I was planning on doing solar and did my research over the winter. I am limited in roof space I have multi tiered roof line and triangular shape so 4 panels was my max. I ended up moving my kitchen plumbing vent to a new location so I wouldnt have to lose panel size. Originally was going to go with heliocol I found a guy online that would sell to me wholesale about 1800 for four 4x12 panels and connecting hardware. It ended up that I didnt have the room with my chimney they are actually 12'6" in size. I then was going to order vortex panels which are true 12ft panels online and it was about 1350 shipped to me. Just so happened I was on a jobsite that week and a local solar company was next door doing solar electric install and the van said they do pool solar. On lunch I chatted with the owner Mike and he was a super nice guy. He offered me his brand at a deep discount which ended up being 1500 with all connectors needed and he had them in stock. They are aquatherm made here in NJ, price was close, and I always prefer to spend money with a local contractor instead of internet nobodies and have a face and name. I had to repipe alot of the pad to make it look good, the panels went up 3 weeks ago when we got done early one day and took less than 2 hours with one of my guys helping. They sat until last week when wife and kids started using the pool and I spent about 6 hours repiping. Hardest part was making the piping look good and getting the pipe standoffs plumb and spaced to allow room for the jandy valves. I have a prologic and it was easier than I thought to get it setup. I did have to limit top speed on my ecostar to 2850 I am worried about blowing them apart during priming and I did not want to bypass water I prefer to run pump as slow as possible at al times. Results are great I have a 14x30 pool and have about 50% pool surface with 200sqft of panels. It was in the upper 80s last weekend and with solar cover on I got it to 88 water temp. I'm usually 80 to 82 in July and August without heating water. I would definitely do it again and feel it was worth it for me. Wife is a teacher and off summers and I have a 7yo and 2yo and the little one wants it warm or hes cold he likes 90. I am going to try and manipulate the sensors what I dont like is the solar to water differential is 8 degrees. I'd like to be able to change that value to 5 degrees I have to call Hayward and see if theres anything I can do programming wise. Still have to clean up sensore wires and actuator wires when I finish the pad work
Last edited:
