground and will be in the way. I don't really care I want a warm pool.

[MaxxFusion]

4x20' Swimming Pool Solar Heater Panel w/ Diverter Kit


If you are able to put them on the roof do it. I lucklily have mine between the pool and my privacy fence. Its pretty much unuseable space anyway. If I could pick I would put them on the roof.

[ellenicol]

4x20' Swimming Pool Solar Heater Panel w/ Diverter Kit


If you are able to put them on the roof do it. I lucklily have mine between the pool and my privacy fence. Its pretty much unuseable space anyway. If I could pick I would put them on the roof.

Thank you so much. Your help is greatly appreciated!!! One more question though... what kind of piping do I use to get the water to the roof and is there a way to fasten the panels to the roof w/out buying a roof kit too. Sorry that was 2 questions. Hope I'm not being a bother and if you aren't sure could you direct me where I can find out. I'm really new at this and just want to make sure I do it right with as little money spent as possible

[CallMeIshmael]

Thank you so much. Your help is greatly appreciated!!! One more question though... what kind of piping do I use to get the water to the roof and is there a way to fasten the panels to the roof w/out buying a roof kit too. Sorry that was 2 questions. Hope I'm not being a bother and if you aren't sure could you direct me where I can find out. I'm really new at this and just want to make sure I do it right with as little money spent as possible

I'm shopping too & it does get to be a lot of info.
This page of Powermat.com is probably the best in making sense of the plumbing, at least that I've come across. It should help put those pieces together, as I had all the same questions just this week . While your there, check out other pages on roof & other installations. He covers them excellently. I think everyone would agree that roof kits are not a place to cut corners. The panels could become large kites that fly off the roof, or at least pull off your roofing tiles if the panels aren't strapped down. Here's a great current thread with photos of a complete solar install.

[MaxxFusion]

Thank you so much. Your help is greatly appreciated!!! One more question though... what kind of piping do I use to get the water to the roof and is there a way to fasten the panels to the roof w/out buying a roof kit too. Sorry that was 2 questions. Hope I'm not being a bother and if you aren't sure could you direct me where I can find out. I'm really new at this and just want to make sure I do it right with as little money spent as possible

I agree on the roof rack. I dont think they are that expensive but I would just got with one. You dont want the wind to get underneath a panel and it takes off. You could have quite a mess on your hands with the water leaking everywhere. On my install I had a problem where one of my hose clamps wasnt tight and the hose poped off while I wasnt there. I come back to find a big mess. The water was everywhere.

As for piping I was going with 1.5" or 2" schedule 40 PVC from Home Depot. I will most likely be using 1.5" on this project. Your existing flexible hoses on the pump and filter are all 1.5".

[TCB in CA]

I just had a solar heating system installed for my pool (a 420 SF in-ground pool). Fafco panels and the install was done by Performance Solar out of Escondido, CA. I live in Orange County, and so far I am marginally satisfied. The lack of sun these last few days after the install is pretty unwelcome, but the high temperature has helped somewhat. Hopefully it will get sunnier here soon so i can see how well this thing works and if I can truly recommend it. I did have to jump start the pool using my regular heater in conjunction with the solar the day after I installed it (start temp was 85, end temp was 92). My wife likes it high 80s/low 90s. Yesterday it held pretty good at 89 without any supplemental heating. If anything major happens (either positive or negative) I'll post it here.

[mkelley]

TCB,

The Fafco panels are very good, but be aware that oversizing your panels (or using a cover) is really required to get the temps you want.

We have a similar pool to yours and started out with 4 4x10 panels and ended up going with 4 more (for a total of 8, natch :>). In a similar climate (central Florida) we can easily get the pool water in the 90's with only a day or so of sun (indeed we've lately been struggling with using the solar to cool the pool down at night, since I don't like the water warmer than 88 and if I start with water at 85 in the morning the sun will heat it to 90 by the end of the day).

If you don't want (or can't have) that many panels then you'll need to use a cover. I think they are a PITA and refuse to have them, but you'll save at least 2 or 3 degrees right now by using one.

Cloudy days will definitely cool a hot pool like you want down quickly -- we had 92 degree water that dropped (even with the panels) to 83 in about three cloudy days. However, today we had about 3 hours of sun and I was quickly able to get the pool back to 87 (I probably could have gotten it to 89 if I had wanted it warmer).

So -- to summarize, make sure you have enough panels (or use a cover), and understand that you will lose temp quickly during cloudy spells.